..续本文上一页but that isn”t real knowledge. When people meet the Dharma, they realize it specifically within themselves. So the Buddha said, “The Tathagata is merely one who shows the way.” When someone ordains, I tell them, “Our responsibility is only this part: The reciting acariyas have done their chanting. I have given you the going forth and vows of ordination. Now our job is done. The rest is up to you, to do the practice correctly.”

　　Teachings can be most profound, but those who listen may not understand. But never mind. Don”t be perplexed over profundity or lack of it. Just do the practice wholeheartedly, and you can arrive at real understanding—it will bring you to the same place they are talking about. Don”t rely on the perceptions of ordinary people. Have you read the story about the blind men and the elephant

　　 It”s a good illustration.

　　Suppose there”s an elephant, and a bunch of blind people are trying to describe it. One touches the leg and says it”s like a pillar. Another touches the ear and says it”s like a fan. Another touches the tail and says, No, it”s not a fan, it”s like a broom. Another touches the shoulder and says it”s something else again from what the others say.

　　It”s like this. There”s no resolution, no end. Each blind person touches part of the elephant and has a completely different idea of what it is. But it”s the same one elephant. It”s like this in practice. With a little understanding or experience, you get limited ideas. You can go from one teacher to the next seeking explanations and instructions, trying to figure out if they are teaching correctly or incorrectly and how their teachings compare to each other. Some monks are always traveling around with their bowls and umbrellas, learning from different teachers. They try to judge and measure, so when they sit down to meditate they are constantly in confusion about what is right and what is wrong. “This teacher said this, but that teacher said that. One guy teaches in this way, but the other guy”s methods are different. They don”t seem to agree…” It can lead to a lot of doubt.

　　You might hear that certain teachers are really good, and so you go to receive teachings from Thai Ajahns, Zen masters, and others. It seems to me you”ve probably had enough teaching, but the tendency is to always want to hear more, to compare, and to end up in doubt as a result. Then each successive teacher increases your confusion further. There”s a story of a wanderer in the Buddha”s time who was in this kind of situation. He went to one teacher after the next, hearing their different explanations and learning their methods. He was trying to learn meditation but was only increasing his perplexity. His travels finally brought him to the teacher Gotama, and he described his predicament to the Buddha.

　　“Doing as you have been doing will not bring an end to doubt and confusion,” the Buddha told him. “At this time, let go of the past; whatever you may or may not have done, whether it was right or wrong, let go of that now.

　　“The future has not yet come. Do not speculate over it at all, wondering how things may turn out. Let go of all such disturbing ideas—it is merely thinking.

　　“Letting go of past and future, look at the present. Then you will know the Dharma. You may know the words spoken by various teachers, but you still do not know your own mind. The present moment is empty; look only at arising and ceasing of sankhara. See that they are impermanent, unsatisfactory, and empty of self. See that they really are thus. Then you will not be concerned with the past or the future. You will clearly understand that the past is gone and the future has not yet arrived. Contemplating in the present, you will realize that the present is the result of the past. The results of past actions are see…

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