..续本文上一页stained effort in cultivating meditation to extinguish the fire within the heart. This will steadily bring peace and happiness.

　　All the teachings of the Lord Buddha are within our reach and range. He never offered impossibilities or taught blindly and haphazardly. Those of us who practice should see these Dhamma teachings as being of vital importance and take them deeply to heart. Just as we all shy away from pain and suffering — which nobody wants — so we must incline towards the remedy and antidote. And that is Dhamma.

　　On analysing the situation we will find that in doing the practice, the question of easiness or difficulty doesn”t appear so important. We have already carefully reasoned it out and are satisfied and convinced of its effectiveness. It”s this that has obliged us to take up the practice.

　　We can only do our best. For who isn”t lazy when the defilements rule the roost

　　 This laziness, which loathes acting towards anything good or beneficial, is with us all. It always likes to hold the lead but is certainly not going to deliver us from suffering. We remain complacent and negligent, steadily being dragged down through the deceit and coercion of the defilements. The Lord Buddha himself also went through and then overcame these oppressions of the heart. This is something we should use as a reflection on our own situation. Then, when laziness and discouragement overwhelm us, we can encourage and arouse ourselves with his ideal example. A way will appear of resistance and commitment without always having to yield and submit. It”s difficult, yes, but just carry on and do it.

　　The way to overcome and transcend suffering takes on a crucial importance if we acknowledge the truth of suffering. Otherwise, this predicament that we detest and dread will always confront us. But merely intellectualizing about ways of escape, without actually taking remedial action, isn”t going to get us anywhere. It doesn”t matter whether a technique is easy or difficult, as long as it”s effective in ridding the heart of its torments it must be applied.

　　We are all fellows and equal in suffering, in birth and death amid the various realms of existence. Even after so long, we are still equal first, with no one coming in behind. Each of us has gone through repeated birth and death, matching each other in the suffering involved. There can be no competition or rivalry here for we all manage an equal first and are all in the same boat. Instead of achieving our top marks with the heart and Dhamma, they come from being foremost together in suffering; following the guidance and direction of the defilements. Without going against that lead there will never be an end to suffering.

　　Dhamma is concerned with resisting the influence of the defilements. It uses careful analysis and reason, perceiving that the source of suffering and danger must be remedied in such and such a way. The putting-to-right may be difficult or easy, but that is beside the point. When the craftsman works, he selects the appropriate tool for the job in hand. As he selects his tool he isn”t concerned with its weight but only with steadily accomplishing his task.

　　The tools selected to be used against the defilements and for establishing the heart in genuine wholeness and integrity come from the Dhamma. These Dhamma tools are varied and need to be chosen to fit the circumstances. If the heart is only mildly disturbed by the defilements, we may apply a lighter control. The level of mindfulness and wisdom, the strength of application, the length of our sitting or walking (in meditation) or investigating, isn”t yet of great significance because the work isn”t at the critical stage. However, when the defilements rise up to disturb and obsess the heart, and it finds it can”t unburden or release…

《To the Last Breath - 2· The Undying》全文未完，请进入下页继续阅读…