..续本文上一页ed of liberty or the free person

　　We have long been passively submissive under the mass of defilements and craving. It”s only when we become weary of their domination and start to recognize their curse, that we”ll be able to resist, by whatever way we can. Ultimately, we”ll have to rely on these five essential Dhamma tools to finish off and eliminate the defilements.

　　Where is the arena and battleground for anyone going into Dhamma practice

　　 What do those who relentlessly walk their meditation path or sit cross-legged day and night take as their battlefield and zone of investigation

　　 The Lord Buddha brought forward the Four Noble Truths from the principles of Dhamma. These Four Noble Truths are there within the body and mind of human beings. You are human, so when you walk or sit in meditation searching for truth and Dhamma, it”s obvious that you must look for the Noble Truths.

　　We are aware of the suffering that arises in the body and mind of human beings and animals. We, unlike the animals, know a way to remedy the situation. How can this suffering be so welcome and desirable

　　 When it appears in the body it”s plainly unwished for, yet even with bodily ease and comfort any suffering that comes up will bring anxiety and negative, unsightly behavior. And increasing distress manifests in an even more unattractive way.

　　The tormented heart will always expose itself in detrimental ways, for instead of alleviating and ridding itself of suffering it actually makes the situation worse. The idea that one can be rid of suffering — ”get it off one”s chest” — with harsh words and offensiveness is completely mistaken. In reality, the perpetrator not only hurts others with outpourings from a soiled heart but also increases his own suffering. He spreads and multiplies his troubles rather than throwing them out.

　　One element of the Noble Truths concerns the searching into how suffering actually arises. We may be aware of suffering but to do anything about it we need to know its root-cause. This is the originator, the producer of suffering or samudaya. The Lord Buddha usually explained this as, sensual craving, craving for existence and craving for no-existence.10

　　Desire for things that I love and aversion for what I dislike is the source of our suffering. Those thought fabrications based in defilements are producing suffering and so can be classed as a source. All these branches and ramifications spring from one main trunk — and that”s in the heart. The heart is embedded with the roots of greed, hatred and delusion.

　　Examine your body and then turn your inspection inward to the heart. Check on its ongoing thoughts and fabrications. What do you find

　　 The endless proliferating of thoughts that contrive and process suffering for both yourself and others. The Lord Buddha taught about the application of mindfulness and wisdom to inspect what”s going on. The heart appears anxious and concerned for these aggregates. But what”s the point in that

　　 The aggregates have their space here so surely there”s room enough in a cemetery or crematorium ahead, just as there is for everyone else in the world. What can all this concern and possessiveness achieve

　　 Where”s the advantage

　　 Won”t the result be that of ”unfulfilled desires that breed suffering”11 for the heart. The Lord Buddha therefore advised against indulging such desires and to turn and examine the actual situation.

　　The bodily aggregate is fashioned and put together and is thus also destined for eventual breakup. Just that. This can be irrefutably seen once wisdom is brought to bear, and then any possessiveness seems altogether pointless. We can then let go our grasp and allow the body to follow its own nature; whether it”s still holding together or has entered the inevitable final phase of dissoluti…

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