..續本文上一頁also the state of full liberation beyond all conditioned states. If you understand this properly, no teacher will be able to harm you in any way. Then if any teacher says, "Sit in front of me for one hour, I will give mettā and suck out all your sins," you will get up and walk away because you don”t want this kind of mettā.

　　A student may sit in front of the teacher with folded hands and plead, "O teacher! Please wash away my sins." Today, such teachers may do it for the sake of the prestige and respect that they get from the students because they are sitting on the Dhamma seat. After one or two generations, such teachers will start asking for offerings. "We have removed all your defilements and you have not given us anything. Whatever you give will be of much merit, which will take you to heaven or to higher celestial planes." This practice will start.

　　So I am giving all of you this warning now. Whether I am here or not, do not allow Dhamma to get corrupted. Every meditator should learn to stand on his own feet. The duty of every teacher is to teach people to become self-dependent and to inspire them to become liberated. "You have defiled your mind, you will have to remove these defilements yourself. We are showing you the path that we have received. If you walk on this path, you will get rid of your defilements."

　　If this is followed, Dhamma will remain pure for centuries and lead to great benefit for all. But if there is priesthood-"I will liberate you or I will ask an invisible power to liberate you"-Dhamma will get corrupted just as it was corrupted in the past.

　　Therefore, those Vipassana teachers and students who are wise, must be alert. They must get rid of their ego and, with humility, they must preserve the Dhamma in its pristine purity for the benefit of more and more people. If everyone understands this and Dhamma spreads, it will lead to real happiness, real benefit. The path of liberation will be opened to all suffering humanity. Anyone who walks on the path will be benefited and the path will be preserved.

　　Otherwise, this path will gradually be lost if people develop the feeling: "Why should we exert ourselves if someone else is going to liberate us

　　 Why should we go to a ten-day meditation course where we have to maintain silence and we don”t get any dinner

　　 We won”t go. This person will give us mettā, so we are certain to get liberated." A few foolish people will do this in the future.

　　But those Vipassana meditators who are wise will not encourage such foolishness and instead will feel: "We have received such a priceless jewel! It has benefited us so much! May more and more people get the same benefit! There are so many suffering people in the world. May they get the right path! May they also find the way to come out of their suffering by their own efforts!" This feeling is very beneficial.

　　If Dhamma is to be re-established, it has to be established in its pristine purity. May this sentiment arise that Dhamma should be established in its pure form for a long time!

　　Let us help to establish pure Dhamma to the best of our ability. May it result in great happiness and harmony. May all beings be peaceful, be happy, be liberated!

　　Bhavatu sabba maṇgalaṃ!

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