..續本文上一頁 a little clarity of insight, we call this ”little vipassana.” When clear seeing increases a bit, we call that ”moderate vipassana.” If knowing is fully in accordance with the Truth, we call that ”ultimate vipassana.” Personally I prefer to use the word wisdom (pañña) rather than ”vipassana.” If we think we are going to sit down from time to time and practice ”vipassana meditation,” we”re going to have a very difficult time of it. Insight has to proceed from peace and tranquility. The entire process will happen naturally of its own accord. We can”t force it.
The Buddha taught that this process matures at its own rate. Having reached this level of practice, we allow it to develop according to our innate capabilities, spiritual aptitude and the merit we”ve accumulated in the past. But we never stop putting effort into the practice. Whether the progress is swift or slow is out of our control. It”s just like planting a tree. The tree knows how fast it should grow. If we want it to grow more quickly than it is, this is pure delusion. If we want it to grow more slowly, recognize this as delusion as well. If we do the work, the results will be forthcoming - just like planting a tree. For example, say we wanted to plant a chili bush. Our responsibility is to dig a hole, plant the seedling, water it, fertilize it and protect it from insects. This is our job, our end of the bargain. This is where faith then comes in. Whether the chili plant grows or not is up to it. It”s not our business. We can”t go tugging on the plant, trying to stretch it and make it grow faster. That”s not how nature works. Our responsibility is to water and fertilize it. Practicing Dhamma in the same way puts our hearts at ease.
If we realize Enlightenment in this lifetime, that”s fine. If we have to wait until our next life, no matter. We have faith and unfaltering conviction in the Dhamma. Whether we progress quickly or slowly is up to our innate capabilities, spiritual aptitude, and the merit we”ve accumulated so far. Practicing like this puts the heart at ease. It”s like we”re riding in a horse cart. We don”t put the cart before the horse. Or it”s like trying to plow a rice paddy while walking in front of our water buffalo rather than behind. What I”m saying here is that the mind is getting ahead of itself. It”s impatient to get quick results. That”s not the way to do it. Don”t walk in front of your water buffalo. You have to walk behind the water buffalo.
It”s just like that chili plant we are nurturing. Give it water and fertilizer, and it will do the job of absorbing the nutrients. When ants or termites come to infest it, we chase them away. Doing just this much is enough for the chili to grow beautifully on its own, and once it is growing beautifully, don”t try to force it to flower when we think it should flower. It”s none of our business. It will just create useless suffering. Allow it to bloom on its own. And once the flowers do bloom don”t demand that it immediately produce chili peppers. Don”t rely on coercion. That really causes suffering! Once we figure this out, we understand what our responsibilities are and are not. Each has their specific duty to fulfill. The mind knows its role in the work to be done. If the mind doesn”t understand its role, it will try to force the chili plant to produce peppers on the very day we plant it. The mind will insist that it grow, flower, and produce peppers all in one day.
This is nothing but the second Noble Truth: craving causes suffering to arise. If we are aware of this Truth and ponder it, we”ll understand that trying to force results in our Dhamma practice is pure delusion. It”s wrong. Understanding how it works, we let go and allow things to mature according to our innate capabilities, spiritua…
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