..續本文上一頁dicated. If this happens, the practice of Vipassana that actually eradicates the past stock of saṅkhārās (mental conditionings) in a scientific manner will be lost and people will be trapped in this false belief. Just as many other spiritual traditions got corrupted over a period of time, let not Vipassana also become devalued. All meditators of the present and the future will have to be alert about this danger.

　　May the teaching of the Tathāgata always remind them of this danger. Let them continuously keep in mind the proper way to pay respects to the Buddhas

　　"Imāya dhammānu Dhamma paṭipattiyā Buddhaṃ pūjemi."

　　"I walk on the path of Dhamma and thus pay my respects to the Buddha." Walking on the path of Dhamma means the practice of applying sīla, samādhi and paññā in one”s life and only this is the real worship of the Buddha. This understanding will have to be constantly strengthened.

　　Upon being asked by someone, the Buddha explained in plain words about the right way to worship the Buddhas:

　　Āraddha viriye pahitatte,

　　niccaṃ daḷha parakkame;

　　samagge sāvake passa,

　　etaṃ Buddhāna vandanaṃ.

　　Look! How these disciples are gathered together and completely engrossed in meditation. They are continuously engaged in resolute effort for purification of mind. Truly, this is the proper way to worship the Buddha.

　　When there was a shower of celestial flowers on the Buddha just before his parinibbāna, he repeated this truth in plain words:

　　"Na kho ānanda! Ettāvatā tathāgato sakkato vā hoti, garukato vā, mānito vā, pūjito vā, apacito vā."

　　Ananda! The Tathāgata is not respected, honoured, revered, worshipped in this way.

　　"Yo kho ānanda! Bhikkhu vā bhikkhunī vā upāsako vā upāsikā vā dhammānu Dhamma p-paṭipanno viharati sāmicippaṭipanno anudham-macārī, so tathāgataṃ sakkaroti garukaroti māneti pūjeti apaciyati paramāya pūjāya."

　　(But) Ananda! If any monk or nun, or male or female lay devotee dwells established on the path of Dhamma, the path of truth, living according to the Dhamma for the attainment of the highest welfare, then the Tathāgata is respected, honoured, revered and worshipped by it.

　　"Evaṃ hi vo ānanda! Sikkhatabbanti."

　　Oh Ananda! You should learn this.

　　The Buddha is truly worshipped by practising sīla, by developing samādhi, and by establishing equanimity and remaining aware and attentive through the awakening of paññā.

　　Let these words of the Buddha about proper worship echo in the minds of all Vipassana meditators and other readers. Let them keep proper understanding that they can gain inspiration by the recitation of these verses, while keeping the ideal of the Buddha in mind. Just as the Buddha became enlightened by liberation from all defilements and by perfection of all virtues, let them walk step by step on the Dhamma-path of sīla, samādhi, and paññā and remain engaged in the meritorious work of avoiding vices and accumulating virtues. This spiritual technique capable of totally eradicating all suffering from the human mind must be kept free from all hollow rituals. Let everyone practise Dhamma in its pristine purity.

　　If this Dhamma volition is maintained, it will certainly lead to great happiness, great welfare.

　　Kalyāṇamitta,

　　S. N. Goenka

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