..續本文上一頁ya, right in line with the path that leads solely to release from suffering. He never got sidetracked into magical spells, sacred talismans, or any other dubious activities, not even the least little bit. When people asked him to bless them by blowing on their heads, he”d ask, "Why should I blow on your head
" When people asked him to put an auspicious mark on their car, he”d say, "Why put an auspicious mark
" When people asked him to determine an auspicious day or month for their activities, he”d say, "All days are good." Or if he were chewing betel and people would ask for the chewed remains, he”d say,
"Why would you want that
It”s dirty."
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51. Simply a motion
There were times when I felt ill at ease, fearing that I may have done wrong in being party to those who talked Luang Pu into doing things that he wasn”t interested in doing. The first time was when he joined in the opening ceremonies for the Phra Ajaan Mun Museum in Wat Pa Sutthaavaat in Sakon Nakhorn. There were lots of meditation teachers and lots of lay people who went to the teachers to pay respect and ask for favors. Many people asked Luang Pu to blow on their heads. When I saw him just sitting there without responding, I pleaded with him, "Please just do it to get it over with." So he blew on their heads. After a while, when he couldn”t get out of it, he”d make auspicious marks on their cars. When he grew tired of their requests for amulets, he allowed them to make amulets in his name. When he felt pity on them, he”d light the "victory" candle at their chanting rituals and join in their ceremonies for consecrating amulets.
But then I felt extremely relieved when Luang Pu said,
"My doing things like this is simply an external physical motion in line with social norms. It”s not a motion of the mind that leads to states of becoming, levels of being, or to the paths, fruitions, and nibbana in any way at all."
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52. Seize the opportunity
"All 84,000 sections of the Dhamma are simply strategies for getting people to turn and look at the mind. The Buddha”s teachings are many because people”s defilements are many. Still, the way to put an end to suffering is only one: nibbana. This opportunity we have to practice the Dhamma rightly is very rare. If we let it pass by, we”ll have no chance of gaining release in this lifetime, and we”ll have to get lost in wrong views for a long, long time before we can meet up with this very same Dhamma again. So now that we”ve met with the Buddha”s teachings, we should hurry up and practice to gain release. Otherwise, we”ll miss this good opportunity. When the noble truths are forgotten, darkness will overwhelm beings with a mass of suffering for a long time to come."
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53. The limits of science
It wasn”t just once that Luang Pu taught the Dhamma using comparisons. Once he said,
"External discernment is the discernment of suppositions. It can”t enlighten the mind about nibbana. You have to depend on the discernment of the noble path if you”re going to enter nibbana. The knowledge of scientists, like Einstein, is well-informed and very capable. It can split the smallest atom and enter into the fourth dimension. But Einstein had no idea of nibbana, which was why he couldn”t enter nibbana.
"Only the mind that has been enlightened in the noble path can lead to real Awakening, full Awakening, complete Awakening. Only that can lead to release from suffering, to nibbana."
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54. How to extinguish suffering
In 1977 a …
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