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The Scripture on Mastering the Mind is an important Buddhist sutra, included in the Collection of Sutras of the Taishō Tripiṭaka. This scripture is traditionally regarded as spoken by the Buddha and later compiled by his disciples. Its core teaching lies in instructing practitioners on how to subdue and govern their own minds—that is, mastering the mind. The sutra elaborates in detail on methods such as right mindfulness and right knowledge to counteract scatteredness, dullness, and other mental states, thereby achieving inner purity and focused meditation. This scripture holds a significant position within the Buddhist practice system, providing specific guidance particularly for meditation practice. It serves as one of the foundational texts for cultivating śamatha (calm abiding) and vipaśyanā (insight), and for developing concentration and wisdom, exerting a profound influence on the development of meditation methods in both the Northern and Southern Buddhist traditions.
Human translations available