..续本文上一页 in to fool us. One can then say that those who practice in this way are truly being responsible for themselves. By investigating everything, both close in and all around, you will come to realize the true situation and be able to free the heart. Then there”s contentment and relief. Contentment is found right here. Success and correctly assumed responsibility are also right here.
We hear news reports that so and so is an arahant — as in the case of those 1250 arahants — or that that person is a stream-enterer, once-returner or nonreturner. But what about ourselves
Our news is only about weakness, discouragement, depression, stupidity, dejection and confusion. This is our whole story. Doesn”t it run contrary to the reports about those others
Our personal news is exactly the opposite of those who possess the Ariyan Treasure, the Dhamma Wealth in their hearts. If our news only measures up to this, then it can only be concerned with the thousand-and-one kinds of suffering. It”s more like ”sinking in the mud”. The unwanted news makes up our account, and because we create this story we must also bear the result.
Who is Dhamma intended for
Who is it taught for
Who makes up the Buddhist Community — if we can”t be counted as members. Surely the Dhamma was taught and intended for us. Then what are we taught to overcome
Do we have the means for this purpose
Yes, they are right here — it”s as if the Lord Buddha is right here before our very eyes, pointing them out to us. This isn”t something about long ago or far away. It”s fresh and vibrant right here. The Dhamma of the Lord Buddha exists here with us now, so why go elsewhere with all your worthless speculations
"The Buddha realized Nibbana in a distant time and place. He taught the Dhamma long ago and it has become stale and insipid. Its flavor can”t last up until today."
There! Listen to that! The defilements lie to us — can”t we hear them
Beware of Maara12 whose fabrications will destroy us with such ideas, mashing us to pulp. The Truth has no time or era and is there with everyone who is searching for it. How can Dhamma ever vanish with time
How can we kill the truth with these ideas, needlessly bringing utter ruin to ourselves
Who in this world can know better than the Lord Buddha
The Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha always stand challenging the defilements in the arena of truth. This is something timeless.13 Therefore virtue, concentration and wisdom are never outmoded or behind the times. They”re independent of period or place — and yet are within everyone. They can be produced at anytime, and whenever developed they grow and thrive. This is the way leading to the Path, Fruit and Nibbaana; which is timeless and independent of place. While the defilements for their part also manage a continued presence within the hearts of sentient beings.
We all now, as in the Buddha”s time, have defilements. The overcoming of these defilements must still be done with the same old virtue, concentration, wisdom, faith and effort. How can this be kept far away and long ago from us
It cannot. We will all be able to go beyond suffering by rectifying the situation at the right spot and in the right way. Expose whatever is cloaking the heart by focusing with wisdom and mindfulness on whatever is dark and obscure, taking that spot as the target for investigation. Where exactly is this sadness and gloom
It”s a condition of the heart that we can perceive, just as we know when darkness or light contacts our eyes. We notice that darkness is dark, but the one who knows is not also in the dark. Light is known; darkness is known; any amount of darkness can be known within our heart. And gloom and depression are also known together with brightness and cheerfulness.
The one who knows, knows in this way.…
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