..续本文上一页r long hours. Therefore, the operation is not as deep at home. After learning Vipassana at a centre, one can practise Vipassana in the morning and evening at home. Whenever the need arises for another deep operation on the mind, one can again go to a Vipassana centre.

　　There is one more reason why Vipassana should be learnt in a meditation centre. The aim of the technique is to develop a pure mind. So during the ten days when Vipassana is being learnt in the centre, one practises sīla (morality) without breaking it in any way: one does not kill, one does not commit sexual misconduct but maintains celibacy for ten days, one does not lie, one does not steal, one does not take any kind of intoxicant.

　　One understands that in order to live a life of morality, one has to gain control over the mind. If one cannot control the mind, how can one become virtuous

　　 But one can learn this technique only while living a life of morality. So a great difficulty arises. To live a life of morality one has to gain control over the mind. The mind has to be purified. To master the mind, to purify the mind, one”s life has to be a life of morality. Should one keep the horse in front or the cart in front

　　 Should morality come first or should concentration and purification of mind come first

　　To solve this problem, the wise teachers of our country established this tradition of going to a meditation centre to learn Vipassana. One is able to practise all the five sīlas there, meaning one does not do any vocal or physical action that disturbs the peace and harmony of others. One should not do any action that causes harm to others. How

　　 The atmosphere of the meditation centre, the discipline and heavy daily programme of a ten-day course is such that it is easy to maintain sīla. The student is so busy from four o”clock in the morning to nine o”clock at night that there is no opportunity to break sīla. In order to avoid lying and wrong speech, the meditation centre has one more rule: for the duration of the course one must maintain silence. There should be no communication with fellow students. Of course, one may talk to the teacher or guide to seek clarification about the technique, or speak to the management about any material problems. However, even while talking to them, one should remain very attentive not to break one”s sīla. One should not exaggerate or hide anything. In this way, even the sīla of not telling lies can be easily maintained during the course.

　　So sīla is maintained perfectly. The work of learning the technique begins on this foundation of perfect sīla. If the student works as instructed, progress is certain. But if the foundation of sīla is missing, the student will not progress.

　　During the time of the Buddha, there were many teachers, like some teachers today, who told their students, "What is the need for morality

　　 Do whatever you wish to do. Enjoy yourself without restraint, indulge in sensual pleasures. Even then, I shall teach you a meditation technique that will give bliss!" Such so-called spiritual teachers attracted big crowds. People are always looking for the easy way out. If they can get exemption from the need for morality and still get bliss, what more do they want

　　Such harmful delusions have no place in Vipassana, the true path of the Dhamma. The foundation of morality is absolutely necessary. One should understand why it is so necessary. After all, one has to operate on the mind. To merely fill the surface part of the mind with bliss is not the goal of Vipassana. One has to reach and purify the depth, the deepest part of the mind, where the defilements arise, where they are accumulated. It is a very deep operation. If the surface part of the mind is very disturbed, very agitated, it results in gross impure vibrations. The…

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