➥ manasikāra:

• for manasikaroti:
  • to focus on
  • to pay attention
  • to think
  • to contemplate
• for manasikāra:
  • the paying of attention
  • contemplation

➥ manasikareyyāsi: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikareyyāsi, focus on

But if by abiding thus you do not shake off that torpor, then focus on the mental image of light, concentrate on the mental image of day. As by day, so at night; as at night, so by day.

No ce te evaṁ viharato taṁ middhaṁ pahīyetha tato tvaṁ moggallāna ālokasaññaṁ manasikareyyāsi divāsaññaṁ adhiṭṭheyyāsi yathā divā tathā rattiṁ yathā rattiṁ tathā divā. (AN iv 86)

➥ manasikareyya: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikareyya, focus on

• If a bhikkhu focuses exclusively on the practice of inward collectedness it is likely that his mind will fall into indolence

ekantaṁ samādhinimittaññeva manasikareyya ṭhānaṁ taṁ cittaṁ kosajjāya saṁvatteyya

• If he focuses exclusively on the practice of effort it is likely that his mind will fall into restlessness

ekantaṁ paggahanimittaññeva manasikareyya ṭhānaṁ taṁ cittaṁ uddhaccāya saṁvatteyya

• If he focuses exclusively on the practice of detached awareness it is likely that his mind will be not properly collected for the destruction of perceptually obscuring states

ekantaṁ upekkhānimittaññeva manasikareyya ṭhānaṁ taṁ cittaṁ na sammā samādhiyetha āsavānaṁ khayāya. (AN i 256)

➥ manasikaroto: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikaroto, focus on

In tasting a tasteable object with mindfulness muddled

rasaṁ bhotvā sati muṭṭhā

Focusing on the agreeable aspect,

piyaṁ nimittaṁ manasikaroto

One experiences it with a mind of attachment

sārattacitto vedeti

And persists in cleaving to it.

tañca ajjhosa tiṭṭhati. (Tha 800)

➥ manasikaroto: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikaroto, focus on

When a bhikkhu is focusing on an object that arouses unvirtuous, spiritually unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, hatred, and undiscernment of reality, he should focus on some other meditation object connected with what is spiritually wholesome.

Idha bhikkhave bhikkhunā yaṁ nimittaṁ āgamma yaṁ nimittaṁ manasikaroto uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṁhitāpi dosūpasaṁhitāpi mohūpasaṁhitāpi tena bhikkhave bhikkhunā tamhā nimittā aññaṁ nimittaṁ manasikātabbaṁ kusalūpasaṁhitaṁ. (MN i 119)

➥ manasikarotha: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikarotha, pay attention

Listen, pay careful attention, and I will speak

suṇātha sādhukaṁ manasikarotha bhāsissāmī ti. (Snp 50)

➥ manasikaroma: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikaroma, pay attention

I will recite the Pātimokkha with one and all of us present.

pātimokkhaṁ uddisissāmi taṁ sabbeva santā

Listen carefully. Pay attention.

sādhukaṁ suṇoma manasikaroma

• Listen carefully [means]: pay attention as a matter of vital concern, apply one’s whole mind to it.

sādhukaṁ suṇomā ti aṭṭhikatvā manasikatvā sabbacetasā samannāharāma

• Pay attention (means): we listen with an undistracted and untroubled mind, inwardly calm.

Manasikaromā ti ekaggacittā avikkhittacittā avisāhaṭa cittā nisāmema. (Vin.1.103)

Illustration: manasikareyya, pay attention

Suppose a young, foolish infant lying on his back, through the negligence of the nurse puts a stick or stone into his mouth.

seyyathā pi bhikkhave daharo kumāro mando uttānaseyyako dhātiyā pamādamanvāya kaṭṭhaṁ vā kaṭhalaṁ vā mukhe āhareyya

The nurse would quickly pay attention and quickly remove it.

tamenaṁ dhāti sīghasīghaṁ manasikareyya sīghasīghaṁ manasikaritvā sighasīghaṁ āhareyya. (AN iii 6)

Illustration: manasikāra, the paying of attention

• All things stem from fondness.

Chandamūlakā āvuso sabbe dhammā

• All things arise from the paying of attention.

manasikārasambhavā sabbe dhammā

• Sensation is the origin of all things.

phassasamudayā sabbe dhammā. (AN iv 339)

➥ manasikarotā: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikarotā, attentive

It is by dealing with him that a man’s integrity is to be known. And that after a long time not a short time, by one who is attentive not otherwise, by one with penetrative discernment, not one who is void of penetrative discernment.

Saṁvohārena bhikkhave soceyyaṁ veditabbaṁ. Tañca kho dīghena addhunā na ittaraṁ. Manasikarotā no amanasikārā paññavatā no duppaññenāti. (AN ii 187)

➥ manasikātuṁ: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikātuṁ, think

In whatever quarter the bhikkhus live quarrelsome, cantankerous, contentious, stabbing each other with verbal daggers it is unpleasant for me to even think about that quarter, let alone visit.

Yassaṁ bhikkhave disāyaṁ bhikkhū bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti manasikātumpi me esā bhikkhave disā na phāsu hoti pageva gantuṁ

In whatever quarter the bhikkhus dwell together in unity, on friendly terms, without quarrelling, like milk and water mixed, viewing each other with affection it is pleasant for me to visit that quarter, let alone think about it.

Yassaṁ bhikkhave disāyaṁ bhikkhū samaggā sammodamānā avivadamānā khīrodakībhūtā aññamaññaṁ piyacakkhūhi sampassantā viharanti. Gantumpi me esā bhikkhave disā phāsu hoti pageva manasikātuṁ. (AN i 275)

➥ manasikaroto: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikaroto, contemplating

When contemplating sensuous pleasure a bhikkhu’s mind does not become energised, serene, settled, and intent upon it.

Idha bhikkhave bhikkhuno kāmaṁ manasikaroto kāmesu cittaṁ na pakkhandati nappasīdati na santiṭṭhati na vimuccati (read as adhimuccati. See IGPT sv adhimuccati)

But when contemplating the practice of unsensuousness his mind becomes energised, serene, settled, and intent upon it.

Nekkhammaṁ kho panassa manasikaroto nekkhamme cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati vimuccati (read as adhimuccati. See IGPT sv adhimuccati). (AN iii 245)

➥ manasikaroti: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikaroti, contemplates

A woman contemplates the femininity in herself, the feminine occupation, ways of behaviour, manners, desires, voice, and attractiveness. She is excited by that, she takes delight in that.

Itthi bhikkhave ajjhattaṁ itthindriyaṁ manasikaroti itthikuttaṁ itthākappaṁ itthividhaṁ itthicchandaṁ itthissaraṁ itthālaṅkāraṁ sā tattha rajjati tatrābhiramati.

Being thus excited and delighted, she contemplates the masculinity about her, the masculine occupation, ways of behaviour, manners, desires, voice, and attractiveness. She is excited by that, she takes delight in that.

Sā tattha rattā tatrābhiratā bahiddhā purisindriyaṁ manasikaroti purisakuttaṁ purisākappaṁ purisavidhaṁ purisacchandaṁ purisassaraṁ purisālaṅkāraṁ. Sā tattha rajjati tatrābhiramati. (AN iv 57)

Illustration: manasikāra, contemplating

Bhikkhus, by much contemplating things that are a basis for attachment to sensuous pleasure, unarisen sensuous hankering arises, and arisen sensuous hankering increases and expands.

Kāmarāgaṭṭhāniyānaṁ bhikkhave dhammānaṁ manasikārabahulīkārā anuppanno ceva kāmacchando uppajjati uppanno ca kāmacchando bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati. (SN v 84)

Illustration: manasikaroti, contemplates

Therein the learned noble disciple carefully and properly contemplates dependent origination thus:

Tatra kho bhikkhave sutavā ariyasāvako paṭiccasamuppādaññeva sādhukaṁ yoniso manasikaroti

‘When there is this, that comes to be. With the arising of this, that arises. Without this, that does not come to be. With the ending of this, that ceases.

iti imasmiṁ sati idaṁ hoti imassuppādā idaṁ uppajjati imasmiṁ asati idaṁ na hoti imassanirodhā idaṁ nirujjhati. (SN ii 65)

➥ manasikarotha: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikarotha, contemplate

Bhikkhus, contemplate the visual sense properly.

Cakkhuṁ bhikkhave yoniso manasikarotha

Recognise the unlastingness of the visual sense according to reality.

cakkhu aniccatañca yathābhūtaṁ samanupassatha. (SN iv 142)

➥ manasikaroti: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikaroti, contemplate

The ignorant Everyman contemplates issues that should not be contemplated and does not contemplate issues that should be contemplated

ye dhammā na manasikaraṇīyā te dhamme manasikaroti ye dhammā manasikaraṇīyā te dhamme na manasikaroti

This is how he improperly contemplates

So evaṁ ayoniso manasikaroti

• Was I in the past?

ahosiṁ nu kho ahaṁ atītamaddhānaṁ

• Was I not in the past?

na nu kho ahosiṁ atītamaddhānaṁ

• What was I in the past?

kinnu kho ahosiṁ atītamaddhānaṁ

• How was I in the past?

kathaṁ nu kho ahosiṁ atītamaddhānaṁ

• Having been what, what did I become in the past?

Kiṁ hutvā kiṁ ahosiṁ nu kho ahaṁ atītamaddhānaṁ

• Shall I be in the future?

bhavissāmi nu kho ahaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ

• Shall I not be in the future?

na nu kho bhavissāmi anāgatamaddhānaṁ

• What shall I be in the future?

kinnu kho bhavissāmi anāgatamaddhānaṁ

• How shall I be in the future?

kathaṁ nu kho bhavissāmi anāgatamaddhānaṁ

• Having been what, what shall I become in the future?

kiṁ hutvā kiṁ bhavissāmi nu kho ahaṁ anāgatamaddhānan ti.

• Or else he is uncertain about the present in regard to himself

etarahi vā paccuppannaṁ addhānaṁ ajjhattaṁ kathaṅkathī hoti

• Am I?

ahaṁ nu khosmi

• Am I not?

no nu khosmi

• What am I?

kinnu khosmi

• How am I?

kathaṁ nu khosmi

• Where has this being come from?

ayaṁ nu kho satto kuto āgato

• Where will it go?

so kuhiṁ gāmī bhavissatī ti. (MN i 7-9)

Illustration: manasikaroti, contemplates

He properly contemplates: This is suffering

So idaṁ dukkhan ti yoniso manasikaroti

He properly contemplates: This is the origin of suffering… …

ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo ti yoniso manasikaroti

He properly contemplates: This is the ending of suffering… …

ayaṁ dukkhanirodho ti yoniso manasikaroti

He properly contemplates: This is the practice leading to the ending of suffering.

ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ti yoniso manasikaroti. (MN i 8)

➥ manasikāro: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikāro, paying of attention

Sense impression, perception, intentional effort, sensation, and the paying of attention, are called ‘immaterial-factors.’

Vedanā saññā cetanā phasso manasikāro idaṁ vuccatāvuso nāmaṁ. (MN i 53)

➥ manasikārā: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikārā, contemplation

tassa mayhaṁ bhikkhave etadahosi</div>

‘Without what, is there no old age and death? With the ending of what comes the ending of old age and death?’

kimhi nu kho asati jarāmaraṇaṁ na hoti? Tissa nirodhā jarāmaraṇanirodho ti?… jātiyā kho asati jarāmaraṇaṁ na hoti. Jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇanirodho ti.

Then through proper contemplation, there took place in me a realisation through penetrative discernment: ‘When there is no birth, there is no old age and death. With the ending of birth comes the ending of old age and death.’

tassa mayhaṁ bhikkhave yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: jātiyā kho asati jarāmaraṇaṁ na hoti jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇanirodho ti. (SN ii 8-9)

Illustration: manasikārā, contemplation

A certain bhikkhu who had gone for his daytime abiding kept thinking unvirtuous, spiritually unwholesome thoughts, namely sensuous thought, unbenevolent thought, malicious thought.

so bhikkhu divāvihāragato pāpake akusale vitakke vitakketi. Seyyathīdaṁ kāmavitakkaṁ vyāpādavitakkaṁ vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ.

Then the deva inhabiting that woodland grove… addressed him in verse:

Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā… taṁ bhikkhuṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

Through improper contemplation you are eaten by your thoughts. Having relinquished what is improper, you should reflect properly.

Ayoniso manasikārā so vitakkehi khajjasi
Ayoniso paṭinissajja yoniso anuvicintaya. (SN i 203)

➥ manasikaroto: (main article see: manasikāra)

Illustration: manasikaroto, contemplates

When a bhikkhu improperly contemplates, unarisen perceptually obscuring states arise, and arisen perceptually obscuring states increase.

Ayoniso bhikkhave manasikaroto anuppannā ceva āsavā uppajjanti uppannā ca āsavā pavaḍḍhanti.

When a bhikkhu properly contemplates, unarisen āsavas do not arise, and arisen āsavas are abandoned.

Yoniso ca kho bhikkhave manasikaroto anuppannā ceva āsavā na uppajjanti uppannā ca āsavā pahīyanti. (MN i 7)

Illustration: manasikāroti, contemplation

And what is the condition that nourishes mindfulness and full consciousness? Proper contemplation, one should reply…

ko cāhāro satisampajaññassa yoniso manasikārotissa vacanīyaṁ…

And what is the condition that nourishes proper contemplation? Faith [in the perfection of the Perfect One’s enlightenment], one should reply…

ko cāhāro yoniso manasikārassa saddhātissa vacanīyaṁ. (AN v 118)

Illustration: manasikāra, contemplation

Bhikkhus, whatever factors that are spiritually wholesome, part of what is spiritually wholesome, pertaining to what is spiritually wholesome, they all stem from proper contemplation, emanate from proper contemplation, and proper contemplation is declared to be the chief among them.

Ye keci bhikkhave dhammā kusalā kusalabhāgiyā kusalapakkhiyā sabbe te yoniso manasikāramūlakā yoniso manasikārasamosaraṇā yoniso manasikāro tesaṁ dhammānaṁ aggamakkhāyati.

When a bhikkhu is perfect in proper contemplation, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate the seven factors of enlightenment.

yoniso manasikārasampannassetaṁ bhikkhave bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ satta bojjhaṅge bhāvessati. (SN v 91)