..续本文上一页n in the present.

　　“The future has not yet come. Whatever does occur in the future will arise and pass away in the future; there is no point in worrying over it now, as it has not yet occurred. So contemplate in the present. The present is the cause of the future. If you want a good future, create good in the present, increasing your awareness of what you do in the present. The future is the result of that. The past is the cause, and the future is the result, of the present.

　　“Knowing the present, one knows the past and the future. Then one lets go of the past and the future, knowing they are gathered in the present moment.”

　　Understanding this, that wanderer made up his mind to practice as the Buddha advised, putting things down. Seeing ever more clearly, he realized many kinds of knowledge, seeing the natural order of things with his own wisdom. His doubts ended. He put down the past and the future, and everything appeared in the present. This was eko dhammo, the one Dharma. Then it was no longer necessary for him to carry his begging bowl up mountains and into forests in search of understanding. If he did go somewhere, he went in a natural way, not out of desire for something. If he stayed put, he was staying in a natural way, not out of desire.

　　Practicing in that way, he became free of doubt. There was nothing to add (to his practice), nothing to remove. He dwelt in peace, without anxiety over past or future. This was the way the Buddha taught.

　　But it”s not just a story about something that happened long ago. If we at this time practice correctly, we can also gain realization. We can know the past and the future, because they are gathered at this one point, the present moment. If we look to the past we won”t know. If we look to the future we won”t know, because that is not where the truth is; it exists here, in the present.

　　Thus the Buddha said, “I am enlightened through my own efforts, without any teacher.” Have you read this story

　　 A wanderer of another sect asked him, “Who is your teacher

　　” The Buddha answered, “I have no teacher. I attained enlightenment by myself.” But that wanderer just shook his head and went away. He thought the Buddha was making up a story and had no interest in what he said. He thought it was not possible to achieve anything without a teacher and guide.

　　It”s like this: You study with a spiritual teacher, and he tells you to give up greed and anger. He tells you they are harmful and that you need to get rid of them. Then you may practice and do that. But getting rid of greed and anger didn”t come about just because he taught you; you had to actually practice and do that. Through practice, you came to realize something for yourself. You see greed in your mind and give it up. You see anger in your mind and give it up. The teacher doesn”t get rid of them for you. He tells you about getting rid of them, but it doesn”t happen just because he tells you. You do the practice and come to realization. You understand these things for yourself.

　　It”s like the Buddha is catching hold of you and bringing you to the beginning of the path, and he tells you, Here is the path—walk on it. He doesn”t help you walk. You do that yourself. When you do travel the path and practice Dharma, you meet the real Dharma, which is beyond anything that anyone can explain to you. So one is enlightened by oneself, understanding past, future, and present, understanding cause and result. Then doubt is finished.

　　We talk about giving up and developing, renouncing and cultivating. But when the fruit of practice is realized, there is nothing to add and nothing to remove. The Buddha taught that this is the point we want to arrive at, but people don”t want to stop there. Their doubts and attachments keep them on the move, keep them confus…

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