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　　Actually, the path to cure defilement has to be difficult. The path to accumulate defilement is easy — because our preferences fool us into thinking it”s easy. (Notice: They fool us into thinking it”s easy.) Actually, both paths are hard. Whatever the job, the important point is which job we prefer. We”ll see that job as easy. Light. Comfortable.

　　At first, when we were starting out with the job of curing defilement, we weren”t getting anywhere at all. Even though we were set on curing defilement, the work was heavy and we were weak and lazy. Everything bad and worthless was gathered right there. But now that we gradually come to comprehend causes and effects, and to understand the Dhamma, the results have begun to appear. Where has our laziness gone

　　 All that”s left is diligence and persistence. We can contend with anything, heavy or light — we can contend with death — because we have begun seeing results. Even though we have been curing defilement all along, the difference is that at one stage we don”t see results, and at another we do — and persistence really arises.

　　So. If things get heavy, we fight. We”re disciples of the Tathagata and so we have to follow in our Teacher”s footsteps. Our Teacher met with difficulties, so his disciples will have to meet with difficulties. Our Teacher passed out two or three times. Is there anyone among us who has passed out from the effort of the practice

　　 I don”t see anyone who has. So why are we afraid of dying when we”ve never even passed out

　　 How can we be so stubborn in our fear of death

　　 The Lord Buddha lost consciousness three or four times. What do we have to say to that

　　 When we lose consciousness, it”s because we are falling asleep. Why aren”t we afraid of dying then

　　 So why are we afraid of dying when we practice meditation

　　 Exactly what dies

　　When we have explored and seen the truth, we won”t fear death — because nothing in the world dies. All there is, is the mind making its assumptions. It deceives itself — ”I”m afraid of dying, I”m afraid of dying” — but when it knows the truth of everything of every sort, it”s not afraid. It”s not afraid of death. It”s not afraid of birth — because it has nothing left to be born. So what is there to fear

　　 Why bother with these empty, hollow fears

　　 The mind is now released from birth, so why be afraid of birth

　　 There are no more seeds for the birth of a body, a man, or a woman. There is nothing to fear, nothing to be brave about. The mind is even with itself — uniform, unchanging — not ”even” in the ordinary sense of ”coming out even.” It”s ”even” in the sense of a mind that has reached sufficiency: ”even” in its excellence.

　　Here I”ve been talking about a heavy task, but also about the results as a means of encouragement, as a means of giving the mind something to hold to. The results are superlative, in keeping with the difficulties and hardships of the practice. What do we want in our lives

　　 We all want what is good. Even in external things we want what is good, so especially in the area of the Dhamma, why shouldn”t we want what is good

　　Then step up your efforts. What does it matter if the cemeteries cry because they miss you

　　 You have been crying over the cemeteries, so what”s wrong with letting the cemeteries cry in turn

　　 They have no more hopes now. You aren”t coming back to be born or die. The cemeteries” being without hope is better than your being without hope, because there”s nothing good about birth and death, circling around, back and forth, with nothing but suffering and stress every lifetime.

　　So work out solutions — and make them succeed. Whatever things are thorns in the heart, use mindfulness and discernment to explore, to probe on down and remove them completely so that they”re all gone. Once they”re all gone, that”s the result of your work. We”ve talked about how hard the work is: What are the results like

　　 Are they worth it

　　 Find out for yourself — and then you are free to live wherever you like. The Buddha says,

　　vusitam brahmacariyam:

　　”The holy life is fulfilled, the task of the religion is done.” This is now completely apparent in every way. Whatever is stressful is a matter of defilement. When the cause — defilement — is ended, the result — stress — is ended as well. That”s all there is. From then on there is nothing but ultimate ease, which nothing will ever again come to disturb throughout eternity.

《Straight from the Heart - The Principle of the Present》全文阅读结束。