..續本文上一頁ke into consideration what the ”point” was and so I was bewildered. Instead of gaining an approach from the warning that had appeared, I took the problem to chew over until I came to consider the part about the ”point.” That was what ended the problem. I then came back to understand clearly the matter of, ”If there is a point or a center of the knower anywhere, that is the essence of a level of being.” That was when I understood, ”Oh — I see. The words "point" and "center" refer to just this.” Before, I hadn”t understood. It really was a point. No matter how marvelous, it was the point of the marvelousness. It was a point there to be known. Once that disintegrated, there were no more points, because every point is a conventional reality. No matter how refined, each is a conventional reality.

　　This is why I am always teaching my fellow meditators: ”Once you”ve reached that point, don”t be protective of anything. Investigate on in. Even if the mind should actually be demolished by that investigation, let it be demolished. Whatever is left to be aware of the purity, let it be aware — or if everything is going to be demolished so that there is nothing left to be aware of purity, then at least find out. Don”t be protective of anything at all.” I say this out of fear that they”ll be protective of this thing. If they aren”t warned that forcefully, then no matter what, they”re bound to get stuck. All I ask is that they find out: ”Whatever is going to vanish, let it vanish. Even if the mind is going to vanish from the power of the investigation, let it vanish. There”s no need to protect it.” When investigating, you have to take it that far.

　　But there”s no escaping the truth: Whatever arises has to vanish; whatever is true, whatever is a natural principle in and of itself, won”t vanish. In other words, the pure mind won”t vanish. Everything of every sort may vanish, but that which knows their vanishing doesn”t vanish. This vanishes, that vanishes, but the one that knows their vanishing doesn”t vanish. Whether or not we try to leave it untouched, it keeps on knowing. But to try to protect it is tantamount to protecting unawareness, because unawareness is subtle. It”s there in the mind. To be protective of the mind is tantamount to being protective of unawareness.

　　So then. If the mind is going to be destroyed along with it, let it be destroyed. To make a comparison with slashing, slash right on down. Don”t let there be anything left. Let everything in there close up shop and leave. To take it that far is just right.

　　If you”re hesitant, then you are sure to get stuck at this level. That”s why you can”t let yourself be hesitant. You have to take the defilements all out. Whatever is going to vanish, let it all vanish. As for that which is in no position to vanish, it won”t vanish no matter what. To put it simply, it”s as if bandits had gotten into this house. If you”re protective of the house where the bandits are, then — Bang! — they”ll shoot you dead. So if you should burn the whole house down, then burn it down. If you let the bandits stay there, they”ll go on to destroy things that have more value than the house. So be willing to sacrifice the house. Set fire to it. This is called setting fire to unawareness. If the mind is really going to vanish, let it vanish.

　　But actually the mind doesn”t vanish. Only when you have burned that thing will you know: ”Oh — the thing of value has been lying beneath the power of unawareness. Unawareness has had it covered.” The instant unawareness vanishes, this other thing is revealed. Instead of vanishing too, it doesn”t vanish, but if you”re protective of it you”ll be stuck and will never get free.

　　The period when I was investigating this point was after Venerable Acariya Mun had passed away. I really …

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