<p>A Brahmin disciple approached Buddha and told
"I've learnt many things in my life. But I really can't remember them"
Buddha answered that the reason for forgetting what you learn are Pancha Nivarana(Five Mental Hindrances). They are</p>

<ol>
<li>Desire</li>
<li>Ill Will/Anger</li>
<li>sloth and torpor(Tiredness/Sleepiness)</li>
<li>Excitement and Worry</li>
<li>Perplexity</li>
</ol>

<p>The solution to avoid this is practicing meditation. </p>

<p>Source
<a href="http://www.maithri.com/links/articles/mind5hindrn.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.maithri.com/links/articles/mind5hindrn.htm</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-13T12:36:55.443Z
2015-05-13T12:36:55.443Z
PasanW
<p>I am not sure if this fits your tradition, but perhaps it might be a value addition to you or perhaps another reader. </p>

<p>The best source to find out on how to be mindful is to get the information from the Maha Satipatthana Sutta. Here it mentioned that the awareness should be on the 4 foundations of mindfulness (these relate to the aggregates). In doing this you should pay particular attention to arising and passing of phenomena. You have to divide and dissect the foundation that you are looking at - e.g. if you look at body you should divide and dissect until you come to the level of Kalapa (sub atomic particles). You have to look piecing and penetratingly looking inside and out - e.g. if you take the body look at phenomena on the surface and also inside like in the organs. What ever part of the body or if you look at the whole body you should be sensitive to seeing phenomena arising and passing. You should try to actively or passively calm the fabrications. </p>

<p>Now coming back to studying there will be a lot of mental activities. Some of this can be mental or verbal fabrications. You cannot avoid this. But any mental activity creates a sensation. You can keep looking at these sensations with out reaction. Pleasant sensation can be used to eradicate craving, stressful sensation to eradicate aversion and neutral sensations to eradicate delusion (see <a href="http://store.pariyatti.org/Comprehensive-Manual-of-Abhidhamma-A--PDF-eBook_p_4362.html" rel="nofollow">A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma</a> for the technicalities). Also try keeping your mind focused on the studying. If it goes to something else bring back your mind to the breath for a short while and continue studying keeping your thinking limited to studying. When taking a break whatever object your mind is on keep dividing and dissecting and look at it piercing and penetratingly. Also look at your breathing if you feel agitated or restless when studying for long hours. If you feel sleepy scan your body part by part staying on one place until you can feel something; if your body is already sensitive scan in rapid space. What ever the case keep your mind equanimous (devoid of craving and clinging) towards any sensation you experience.</p>

<p>Hope this is helpful. If you need anymore clarification please comment or post another question. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-13T05:11:07.867Z
Thanks but I would like advice from more users, particularly those who practise in the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition.
Samma-Sati
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-13T05:28:20.853Z
Sure. It can be an alternative approach. Though it might not be in line with the tradition you mention. Perhaps someone else can add another answer.
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-10T05:10:05.093Z
2015-05-13T06:58:00.850Z
2015-05-13T06:58:00.850Z
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<p>This is a tricky one. I have my method, and hopefully you will find it useful.</p>

<p>During study the mind is actively engaged in understanding the subject at hand. So it is strenuous and perhaps pointless or even detrimental to try to understand the subject <strong>and</strong> penetrating deeply into the reality of the mental phenomena at play. To me, there is a very good compromise between the two goals.</p>

<p>One of the main characteristics of vipassana is to see things exactly as they are. There are many methods to acomplish this, among them the Mahasi Vipassana Technique. The famous instructions the Buddha gave to Bahya apply here, in my opinion. Namely "In the seen, just the seen; in the sensed, just the sensed; <strong>in the cognised, just the cognised</strong>". Therefore, I usualy try to study with the aim of understanding the ideas without adding defilements to the ideas. During study you may not be directly concerned with deep insight, so you are not directing your mind to that purpose. But you will be more dispassionate, peaceful, alert and with more mental clarity. This is useful for vipassana, much like samatha is useful for vipassana.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-13T19:14:05.483Z
2015-05-13T19:14:05.483Z
EyeArrow
<p>I am a science student at an university and I practise mindfulness in the Mahasi tradition. My question is, how can I be mindful while studying? This is a very important question for me since most of my time as a student is spent in studying.</p>

<p>Thank you very much.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-13T14:14:06.117Z
I thing your best bet is to get the attention of Ven. yuttadhammo, bakmoon, anthony, sankha-kulathantille or lanka who I think are from your tradition.
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-15T03:33:40.700Z
Yes indeed, it would be great to get an answer from any of them (especially Ven. Yuttadhammo). I have heard him talk about mindfulness in the context of daily life but pretty sure that he hasn't discussed mindfulness in the context of student life.
Samma-Sati
<theravada><personal-practice><meditation-mindfulness>
How to be mindful while studying?
# How to be mindful while studying?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-05-10)

I am a science student at an university and I practise mindfulness in the Mahasi tradition. My question is, how can I be mindful while studying? This is a very important question for me since most of my time as a student is spent in studying.

Thank you very much.

**Tags:** theravada, personal-practice, meditation-mindfulness

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I thing your best bet is to get the attention of Ven. yuttadhammo, bakmoon, anthony, sankha-kulathantille or lanka who I think are from your tradition.  
> **username_0**: Yes indeed, it would be great to get an answer from any of them (especially Ven. Yuttadhammo). I have heard him talk about mindfulness in the context of daily life but pretty sure that he hasn't discussed mindfulness in the context of student life.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-05-10. Score: 4

I am not sure if this fits your tradition, but perhaps it might be a value addition to you or perhaps another reader.

The best source to find out on how to be mindful is to get the information from the Maha Satipatthana Sutta. Here it mentioned that the awareness should be on the 4 foundations of mindfulness (these relate to the aggregates). In doing this you should pay particular attention to arising and passing of phenomena. You have to divide and dissect the foundation that you are looking at - e.g. if you look at body you should divide and dissect until you come to the level of Kalapa (sub atomic particles). You have to look piecing and penetratingly looking inside and out - e.g. if you take the body look at phenomena on the surface and also inside like in the organs. What ever part of the body or if you look at the whole body you should be sensitive to seeing phenomena arising and passing. You should try to actively or passively calm the fabrications.

Now coming back to studying there will be a lot of mental activities. Some of this can be mental or verbal fabrications. You cannot avoid this. But any mental activity creates a sensation. You can keep looking at these sensations with out reaction. Pleasant sensation can be used to eradicate craving, stressful sensation to eradicate aversion and neutral sensations to eradicate delusion (see [A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma](http://store.pariyatti.org/Comprehensive-Manual-of-Abhidhamma-A--PDF-eBook_p_4362.html) for the technicalities). Also try keeping your mind focused on the studying. If it goes to something else bring back your mind to the breath for a short while and continue studying keeping your thinking limited to studying. When taking a break whatever object your mind is on keep dividing and dissecting and look at it piercing and penetratingly. Also look at your breathing if you feel agitated or restless when studying for long hours. If you feel sleepy scan your body part by part staying on one place until you can feel something; if your body is already sensitive scan in rapid space. What ever the case keep your mind equanimous (devoid of craving and clinging) towards any sensation you experience.

Hope this is helpful. If you need anymore clarification please comment or post another question.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks but I would like advice from more users, particularly those who practise in the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition.  
> **username_1**: Sure. It can be an alternative approach. Though it might not be in line with the tradition you mention. Perhaps someone else can add another answer.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-05-13. Score: 3

This is a tricky one. I have my method, and hopefully you will find it useful.

During study the mind is actively engaged in understanding the subject at hand. So it is strenuous and perhaps pointless or even detrimental to try to understand the subject **and** penetrating deeply into the reality of the mental phenomena at play. To me, there is a very good compromise between the two goals.

One of the main characteristics of vipassana is to see things exactly as they are. There are many methods to acomplish this, among them the Mahasi Vipassana Technique. The famous instructions the Buddha gave to Bahya apply here, in my opinion. Namely "In the seen, just the seen; in the sensed, just the sensed; **in the cognised, just the cognised**". Therefore, I usualy try to study with the aim of understanding the ideas without adding defilements to the ideas. During study you may not be directly concerned with deep insight, so you are not directing your mind to that purpose. But you will be more dispassionate, peaceful, alert and with more mental clarity. This is useful for vipassana, much like samatha is useful for vipassana.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-05-13. Score: 2

A Brahmin disciple approached Buddha and told
"I've learnt many things in my life. But I really can't remember them"
Buddha answered that the reason for forgetting what you learn are Pancha Nivarana(Five Mental Hindrances). They are

1. Desire
2. Ill Will/Anger
3. sloth and torpor(Tiredness/Sleepiness)
4. Excitement and Worry
5. Perplexity

The solution to avoid this is practicing meditation.

Source
<http://www.maithri.com/links/articles/mind5hindrn.htm>


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