..续本文上一页emons of defilement, after the talk the other day on the demons of the aggregates (khandha-mara). We should all learn to think, to consider things, to ponder things over, so that we can find goodness on every side, in every corner we look. This way, if we look beneath us we”ll find treasures. If we look above us we”ll find treasures. Looking beneath us means looking at the things that are our enemies. We”ll be able to gain treasures from them: goodness on the outstanding level. When we look at the things that are our friends, we can gain excellence from them. We should try to develop all three levels of goodness. If we have discernment, we can gain all three levels of goodness from the demons of defilement and the demons of the aggregates, and we”ll gain all three of the benefits I”ve mentioned.

　　For this reason we should develop our mental faculties (indriya) until they”re strong, capable, and mature, so that they don”t fear Maras of any sort. A person who has studied snakes can pick them up with no fear of their venom. A person who has studied tigers can catch them and they won”t bite. In the same way, if we have any discernment, we can capture and tame the demons of defilement so that they support us in being outstanding, all the way to the paths (magga) and fruitions (phala) leading to nibbana. Whoever doesn”t have the ability or discernment will get carried off by the demons of defilement to get tortured and killed. So we should use our sharpest discernment to consider these things. That”s what will lead us to the noble paths and their fruitions.

　　So when we”ve heard this we should consider what we”ve heard and take it to heart, bringing it inside to see the ways things actually are inside us and then practicing accordingly, in line with the way of right practice. That”s when we can be at our ease. Evil people will help us. Good people will help us. We”ll be free of danger. Thieves will be our servants, helping us in our various tasks. Wise people will help us in our work — so how can we fail

　　 If we look to bad people, they come and help us. If we look to good people, they come and help us. If we focus on the Maras who are our enemies, they turn into our friends and companions. When we reach this point, we won”t know what”s a Mara — because nothing”s a Mara in any way at all. Everything”s neutral, the common property of the world. Whoever can see things in this way has no more suffering, no more obstacles. Everything is bright, beaming, and easy. If you go forward, you don”t get stuck. If you go back you don”t get entangled. You can go as smoothly as a boat over water. That”s why this sort of person is said to be sugato: someone who goes well, who”s well-gone.

　　So all of us who are developing our perfections should practice in this way.

　　And now that I”ve explained the demons of defilement, I”ll end right here.

《The Demons of Defilement》全文阅读结束。