Suppleness

by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

from ‘Joyful path of good fortune’

(the complete Buddhist path to enlightenment)

Mental suppleness

The definition of mental suppleness is a flexibility of the mind induced by virtuous concentration.

In general, concentration induces two types of suppleness – physical suppleness & mental suppleness – but only the latter is mental factor suppleness. Physical suppleness is a flexible & light tactile object within our body that develops when meditation causes a pure wind to pervade the body. It purifies the winds & makes our body flexible & light, & this in turn induces mental suppleness.

Physical suppleness functions to overcome stiffness & inflexibility of the body, & makes our body feel light, comfortable, & easy to use in virtuous actions. Mental suppleness removes the inflexibility, slowness, & heaviness of the mind & makes it light & easy to use in virtuous actions. The mental rigidity that is dispelled by suppleness is the basis of many delusions, & is a principle cause of resistance to & dislike of virtuous activities. By removing rigidity, suppleness overcomes laziness & other obstacles. However, only strong suppleness can do this effectively; weak, short-lived suppleness does not have the strength to overcome many obstacles. Both physical & mental suppleness develop initially through meditation, & then function to refine & improve our concentration. Mental suppleness enables us to direct our mind wherever we wish & thus helps both analytical & placement meditation.

Through attaining full, authentic physical & mental suppleness we shall continuously experience the physical & mental bliss of suppleness, & as a result we shall feel little need to seek external sources of pleasure. Mental suppleness exists whenever we experience pure, virtuous concentration. However, on the 1st & 2nd mental abidings the suppleness is so subtle that it goes unnoticed. Therefore this suppleness is called ‘subtle suppleness.’ Gross mental suppleness first develops on the third mental abiding. From then on it gradually becomes stronger & stronger until we attain tranquil abiding, at which point our suppleness is fully developed. At this stage suppleness pervades our body & mind, & we experience the bliss of suppleness without interruption. When we have attained this unchangeable suppleness we no longer experience the physical & mental discomfort that makes virtuous actions difficult, & so we become completely free from laziness. With suppleness, spiritual practice is very easy because when it arises our mind naturally becomes tranquil & positive.

Initially, mental suppleness is developed through the force of concentration, but there is also a type of suppleness that is induced by wisdom. This is accomplished as a result of analytical meditation combined with tranquil abiding. The development of this type of suppleness marks the attainment of superior seeing. With superior seeing, our wisdom & concentration become mutually beneficial, & we attain the union of tranquil abiding & superior seeing.