..續本文上一頁sted in answering. Or if some people argued that they didn”t believe that heaven or hell really existed, he never tried to reason with them or to cite evidence to defeat their arguments. Instead, he”d give them this piece of advice:
"People who practice the Dhamma don”t have to give any thought to past or future lives, or to heaven or hell. All they have to do is be firm and intent on practicing correctly in line with the principles of virtue, concentration, and discernment. If there really are 16 levels of heaven as they say in the texts, people who practice well are sure to rise to those levels. Or if heaven and nibbana don”t exist, people who practice well don”t lack for benefits here and now. They”re sure to be happy, as human beings on a high level.
"Listening to what other people say, looking things up in the texts, can”t resolve your doubts. You have to put effort into the practice to give rise to clear insight knowledge. That”s when doubt will be totally resolved on its own."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
89. Is that all they want
Even though people would come in groups to hear Luang Pu”s opinion about rebirth, claiming that this person or that was able to remember many past lives, seeing what they had been in the past or who their mothers or relatives in past lives had been, Luang Pu would say,
"I”ve never been interested in this sort of knowledge. Even just threshold concentration can give rise to it. Everything comes from the mind. Whatever you want to know or see, the mind will grant you the knowledge or vision — and quickly at that. If you”re satisfied with just this level of knowledge, the good result is that you”ll fear being reborn on a low level. That way you”ll set your mind on doing good, being generous, observing the precepts, and not harming one another. You”ll be able to smile, confident in the results of your merit.
"But as for eliminating defilement to destroy ignorance, craving, and attachment in order to reach total release from suffering, that”s something else entirely."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
90. No fables
In all the long time I lived close to Luang Pu, there were never any fables or entertaining tales in his teachings — no jataka tales or stories of the present. All his teachings were noble truths, pure and simple, on the ultimate or impersonal level. Or else they were a few carefully chosen comments, as if he were trying to be frugal in his words. Even when he gave instructions on religious ceremonies or on how to make donations or basic morality, he taught in a very detached way. For the most part, he”d say,
"Ceremonies and merit-making activities can be regarded as skillful means, but from a meditator”s point of view they lead to only a small amount of skill, that”s all."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
91. Strange
After the opening ceremonies for the Phra Ajaan Mun Museum, Luang Pu traveled further to visit Ajaan Funn at Khaam Cave. In those days, large vehicles could go no further than the base of the hill where the cave was located, which meant that Luang Pu had to climb a long distance up the hill. This he found extremely tiring, having to stop and catch his breath many times. I felt keenly pained for my part in putting him to such difficulties. Finally, when we had reached the meeting hall at the top of the hill and Ajaan Funn had paid his respects, Ajaan Thate happened to arrive as well.
Seeing these three great elders coincidentally meeting and hearing them converse in a friendly way in such a peaceful and smiling atmosphere, my sense of inner pain totally disappeared and was replaced by a feeling of rapture.
Ajaan Fu…
《Gifts He Left Behind - Dhamma Legacy》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…