..续本文上一页 and help yourself to the utmost. It”s now too late to learn any new boxing techniques.

　　The time of going into battle is that of the final moment when the aggregates and the heart are going their separate ways. It is the time of breaking up. It is like when crows and vultures come down and sit together on the branches of a tree. When they alighted, the branches hardly shook at all but when they fly away they jolt the branches until the whole tree vibrates. Any dry, dead branches will break and fall in the process.

　　At the time when the body is departing, how hard will it shake us

　　 How are we going to stand up to this shaking — with mindfulness and wisdom, that”s how. Without them we definitely won”t be able to bear it and will lose our balance and control. We must therefore fight to the fullest capacity of our mindfulness and wisdom. Don”t even think about the possibility of collapsing in the fight. Our vigorous questioning of the truth about the nature of the body is aimed towards gaining release, not towards destruction. This is the chief way to help oneself in a critical situation, by using all one”s strength, and is the right course recommended by the wise.

　　When the time of emergency arrives it will be all pain — clearly showing itself throughout every part of the body as if each piece is burning. Inside, the body will be like a blazing, red-hot furnace. So, what are we going to do now

　　 Mindfulness and wisdom must be sighted on that heat, that suffering and pain. Clearly discerning we can then turn and observe our heart. Is the heart also red-hot

　　 Or is it only the body and aggregates that are on fire

　　 If you are already well-practiced in using mindfulness and wisdom, you”ll find that the heart is cool and unaffected even in the midst of such a conflagration. It is the body that is burning with the flames of suffering. This is how we who practice must see it.

　　This is the way of self-help, without leaning on any one else, for you are already up in there in the fighting ring. Once you are determined to fight, then fight using reason and your full strength. "Come what may! Live or die! Who cares who might have to carry me out of the ring." It”s a fight to the end — but fight cleverly, don”t just close your eyes and allow yourself to be like a dummy accepting all the punishment without blocking or returning punches. That”s useless! Fight with energy putting your life on the line. If you have to die, then so be it. But there”ll be no retreat. Use your mindfulness and wisdom that is tuned to be the most advanced weapon going.

　　Battling with feeling means penetrating to its true nature. Don”t attempt to force it to disappear for that is trying to go against feeling”s natural course. The only way is to examine it as it really is and then let it disappear of itself. If it still lingers then realize that that”s how things are, and don”t go in and grasp hold of it.

　　Form16 is form — don”t bring in anything to contradict this or make it something else. Form is form; body is body, and it”s just body, just form. Feeling17 is feeling — whether it”s painful, pleasant or neutral, it”s really only feeling.

　　What is this that knows body, knows feeling

　　 It”s the heart, of course. The heart is not of that nature and must be separated and clearly seen with wisdom. This is truly seeing the Noble Truth and there will now be no wavering even if the body can”t endure. Right then. Let”s turn and face the battle, let”s see what will go first and what will outlast. With our confidence riding with mindfulness and wisdom we”ll know the truth that the heart is not the one that dies, but is that which is there to acknowledge whatever is present.

　　Alright then, whatever is impermanent — may it go its way. The body can”t endure

　　 Then let it break up. Feeling…

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