..续本文上一页ound and that letting go brings ease and lightness is an example of knowing ourselves.

　　Our pride, our sense of self that we depend on, is the same as that heavy rock. Like that rock, if we think about letting go of self-conceit, we are afraid that without it, there would be nothing left. But when we can finally let it go, we realize for ourselves the ease and comfort of not clinging.

　　In the training of the heart, you mustn”t cling to either praise or blame. To just want praise and not to want blame is the way of the world. The Way of the Buddha is to accept praise when it is appropriate and to accept blame when it is appropriate. For example, in raising a child it”s very good not to just scold all the time. Some people scold too much. A wise person knows the proper time to scold and the proper time to praise. Our heart is the same. Use intelligence to know the heart. Use skill in taking care of your heart. Then you will be one who is clever in the training of the heart. And when the heart is skilled, it can rid us of our suffering. Suffering exists right here in our hearts. It”s always complicating things, creating and making the heart heavy. It”s born here. It also dies here.

　　The way of the heart is like this. Sometimes there are good thoughts, sometimes there are bad thoughts. The heart is deceitful. Don”t trust it! Instead look straight at the conditions of the heart itself. Accept them as they are. They”re just as they are. Whether it”s good or evil or whatever, that”s the way it is. If you don”t grab hold of these conditions, then they don”t become anything more or less than what they already are. If we grab hold we”ll get bitten and will then suffer.

　　With ””right view”” there”s only peace. Samādhi is born and wisdom takes over. Wherever you may sit or lie down, there is peace. There is peace everywhere, no matter where you may go.

　　So today you have brought your disciples here to listen to the Dhamma. You may understand some of it, some of it you may not. In order for you to understand more easily, I”ve talked about the practice of meditation. Whether you think it is right or not, you should take and contemplate it.

　　As a teacher myself, I”ve been in a similar predicament. I, too, have longed to listen to Dhamma talks because, wherever I went, I was giving talks to others but never had a chance to listen. So, at this time, you really appreciate listening to a talk from a teacher. Time passes by so quickly when you”re sitting and listening quietly. You”re hungry for Dhamma so you really want to listen. At first, giving talks to others is a pleasure, but after awhile, the pleasure is gone. You feel bored and tired. Then you want to listen. So when you listen to a talk from a teacher, you feel much inspiration and you understand easily. When you are getting old and there”s hunger for Dhamma, its flavor is especially delicious.

　　Being a teacher of others you are an example to them, you”re a model for other bhikkhus. You”re an example to your disciples. You”re an example to everybody, so don”t forget yourself. But don”t think about yourself either. If such thoughts do arise, get rid of them. If you do this then you will be one who knows himself.

　　There are a million ways to practice Dhamma. There”s no end to the things that can be said about meditation. There are so many things that can make us doubt. Just keep sweeping them out, then there”s no more doubt! When we have right understanding like this, no matter where we sit or walk, there is peace and ease. Wherever we may meditate, that”s the place you bring your awareness. Don”t hold that one only meditates while sitting or walking. Everything and everywhere is our practice. There”s awareness all the time. There is mindfulness all the time. We can see birth and death of mind…

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