..续本文上一页re you”re practicing for real you have to take responsibility for yourself. Whether you are to win or lose, let go or cling, will depend on how much quality you”ve built into your own mind. This is why we are taught not to cling to the scriptures and texts, to meanings and concepts. Only when we train ourselves to get beyond all this will we be heading for purity.

　　Attahi attano natho:

　　Nothing can help us unless we can rely on ourselves. Only when we realize this will we be on the right track. The Buddha attained all of the truths he taught before he put them into words. It wasn”t the case that he came up with the words first and then put them into practice later. He was like the scientists who experiment and get results before writing textbooks. But people who simply read the textbooks know everything — for example, they may know every part in an airplane — but they can”t produce one out of their own knowledge. To be a consumer and to be a producer are two different things. If we cling merely to the concepts of the Dhamma, simply memorizing them, we”re no more than consumers. Only if we make ourselves into producers, so that others can consume, will we be acting properly.

　　To be successful producers, we have to accept responsibility for ourselves. If there”s any area where we don”t succeed, we should make use of our own ingenuity until we do. If we rely merely on the ingenuity of others, then we can”t depend on ourselves. And if we can”t depend on ourselves, why should we let other people think that they can depend on us

　　This is why I have compiled this list of principles merely as a brief beginning guide for meditators.

　　The Thirteen Ascetic Observances

　　1. Pansukulikanga: the practice of wearing robes made from thrown-away cloth.

　　2. Tecivarikanga: the practice of using only one set of three robes.

　　3. Pindapatikanga: the practice of going for alms.

　　4. Sapadacarikanga: the practice of not by-passing any donors on one”s alms path.

　　5. Ekasanikanga: the practice of eating no more than one meal a day.

　　6. Pattapindikanga: the practice of eating one”s food only from one”s bowl.

　　7. Khalupacchabhattikanga: the practice of not accepting any food presented after one has eaten one”s fill.

　　8. Araññikanga: the practice of living in the wilderness.

　　9. Rukkhamulikanga: the practice of living under the shade of a tree.

　　10. Abbhokasikanga: the practice of living out under the open sky.

　　11. Sosanikanga: the practice of living in a cemetery.

　　12. Yathasanthatikanga: the practice of living in whatever place is assigned to one.

　　13. Nesajjikanga: the practice of not lying down.

　　The Fourteen Duties

　　1. Akantuka-vatta: duties of a monk newly arriving at a monastery.

　　2. Avasika-vatta: duties of a host-monk when a newcomer arrives.

　　3. Gamika-vatta: duties of a monk when leaving a monastery.

　　4. Anumodana-vatta: duties connected with expressing appreciation for donations (of food).

　　5. Bhattaka-vatta: duties to observe before and after one”s meal.

　　6. Pindicarika-vatta: duties to observe when going for alms.

　　7. Araññika-vatta: duties to observe when living in the wilderness.

　　8. Senasana-vatta: duties to observe in looking after one”s dwelling place.

　　9. Jantaghara-vatta: duties to observe in using the fire-house.

　　10. Vaccakuti-vatta: duties to observe in using the toilet.

　　11. Upajjhaya-vatta: duties to observe in attending to one”s preceptor.

　　12. Acariya-vatta: duties to observe in attending to one”s teacher.

　　13. Saddhiviharika-vatta: a preceptor”s duties toward his pupil.

　　14. Antevasika-vatta: a teacher”s duties toward his pupil.

　　Seven Important Sets of Principles (The Wings to Awakening)

　　1. The four frames of reference (satipatthana): body, feelings, mind, mental qualities.

　　2. The four right exertio…

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