..續本文上一頁st talking about a mad person; this is someone who is diligent. Such a person really knows what is useful, in so many different ways. But when others look at him and try to figure him out, they will see someone who is crazy.

　　When Sumedho looks at lay people, he will see them as ignorant, like little children. When lay people consider Sumedho, they will think he is someone who”s lost it. You don”t have any interest in the things they live for. To put it another way, an arahant and an insane person are similar. Think about it. When people look at an arahant, they will think he is crazy. If you curse him, he doesn”t care. Whatever you say to him, he doesn”t react - like a crazy person. But crazy and having awareness. A truly insane person may not get angry when he is cursed, but that”s because he doesn”t know what”s going on. Someone observing the arahant and the mad person might see them as the same. But the lowest is mad, the very highest is arahant. Highest and lowest are similar, if you look at their external manifestation. But their inner awareness, their sense of things, is very different.

　　Think about this. When someone says something that ought to make you angry and you just let it go, people might think you”re crazy. So when you teach others about these things, they don”t understand very easily. It has to be internalized for them to really understand.

　　For example, in this country, people love beauty. If you just say, ””No, these things aren”t really beautiful,”” they don”t want to listen. ””Ageing”” - they”re not pleased. ””Death”” - they don”t want to hear about it. It means they aren”t ready to understand. If they won”t believe you, don”t fault them for that. It”s like you”re trying to barter with them, to give them something new to replace what they have, but they don”t see any value in the thing you are offering. If what you have is obviously of the highest value, of course they will accept it. But now why don”t they believe you

　　 Your wisdom isn”t sufficient. So don”t get angry with them: ””What”s wrong with you

　　 You”re out of your mind!”” Don”t do that. You have to teach yourself first, establish the truth of the Dhamma in yourself and develop the proper way to present it to others, and then they will accept it.

　　Sometimes the Ajahn teaches the disciples, but the disciples don”t believe what he says. That might make you upset, but instead of getting upset, it”s better to search out the reason for their not believing: the thing you are offering has little value to them. If you offer something of more value than what they have, of course they will want it.

　　When you”re about to get angry at your disciples, you should think like this, and then you can stop your anger. It”s really not much fun to be angry.

　　In order to get his disciples to realize the Dhamma, the Buddha taught a single path, but with varying characteristics. He didn”t use only one form of teaching or present the Dhamma in the same way for everyone. But he taught for the single purpose of transcending suffering. All the meditations he taught were for this one purpose.

　　The people of Europe already have a lot in their lives. If you try to lay something big and complicated on them, it might be too much. So what should you do

　　 Any suggestions

　　If anyone has something to talk about, now is the time. We won”t have this chance again.... Or if you don”t have anything to discuss, if you”ve exhausted your doubts, I guess you can be Pacceka Buddhas.

　　In the future, some of you will be Dhamma teachers. You will teach others. When you teach others you are also teaching yourselves... do any of you agree with this

　　 When you teach others, you also teach yourself. Your own skillfulness and wisdom increase. Your contemplation increases. For example, you teach someone for …

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