..續本文上一頁that giving alms has results like that, observing the precepts has results like this, meditation has results like that, heaven is like this, nibbana is like that. If we simply say these things and memorize them, without being interested in the practice, we won”t get to go there, we won”t get any of the results.

　　So now to focus down on the practice of fighting with defilement: The defilements have been the enemies of the Dhamma from time immemorial. The Buddha has already taught that the defilements are the enemies of the Dhamma. Where do they lie

　　 Right here -- in the human heart. Where does the Dhamma lie

　　 In the human heart. This is why human beings have to fight defilement. In fighting the defilements, there has to be some suffering and pain as a matter of course. Whatever weapons they use, whatever their attack, whatever their tactics, the Dhamma has to go spinning on in. The ways of sidestepping, fighting, jabbing, attacking: the ways of eliminating defilement all have to be in line with the policies of the Dhamma -- such as Right Views and Right Attitudes -- spinning back and forth. Gradually the defilements collapse through our practice. This is what is meant by the middle way.

　　So. Go ahead and want. Want to gain release from suffering. Want to gain merit. Want to go to heaven. Want to go to nibbana. Go ahead and want as much as you like, because it”s all part of the path. It”s not the case that all wanting is craving (tanha). If we think that all wanting is craving, then if we don”t let there be craving, it”s as if we were dead. No wanting, no anything: Is that what it means not to have defilement or craving

　　 Is that kind of person anything special

　　 It”s nothing special at all, because it”s a dead person. They”re all over the place. A person who isn”t dead has to want this and that -- just be careful that you don”t go wanting in the wrong direction, that”s all. If you want in the wrong direction, it”s craving and defilement. If you want in the right direction, it”s the path, so make sure you understand this.

　　The stronger our desire, the more resolute our persistence will be. Desire and determination are part of the path, the way to gain release from stress. When our desire to go heaven, to attain nibbana, to gain release from stress is strong and makes us brave in the fight, then our persistence, our stamina, our fighting spirit are pulled together into a single strength by our desire to attain nibbana and release from stress. They keep spinning away with no concern for day or night, the month or the year. They simply keep at the fight all the time. How about it

　　 Are they resolute now

　　 When the desire gets that strong, we have to be resolute, meditators. No matter how many defilements there are, make them collapse. We can”t retreat. We”re simply determined to make the defilements collapse. If they don”t collapse, then we”re prepared to collapse if we”re no match for them. But the word ”lose” doesn”t exist in the heart. If they kick us out of the ring, we climb right back in to fight again. If they kick us out again, we climb back in again and keep on fighting. After this happens many times, we can start kicking the defilements out of the ring too, you know. After we”re been kicked and hit many times, each time is a lesson.

　　Wherever we lose to defilement, whatever tactics the defilements use to beat us, we use their tactics to counteract them. Eventually we”ll be able to stand them off. As the defilements gradually become weaker, the matters of the Dhamma -- concentration, mindfulness, discernment, persistence -- become stronger and stronger. This is where the defilements have to grovel, because they”re no match. They”re no match for the Dhamma. Before, we were the only ones groveling. Wherever we groveled, we”d get…

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