..續本文上一頁ght monks to visit the charnel ground, where old corpses and new were scattered everywhere. He also gave detailed instructions as to the direction from which to enter, in keeping with his sharp intelligence as a self-dependent Buddha, the Teacher of the world. He said to approach from the upwind side and not from the downwind side. Otherwise the stench of the various corpses would be bad for your health.

　　”When you encounter corpses in this way, how do you feel

　　 Look at the different types of corpses. How do you feel

　　 Now refer inwardly, to your own body, which is another corpse.” This is how he taught the monks to investigate. Once we have an eyewitness — ourself — as to what the corpses in the external charnel ground are like, we can refer inwardly to the internal charnel ground: ourself again. Once we have grasped the basic principle, the external charnel ground gradually fades out of the picture. Instead, we investigate our internal charnel ground so that it becomes gradually more and more clear. In other words, we see how this body is a well of filth. Repulsive. Something that constantly has to be washed, bathed, and cleaned.

　　Is there anything that, once it has become involved with any part of the body, remains clean

　　 Even the food we eat, once we consume it, becomes filthy from the moment it enters the mouth and passes on down. Our clothing is also dirty. It has to be washed and laundered — a lot of fuss and bother. The same holds true for our homes. They constantly have to be cleaned, scrubbed, dusted, and swept. Otherwise they turn into another charnel ground because of the filth and the smell. Everywhere, wherever human beings live, has to be cleaned — because human beings are filthy. And since our bodies are already filthy, everything that comes into contact with them becomes filthy. Even food — delicious, inviting, appealing food — once it becomes mixed with the filth in the body, such as saliva, becomes filthy as well. If you took food of various kinds into your mouth and then spit it out, there”d be no way you could take it back in again. It”d be too disgusting. Revolting. Why

　　 Because the body is filthy by its very nature, and so whatever becomes involved with the body becomes filthy as well.

　　To contemplate in this way is called investigating the charnel ground, or investigating the theme of loathsomeness.

　　So. Focus in on seeing its inherent nature. Look at every facet, in whichever way comes most naturally to you. When you”ve examined one spot, your knowledge gradually seeps into the next spot and the next. If mindfulness and awareness keep in close connection, discernment can”t help but go to work and advance unceasingly. You”ll feel profoundly moved as you come to see and know truly, step by step. This is discernment on the first level of investigation.

　　Once you”ve investigated filthiness, you then investigate the process of change in the body. In other words, filth is in this body. Dry corpses, fresh corpses, raw corpses, cooked corpses, all kinds of corpses are gathered together in this body, but I”ve never heard the place where they are barbecued, roasted, and stewed called a crematorium. Instead, it”s called kitchen. But actually, that”s what it is, a crematorium for animals. And then they”re all buried here in this stomach, this grave. We”re a burial ground for all kinds of animals — yes, us! — if we look at ourselves in all fairness, with impartiality, because we”re filled with old corpses and new. Once we have contemplated in this way, then if we don”t feel disenchantment, if we don”t feel disengagement, what will we feel

　　 — for that”s the way the truth actually is.

　　The Buddha taught us to get to the truth, because this is what the truth is. If we don”t resist the truth, we will all be able to unshackl…

《Straight from the Heart - The Radiant Mind Is Unawareness》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…