The Miracle of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness: Do Not Flee Suffering, Embrace It

A mother lost her young child. Her grief tore at her heart and soul. Everyone advised her to forget, to go out and find distraction. Yet, the more she tried to forget, the deeper the pain became. Then one day, someone said, "Let yourself suffer. Rest in your suffering. Look directly at it and face it. After just a few days, the suffering will naturally vanish." It turns out that facing and embracing pain is the way to dissolve it. This is the principle shared by Venerable Thich Chan Quang in his dharma talk, "The Miracle of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness – Part Six."

### Embrace Pain So It Dissolves on Its Own

When we encounter pain, our instinct is often to run away. But according to Venerable Chan Quang, fleeing only ensures the pain remains forever. He advises us to stay with the feeling.

"The best thing is to let yourself suffer. Rest in the place of that suffering. Observe that suffering. Face it directly. Then, after two or three days, the suffering will disappear."

This principle applies not only to those who have lost loved ones. When you are poor, do not flee poverty by pretending to be rich or escaping your circumstances. Stay right where you are. Accept your situation and handle every detail correctly. Spend each coin carefully, and poverty will naturally fade away.

### Rest in the Ego So the Ego Dissolves

The greatest miracle of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness lies here: to attain non-self (anatta), we must not flee from the ego. Instead, we must rest directly within it.

"Overcoming the ego by resting in the very nature of the ego is a golden principle for all aspects of life."

The Four Foundations of Mindfulness are not merely four places to observe. They represent four layers of the self that we gradually see and inhabit. The teacher emphasizes, "The Four Foundations of Mindfulness are not four locations; they are truly four levels, four layers of the ego." Understanding this prevents us from being misled, misjudging our own progress, and wandering through samsara (cycle of rebirth) for thousands of years.

### The Paradox of Meditation: Do Not Touch Delusional Thoughts

In meditation, everyone wants to eliminate delusional thoughts. However, if we fight them directly, we risk damaging our minds. The teacher instructs:

"Delusional thoughts are something we wish to end, but we must never touch them directly."

Instead of forcing the mind to stop, we skillfully adjust the breath. The breath serves as a bridge between the mind/heart and the body.

"The breath is like an arrow. It is the measure of our inner state."

When the mind is chaotic, the breath is strong. When the mind is settled, the breath becomes light. By gently controlling the breath, the mind gradually calms down. This is the paradox of meditative concentration: to quiet the mind, do not touch the mind; touch the breath instead.

### Three Preparations on the Path of Practice

To make deep progress, we must cultivate merit. The teacher highlights three essential practices. First, maintain reverence for enlightened beings. Second, help others practice together. Third, avoid the secret habit of praising oneself.

"Never secretly praise yourself."

Even a small thought of self-praise can destroy all accumulated merit. The teacher shares a story of someone who was once talented, a beautiful singer, and an unbeatable martial artist. Suddenly, they failed without anyone understanding why. It was because their mind constantly praised itself in silence. Therefore, always recognize and practice letting go of any sense of self-satisfaction.

### Begin Resting in This Very Breath

All of the teacher’s words revolve around one message: do not run away from yourself. The miracle of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness is found in daring to look directly at suffering and the ego, and resting there. There is no need to rush or force anything. Simply watch the breath gently. See clearly what is present. Gradually, nirvana will reveal itself. Start today with one moment of mindfulness.