The Twenty-Five Preliminary Ways & Means
for Observation of the Mind, Page Three

From The Calm-Observation, Volume Four...

1. The Possession of the Five Conditions.
1. Embracing the Precepts of Morality
• Ten Levels are enumerated
• Violation vs. Embracing of the Precepts is examined
• Confession Purifies the Mind that has violated the precepts
2. Possessing Adequate Clothing and Food - Providing resources to the body so one can serve the Path.
1. Adequate Clothing - Clothes prevent the humiliation of unsightliness (sin, defilement), protect one from heat (cravings, intentions) & cold (opinions, views) as well as mosquitos & horseflies (similar disurbances from others), and adorn the body (with the virtues & wisdom of enlightenment).
• The higher response; One is 'deep in the mountains' where one 'wears the clothes of The One That Has Come'. This corresponds with the endurance that is the serene extinction of the middle way.
• The medium response; 'with the three garments of the monk', there is the endurance that is the performance of the Twelve Dhutas¹ (austerities). With modesty one earns one's clothes through the attainment of merit - This corresponds with that which is temporary
• The lower response; enduring in the 'begging for one's clothing', for those in poverty and need, those who are in rags living in the Aranya² (the wilderness) - This corresponds with emptiness
2. Adequate Food - Spiritual food is joy in the Dharma and the contentment of meditation.
• The higher response, eating the sweet fruits that grow everywhere deep in the mountains - the great spiritual insight that observes all without obstruction - This corresponds with the mean.
• The medium response, performing austerities (Dhuta) for one's food, earning it through the attainment of merit - This corresponds with that which is temporary.
• The lower response, begging for food in the Aranya - This corresponds with emptiness.
3. Residing in a quiet place
• The higher response; A distant valley deep in the mountains - the deep abiding spiritual peace - This corresponds with the mean.
• The medium response; Three Li³ (one mile) away there is a place that one can go to and come back from where one can perform Dhuta . This corresponds with that which is temporary.
• The lower response; In the Aranya Sangharama⁴ - A spot on the public temple grounds where one can escape to attain peace - This corresponds with emptiness.
4. Ceasing all distracting relationships
1. One's Livelihood - one's gains & losses and one's attachment to material things
2. One's Personal Affairs - one's personal entanglements with and obligations to others
3. One's Talents and Abilities - healing arts, divination, drawing, painting, games, writing, magic, etc.
4. One's Knowledge - one's study and philosophical speculations, includin the reading & reciting of the Sutras
5. Good spiritual acquaintances
1. Those That Protect One from the Outside - Those that take care of one and guides one from dangers, like a mother that serves and protects her child. It is also represented by the majestic light of the Buddhas & Bodhisattvas that cover and protect one. This corresponds with emptiness.
2. Those with the Same Practice - Those that are fellow travellers on the spiritual path, one's peers who will stand by one for better or for worse. It also represents the practices such as the six perfections and the thirty seven facets of spiritual awakening. This corresponds with that which is temporary.
3. The Conferor of the Doctrine - One's spiritual teacher. It is also the nature of spirituality (Dharma), the principle of spiritual truth that is the object of enlightnment. This corresponds with the mean.

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Footnotes:

1. The Twelve Dhuta: The austerities traditionally practiced by Buddhists to attain spiritual merit. Dhuta literally means 'Shaking off' as in the shaking off the trials of this world and stirring oneself to duty. The Dhuta deal with one's clothing, one's livelihood, one's diet and one's place of residence. The Twelve Dhuta: 

2. The Aranya: Literally 'the forest', it is the wilderness, the great outdoors that was the home of the spiritual seekers of India

3. Li: Chinese measure of distance that is anout one-third of a mile or one-half of a kilometer.

4. Aranya Sangharama: A place of solitude at a public temple or monastery were one can find solitude, normally in a grove of trees.

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