..續本文上一頁n can have mindfulness and discernment just like men, because women and men both have defilements, and defilements are cured with mindfulness and discernment — backed by persistent effort — both by men and by women. And where do they have defilements

　　 They both have defilements in the heart. When mindfulness and discernment are complete, women and men can both pass over and beyond — with no question of their having to be ordained.

　　This is the truth of the Noble Truths, which are not particular about status, nationality, or any of the human races, and which are not particular about the male or the female sex. All that”s asked is that we strive, because the Dhamma is common to us all. Women and men, lay and ordained, we can all listen to it, understand it, practice it, and cure defilement.

　　The defilements don”t favor men or women. We all have defilements. Even monks have defilements: What do you say to that

　　 Monks thus have to cure their own defilements. If they don”t, they lie buried in defilement just like people in general who aren”t interested in the Dhamma — or even worse than people in general.

　　The Dhamma thus doesn”t stipulate that it”s only for those who are ordained. What is stipulated is that we cure defilement with persistent effort. This is something very important. We have to be very interested in this point.

　　As for release from suffering and stress, where do we gain release

　　 We gain it right here, right where there is suffering. If we can cure defilement, we gain release from suffering. If we can”t, then no matter what our sex or status, we all have to suffer.

　　Here. This is where the religion lies, here in the heart. It doesn”t lie anywhere else. If we want to be incapable of it, we can be incapable — right here in our heart. Whether lay or ordained, we can be incapable — if we make ourselves incapable. Or we can make the religion flourish in our heart — that we can also do. When the religion flourishes, where does it flourish

　　 In the heart, and nowhere else. The important point is the heart. The important point is our practice: the actions, the manners we display. When the heart develops, the various aspects of our behavior develop beautifully. Admirably. In particular, the heart flourishes within itself. It has mindfulness and discernment looking after it constantly. This is called a flourishing heart. The defilements can hardly ever come to damage it: That”s when the religion flourishes.

　　We should make an effort to examine and straighten things out step by step. The defilements, you know, are no wider or greater than the limits of our ability to cure and remove them. They”re only here in the heart, so investigate right here. Whether we”re men or women, lay or ordained, we all have defilements in our hearts. No matter how thick they may be, if we consider them we can know them. They”re like darkness: Even though darkness may have existed for aeons, all we have to do is turn on a light, and the darkness disappears completely. The darkness doesn”t have any way to brag, saying, ”I”ve been dark for aeons, so there”s no way that this puny light can chase my darkness away.” When the causes are ready, the darkness has to disappear completely, and brightness appears in its place. Even though the darkness may have existed for aeons, it all vanishes in that instant.

　　Even though the defilements may be thick and may have been lording it over our heart for a long time, we should investigate them thoroughly with mindfulness and discernment. When mindfulness and discernment are capable, they immediately become all-around. The defilements, even though they may have been in the heart for aeons, will immediately disintegrate, in the same way that the darkness that had existed vanishes as soon as a light is lit. Brightness arise…

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