..续本文上一页holesome dhamma arises in the heart, bring up the investigative wisdom of wholesome dhamma to examine and rectify our foolishness — which is that unwholesome dhamma — so that it can be disposed of.

　　Opanayiko is the inclining, drawing inward of any experience. Whether it be one of foolishness or cleverness, happiness or suffering, coming from anyone whatsoever, it all needs to be brought inside and made a lesson for the heart.

　　Ehipassiko is the viewing of the point source, the well- spring of all issues. And that is the heart. It”s involved in never-ending activity, outperforming commonplace machinery that starts and stops according to its fixed schedule. The heart is never shut down but goes on and on until the last day of life.

　　It makes no difference how much we grumble and complain about the suffering involved in this state of affairs. Only by correcting it at its root cause will there be any practical value. Rectify the cause and the resultant suffering will diminish — in proportion to the proficiency of our circumspection and wise judgment. The Lord Buddha never pointed away from these principles for that would be like teaching one to catch hold of distant shadows. "There, over there!" — whereby one overlooks the real perpetrator, the original cause. This is of paramount importance because that”s where the defilements are born.

　　What are we going to do

　　 How are we going to cope

　　 What is the origin of the suffering and the hardship that all beings must endure

　　 What is the source of birth, aging, sickness and death

　　 The defilements are the source and the prime-mover and yet they themselves can only arise in the heart. They are right here. That”s why the Lord didn”t teach about other places. So when we get down seriously to investigate the structure, the cause and effect of all this, and gradually see the truth and steadily uproot the defilement — we must do it here. This is the spot where our ignorance and stupidity binds and confines us, allowing the defilements to accumulate and grow.

　　This is also the place where mindfulness and wisdom, as they increase in their range and discernment, must uproot the defilements. Mindfulness must be maintained there with care and vigilance. This place — which is the heart — needs to be closely protected and sustained; nourished with mindfulness and with meditation. Mindfulness protects the heart by not allowing it to stray outside, whereby it would involve itself in external affairs and finally return with fire.

　　From protection one moves to eradication by analysing and probing into the reasons for this situation. We must then try to correct whatever is detrimental by examining its fundamental nature and rectifying it at its place of origin. The essential point at issue lies with the heart. It is the heart that takes up birth and endlessly wanders through the repeated cycles of birth and death. The accumulated corpses of just one person would be enough to fill the whole world — yet ignorance so blinds the ”owner” that nothing is known about the true extent of the situation. What remains is just deception and delusion, where no essence of truth can be found.

　　This is where you should try to advance your mindfulness so that it can come to terms with the thoughts and imaginings bubbling up in the heart. With awareness in attendance the slightest rippling of agitation in the heart will simultaneously arouse ”mindfulness and wisdom.” As we sit and watch right at the place where all developments originate — right at the heart — we will gradually start to notice the first flurries of activity.

　　This is where the deception of the heart begins and the heart will need wisdom to get to the truth of it. We”ll also have to investigate the nature of the body until insight is implanted in the heart, so t…

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