Contents

Abbreviations...............................................................................................................................................2

Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3

Part 1. Meditation and Concentration................................................................................................................4

Does concentration automatically lead to wisdom?.....................................................................................4

Is wise reflection a requisite for enlightenment?..........................................................................................6

Thinking can be meditating.........................................................................................................................7

Wise reflection in the Satipa..h.na Sutta.....................................................................................................8

How can we end dukkha?.............................................................................................................................9

It is all right to think in meditation............................................................................................................10

Does experience automatically lead to wisdom?.........................................................................................11

Four types of thoroughbred horses..............................................................................................................12

Moral shame and moral dread....................................................................................................................12

Yoniso manasik.ra—wise reflection...........................................................................................................14

Part 2. Wise Reflection Medtations...................................................................................................................15

Eating and our relationship to food............................................................................................................15

Compassion and loving kindness................................................................................................................15

D/D (defusing and diffusing).....................................................................................................................16

Waking up in the morning.........................................................................................................................16

How fortunate we are.................................................................................................................................17

Generosity..................................................................................................................................................17

Dukkha.......................................................................................................................................................17

Impermanence............................................................................................................................................18

Death..........................................................................................................................................................18

Actions and their results............................................................................................................................18

Balancing compassion and equanimity.......................................................................................................18

The five daily recollections.........................................................................................................................19

The Four Noble Truths..............................................................................................................................19

The eight worldly dhammas........................................................................................................................19

The ten perfections.....................................................................................................................................19

Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................20

About the Author.......................................................................................................................................20

Abbreviations

DN D.gha Nik.ya

MN Majjhima Nik.ya

SN Sa.yutta Nik.ya

It Itivuttaka

(All references are to the Sutta numbers.)

2

Introduction

The purpose of this essay is to explain the value of wise reflection, yoniso manasik.ra, and to encourage

readers to use their own thought processes for the growth of wisdom in their formal meditation

practice. The majority of experienced Buddhist meditators whom I have met during thirty years of

meditation and eighteen years of teaching were unfamiliar with formal reflective meditation. By way

of this essay I hope to correct this lack of understanding.

The Buddha himself greatly stressed the importance of wise reflection. In an important discourse

on the topic of wise reflection, the Sabb.sava Sutta (MN 2), the Buddha says:

“I say that the getting rid of anxieties and troubles1 is possible for one who knows and sees, not

for one who does not know and see. What must one know and see in order to get rid of anxieties

and troubles? Wise reflection and unwise reflection.

For one who reflects unwisely, there arise anxieties and troubles that have not yet arisen,

and those that have already arisen increase. But for one who reflects wisely, anxieties and

troubles that have not yet arisen do not arise, and those already arisen disappear.”

What is yoniso manasik.ra? Yoniso manasik.ra is a Pali term that can be translated as wise reflection.

This includes systematic attention, careful attention, reasoned attention, having thorough method in

one’s thought, proper consideration, wise consideration, critical reflection, analytical reflection, or

thinking in terms of causal relations or by way of problem solving. Yoniso manasik.ra is a significant

factor leading to the arising of insight or wisdom.

What causes our mental suffering? Simply stated, it is wrong thinking that produces our mental

dukkha (suffering).2 Right thinking will end our mental dukkha. Thus, it is important to use formal

reflective meditation in order to develop right thinking.

In helping the reader to understand the importance of reflective meditation, much of this booklet is

devoted to trying to correct meditation “myths.” By “myths” I mean certain misunderstandings that

many Buddhists have acquired. These misunderstandings are widespread, and as a result, many

meditators do not realise the importance of reflective meditation and may even doubt some of the

things written here. To support my understanding, I have included several relevant teachings from

the scriptures that emphasise the importance of wise reflection.

For any of you who may experience doubts concerning what is written here, I ask you to follow the

Buddha’s advice to all of us, to seek the truth in order to dispel ignorance. If you are going to follow

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