conquering

Conquering Discontent and Delight, Fear and Dread  M 6 
This is a passage from our exploration of ethics.

 Discontent and Delight [entrapping delights, not happiness of contentment] 

If a person should wish: 

         "May I become a conqueror of discontent and delight,
          and may discontent and delight not conquer me;
          may I abide transcending discontent and delight wherever they arise,"

• let her/him fulfill the precepts [=sīla]
• be devoted to internal serenity of mind
• not neglect meditation [=samādhi]
• be possessed of insight [=paññā] 

           and dwell in  empty huts


Fear and Dread 

If a person should wish:

 "May I become a conqueror of fear and dread,
  and may fear and dread not conquer me;
  may I abide transcending fear and dread wherever they arise,"

• let her/him fulfill the precepts [=sīla]
• be devoted to internal serenity of mind
• not neglect meditation [=samādhi]
• be possessed of insight [=paññā]

          and dwell in empty huts.  

I especially like the last line of this instruction.  I understand the meaning to be literal, however, it works much better for me to think, not so much a physical empty hut, but a personality empty of attachment to it's self.

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progress is natural

From one of the suttas in our summer dharma study:

Progress is Natural   A 10:2

For one who is virtuous and endowed with virtue,
there is no need for an act of will:
May non-remorse arise in me!
It is natural ... that non-remorse will arise in one who is virtuous.

For one free of remorse,
there is no need for an act of will:
May gladness arise in me!
It is natural ... that gladness will arise in one who is free from remorse.

For one who is glad of heart,
there is no need for an act of will:
May joy arise in me!
It is natural ... that joy will arise in one who is glad of heart. 

For one who is joyful,
there is no need for an act of will:
May my body be serene!
It is natural ... that the body will be serene for one who is joyful.

For one of serene body,
there is no need for an act of will:
May I feel happiness!
It is natural ... that one will be happy whose body is serene.

For one who is happy,
there is no need for an act of will:
May my mind be concentrated!
It is natural ... that one will have a concentrted mind whose mind is happy.

For one who is concentrated,
there is no need for an act of will:
May I know and see things as they really are!
It is natural ... that one with a concentrated mind will see things as they really are.
...
...
Thus ... the preceding qualities flow into the succeeding qualities;
the succeeding qualities bring the preceding qualities to perfection,
for going from the near shore to the far shore.

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