Two Kinds of Thought
MN 19 — Two Kinds of ThoughtThe Passage
"Monks, before my enlightenment, while I was still only an unenlightened Bodhisatta, it occurred to me: 'Suppose that I divide my thoughts into two classes.' Then I set on one side thoughts of sensual desire, thoughts of ill will, and thoughts of cruelty, and I set on the other side thoughts of renunciation, thoughts of non-ill will, and thoughts of non-cruelty. As I abided thus, diligent, ardent, and resolute, a thought of sensual desire arose in me. I understood thus: 'This thought of sensual desire has arisen in me. This leads to my own affliction, to others' affliction, and to the affliction of both; it obstructs wisdom, causes difficulties, and leads away from Nibbāna.'"
Summary
The Dvedhāvitakka Sutta offers a remarkably honest account of the Buddha's own mental training before his awakening. He describes how he learned to distinguish between two kinds of thought: those leading toward suffering and those leading toward freedom. Rather than suppressing unwholesome thoughts, he observed them clearly, understanding their consequences. What's striking is the Buddha's gentle patience with himself — he doesn't claim to have immediately conquered harmful thoughts, but rather describes a gradual process of recognition and redirection. When unskillful thoughts arose, he noted them. When skillful thoughts arose, he followed them. Through this simple but persistent practice, the mind gradually inclined toward what was beneficial. The teaching offers hope: even the Buddha had to work with his own wandering mind.