Methods for Stopping vicious thoughts — MN 20
Once, the Buddha told his disciples about the five methods for interrupting vicious thoughts, starting with a method which requires the least effort, to a method in which the mind crushes and overwhelms itself. When the simpler and softer method does not lead to a calm state, one should gradually move on to more strenuous effort.
The first method: wholesome thought. When vicious thoughts which carry passion, anger and delusion arise in the mind, first of all, to become free of them, one should direct the mind to a wholesome subject, the consideration and remembrance of which bring peace and contentment. The Buddha compared this method to the action of a carpenter who, wishing to free a peg in a crack, drives a smaller peg next to it. When vicious thoughts disappear, the mind calms down and concentrates. When one fails to interrupt the vicious thoughts with the help of paying attention to wholesome thought, one should move on to the next method.
The second method — recognition of the ugliness of vicious thoughts. One must pay attention to the bad consequences of vicious thoughts which carry passion, anger and delusion. Their consequences are suffering and bondage of the mind. Therefore, they merit reproach. The Buddha invited his disciples to imagine how would a beautiful girl or boy act if they discovered that a corpse of a dog, a snake or a person hangs as an ornament around their neck? The young people would feel disgusted, humiliated, and would immediately discard the corpse.
Vicious thoughts should be discarded with the same disgust and likewise immediately. If one fails to discard vicious thoughts, one should move on to the next method.
The third method — no longer paying attention to unwholesome thoughts. Vicious thoughts become restless when they receive plenty of attention over a long period of time. Therefore, one should distance oneself from them like a person who closes his eyes or turns away from some object. Vicious thoughts denied of feeding with attention should subside. If, after turning away from unwholesome thoughts, the latter have not subsided, one should employ the fourth method.
The fourth method — discontinuation of the direction of the mind which forms unwholesome thoughts. To discontinue the generation of vicious thoughts, one should gradually bring thought to a halt all the way to the discontinuation of creating thought. The Buddha gave the example of a fast-walking man who thinks: “Why don’t I go slower?” And he slows down. Then he thinks, “Why don’t I stop?”, and he stops. Then he thinks, “Why don’t I sit down?” and he sits down. “Why don’t I lie down and relax?”, and he lays down and relaxes. If the vicious thoughts do not subside even after this, one should employ the fifth method.
The fifth method — stopping unwholesome thoughts with crushing force. Vicious thoughts may preserve their power due to a persistent habit for them. To overcome it, one should clench their teeth, press the tongue against the roof of the mouth, and stop racing thoughts with the help of the steadfastness of the mind. The mind takes hold of itself by crushing its own unwholesome qualities just as a strong wrestler grabs and throws a weaker opponent to the ground.
Meditators who have achieved mastery in employing the five methods of interrupting vicious thoughts become masters of their own thought. They consider thoughts they wish to consider and do not consider thoughts they do not wish to consider.
May there be good.
