..續本文上一頁emains. That which doesn”t disintegrate is this mind.

　　This mind, once it has developed discernment as a standard within itself, is really like this, with no flinching in the face of illness or death. The mind is courageous and capable.

　　There, then. This is how we investigate our affairs — the affairs of the mind. We needn”t fear death. Why fear it

　　 The Buddha taught us not to fear. The Dhamma doesn”t teach us to fear. The truth is nothing frightening, because it”s the truth. What”s frightening or emboldening about it

　　 Courage

　　 There”s nothing that calls for courage. Fear

　　 There”s nothing that calls for fear. Here I”m talking about the level where we have reached pure truth. There”s no trace of the words ”courage” or ”fear” left in the heart at all. There”s only purity.

　　But while investigating so as to reach the truth, we need to have courage. When we are going to seize victory for ourselves, we can”t not have courage. Otherwise we”ll lose. This is because we”re following the path. We need courage and daring, with no fear or intimidation in the face of anything at all. Whatever comes our way, we must investigate so as to know and understand it, without growing discouraged or weak, so as to be intent on knowing and seeing it in line with its truth — everything of every sort that comes into the range of our awareness. This is called being a warrior in the combat between the mind and khandhas, or between the Dhamma and the defilements.

　　Courage of this sort is proper and right. Once we”ve reached the goal, fear disappears, courage disappears, because we have gained full victory. Fear and courage are no longer an issue.

　　But right now fear and courage are a critical issue for those still on the way. Develop courage with discretion in the areas that call for courage. Be a fighter with the things that call for fight — such as feelings of pain — so as to see in line with their truth. Don”t be afraid. The Buddha taught us not to fear. Fear has the same value as death. When the time comes, things have to fall apart. That”s what”s called ”death.” But in any event, meditators have to come to know with discernment before these things undergo their transformation. Spread a net of discernment around yourself on all sides. Whatever appears will be caught in the net of discernment, so what is there to fear

　　 What is there to be anxious about

　　 What is there to knock you off balance

　　 Everything simply follows its truth, which you have already investigated.

　　This is how ”warriors” investigate. Even though they”re in the midst of khandhas that are a solid mass of flame, they”re calm and at ease, with the normalcy of a mind that has completely comprehended, without being deluded by any phenomenon. This is what”s meant by one who ”knows all around.”

　　Whatever the symptoms displayed by the body, if they are endurable, we endure them. We care for the body, look after it, nourish it, make it eat, make it sleep, make it drink, take care of it in accordance with its nature. If its symptoms are unendurable and it”s simply going to go, then just let it go in accordance with the ways of nature. It”s a truth, so how can you thwart it

　　 Let it go in line with the truth. This is called letting go with knowledge that accords with the truth. The mind feels no attachment, no regrets. This is the basic principle of practice for one who has attained, or is about to attain, victory within the heart.

　　Previously, the mind has always lost out to defilement and craving. It has never, until now, defeated them. For aeons and aeons it has lived entirely under the sway of the defilements to the point where it has forgotten to realize that ”The defilements are the boss. We”re their servant.”

　　But now we”re going to turn over a new us, using the principles of the Dhamma as mean…

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