..续本文上一页The Lord Buddha named them ”defilements”. They are those factors that manoeuvre and instigate memory and thought processes into action. While another sort of defilement causes the heart to become gloomy and disconsolate.

　　Wrongdoing and base deeds don”t just refer to robbery, looting and plundering. That”s evil on a gross level but we manage continually to generate similar depravities on the intermediate and more subtle level. This is equivalent to constantly depressing our own heart. This downcast heart will continue to be cast down wherever we may go because we are also generating depression for the heart. Walking, standing, sitting, lying down — the heart is always concocting and contriving and thus becoming miserable in every posture. One aspect of the Lord Buddha”s teaching therefore is his emphasizing that we shouldn”t indulge in creating gloom and misery for ourselves.

　　What method can we find to avoid this depression

　　"Kusalass” uupasampadaa": wisdom must be sufficiently developed to remedy this depression by cleaning out the gloom-makers and the base evils, we will then have:

　　"Sacitta pariyodapana.m": a bright and cheerful heart. When our cleverness, which is mindfulness and wisdom, has cleaned out all the filth and gloom from the heart, it becomes bright and clear — "sacitta pariyodapana.m".

　　The evil, whether great or small, will then start to wane as our heart becomes pure. The Teaching of all the Buddhas is like this. They all say: "Do it this way. There”s no alternative."

　　Any alternative, easier way would have been known to the wisest of all, the Lord Buddha. He might have woven us all a hammock to lounge in, while we steadily swatted at and ridded ourselves of defilements. This might seem to accord with his fame as a teacher full of love and compassion, to a world full of frail and grumbling beings. In fact, the Lord Buddha had already used all his skill and ability in establishing the shortest and most direct path.

　　Each of the Buddhas had to cultivate the perfections6 before realizing Buddhahood. They used the Dhamma in their hearts to drive out the defilements, and then taught this as the true and correct way. They tested and selected with the maximum power of their minds before discovering and teaching the Dhamma, which is most suitable for all living beings.

　　Suitable here does not mean that it fits in with people”s own fancies, but rather that it points to a practice appropriate to overcoming their defilements. This is Dhamma. Nothing else can surpass the Middle Way of practice as passed on from the Lord Buddha. The defilements fear no other means, methods or dhammas. Nothing else can eject them from the heart, or even scratch their skins.

　　"Anuupavaado": Don”t slander other people.

　　"Anuupaghaato": Don”t harm or kill human beings or animals.

　　"Paa.timokkhe ca sa.mvaro": Keep your behavior within the bounds of Dhamma, for this is the means of uprooting the defilements.

　　"Mattanyutaa ca bhattasmi.m": Know the right measure in using food, and live simply and frugally. Don”t indulge and exceed what is reasonable for one who practices. Know the right amount in whatever you”re involved with.

　　"Pantanyca sayanaasana.m": Look for seclusion, and use this solitude to deal with the defilements.

　　"Adhicitte ca aayogo": Develop the heart to excel in Dhamma, employing mindfulness and wisdom, step by step.

　　("Eta.m Buddhaanasaasana.m":) This is the essence of the Teaching of all the Buddhas.

　　This was the Dhamma with which the Lord Buddha delighted all the noble disciples. To those who were not yet arahant, he also taught "sabbapaapassa akarana.m". It is an essential practice, being the only way we can hope to use gradually to drive the defilements from our heart. Yet, do we truly take it to heart

　　 Or is it rather that h…

《To the Last Breath - 5· Letting Go (Magha Puja Day)》全文未完，请进入下页继续阅读…