On Addiction

　　- by S. N. Goenka

　　The Buddha proclaimed that one who understands Dhamma understands the law of cause and effect. You must realize this truth yourselves. Here is a process by which you can do so. You take steps on the path and whatever you have realized, you accept it; and step by step, with an open mind you keep experiencing deeper truths. It is not for the sake of curiosity that you investigate the truth pertaining to matter, mind and mental contents. Instead, you are seeking to change mental habit patterns at the deepest level. As you proceed, you will realize how mind influences matter, and how matter influences mind.

　　Every moment within the framework of the body, masses of sub-atomic particles (kalāpas) arise and pass away. How do they arise

　　 The cause becomes clear as you investigate the reality as it is, free from the influence of past conditionings of philosophical beliefs. The material input, the food (āhāra) that you have eaten, is one cause for the arising of these kalāpas. Another is the atmosphere (utu) around you. You also begin to understand how mind (citta) helps matter to arise and dissolve. At times matter arises from the mental conditioning of the past-that is, the accumulated saṇkhāras of the past. By the practice of Vipassana, all of this starts to become clear. At this moment, that type of mind has arisen and what is the content of this mind

　　 The quality of the mind is according to its content. For example, when a mind full of anger, passion or fear has arisen, you will notice that different sub-atomic particles are generated.

　　When the mind is full of passion, then within this material structure, sub-atomic particles of a particular type arise, and there is a biochemical flow which starts throughout the body. This type of biochemical flow, which starts because a mind full of passion has arisen, is called in Pali kāmāsava,-the flow of passion.

　　As a scientist you proceed further, observing truth as it is, examining the law of nature. When this biochemical flow produced by passion starts, it influences the next moment of the mind with more passion. Thus the kāmāsava turns into kāmatanhā, a craving of passion at the mental level, which again stimulates a flow of passion at the physical level. One starts influencing and stimulating the other, and the passion keeps on multiplying for minutes, even hours. The tendency of the mind to generate passion is strengthened because of this repeated generation of passion.

　　Not only passion but also fear, anger, hatred and craving, in fact every type of impurity that comes into the mind simultaneously generates an āsava, a biochemical flow. And this āsava keeps on stimulating that particular negativity, or impurity, the result is a vicious circle of suffering. You may call yourself a Hindu, a Muslim, a Jain or a Christian; it makes no difference. The process, the law is applicable to one and all. There is no discrimination.

　　Mere understanding at a superficial, intellectual level will not help break this cycle, and may even create more difficulties. Your beliefs from a particular tradition may look quite logical, yet those beliefs will create obstacles for you. The intellect has its own limitations. You cannot realize the ultimate truth merely by intellect because intellect is finite, while ultimate truth is limitless, infinite. Only through experience can you realize that which is limitless and infinite. If you accept this law of nature intellectually but still are unable to change the behaviour pattern of your mind, you remain far away from the realization of the ultimate truth.

　　Your acceptance is only superficial, while your behaviour pattern continues at the depth of the mind. What is called the unconscious mind is actually not unconscious. At all …

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