Burning with the fire of greed, with the fire of aversion, with the fire of delusion; I say it is burning with birth, ageing, death, with sorrow, with lamentation, with pain, with grief, with despair." Vin.I,34-5; S.IV,19-20
In the course of life some people come to realise the limitations of the sensory realm. Initially, we may think that we have complete control over sense impressions – we just need to keep away from those we are averse to and enjoy only those we desire. However, we sooner or later come to see how difficult it is to control what our senses contact. We are continually “burned” by averse impressions. We are “burned” by desireable impressions because we can´t get enough of them.
4. “`The unstable world is brought to an end´; this is the first expounding of Dhamma taught by the Revered One who knows and sees, the worthy one, the fully self awakened one. Because of knowing and seeing and hearing this, I went forth from the homelife into homelessness.
`The world is without shelter or protection´; this is the second expounding of Dhamma . . .
`The world is not one´s own; one must pass away leaving everything´; this is the third expounding of Dhamma . . .
`The world is deficient, unsatisfied, a slave of craving´; this is the fourth expounding of Dhamma taught by the Revered One who knows and sees, the worthy one, the fully self awakened one. Because of knowing and seeing and hearing this, I went forth from the homelife into homelessness.” M.II,68f
Each person has their own reasons for engaging in a spiritual quest. These four reasons were given by one of the Buddha´s early disciples, the son of a wealthy merchant. While we all may appreciate the truth of these statements intellectually, it is the deep and personal realisation of them which upsets our normal view of life. And only in the spiritual realm can answers be obtained.
Self-Reliance
5. "Now, look you Kalamas, do not be led by reports, or tradition, or hearsay. Be not led by the authority of religious texts, nor by mere logic or inference, nor by considering appearances, nor by the delight in speculative opinions, nor by seeming possibilities, nor by the idea: `This is our teacher”. But, O Kalamas, when you know for yourselves that certain things are unwholesome, and wrong, and bad, then give them up . . . And when you know for yourselves that certain things are wholesome and good, then accept them and follow them." A.I,188ff.(Rahula trans.)
The Buddha encouraged the Kalama people, who were visited by a variety of religious teachers expounding a persity of doctrines, to make a careful personal investigation to ascertain what was really wholesome or unwholesome in these teachings.
Some people may take this to imply a rejection of tradition, texts and teachers. However, what the Buddha is saying is that we should receive the teachings, and then carefully consider, reflect upon, investigate them to see if they are indeed beneficial.
Spiritual experience is a very subjective and personal experience. We need to assume a certain responsibility for our spiritual development and be able to clearly discern what is helpful for us by learning to trust our own "inner wisdom" and rigorously putting the teaching to the test of experience -- do they really work, or do they just sound impressive
6. "The monk must look for peace within himself and not in any other place. For when a person is inwardly quiet, there is nowhere a self can be found; where, then, could a non-self be found
There are no waves in the depths of the sea; it is still, unbroken. It is the same with the monk. He is still, without any quiver of desire, without a remnant on which to build pride and desire." Sn.919-920 (Saddhatissa trans.)
Spiritual peace…
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