Buddhism

Compiled by Jayaram V

What is Right Mindedness

Right Mindedness is having the right resolve. These are the three suggested ways to be pure on the eightfold path.

1. on renunciation or on freedom from lust 
2. on freedom from ill-will 
3. and on freedom from cruelty. 

How it is cultivated

Right mindedness or right resolve is cultivated by a definite mental action.

"And how is one made pure in three ways by mental action? There is the case where a certain person is not covetous. He does not covet the belongings of others, thinking, 'O, that what belongs to others would be mine!' He bears no ill will and is not corrupt in the resolves of his heart. [He thinks,] 'May these beings be free from animosity, free from oppression, free from trouble, and may they look after themselves with ease!' He has right view and is not warped in the way he sees things: 'There is what is given, what is offered, what is sacrificed. There are fruits & results of good & bad actions. There is this world & the next world. There is mother & father. There are spontaneously reborn beings; there are priests & contemplatives who, faring rightly & practicing rightly, proclaim this world & the next after having directly known & realized it for themselves.' This is how one is made pure in three ways by mental action." — Anguttara Nikaya X.176

"Therefore, Rahula, you should train yourself: 'I will purify my bodily acts through repeated reflection. I will purify my verbal acts through repeated reflection. I will purify my mental acts through repeated reflection.' That is how you should train yourself." — Majjhima Nikaya  61

"Here, bhikkhus, a certain person abides with his heart imbued with loving-kindness extending over one quarter, likewise the second quarter, likewise the third quarter, likewise the fourth quarter, and so above, below, around, and everywhere, and to all as to himself; he abides with his heart abundant, exalted, measureless in loving-kindness, without hostility or ill-will, extending over the all-encompassing world."Anguttara Nikaya IV.125

Right Mindedness, Right View and Right Effort

Right mindedness is gained through right view and by right effort. The right view helps one to distinguish the difference between the right resolve and the wrong resolve. After the discernment one needs to make a right effort to "abandon wrong resolve & to enter into right resolve." (Majjhima Nikaya 117)

Right Mindedness, is of two types:

The Mundane Right Mindedness and the Ultra Mundane Right Mindedness. The Mundane Right Mindedness means to have thoughts that are devoid of lust, ill-will and cruelty. This approach leads to worldly gains and good results. The Ultramundane Right Mindedness involves thinking, considering, reasoning, ratiocination, application, keeping the mind holy, to be other worldly and pursuing the holy path. This is the path that leads to gains that are other worldly.

Right Mindedness leads to

1. Right understanding
2. Right effort and
3. Right attentiveness.