気にしている
To be mindful/attentive
2024-03-30 18:00:00
Anyone, no matter who they are, would find it difficult to detect impending danger when they are preoccupied with something.
By extension, it can be said that those who are preoccupied with something find it difficult to be mindful and cautious.
And when a practitioner of the Buddhist path is preoccupied with something, it becomes difficult for them to recognize the opportunity for enlightenment, even when it is right in front of them, potentially causing them to miss the chance for enlightenment (= liberation).
Therefore, practitioners of the Buddhist path are taught to cultivate 'MU-SHIN' (無心), or 'no-mind,' in their practice. However, this does not contradict being cautious/mindful.
In fact, esteemed practitioners remain vigilant and mindful in their practice, no matter how deeply they immerse themselves in it. They are capable of keenly sensing the opportunity for enlightenment when it arises, and not only that, but they also gain wisdom precisely master attain how to be mindfulness, leading to enlightenment (= liberation) as expected.
Now, let's discuss the relationship between being care about and being mindful/cautious.
When a practitioner on the Buddhist path becomes preoccupied with something, it creates difficulties or leads to missed opportunities for attaining enlightenment. Even if the preoccupation is related to the opportunity of enlightenment, it indicates that the practitioner lacks mindfulness and attentiveness.
In other words, even if one is constantly mindful of the mechanism of enlightenment, when the actual opportunity for enlightenment arises, they might get caught up in thinking that it is the same as knowing the mechanism as knowledge, or that the process of generating wisdom lies beyond that opportunity. As a result, the necessary vigilance for awakening becomes somewhat neglected.
For example, GO and SHOGI (Japanese chess) players need to be well-versed in established strategies, but they are often advised to "memorize and forget" them.
This is because if players become too fixated on these strategies, it can become difficult for them to find the best moves for the current game.
The practice of the Buddhist path is similar in this regard.
Having knowledge of how enlightenment (= liberation) occurs is certainly valuable, but if one becomes too ensnared by that knowledge, it can lead to a scattering of the desire to deeply study the true meaning and significance of the Dharma phrases that appear before them. In that case, knowledge can actually become an obstacle to enlightenment.
You can find the following teachings in the original Buddhist scriptures of Shakyamuni Buddha relates to this.
296. The disciples of Gautama are always well awakened, constantly remembering the Buddha day and night.
297. The disciples of Gautama are always well awakened, constantly remembering the Dharma day and night.
298. The disciples of Gautama are always well awakened, constantly contemplating the Sangha (the community of practitioners) day and night.
299. The disciples of Gautama are always well awakened, constantly contemplating (the nature) of the body day and night.
300. The disciples of Gautama are always well awakened, their hearts enjoying non-harming day and night.
301. The disciples of Gautama are always well awakened, their hearts enjoying meditation day and night. (The Word of Truth - Dhammapada, Chapter 21: Various Things, Translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
Here, 'awakened' means 'being mindful' or 'being attentive'.
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