..续本文上一页to cave in, we help find thatch to roof it; make walls for the left side, right side, the front, and the back, to protect it from storm winds; and raise the floor to get it above flood level. What this means is that we teach the other person how to escape from his or her own defilements in the same way that we”ve been able, to whatever extent, to escape from ours. When we tell others to practice concentration, it”s like helping them roof their house so that they won”t have to be exposed to the sun and rain. Making walls for the front and back means that we tell them to shut off thoughts of past and future; and walls for the left and right means that we tell them to shut off thoughts of likes and dislikes. Raising the floor above flood level means we get them to stay firmly centered in concentration, keeping their minds still with their object of meditation.

　　Once people have a house with good walls, a sound roof, and a solid floor, then even if they don”t have any other external belongings — just a single rag to their name — they can be happy, secure, and at peace. But if your house is sunk in the mud, what hope is there for your belongings

　　 You”ll have to end up playing with crabs, worms, and other creepy things. Your walls are nothing but holes, so that people can see straight through your house, in one side and out the other. Even from four to five miles away they can see everything you”ve got. When this is the case, thieves are going to gang up and rob you — i.e., all sorts of bad thoughts and preoccupations are going to come in and ransack your heart.

　　As for your roof, it”s nothing but holes. You look up and can see the stars. Termite dust is going to sift into your ears and eyes, and birds flying past will plaster you with their droppings. So in the end, all you can do is sit scratching your head in misery because you haven”t any shelter.

　　When this is the case, you should take pity on yourself and develop your own inner worth. Keep practicing concentration until your heart matures, step by step. When you do this, you”ll develop the light of discernment that can chase the darkness of unawareness out of your heart. When there”s no more unawareness, you”ll be free from craving and attachment, and ultimately gain Liberation.

　　For this reason, we should all keep practicing meditation and set our hearts on developing nothing but inner goodness, without retreating or getting discouraged. Whatever is a form of goodness, roll up your sleeves and pitch right in. Don”t feel any regrets even if you ram your head into a wall and die on the spot. If you”re brave in your proper efforts this way, all your affairs are sure to succeed in line with your hopes and aspirations. But if evil comes and asks to move into your home — your heart — chase it away. Don”t let it stay even for a single night.

　　* * *

　　People who like to gather up thoughts, worries, etc., to hold onto are no different from prisoners tied down with a ball and chain. To fasten onto thoughts of the past is like having a rope around your waist tied to a post behind you. To fasten onto thoughts of the future is like having a rope around your neck tied to a door in front. To fasten onto thoughts you like is like having a rope around your right wrist tied to a post on your right. To fasten onto thoughts you don”t like is like having a rope around your left wrist tied to a wall on your left. Whichever way you try to step, you”re pulled back by the rope on the opposite side, so how can you hope to get anywhere at all

　　As for people who have unshackled themselves from their thoughts, they stand tall and free like soldiers or warriors with weapons in both hands and no need to fear enemies from any direction. Any opponents who see them won”t dare come near, so they”re always sure to come out winning.

　　But if we”re the type tied up with ropes on all sides, nobody”s going to fear us, because there”s no way we can take any kind of stance to fight them off. If enemies approach us, all we can do is dance around in one spot.

　　So I ask that we all take a good look at ourselves and try to unshackle ourselves from all outside thoughts and preoccupations. Don”t let them get stuck in your heart. Your meditation will then give you results, your mind will advance to the transcendent, and you”re sure to come out winning someday.

《Food for Thought - An Inner Mainstay》全文阅读结束。