..續本文上一頁erstood.

　　You must also repeatedly examine this until you comprehend and then the letting-go will happen of itself. There! Get to see it clearly. Where is feeling, where is painful feeling

　　 If it”s present, you can”t deny its existence nor make it in to something else. It must always be true to its natural state.

　　Perception is recollection.25 We”ve been looking back from the day of our birth right up to the present. In all of that, have we managed to find anything that”s of fundamental significance

　　 If amongst it all there really were ”self, ”creature,” or ”person”, then probably we wouldn”t be able to find a chest big enough to store them all — because we”re continually recalling more and more of them all the time. Yet really, as soon as they are recalled, they pass away without remainder. Listen then, what sort of essence can be found in them

　　The thinking processing26 perpetually concocts from dawn till dusk, dusk to dawn. Sometimes it thinks so much that it overheats and the heart becoming exhausted. This may continue to the point of nervous breakdown, and may even end up killing someone. For instance, take the person who pines away through some sorrow or disappointment. The defilements takeover this aggregate as their concocting-device, as their tool to keep up the pressure of proliferating thoughts and imaginings. Only mindfulness and wisdom can effectively check this proliferation.

　　When the defilements take over this recollecting and thought processing, they can pierce right through to the heart. The results are torment and suffering in no small measure. When it”s worse than this it may end with insanity. We are tormented because of so much thinking, yet we don”t ask ourselves whether it”s all worthwhile.

　　Consciousness27 is the plain awareness of an object present through contact, which then dies away together with it. Where in this is any core or substance to be found

　　 It”s here with these objects where we fall into delusion. Other than this it”s merely the byproduct of the defilements.

　　These are the fundamental principles. This is the way to tread the Path of Practice and it is here that we must investigate to achieve clear insight. In other words, this is the Truth of the Path and is the means of correcting and overcoming our delusion. Then, as the result of our letting go, the heart can be at peace and free from all worries.

　　Death is a basic principle beyond the world”s challenge or objection. The laws of impermanence, suffering and not-self are like a highway, for they shape the way and course of nature. If tenure isn”t yet up (the body) won”t break apart, but when the time finally comes, there”s no stopping it — however tenaciously we may cling and hold back. It will just go its own way, along the highway, the way of nature, which takes precedence and can”t be blocked or stayed. Nature must take its course, for this is an undeniable principle directing things throughout this world. We must investigate so that we can see according to their true nature — as they say, ”felling a tree from the windward side.”28

　　So don”t go against the Lord Buddha”s Dhamma that accords with the ”natural course”, but rather achieve knowledge by following the truth. The heart will then be at peace. But when the heart coexists with the defilements, it dwells in confusion and consequently reaps suffering. We have already seen the harm of this and so must make sure the heart stays with Dhamma, with mindfulness and wisdom. The heart will then be safeguarded and at peace.

　　Strive to overcome these things known as ”defilements”, wherever you find them. After dealing with the external ones turn to those involved with the body and then inside the heart itself. Deploy wisdom for a complete all-round penetration of them — these authors of the c…

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