..续本文上一页of genuine avijja. As soon as this knowing nature turns back and looks into itself, avijja disintegrates. This disintegration, in turn, reveals the truth about the citta, the truth about Dhamma. Only avijja keeps this truth hidden from view.

　　 Meditators who are not truly adept in the area of wisdom will have difficulty finding their way out of avijja, because avijja in general and genuine avijja are two very different things. The nature of avijja in general combines all the different aspects of delusion, both external and internal, into a single mental defilement. It”s comparable to a tree, which is a combination of leaves, twigs, branches and a trunk. Genuine avijja, on the other hand, is like a tree that is felled and stripped of all its branches. That is to say, through persistent effort, wisdom cuts away at avijja”s “outgrowing” activities one at a time so that it gradually loses its exuberant tendencies and converges into a single spot—the citta. At this point, avijja no longer has the group of henchmen that it commanded when it was fully in charge. At this spot we find the genuine avijja.

　　 The offshoots of avijja are many and varied. All other mental defilements are merely its twigs and branches. By concentrating on the offshoots, we tend to overlook the root cause. Because of this, when we actually reach the real avijja, we are confused and don”t recognize it. It”s like a vine that sprouts up in one place and then creeps along the ground to who knows where. It just goes creeping on and climbing up, with more and more offshoots that grow longer and more entangled. We must grab hold of the vine and keep following it back to its source until we reach the main stem. That”s where we will find the roots. When we pull out the roots, the whole plant dies.

　　PART 2

　　ARAHATTAPHALA

　　Shedding Tears in Amazement With Dhamma

　　Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa”s Dhamma Talk given at the age of 89 on the 2nd of May, 2002.

　　 The basis of death exists precisely in the citta, as death and birth are both present within it. The citta itself is never born and never dies. Rather, the defiling influences that infiltrate and permeate the citta keep us in a repetitious cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Do you understand

　　 Look at the citta. If you do not see the poisonous nature of the citta, you will fail to see the poisonous nature of these defilements. At the most advanced stage of practice, the mesmerizing and radiant citta is itself the real danger. So don”t think only of how precious and amazing the citta is, for danger lurks there. If you can view the citta from this angle, you will see the harm that lays buried within it. Do you understand what I mean

　　 So long as you continue to hold the radiant citta in high esteem, you will be caught and remain at an impasse. It”s as simple as that. Don”t say I didn”t warn you. When the time comes, you must sweep aside everything until nothing remains. Preserve nothing. Whatever you leave untouched—that is the Ultimate Danger.

　　 Speaking of this reminds me of the time when I practiced at Wat Doi Dhammachedi. It was early in the morning, just before the meal. At that time my citta possessed a quality so amazing that it was incredible to behold. I was completely overawed with myself. I thought, “Oh my! Why is this citta so amazingly radiant

　　” I stood on my meditation track and contemplated its brightness, incredulous about how wondrous it appeared. But, in fact, this very radiance that I found so amazing represented the Ultimate Danger. Do you see my point

　　 We tend to fall for the radiant citta. In truth, I was enthralled and already deceived by it. You see, when nothing else remains, one concentrates on this final point of focus, which, as the center of the perpetual cycle of…

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