How You Balance the Five Controlling Faculties 9/9

So mindfulness is always necessary, as is the seasoning of salt in all sauces, and a prime minister for all the king’s a f fairs. Hence the ancient commentaries say the The Blessed One said, ‘Min dfulness is always necessary in any meditation subject.’ Why? B ecause it is a refuge and protection for the meditating mind. Min dfulness is a refuge, because it helps the mind arrive at special and high states it has never reached or known before. With out min dfulness the mind is incapable of attaining any spe cial and extrao rd inary states. Mindfulness protects the mind, and keeps the object of meditation from b e coming lost. That is why to one discerning it with insight - knowledge, mindfulness appears as that which pr otects the o b ject of meditation, as well as the mind of the yog i. Without mindfulness, a person is unable to lift the mind up or r estrain the mind, which is why The Bud dha said it is necessary in all i n stances.