..续本文上一页 itself, we can no longer remain idle and indifferent.

　　Now is the time for action. Whatever is available is thrown in with a do-or-die attitude and without thought of surrender or defeat; unless death does indeed come for it”s then beyond us. Our response must be to mobilize all our resources and willingly endure the painful predicament. Our resistance might bring with it suffering but that”s nothing compared with the aberrant effects of defilement-born suffering. It”s this that sinks one so thoroughly that there”s no telling when one might emerge.

　　We all know about the discomfort and pain of sitting or walking in meditation for long periods. We”ve experienced the difficulties involved in finding strategies and skillful means to oppose the defilements. We know this much. But when the fruits of our exertion arise it will be experienced as something truly remarkable. The happiness and wonder that arises! The new insight with such ingenuity and resourcefulness. This is exactly what we have been hoping for.

　　Once the results arrive to join up with the cause we”ll be able to cope with any obstacle or difficulty that may arise. If there were only hardship and struggle without the final rewarding peace and contentment, then no one in this world would be able to continue. I don”t mean just us ordinary people, but even the Lord Buddha couldn”t have awakened, nor his enlightened disciples — whom we celebrate with:

　　"Buddha.m, Dhamma.m, Sangha.m sarana.m gacchaami."

　　"I go for refuge to the Lord Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha."

　　The right time and opportunity will always eventually arrive and we will then be able to manage the task. Perseverance is therefore crucial, as is a steady and systematic use of clear reasoning; but should this weaken the defilements will immediately grow more threatening and incisive. With strong effort, with mindfulness and wisdom sharp and keen, the defilements will gradually fall away. Defilements only fear Dhamma, for nothing else can contain and subdue them. Dhamma is faith, diligent effort, mindfulness, samadhi and wisdom.4

　　Faith is trust in the fruits of the Lord Buddha”s Realization. That the Dhamma he offered to the world definitely leads out from suffering — it is the Niyyaanika Dhamma. That if we too practice following the Lord”s teaching, we will steadily and surely come to those same fruits.

　　Diligent effort will always bring the right and proper result to any action. Whether the task be internal or external it will be well accomplished when supported by diligent effort. This will be evident in its outstanding and appropriate result.

　　Mindfulness is the vital factor that oversees each task, preventing any negligence or error.

　　Samadhi is the firm, undistracted commitment to the task in hand right up to its final completion. That is the causal aspect while the samadhi of result appears in the established, concentrated mind. The heart of peace and contentment. The samadhi of cause concentrates on the action without vacillation or bias and the resulting samadhi state is that of tranquillity. This leads up to ekaggataa, which the Lord Buddha described as ”the mind having only one object”, without depending on anything else.

　　Wisdom is penetrative discernment, which is necessary in checking out each situation: will it be damaging or fulfilling and effective

　　 We must rely on wisdom to investigate and analyze.

　　These are the factors of Dhamma that will steadily lead us out from suffering, accomplishing the work we set out to do. The Lord Buddha also described the Four Ways to Success5 as being of equal importance. They are:

　　Satisfaction.6 What is it that brings satisfaction to us

　　 If we are content with defilements then that is what will spring up. Whatever gratified us becomes the object of our search. We want…

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