no religion - buddhadasa

7/31/2019 No Religion - Buddhadasa

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kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkNOkRELIGION

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkbykkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkBuddhadasakBhi hu

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkTranslatedkfromkthekThaikbykBhi hukPunno

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkForkmorekinformation:kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkDhammadanakFoundationkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkc/okSuankMo hkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkChaiyakkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkSuratkThanik84110kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkThailand

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkFirstkelectronickedition:kkSeptemberk1996

kkkkkTranscribedkdirectlykfromkdis skprovidedkbykSanti arokBhi hukkkkkFormattingk&kProofreading:kScottkOserk

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkThiskelectronickeditionkiskoffered

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkFORkFREEkDISTRIBUTIONkONLYkkkkkkkkkkkkkkbykarrangementkwithkthekDhammadanakFoundation.

kkkkThisktextkiskakgiftkofkDhamma.kYoukmaykprintkthiskfilekforkyourkkkkpersonalkuse,kandkyoukmaykma ekandkdistributekunalteredkcopieskkkkofkthiskfile,kprovidedkthatkyoukchargeknokfeeskofkanyk indkforkkkkitskdistribution.kOtherwise,kallkrightskreserved.

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk*k*k*k*k*k*k*k*

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkCONTENTSkkkkkkkkkkkk-kGeneralkInformationkkkkkkkkkkk-kEditor'skPrefacekkkkkkkkkkk-kTranslator'skNotekkkkkkkkkkk-kOnkVoidnesskkkkkkkkkkk-kNokReligionkkkkkkkkkkk-kGlossarykkkkkkkkkkk-kAboutkthekAuthor


kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkGENERALkINFORMATION

Otherkboo skbykBuddhadasakBhi hu:Handboo kForkMan indMindfulnesskWithkBreathing:kUnveilingkthekSecretskofkLifeBuddha-DhammakForkStudentsKeysktokNaturalkTruthHeartwoodkofkthekBodhikTree:kThekBuddha'skTeachingkonkVoidness


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ThekBuddha'skDoctrinekofkNot-SelfThekFirstkTenkYearskofkSuankMo hChristianityk&kBuddhismPracticalkDependentkOriginationWhykWerekYoukBorn?WhykDhamma?DhammickSocialism

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkFORkFREEkDISTRIBUTIONkONLYkkkkkkkkkkkk"ThekgiftkofkDhammaksurpasseskallkotherkgifts."

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkPublishedkby:kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkBuddha-DhammakMeditationkCenterkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk8910kS.kKingerykHighwaykkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkHinsdale,kILkkk60521kkkUSA

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkWithkhelpkfrom:kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkThekBuddhadasakFoundationkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkThekDhamma-SabhakFoundationkkkkkkkkkkkkkkThekFoundationkforkthekLongkLifekofkBuddhism

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkCopyrightkThekDhammadanakFoundation,k1993

Permissionktokreprintkinkpartkorkinkwholekwillkbekgrantedkuponkwrittenrequest.kkThiskelectronickversionkiskavailablekwithkthekgraciouspermissionkofkthekDhammadanakFoundation.

Pleasekwritekto:kkkkDhammadanakFoundationkkkkc/okSuankMo hkkkkAmpoekChaiyakkkkSuratkThanikkk84110kkkkThailand

ManykofkBuddhadasa'skwritingskarekavailablekfromkWisdomkPublications

(Boston,kMA).kkOtherskmaykbekobtainedkbykcontactingkthekBuddha-DhammaMeditationkCenterkorkthekDhammadanakFoundationkatkthekabovekaddresses.


kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkEDITOR'SkkPREFACE

Onkthekoccasionkofkthiskyear'skcentennialkofkChicago'sk1893

ParliamentkofkthekWorld'skReligions,kthekBuddha-DhammakMeditationCenterkofkHinsdale,kIllinoisk(aksuburbkofkChicago)khaskchosenktoreprintk"NokReligion"kforkfreekdistributionkduringkandkafterkthisyear'skParliament.kkItkiskofferedkaskaksmallkcontributionktokthediscussionskinkChicago,kparticularlykbecausekthekauthorkcannotkbepresent,kandkinkhopekthatkfriendskfromkotherkreligionskwillkappreciateBuddhadasakBhi hu'skemphasiskonkattachmentkandkvoidness.

BuddhadasakBhi huksincerelykbelieveskthatkworldkpeacekispossible,kifkhumanitykwouldkonlykconquerkthekselfishnesskwhichkiskthe


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causekofkallkourkconflictskandktroubles.kkMoreover,khekinsistskthatthekworld'skreligionskarekthekmostkimportantkvehicleskforkpropagatingunselfishness.kkInkthiskboo ,khekdigskintokthekheartkofkselfishness,namely,kattachmentktok"I"kandk"mine,"kandkpointsktokthekunselfishremedy.kkWekhopekthatkreaderskwillkfindkitkusefulkinktheirkownspiritualkliveskandkinkourkcommonksearchkforklastingkpeace.

k"NokReligion"kwaskoriginallykaktal kgivenktokakBang o kBuddhist

groupkink1967.kkItkwasktranslatedkbykBhi hukPunnokinkthekmid-70'skandpublishedkinkBang o ,kbutkhaskbeenklongkout-of-print.kkThekmanuscripthaskbeenknewlykrevisedkforkthekcurrentkedition.

Thekoriginalktal kwaskdeliveredkspontaneouslykandkinformally.WhilekonksomekoccasionskBuddhadasakBhi hukpreferskakmorekformalstyle,kwhenkspea ingkwithkDhammakfriendskandkstudentskhekprefersktokbeinformal.kkWekhavektriedktokmaintainksomekofkthekflavorkofkthektal 'sstyle,kforkexample,kbykusingkcontractionskandkretainingksomekThaiexpressions.

ThekVenerablekAjarnkwaskspea ingktokakgroupkwhichkiskalreadyfamiliarkwithkthekLordkBuddha'skteachingkandkthekVenerablekAjarn'skwayofkexplainingkit.kkThus,khektoo kforkgrantedkakcertainkfamiliaritykwith

eykBuddhistktermskandkprinciples.kkTherefore,kthektranslatorkandeditorkhavekinterpolatedkexplanationskintokthektextkwherekwekfeltkit

wasknecessarykforkthekunderstandingkofkreaderskunfamiliarkwithktheVenerablekAjarn'skstylekofkteaching,kwhichkwaskparticularlyktersekinthisktal .kkWekhavekdonekourkbestktokbeksparingkwithkthesekadditions,merelyktryingktokbridgekthekgapkbetweenkthekoriginalkaudiencekofkthetal kandksubsequentkreaderskofkthiskboo ,kincludingknon-Buddhists.ThekVenerablekAjarn'sktal skusuallykcontainkakhealthykdosekofktermsfromkPali,kthekscripturalklanguagekofkTheravadakBuddhism.kkWekhaveusedkeasilykunderstandablektranslationsktokthekbestkofkourkability.Manykofkthektermskarekexplainedkinkthektextkandkbecomekclearkasktheyarekusedkrepeatedly,kforkexample,ksufferingk(du ha),kattachment(upadana),kandknot-selfk(anatta).kkAksmallkglossarykiskprovidedktoexplainkthosektermskwhichkmaykneedkfurtherkexplanation.

ThekVenerablekAjarnkassumedkthatkhiskaudiencekwaskfamiliarwithkthekprinciplekofknot-self;khowever,kthiskmaykbekunfamiliarktonon-Buddhistkreaders.kFromkthekhighestktoktheklowestkformskandphenomenakofknature,knothingkcankbekfoundkwhichkisktrulykakself,kthatis,kaklasting,kseparate,kindividualkbeing.kkAllkthings--exceptkforNibbana--arektransient,kconditioned,kinherentlykunstable,kandliablektokdecay.kThus,keverythingkisknot-selfk(anatta)kandkvoidkofinherentkselfhood.kkAlthoughkthiskfactkisn'tkexplainedkdirectlykinkthetal ,ktherekareknumerouskexampleskwhichkshouldkhelpkreadersktokdeepenktheirunderstandingkofkthisk eykaspectkofkreality.

AskthekvenerablekAjarnkwaskspea ingktokakThaikBuddhistaudience,khekrefersktokThailand'skmostkprominentkreligions:kBuddhism,

Islam,kandkChristianity.kk(Sincekthekreadingkaudiencekiskmuchkbroader,wekhavekaddedkreferencesktokotherkworldkreligions.)kkThekcentralreligiousktermkinkThailand,kaskinkmuchkofkSouthkandkSoutheastkAsia,kis"Dhamma"kork"Dharma."kkWekhavekretainedkitkinkthiskedition,kratherthankusingkEnglishktranslations,kforktwokreasons.kkFirst,knokEnglishtranslationkcaptureskthekfullkrichnesskandkdepthkofk"Dhamma."kkSecond,Englishktermsktendktokbekcoloredkandkconfoundedkbykthekcultureskandreligionskwhichkhavekproducedkthemkandkwhich,kinkturn,kdistortkthereligiousksensibilitieskofkotherkcultureskandklanguages.


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Inkthekoriginalktal ,kallkcitationskfromkscripture,kbothBuddhistkandkChristian,kwerekfromkmemorykandkinkloosekparaphrase.kkForthiskboo ,khowever,kallkquoteskfromkthekBiblekhavekbeenkcopiedkfromRevisedkStandardkEditionkofkthekAmericankBiblekSociety.kkAllkfootnotesarekbykthektranslatorkandkeditor.

Finally,kspecialkthan sktokthekCenterkforkthekLongkLifekofBuddhismkofkWatkCholapratankRangsaritk(Nontaburi)kforkthekusekofktheirMacintosh,ktokPhrakJarankAranyadhammokforkteachingkmekhowktokusekit,andktokPhrakSurasa kSurayanokforkorganizingklayoutkandkprinting.Than skandkblessingskalsoktokthekmanykpeople,kbothkinkChicagokandBang o ,kwhosekgiftskofk nowledge,ktime,kenergy,kandkfundskmadekthisreprintkpossible.

Inevitably,ksomekmista eskwillkbekfoundkinkthepresentkedition.kkAllkcomments,kcorrections,kandkcriticismskwillkbecheerfullykwelcomed.kkMaykallkbeingskrealizekthekbestkthingkthatlifekhasktokoffer--theklastingkpeacekofkvoidness.

Santi arokBhi hukkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkSuankMo h

25kJulyk1993


kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkTRANSLATOR'SkNOTE

Ak eykexpressionkusedkinkallkofkBuddhadasakBhi hu'sktal sktograbkthekattentionkofkkThaikaudienceskisk"tua-goo."kkkTua-goo"kmustkbetranslatedkask"I",kbutkthekfullkconnotationskofkthekThaikwordkdoesknotcomekthrough.kkThaikhaskliterallykdozenskofkformskforkthekfirstkpersonpronoun.kkOfkthese,k"tua-goo"kiskonekofkthekmostkcolloquialkandkinmanykcaseskiskconsideredkvulgar.kkItskusekoftenkimplieskangerkonkthepartkofkthekspea er.kkItskfrequentkusekbykthekVenerablekAjarnkstri es

thekaudiencekwithkgreatkimpact.kkThiskimpactkiskfeltkonkmanyklevels.Whenkheksaysk"Sufferingkiskcausedkbykattachmentktoktua-goo"korrequestskusktokeliminatektua-goo,kkitkleadsktheklistenerktokseekhowthekegokiskankemotionalkreactionktokstimulikandkhowkselfishnesskalwaysresultskfromkit.kkFinally,ktheklistenerkmaykrealizekthatkegokisbasicallykakmisconceptionkandkillusion.kkHence,kthekVenerablekAjarn'susekofkthekwordk"tua-goo"kcankoftenkstartlektheklistenerkintokaknewperspective,ksomethingkthatkcouldkneverkhappenkifkhekwerektokusekanyofkthekmorekneutralkfirstkpersonkpronouns.kkAskEnglishkhaskonlykoneformkofkthekfirstkpersonksingularkpronoun,kallkofkthesekmanykshadeskofmeaningkareklostkinktranslation.kkThektranslatorkhaskresortedktokusingaskmanykdifferentkwordskaskpossiblek("I",k"self",k"ego",ketc.)kinkthehopekthatkperhapskonekofkthemkwillkstimulatekthekreaderktokakfresh

viewkofkhimselfkorkherself.

Bhi hukPunno


kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkONkVOIDNESS


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languagekiskusedkalmostkexclusively,kunfortunately,kordinarykpeoplecan'tkunderstandkakword.kkDhammaklanguagekiskunderstoodkonlykbykthosewhokarekinkthek now.kkWhatkiskmore,kinkDhammaklanguagekitkisn'tkevennecessaryktokma ekaksound.kkForkexample,kakfingerkiskpointedkorkaneyebrowkraisedkandkthekultimatekmeaningkofkrealitykiskunderstood.kSo,pleasekta ekinterestkinkthesektwok indskofklanguage--peoplelanguagekandkDhammaklanguage.k

Tokillustratekthekimportancekofklanguage,kletkuskconsiderkthefollowingkexample.kkOrdinary,kignorantkworldlykpeoplekarekunderktheimpressionkthatktherekiskthiskreligionkandkthatkreligion,kandkthatthesekreligionskarekdifferent,ksokdifferentkthatkthey'rekopposedktoeachkother.kkSuchkpeoplekspea kofk"Christianity,"k"Islam,"k"Buddhism,""Hinduism,"k"Si hism,"kandksokon,kandkconsiderkthesekreligionsktokbedifferent,kseparate,kandkincompatible.kkThesekpeoplekthin kandkspeaaccordingktoktheirkpersonalkfeelingskandkthuskturnkthekreligionskintoenemies.kkBecausekofkthiskmentality,ktherekcomektokexistkdifferentreligionskwhichkarekhostilelykopposedktokeachkother.

Thosekwhokhavekpenetratedktokthekessentialknaturekofkreligionwillkregardkallkreligionskaskbeingktheksame.kkAlthoughktheykmayksaytherekiskBuddhism,kJudaism,kTaoism,kIslam,korkwhatever,ktheykwillkalsosaykthatkallkreligionskarekinwardlyktheksame.kkHowever,kthosekwhokhavepenetratedktokthekhighestkunderstandingkofkDhammakwillkfeelkthatkthe

thingkcalledk"religion"kdoesn'tkexistkafterkall.kkTherekisknoBuddhism;ktherekisknokChristianity;ktherekisknokIslam.kkHowkcanktheybektheksamekorkinkconflictkwhenktheykdon'tkevenkexist?kkItkjustisn'tkpossible.kkThus,kthekphrasek"Nokreligion!"kiskactuallyDhammaklanguagekofkthekhighestklevel.kkWhetherkitkwillkbekunderstoodorknotkisksomethingkelse,kdependingkuponktheklistener,kandkhasnothingktokdokwithkthektruthkorkwithkreligion.

I'dkli ektokgivekaksimplekexamplekofkpeopleklanguage,kthelanguagekofkmaterialism.kk"Water"kwillksuffice.kkAkpersonkwhokdon't

nowkmuchkaboutkevenktheksimplestkthingskthin skthatktherekarekmanydifferentk indskofkwater.kkTheykviewkthesekvariousk indskofkwaterkasifktheykhaveknothingkinkcommon.kkTheykdistinguishkrain-water,

well-water,kunderground-water,kcanal-water,kswamp-water,kditch-water,gutter-water,ksewer-water,ktoilet-water,kurine,kdiarrhea,kandkmanyotherk indskofkwaterkfromkeachkother.kkAveragekpeoplekwillkinsistkthatthesekwaterskarekcompletelykdifferent,kbecauseksuchkpeoplekta eexternalkappearanceskasktheirkcriteria.

Akpersonkwithksomek nowledge,khowever,k nowskthatkpurewaterkcankbekfoundkinkeveryk indkofkwater.kkIfkyoukta ekrain-waterkanddistillkit,kyoukwillkgetkpurekwater.kkIfkyoukta ekriver-waterkanddistillkit,kyoukwillkgetkpurekwater.kkIfkyoukta ekcanal-water,sewer-water,korktoilet-water,kandkdistillkit,kyoukwillkstillkgetkpurewater.kkAkpersonkwithkthiskunderstandingk nowskthatkallkthosedifferentk indskofkwaterkarektheksamekaskfarkaskthekwaterkcomponentkis

concerned.kkAskforkthosekelementskwhichkma ekitkimpurekandkloodifferent,ktheykaren'tkthekwaterkitself.kkTheykmaykcombinekwithkwater,andkalterkwater,kbutktheykarekneverkwaterkitself.kkIfkwekloo kthroughthekpollutingkelements,kwekcankseekthekwaterkthatkiskalwaysktheksame,forkinkeverykcasekthekessentialknaturekofkwaterkisktheksame.kkHowevermanyk indskofkwaterktherekmaykseemktokbe,ktheykarekallktheksamekaskfaraskthekessentialknaturekofkwaterkiskconcerned.kkWhenkwekloo katkthingsfromkthiskviewpoint,kwekcankseekthatkallkreligionskarektheksame.kkIftheykappearkdifferentkit'skbecausekwekarekma ingkjudgmentskonkthebasiskofkexternalkforms.


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Onkankevenkmorekintelligentklevel,kwekcankta ekthatkpurekwaterandkexaminekitkfurther.kkThen,kwekmustkconcludekthatktherekisknowater,konlyktwokpartskhydrogenkandkonekpartkoxygen.kkThere'sknokwaterleft.kkThatksubstancekwhichkwekhavekbeenkcallingk"water"khasdisappeared,kit'skvoid.kkTheksamekisktruekeverywhere,knokmatterkwherewekfindkthektwokpartskofkhydrogenkandkonekpartkofkoxygen.kkInktheks y,inkthekground,korkwhereverkthesekpartskhappenktokbekfound,kthekstateofkwaterkhaskdisappearedkandkthektermk"water"kisknoklongerkused.kkForonekwhokhaskpenetratedktokthisklevelkofktruth,ktherekisknoksuchkthingaskwater.

Inktheksamekway,konekwhokhaskattainedktokthekultimatektruthseeskthatktherekisknoksuchkthingkaskreligion.kkTherekiskonlykakcertainnaturekwhichkcankbekcalledkwhateverkwekli e.kkWekcankcallkitk"Dhamma,"wekcankcallkitk"Truth,"kwekcankcallkitk"God,"k"Tao,"korkwhateverkweli e,kbutkwekshouldn'tkparticularizekthatk"Dhamma"korkthatk"Truth"kasBuddhism,kChristianity,kTaoism,kJudaism,kSi hism,kZoroastrianism,korIslam,kforkwekcankneitherkcaptureknorkconfinekitkwithklabelskorconcepts.kkStill,ksuchkdivisionskoccurkbecausekpeoplekhaven'tkyetrealizedkthisknamelessktruthkforkthemselves.kkTheykhavekonlykreachedthekexternalklevels,kjustkaskwithkcanal-water,kmuddykwater,kandktherest.

ThekBuddhakintendedkforkusktokunderstandkandkbekablektokseethatktherekisknokperson,kthatktherekisknokseparatekindividual,kthattherekarekonlykdhammaskorknaturalkphenomena.kkTherefore,kwekshouldn'tclingktokthekbeliefkthatktherekiskthiskreligionkandkthatkreligion.kkWeaddedktheklabelsk"Buddhism,"k"Islam,"kandk"Christianity"kourselves,longkafterkthekfoundersklived.kkNonekofkthekgreatkreligiouskteacherseverkgavekakpersonalknamektoktheirkteachings,kli ekwekdoktoday.kkTheyjustkwentkaboutkteachingkuskhowkwekshouldklive.

Pleasektryktokunderstandkthiskcorrectly.kkWhenkthekfinalkleveliskreached,kwhenkthekultimatekisk nown,kknotkevenkmankexists.kkThereiskonlyknature,konlykDhamma.kkThiskrealitykcan'tkbekconsideredktokbeanykparticularkthing;kitkcan'tkbekanythingkotherkthankDhamma.kkIt

can'tkbekThai,kChinese,kIndian,kArab,korkEuropean.kkItkcan'tkbekblac ,brown,kyellow,kred,korkwhite.kkItkcan'tkbekeasternkorkwestern,southernkorknorthern.kkNorkcankitkbekBuddhist,kChristian,kIslamic,koranythingkelse.kkSokpleasektryktokreachkthiskDhamma,kforkthenkyoukwillhavekreachedkthekheartkofkallkreligionskandkofkallkthings,kandkfinallycomektokthekcompletekcessationkofksuffering.

Althoughkwekcallkourselvesk"Buddhists"kandkprofesskBuddhism,wekhaven'tkyetkrealizedkthektruthkofkBuddhism,kforkwekarekacquaintedwithkonlykaktinykaspectkofkourkownkBuddhism.kkAlthoughkwekbekmon s,nuns,knovices,klaykdevotees,korkwhatever,kwekarekawarekofkonlykthebar ,kthekouterkcoveringkwhichkma eskuskthin kourkreligionkisdifferentkfromkthekotherkreligions.kkBecausekwekhavekfailedkto

understandkandkhaven'tkyetkrealizedkourkownktruth,kwekloo kdownkuponotherkreligionskandkpraisekonlykourkown.kkWekthin kofkourselveskaskaspecialkgroupkandkofkotherskaskoutsiderskorkforeigners.kkWekbelievethatktheykarekwrongkandkonlykwekarekright,kthatkwekarekspecialkandhavekakspecialkcalling,kandkthatkonlykwekhavekthektruthkandkthekwayktosalvation.kkWekhavekmanykofkthesekblindkbeliefs.kkSuchkideaskandbeliefskshowkthatkwekarekstillkignorant,kkverykfoolishkindeed,kjustli eklittlekbabieskwhok nowkonlyktheirkownkbellies.kkTellkaksmallchildktokta ekakbathkandktokwashkwithksoapktokgetkallkthekdirtkoff;theklittlekchildkwillkscrubkonlykherkbelly.kkShekdoesn'tk nowktokwash


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allkover.kkShekwillkneverkthin kofkwashingkbehindkherkearskorkbetweenherktoeskorkanywherekli ekthat.kShekmerelykscrubskandkpolisheskhertummykvigorously.

Inkthisksamekwaykaskthekchild,kmostkofkthekadherentskofBuddhismk nowkonlykakfewkthings,ksuchkaskhowktokta ekandkhowktokget.Evenkwhilekdoingkgood,ksupportingkthektempleskandkmon s,kandkobservingthekprecepts,ktheirkonlykobjectivekisktokgetksomething,ktheykevenkwanttokgetkmorekinkreturnkthanktheykgave.kkWhenktheykma ekofferings,ksomepeoplekexpectkbac ktenktimeskwhatktheykgave,ksomekakhundredktimes,somekakthousand,kandksomekevenkmore.kkInkthiskcase,kitkwouldkbekmoreaccuratektoksaykthatkthesekpeoplek nowknothingkatkall,kforktheykareacquaintedkonlykwithkhowktokgetkandkhowktokta e.kkThatkisn'tkBuddhismatkall.kkIt'skthekreligionkofkgettingkandkta ing.kkIfkeverktheykcan'tgetkorkcan'tkta eksomething,ktheykarekfrustratedkandktheyksuffer.RealkBuddhismkisktok nowkhowktokgetkwithoutkgettingkandkta ekwithoutta ingksokthatktherekisknokfrustrationkandknoksufferingkatkall.k

Thiskmustkbekspo enkaboutkverykoftenkinkorderktokacquainteveryonekwithkthekheartkofkBuddhism:kkNon-Attachment.kkBuddhismkisaboutknotktryingktokseizekorkgraspkanything,ktoknotkclingkorkattachktoanything,knotkevenktokthekreligionkitself,kuntilkfinallykrealizingthatktherekisknokBuddhismkafterkall.kkThatkmeans,kifkwekspeadirectly,kthatktherekisknokBuddha,knokDhamma,kandknokSangha!(*)k

However,kifkwekspea kinkthiskway,knobodykwillkunderstand;ktheykwillkbeshoc edkandkfrightened.

[*kThekBuddha,kDhamma,kandkSanghak(Community)karekthekbelovedkTripleGemkwhichkmostkBuddhistskcherishkaskthekbasiskofktheirkfaith.]k

Thosekwhokunderstand,kseekthatkthekBuddha,kthekDhamma,kandktheSanghakarektheksamekthing,kthatkis,kjustkDhammakorkjustkNaturekitself.Thekcompulsionktokseizekandkhangkontokthingskaskpersonskandindividuals,kaskthiskandkthat,kdoesn'tkexistkinkthem.kkEverythingkisnon-personal,kthatkis,kiskDhammakorkNaturekinkitskpurekstatekorwhateverkyoukwishktokcallkit.kkButkwekdareknotkthin kli ekthis.kkWearekafraidktokthin kthatktherekisknokreligion,kthatktherekiskno

Buddha,kDhamma,korkSangha.kkEvenkifkpeoplekwerektaughtkorkforcedktothin kinkthiskway,ktheykstillkwouldn'tkbekablektokunderstand.kkInfact,ktheykwouldkhavekaktotallykdistortedkunderstandingkofkwhatktheythoughtkandkwouldkreactkinkthekoppositekwayktokwhatkwaskintended.

Forkthiskreason,kafterkthekpassingkawaykofkthekBuddha,kthereappearedkmanyknewksystemskofkreligiouskpractice.kkThekteachingskwerereorganizedkintokdescendingklevels,kwithklower,kmorekaccessibleaspects,ksokthatkevenkifksomeonekwishedktokma ekofferingskinkorderktogainkheavykbenefitskinkreturn,kequalktokdozens,khundreds,korkthousandsofktimesktheirk"merits,"kitkcouldkbekdone.kkThiskwaskakpreliminaryarrangementksokthatkthekrewardskforkgoodkdeedskwouldkbekakbaitktoattractkpeoplekandk eepkthemkfromkgoingkastray.kAskakstartingkpoint,

peoplekwerekencouragedktokhangkonktokthekgoodkandkitskrewardskaskmuchaskpossible.kkIfktheykcontinuedktokdokso,ktheykwouldkeventuallydiscoverkthatkitkwaskunnecessaryktokclingkorkbekattachedktokgoodness.Theykwouldkcomektokseekthatkanyksuchkattachmentkiskunsatisfyingkandpainful.kkThus,ktheykwouldkgraduallykdisentanglekthemselveskfromkthehabitkofkattachment.kkThiskiskhowkDhammakleadskthroughksuccessivelyhigherklevelskandkiskwhykthekpracticekofkDhammakinkitskearliestkstageiskbasedkonk"gainingkmerits"ktokletkpeoplekgetksomethingktheykreallyli ekatkthekstart.k


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TheknextkstepkonkthekpathkofkDhammakisktokvoluntarilykchoosetoklivekakplainkandksimpleklife,kakpureklife,kinkwhichkonekisn'tkledastraykorkintoxicatedkbykanything.kkOnkthisklevel,ktherekiskstillkasensekofkthek"I"kwhokiskenjoyingkthiskmodekofkhappiness,kbutkit'skabetter,kmorekdevelopedk"I."

TheknextkhighestklevelkofkDhammakisktoknotkletkanyktraceskofthek"I"ktokremainkatkall.kkIt'skfinished.kkThekmindknoklongerkhaskthefeelingkofkbeingk"I,"kofkbeingkakself,kandktherekisknokwaykthatsufferingkorkdissatisfactionkcankhappen,ksincektherekisknok"I"ktosuffer.kkSufferingkcan'tkoccurkbecausekthiskegolessnesskiskthekhighesthappiness,kifkwekspea kinkpeopleklanguage.kkIfkwekspea kinkDhammalanguage,khowever,ktherekisknothingktoksay.kkTherekisknothingktokget,nothingktokhave,knothingktokbe--nokhappiness,knoksuffering,knothingatkall.kkWekcallkthisk"voidness."kkEverythingkstillkexists,kbutkit'sfreekandkvoidkofkanykfeelingkofkbeingk"I"kork"mine."kForkthiskreasonweksayk"voidness."

Tokseekthatkeverythingkiskvoidkisktokseekthingskaskbeingneitherkankaspectkofkoneselfknorkinkanywaykpossessedkbykoneself.kkThewordsk"void"kandk"voidness"kinkthekcommonklanguagekofkignorantkpeoplemeankthatknothingkexists,kbutkinktheklanguagekofkthekBuddha,ktheAwa enedkOne,kthekwordsk"void"kandk"voidness"kmeankeverythingkexists,butkwithoutkattachmentktokanykofkitkinktermskofk"I"kork"mine."kkThat

therekisn'tkclingingkorkattachmentktokthingskaskbeingk"I"kandk"mine"iskvoidnesskofkIkandkvoidnesskofkmine.kkWhenkthekwordsk"void"kand"voidness"karekusedkinkthiskway,kit'skthekvoidnesskofkDhammaklanguage.Tokusek"void"kinktheksensekthatknothingkactuallykexistskiskthelanguagekofkworldlykpeoplekwhokarektrappedkinktheirksenses,kiskthelanguagekofkmaterialism,kisktheklanguagekofkhouseholderskwhok nownothingkbutktheirkhomes.kkHere,k"voidness"khaskgivenkuskanotherexamplekofkthekdifferencekbetweenkpeopleklanguagekandkDhammaklanguage.

Wekshouldkalwaysk eepkinkmindkthisktruthkaboutklanguagekanddiscriminatekwhetherkthekwordskwekhear,kread,kandkusekarekpeoplelanguagekorkDhammaklanguage.kkForkexample,kthekBuddhaksaid,k"Killyourkfatherkandk illkyourkmother,kthenkyoukshallkattainkNibbana."

"Killkyourkfatherkandkmother,kbekankungratefulkchild,kthenkyoushallkattainkNibbana."kkThekBuddhakdidn'tkmeankthatkwekshouldkta ethiskliterallykandk illkourkfleshkandkbloodkparents.kkInstead,khemeantkthatkignorancekiskak indkofkfatherkandkcravingkiskak indkofmother.kkThektwokgivekbirthktokego-consciousnesskandksubsequentlykallformskofkselfishnesskandksin.kkThere'sknokreasonktokfeelkanygratitudektowardkthem;kdestroykthemkimmediatelykandkNibbanakisrealized.

Tokspea kinkthiskfashionkisktokusekthekDhammaklanguagewhichkthekordinarykpersonkiskunablektokunderstand.kkHekmustkstudykandinquire,kthin kandkreflect,kuntilkfinallykhekunderstands.kkButktheNoblekones,kthosekwhokhavekrealizedkDhammakalready,kwill

understandkimmediately,kthoughkonlykakfewkwordskarekspo enkandwithoutkanykexplanationkorkadvice.kkJustkonekwordkiskenoughkforkthemtokunderstand,kwithoutkfurtherkexplanation,kbecausektheyk nowkDhammalanguagekthoroughly.

Thekwordsk"birth"kandk"death"krequirektheksamekdiscriminationregardingklanguage.kkInkpeopleklanguage,kthekwordk"birth"kmeansktokbebornkfromkakmother'skwomb.kkInkDhammaklanguage,khowever,kthekword"birth"kmeansksomekformkofkattachmentkiskborn.kkThisk indkofkbirthhappenskeveryktimekwekallowkthekarisingkofkakthoughtkorkfeelingkwhich


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involveskgraspingkandkclingingktoksomethingkask"I"kork"mine,"ksuchkas,"Ikam,"k"Ikhave,"k"Ikthin ,"kandk"Ikdo."kkThiskiskthekbirthkofkthek"I"orkthekego.k

Forkexample,kthin kli ekakcriminalkandkonekiskinstantlykbornaskakcriminal.kkAkfewkmomentsklaterkthosekthoughtskdisappear,konethin skli ekaknormalkhumankbeingkagainkandkiskbornkaskakhumankbeingoncekmore.kkIfkakfewkmomentsklaterkonekhaskfoolishkthoughts,krightthenkonekiskbornkaskakfool.kkIfkonekthenkthin skinkankincreasinglyfoolishkandkdullkmanner,konekwillkbekbornkaskankanimalkimmediately.Wheneverkankattachmentkiskfeltkintensely--whenkitkburnskinsideonekwithkthekheatkofkfire--onekiskbornkaskakdemonkinkhell.Wheneverkonekisksokhungrykandkthirstykthatkonekcouldkneverkbesatiated,konekiskbornkaskankinsatiablykhungrykghost.kkWhenkonekisoverlykcautiouskandktimidkwithoutkreason,konekiskbornkakcowardlytitan.(*)kkThus,kinkaksinglekdaykonekcankbekbornkanyknumberkofktimeskinkmanykdifferentkforms,ksincekakbirthkta eskplacekeachkandkeveryktimetherekariseskanykformkofkattachmentktokthekideakofkbeingksomething.Eachkconceptionkofk"Ikam,"k"Ikwas,"kork"Ikwill"kisksimultaneouslyakbirth.kkThiskiskthekmeaningkofk"birth"kinkDhammaklanguage.Therefore,kwheneverkonekencounterskthekwordk"birth,"konekmustkbekverycarefulktokunderstandkitskmeaningkinkeachkparticularkcontext.

[*kAnimals,kdemons,khungrykghostsk(peta),kandkcowardlyktitansk(asura)

arekthekinhabitantskofkthek"lowerkrealms"kinktraditionalkBuddhistcosmology.]

"Birthkisksuffering."kkThesekwordskmeankthatkthekegoistick indofkbirthkdescribedkabovekiskalwayskpainfulkandkugly.kkThatkisktoksay,ifkwekallowk"I"ktokbekbornkinkanykmanner,ksufferingkoccursimmediately.kkIfkwekliveksimplykandkdirectlykinkthekawarenesskof"not-being-I,"kit'skli ekremainingkunbornkandkneverkexperiencingsuffering.kkAlthoughkphysicalkbirthkhaskhappenedklongkago,ktherekisknofurtherkspiritualkbirthkofkthekegoistick"I."

Onkthekotherkhand,kwheneverkankegoistickthoughtkorkfeelingarises,ktherekisksufferingkatkoncekandktheksufferingkalwayskfitskthe

particulark indkofk"I"kthatkiskbeingkborn.kkIfk"I"kiskhuman,kitksuffersli ekakhuman.kkIfk"I"kiskankangel,kitksufferskangelically.kkIfk"I"kisdemonic,kitksufferskhellishly.kkThekmannerkofkthekgraspingkandclingingkcankchangekrepeatedly,kevenkbeingkbornkaskbeasts,khungryghosts,kandkcowardlyktitans.kkInkonekday,ktherekmaykbekmanykbirths,manykdozenskofkbirths,kandkeverykonekofkthemkiskunsatisfactory,frustrating,kandkpainful.kkTokdestroykthisk indkofkbirthkiskNibbana.

Concerningkdeath,kthere'sknokneedktokspea kaboutkwhatkhappensafterkthekpeopleklanguagekversion.kkWhyktal kaboutkwhatkhappenskoncewe'rekinkthekcoffin?kkInstead,kpleasekdealkwithkthiskmostkurgentkissueofkego-birth,kthatkis,kdon'tkgetkbornkandktherekwillkbeknoksuffering.Withoutkthekfeelingkofkbeingkborn,ktherekisknokpersonkanymorekandkall

thekproblemskdisappearkwithkit.kkThatkiskall.kkWhenktherekisn'tthiskcontinualkbeingkborn,ktherekisknoklongerkak"somebody"ktokhaveproblems.kkIt'skasksimplekaskthat.kkThektimekremainingkinklifekisknolongerkankissuekoncekwek nowkhowktokexperiencekthekfactkthatkthisk"I"willkneverkbekbornkagain.kkThiskcankbekcalledk"non-birth."kkYoukmaycallkitk"death"kifkyoukprefer.

Sokyouksee,kbetweenkpeopleklanguagekandkDhammaklanguagekthekwords"birth"kandk"death"khavekoppositekmeanings.kkTheksameksituationkexistsinkthekscriptureskofkotherkreligions,kespeciallykthosekof


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Christianity.kkAskakresult,kthekChristianskdon'tkunderstandktheirkownBible,kjustkaskwekBuddhistskdon'tkunderstandkthekTipita ak(Buddhistscriptures).kThus,kwheneverkmemberskofkthektwokmeet,ktheykendkuparguingkuntilktheykarekbluekinkthekface.kkThekquarrelskareksimplyunbelievable;ktheykfightktokthekend.kkTherefore,kletkusdevelopksomekunderstandingkconcerningkthiskmatterkofkpeoplelanguagekandkDhammaklanguage.

Wekhavekdiscussedkthekwordk"birth"kinkakBuddhistkcontext,knowletkuskconsiderkakwordkfromkthekChristiankscriptures,ksuchkask"life."MatthewksayskthatkJesuskChristk"surrenderedkhisklifekaskakransomkformany"k(Matt.k20:28).kkElsewhere,kJesusksaid,k"Ifkyoukwouldkenterklife,

eepkthekcommandments"k(Matt.k19:17).kkThesektwokstatementskshowkthatthekwordk"life"khaskmorekthankonekmeaning.kkInkthekfirstkstatement,"life"kiskusedkinkitskpeopleklanguageksense.kkJesuskallowedkthemkto

illktheklifekofkhiskbody,kwhichkiskthekordinarykmeaningkofk"life.""Life"kinktheksecondkpassagekisktheksamekwordk"life,"kbutkitknowrefersktokaklifekthatkcankneverkbek illed.kkIt'skaklifekwhichkwillneverk nowkdeath.kkBykthiskwekseekthatkevenktheksimplekwordk"life"kcanhavektwokverykdifferentkmeanings.

Thekwordk"die"kprovideskanotherkexample.kkInkpeoplelanguage,k"tokdie"kmeanskthatkthekbodilykfunctionskhavekstopped,whichkiskthek indkofkdeathkwekcankseekwithkourkeyes.kkHowever,k"die"

inktheklanguagekusedkbykGodkhaskquitekakdifferentkmeaning,ksuchkaswhenkhekspo ektokAdamkandkEvekinkthekGardenkofkEdenktellingkthemknottokeatkthekfruitkofkakcertainktree,k"forkinkthekdaykthatkyoukeatkofkityoukshallkdie"k(Gen.k2:17).kkEventually,kAdamkandkEvekatekthatkfruit,butkwek nowkthatktheykdidn'tkdiekinkthekordinaryksense,kthek indkthatputskpeoplekintokcoffins.kkThatkis,ktheirkbodieskdidn'tkdie.kkInstead,theykdiedkinkanotherkway,kinkthekDhammaklanguageksense,kwhichkiskaspiritualkdeathkmuchkmorekcruelkthankbeingkburiedkinkakcoffin.kkThisfatekworsekthankdeathkwaskthekappearancekofkenormousksinkinktheirminds,kthatkis,ktheykbeganktokthin kinkdualistickterms--goodkandevil,kmalekandkfemale,kna edkandkclothed,khusbandkandkwife,kandksokon.Thekpairskofkoppositeskproliferatedkma ingkthekpainkverykheavy,ksomuchksokthatktheirkmindskwerekfloodedkbykaksufferingksokseverekthat

it'skimpossiblektokdescribe.kkAllkthiskhaskbeenkpassedkdownkthroughthekyearskandkinheritedkbykeveryoneklivingkinkthekpresentkera.

ThekconsequenceskhavekbeenksokdisastrouskthatkthekChristiansgivektheknamek"originalksin"ktokthekfirstkappearancekofkdualisticthin ing.kOriginalkSinkfirstkhappenedkwithkthatkprimordialkcouplekandthenkwaskpassedkonktokallktheirkdescendantskdownktokthiskverykday.ThiskiskwhatkGodkmeantkbykthekwordk"death";kwheneverkwekparta ekofthiskfruitkofkdualismk(fromkthek"treekofkthek nowledgekofkgoodkandevil")kwekmustkdiekrightkthenkandkthere.kkThiskiskthekmeaningkof"death"kinkChristianklanguage.

"Death"khasktheksamekmeaningkinktheklanguagekofkthe

Buddha.kkWhykiskthiskso?kkBecausekbothkreligionskarekpointingktokthesamektruthkconcerningkattachmentkandkdualism.kkWheneverdualistickthoughtskarisektherekiskboundktokbeksuffering,kwhichkisdeath.kkDeathkmeanskthekendkofkeverythingkgood,kthekendkofkhappiness,thekendkofkpeace,kthekendkofkeverythingkworthwhile.kkThiskiskthemeaningkofk"death"kinkDhammaklanguage.kkMostkofkuskdiekthiskwaykmanytimeskeachkday.

It'skcalledk"death"kbecausekitkma eskthekheartkheavy.Itkalwayskcreateskakfeelingkofkfrustrationkandkdepressionktoksome


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degree,knotktokmentionkworry,krestlessness,kandkanxiety.kkThekmoreintelligentkandkcleverkakpersonkis,kthekmorekoftenkonekdieskandkthemorekprofoundkthekdeaths.kkThekcleverkperson'skdeathskarekmuchkmorespecialkandkcreativekthankthosekofkankignorantkperson.

Wekmustk nowkhowktokavoidkdeathkinkorderktokbekinkaccordkwiththekteachingskofkthekBuddhakandkJesusk(alongkwithkthekotherkprophets)ThekobjectivekofkBuddhismkisktheksamekaskofkChristianity:kkDon'tkletthiskoriginalksinkoverpowerkyou;kdon'tkletkdualistickattachmentdominatekyourkheartkorkyourkmind.kkRefusektokletkitkdominatekthekmindeverkagain.

WekmustkalwayskbekawarekofkthektrueknaturekofkDhamma,kthatkinkrealityktherekisknokdualitykofkanyksort--nokgain,knokloss,nokhappiness,knoksuffering,knokgood,knokevil,knokmerit,knoksin,knomale,knokfemale.kkTherekiskabsolutelyknothingkatkallkthatkcankbeseparatedkandkpolarizedkintokopposites.kkRatherkthankbuykintokthem,kweoughtktoktranscend.

Thekdualistickpairskarekthekbasiskofkallkattachment,ksokdon'tfallkforktheirktric s.kkDon'tkattachktokanykofkthem.kkTryktounderstandkthatkthesekthingskcankneverkbekseizedkandkheldkontokbecausetheykarekimpermanent,klac kanykrealksubstance,kandkareknot-self.kkTryktokgokaboutkyourkbusinesskwithkakmindkthatkiskunattached.kkWor kwithk

akmindkthatkclingsktoknothingkandkiskfreekfromkallkformskofattachment.kkThiskiskcalledk"wor ingkwithkakvoidkmind."

Wekshouldkperformkeveryk indkofktas kwithkakvoidkmind,knomatterkwhetherkit'skatkthekofficekorkatkhome.kkEvenkrestkandrecreationkshouldkbekdonekwithkakvoidkmind,kakmindkthatkalwayskremainsunattachedkandkfreekbecausekit'skabovekallkdualities.kkIfkwekwor kwithakbusykmind,kakmindkthatkiskrestlesskandkalwayskgraspingkandkclingingtokonekthingkorkideakafterkanother,kakmindkthatkiskover-burdenedkwithattachments,kthenktherekisksufferingkandkwekmustkinevitablykbekbornkinaklowlykstate.kkTheklowerkrealmskspo enkofkbyktraditionalkBuddhistshappenkrightkthenkandkthere;kbirthkaskakdemonkinkhell,kaskakbeast,kasakhungrykghost,korkaskakcowardlyktitankta eskplacekatkthatkvery

moment.kkThiskiskthekmostkseriouskproblemkfacingkhumanity,kit'skthemostkoriginalksin,kandkit'skdeathkinkDhammaklanguage.kkTherefore,kweshouldklive,kwor ,kandkplaykwithoutkattachments.

TherekiskakshortkversekofkminekwhichkI'dkli ektokdiscuss.

Dokwor kofkallk indskwithkakmindkthatkiskvoidAndktokthekvoidnessksurrenderkallkofkthekfruits;Eatkthekfoodkofkvoidnesskaskthekholykoneskdo,You'llkhavekdiedktokyourselfkfromkthekverykstart.

Somekpeoplekarekunablektokunderstandkthiskversekandktheyk eepksayingthatkthekauthorkiskcrazy.kkNonetheless,kitkisn'tksokdifficultkto

explain.

Thatkwekshouldkdokeveryk indkofkwor kwithkakvoidkmindkiskawarningkthatkthekbusykandkagitatedkmindkwhichkjumpskintokthingskwithattachmentkalwayskbecomeskdar kandkcloudedkwithkdelusion,kiskfullkofworrieskandkfears,kandkbecomeskgloomykandkinsecure.kkIfkpeoplekinsistonk eepingkthiskup,kbeforeklongktheykareksurektoksufferkaknervousbrea downkorksomekotherk indkofkillness.kkIfktheykletkthesekmentaldiseaseskandkrelatedkphysicalkailmentskaccumulate,ktheykendkupconfinedktokaksic kbed.kkEvenkthoughktheykmaykbekintelligent,


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talented,kandksophisticatedkpeoplekwhokdokimportantkwor kandkearnkagreatkdealkofkmoney,ktheykwillkstillkendkupkbeingkconfinedktokbedkwithnervouskbrea downs,kulcers,kandkotherkdisorderskcausedkbykinsecurityandkanxiety.kkAllkofkthesekillnesseskbeginkwithkattachingkandclingingktoksuchkthingskaskfamekandkmoney,kprofitkandkloss,khappinessandkunhappiness,kandkpraisekandkblame.

So,kdon'tkgetkinvolvedkwithkthesekthings.kkGetkfreekofkallksuchattachmentskandkthekmindkwillkbekvoid.kkThekmindkwillkbekbrilliantlyintelligent,kaskclearkandksharpkaskpossible.kkThen,kdokyourkwor kwithjustksuchkakvoidkmindkaskthis.kAllkyourkneedskwillkbeksatisfiedwithoutkthekleastkbitkofkfrustrationkorksuffering.kkSometimes,kitkwillevenkseemktokbekakDhammicksortkofkfun.kkBestkofkall,kwor ingkli ekthisiskthek indkofkDhammakpracticekwhichkfreeskuskfromkthekfalsedistinctionkbetweenkpracticingkDhammakatkthektemplekandkwor ingkathome.kkSuchkakdichotomykiskratherkfoolish;kit'skwhatkhappenskwhenpeoplekthin konlykinkpeopleklanguage.

AccordingktokDhammaklanguage,kwekmustkpracticekDhammakinkthisbodykandkmindkatktheksamektimekwekdokourkwor kwithkthisksamekbodykandmind.kkBothkwor kandkDhammakpracticekarekdonekinktheksamekplacekorkthesamekthing.kkThekpracticekofkDhammakisktherekinkthekwor ;kthekwor kinitselfkiskDhammakpractice.kkInkotherkwords,ktokdokwor kofkanyk indwithoutkgraspingkorkclingingkiskakwayktokpracticekDhamma.kkWherever

andkwheneverkwekpracticeknon-attachment,ktherekandkthenkiskDhammapractice.

Accordingly,kwhetherkwekarekengagedkinktrainingkthekmindktokbeunattachedkandkcalm,korkwhetherkwekarekwor ingktokearnkaklivingkinsomekoccupationkorkanother,kifkwekdoksokwithkakvoidkmindkthatkformsknoattachments,krightktherekiskthekpracticekofkDhamma.kkItkdoesn'tkmatterifkwekarekinkankoffice,kakfactory,kakcave,korkwhatever.kkTokwor kli ethiskwithoutkgettingkinvolvedkinkattachments,kobsessions,kandkegokiswhatkiskmeantkbyk"Dokwor kofkallk indskwithkakmindkthatkiskvoid."

Thekresultkofkwor ingkthiskwaykiskthatkwekenjoykourselveswhilekwor ing,kandkthatkthekwor kiskdonekwellkbecausekourkmindskare

verykclearkandksharpkthen,kandktherekareknokworrieskaboutkthingskli emoney.kkThekthingskwekneedkarekacquiredkinkthekusualkwayskandkallkthiswithoutkthekattachmentkforgedkbykgraspingkandkstraining.

Thiskbringskusktoktheksecondklinekofkthekversekwhichkisk"Andtokthekvoidnessksurrenderkallkofkthekfruits."kWhenkourkwor kbearsfruitkinkthekformkofkmoney,kfame,kinfluence,kstatus,kandksokforth,kwemustkgivekitkallktokvoidness.kkDon'tkbeksokstupidkasktokclingktokthesethingskask"belongingktokme"--"mykmoney,"k"myksuccess,"k"myktalent,"ork"my"kanything.kkThiskiskwhatkiskmeantkbyknotkattachingktoktheresultskofkourkwor .

Mostkofkuskblindlykclingktokourksuccesseskandksokour

experienceskofksuccesskincreasekourkselfishkdesireskandkdefilements( ilesa).kLetkourselveskbekcarelesskforkonlykakmomentkandkwekwillkfallintokpainkimmediatelykduektokthekweightkofkattachmentskandanxieties.kkInktruth,kthisk indkofkmentalkorkspiritualkpainkiskalwayshappening.kkBeforeklong,kifkwekaren'tkcareful,kthekpainkmanifestsitselfkphysicallykinkthekbodykaskwell.kkSomekpeoplekhaveknervousbrea downskorkgokinsane,kwhilekotherskdevelopkonekofktheknumerousvarietieskofkneurosesksokprevalentkinkthekworldktoday,kevenkthoughtheykmaykbekfamous,k nowledgable,kandkwealthy.kkAllkthiskpainkresultsfromkthekfactkthatkpeoplekthekworldkoverkhavekmisunderstood,


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abused,kandkignoredktheirkownkreligions.

Wekshouldn'tkthin kthatkthekteachingkofknon-attachmentkisfoundkonlykinkBuddhism.kkInkfact,kitkcankbekfoundkinkeverykreligion,althoughkmanykpeoplekdon'tknoticekbecausekit'skexpressedkinkDhammalanguage.kkItskmeaningkiskprofound,kdifficultktoksee,kandkusuallymisunderstood.

Pleasekforgivekme,kIkdon'tkmeanktokbekinsulting,kbutkIkfeelthatkmanykreligiouskpeoplekdon'tkyetkunderstandktheirkownkreligion.Forkinstance,kinkthekChristiankBible,kSt.kPaulkadviseskusktok"Letthosekwhokhavekwivesklivekaskthoughktheykhadknone,kandkthosekwhokmournaskthoughktheykwereknotkmourning,kandkthosekwhokrejoicekaskthoughktheywereknotkrejoicing,kandkthosekthatkbuykaskthoughktheykhadknokgoods,andkthosekwhokdealkwithkthekworldkaskthoughktheykhadknokdealingskwithit"kk(Cor.k7:29-31).kThiskpassagekiskfoundkinkthekNewkTestamentkofktheChristiankBible;kanyonekcankloo kitkup.kkItkshouldkbekunderstoodkintheksamekwaykaskourkbasickBuddhistkthemekofknon-attachment.kkThatkis,ifkyoukhavekakwife,kdon'tkattachktokhavingkher;kifkyoukhavekakhusband,don'tkclingktokhavingkhim.kkIfkyoukhavekpainfulkorksorrowfulexperiences,kdon'tkclingktokthemkask"I"kork"mine"kandkitkwillkbekaskiftheykneverkhappened.kkThatkis,kdon'tkbeksadkaboutkthem.kkkDon'tkattachtokjoy,kgoods,kandkworldlykdealings,keither.

Unfortunately,kthekfactkiskthatkmostkpeople--whateverktheirreligion--arekdominatedkbykthesekthings.kkTheykletkthemselvessufferkintolerablykoverksuchkmatterskuntilkfinallyktheykgokinsanekorcommitksuicide.kkButkthosekofkuskwhokfollowkSt.kPaul'skadvicekcankgoonkaskifknothingkhadkhappened.kThatk indkofksufferingkdoesn'tkhappentokus,kwekremainkfine.kkWekbuykthingskwithoutkta ingkanythingkhome,whichkmeanskwekneverkgetkattachedktokwhatkwekbuykandkta ekhome.kkWeboughtkit,kwekbroughtkitkhome,kbutkit'skli ekwekdidn'tkbuykanything,becausekwekdon'tkgivekbirthktokthekthoughtkthatkwekpossessksomething.

Thiskiskhowktokbuykandklivekaskthoughkhavingknokgoods,kbutkifyoukdiscusskthiskpassagekwithksomekChristians,kyoukwillkfindkthatktheydon'tkunderstandkitkatkall.kkEvenksomekofkthekclergy,kthekteacherskof

theirkreligion,kcouldn'tkexplainktokmekcorrectlykhowktokpracticekinaccordancekwithkSt.kPaul'skinstructions.kkTheirkexplanationskwerevaguekandkobscure.kkTheykbeatkaroundkthekbushkandkdon'tkgivekanypracticalkinterpretationkofkthekpassage.kkInkfact,kthiskpassagekhastheksamekmeaningkask"Dokwor kofkallk indskwithkakmindkthatkiskvoidkandtokthekvoidnessksurrenderkallkofkthekfruits,"kwhich,kofkcourse,kmanyBuddhistskdon'tkunderstandkeither.

Thekthirdklinekofkthekversekisk"Eatkthekfoodkofkvoidnesskasthekholykoneskdo."kkHere,ksomekpeoplekmightkas ,k"Then,kwhatkdokweeat?"kkIfkeverythingkiskvoidkorkgivenkawayktokthekvoidness,kwhatkwilltherekbektokeat?kkThekanswerkisktokeatkfoodkthatkbelongsktokvoidness,theksamekwaykthatkthekNoblekOneskdo.kWekwor kwithkakvoidkmindkandkturn

allkthekrewardskoverktokvoidness.kVoidnesskthenkstoc pileskitkallkandpreserveskitksafely.kkWhenkit'sktimektokeat,kwekcankeatkfromkthekstocofkvoidness,ktoo.

Ifkyoukearnkakmillionkdollarsfromkyourkwor kandkstorekitkinkaksafekorthekban ,kofferkitktokvoidnesskandkdon'tkthin k"it'skmine,kitkbelongstokme!"kkWhenkyoukspendkthekmoney,kdoksokwithktheksamekvoidkmind.Simplykusekthekmoneyktokbuyksomekfoodktokeat,korkwhateverkwekneedktoconsume.kThiskiskwhatkiskmeantkbyk"Eatkthekfoodkofkvoidnesskaskthe


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holykoneskdo."

Inkthiskline,k"holykones"kmeanskthosekwhokunderstandkdeeplyandkhaveknokattachments.kkWekourselveskoughtktokeatkinktheksamekwaythatkthesekliberatedkoneskeat.kkThekBuddhakatekfoodkandkallktheenlightenedkdiscipleskatekfood.kkSo,kwekaren'tksayingkthatkakBuddhadoesn'tkhavektokeatkfoodkanymore,kbutkfromkwhomeverkhekgetskhisfood,kit'skalwayskthekfoodkofkvoidness,kforkit'skreceivedkandkeatenwithoutkanykfeelingskofkpossessionkorkattachment.kkAndkyet,kakBuddhaalwayskhaskmorekthankenoughktokeat.kkThiskiskthekmeaningkofk"Eatkthefoodkofkvoidnesskaskthekholykoneskdo."

Wekcankdoktheksame.kkWhenkwekgivekallkthekrewardskofkourkwortokvoidness,ktheykdon'tkdisappear.kNothingkisklost.kkPhysically,kinworldlykterms,keverythingkiskstillkthere.kkIt'skstoredkandkprotectedinkthekusualkwayskandktheklawkstillkrecognizeskthatkitkbelongsktokus.Ifksomeonektriesktoksnatchkitkaway,kwekcankbattlektokprotectkourrightskinkcourt,kbutkalwayskwithktheksamekvoidkmind.kkThatkis,kweneedn'tkgetkangrykorkupset,kwekneedn'tksuffer,kwekneedn'tkfeelpersonallykinvolved,kwekneedn'tkattach.kkInkfact,kwithkcompletenon-attachmentkwekwillkbekablektokarguekourkcasekevenkbetter.kkWeneedn'tkcreatekanykproblemskforkourselves,kthingskwon'tkbecomecomplicatedkandkdifficult,kandkwekwillkbekablektokprotectkourkrightsmostkeffectively.

Tokpursuekthiskpointkaklittlekfurther:kevenkwhenkcaughtkinkanargumentkorkinvolvedkinkaklawsuitkwekshouldkbekrestrainedkandkmindfulatkallktimesksokthatkthekmindkiskfreekofkattachment.kkTa ekcareknotktobekattachedkorkemotionallykinvolved.kkInkotherkwords,kfirstkma eksurethekmindkiskvoid,kthenkarguekandkfightkoutkthekcasektokthekfinish.kkInthiskway,kwekwillkhavekthekadvantage.kkOurksidekwillkdebatekmorecleverly,kwillkarguekmoreks ilfully,kandkwillkexperiencekakhigherlevelkofkvictory.k

Evenkinkcaseskwhenkwekarekforcedktokbekinsulting,kusektheusualkwordskbutkdoksokwithkakvoidkmind.kkThiskmayksoundkfunnykandhopelesslykimpractical,kbutkitkreallykiskpossible.kkThekwordk"void"

includesksuchkstrangekaspects;ktheykarekallkimplicationskofkwor ingwithkakvoidkmind,kwillinglykgivingkallkthatkwekgetktokvoidness,kandalwayskeatingkfoodkfromkthekpantrykofkvoidness.

Thekfourth,kfinal,kandkmostkimportantklinekofkthekversekis"You'llkhavekdiedktokyourselfkfromkthekverykstart."kkWekalreadykhavediedktokourselves--thatkpreciouskinnerk"me"kiskgone--fromktheverykfirstkmoment.kkThiskmeanskthatkwhenkwekre-examinekthekpastkandreflectkuponkitkwithkclarity,kmindfulness,kandkwisdom,kwekwillk nowforkakfactkthatktherekneverkwaskak"person"kork"individual."kkWekwillseekthatktherekarekonlykthekbasickprocesseskofklifek( handha),kthesensorykmediak(ayatana),kkthekelementsk(dhatu),kandknaturalkphenomena(dhammas).kkEvenkthekthingskwekhadkpreviouslykclungktokaskexistingkno

longerkexist.kkTheykdiedkinkthatkmoment.

Everythingkhaskdiedkatkthekmomentkofktheirkbirth.kkTherekneverwaskank"I"kandktherekneverkwaskak"mine."kkInkthekpast,kwekwerekstupidenoughktoklugk"I"kandk"mine"karoundkallkthektime.kkNow,khowever,kwe

nowkthektruthkthatkevenkinkretrospectktheykneverkwerekwhatkwektoothemktokbe.kkThey'reknot-me,kthey'reknot-mine,kthekme-ingkandkmy-ingdiedkfromkthekverykstartkrightkupktokthiskmoment.kkThey'rekfinished,evenkinkthekfuture.kkDon'tkeverkagainkfallkforkanyk"I"kandk"mine"kinyourkexperiences.kkSimplykstopkthin ingkinktermskofk"I"kandkmine.kkSo


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youksee,kwekneedn'tkinterpretkthiskversektokmeankthatkwekmustphysicallyk illkourselves.kkOnekhasktokbektrappedkinkone'skegoktounderstandkitkinksuchkakway.kkSuchkankinterpretationkisktookphysical,tooksuperficial,kandktookchildish.

Thisk"I,"kthiskego,kiskjustkakmentalkconcept,kakproductkofthought.kkTherekisknothingksubstantialkorkpermanentkuponkwhichkit'sbased.kTherekiskonlykankever-changingkprocesskflowingkaccordingktocauseskandkconditions,kbutkignorancekmisconstrueskthiskprocessktokbekapermanentkentity,kak"self,"kandkank"ego."kkSokdon'tkletkattachedthoughtskandkfeelingskbasedkonk"I"kandk"mine"karise.kkAllkpainskandproblemskwillkendkrightktherekandkthen,ksokthatkthekbodykbecomesinsignificant,knoklongerkakcausekofkworry.kkIt'skmerelykacollectionkofkthekfivekaggregatesk( handha),kfunctioningkaccordingtokcauseskandkconditions,kpurekinkitskownknature.kkThesekfiveaggregateskorkcomponentkprocesseskofklifekareknaturallykfreekofattachmentkandkselfishness.kkAskforkthekinnerkaspect,kthosehabitskofkdesirekandkselfishness,ktryktokdokwithoutkthem.kkKeepstrivingktokpreventkthemkfromkbeingkbornkuntilkthekdefilementskandselfishnesskhaveknokmorekopportunitiesktokpollutektheheart.kkInkthiskway,kwekforcekourselvesktokdie,kthatkis,kwekdiethroughkthekeliminationkofkpollutingkselfishnesskandkdefilements( ilesa).

Justkdon'tkallowkanykegoistickconsciousness,kthat'sthekmeaningkofk"death"kinkDhammaklanguage.kkWithoutkanythingmasqueradingkask"I"kandk"mine,"kwherekcanksufferingkta ekplace?Sufferingkcankonlykhappenktokank"I"kandkitsk"mine."kkSokyouksee,possessingk"I"kandk"mine"kiskthekheartkofksuffering.kkShouldktherekbesomekhappiness,kasksoonkaskclingingkcomeskinkthekhappinesskbecomespainful,kyetkonekmorekwayktoksuffer.

Ignorantkpeoplekarekalwayskattachingktoksomething;ktheykdon'tnowkhowktoklivekwithoutkclingingktok"I"kandk"mine."kkAskakresult,

evenkbeneficialkthingskarekconvertedkintokcauseskofksuffering.Happinesskiskturnedkintokpain;kgoodnesskiskturnedkintokpain;kpraise,fame,khonourkandkthekli ekarekallkturnedkintokformskofksuffering.kkAs

soonkaskwektryktokseizekandkhangkonktokthem,ktheykallkbecomeunsatisfactory,kpainful,kandkugly.kkAmongkgoodkandkevil,kvirtuekandsin,khappinesskandkunhappiness,kgainkandkloss,kandkallkotherkdualisticpairs,ksufferingkinevitablykhappenskwheneverkwekattachktokeitherkpoleofkonekpairkorkanother.kkClingingktokonekpolekalsoktrapskuskinkitsoppositekpartner.

Whenkwekarekintelligentkenoughknotktokclingkorkbekattachedktoanykformkofkdualism,kthenkwekwillknoklongerksufferkbecausekofkthesethings.kkGoodkandkevil,khappinesskandksuffering,kvirtuekandksin,kandthekrest,kwillkneverkbekpainfulkagain.kkWekrealizekthatktheykaremerelyknaturalkphenomena,kthekordinarykstuffkofknature.kkTheykallkarenaturallykvoidkandksoktherekisknoksufferingkinherentkinkanykofkthem.

Thesekarekthekconsequenceskofknotkhavingkankego,kofknotkhavinganyk"I"kandk"mine"kinkthekmind.kkOutwardly,kwekmayksayk"I"kandk"my"accordingktoksocialkconventions,kbutkdon'tkletkthemkexistkinkthekkmindorkheart.kkAskSt.kPaulksaid,k"Letkthosekwhokhavekwivesklivekaskthoughtheykhadknone,kandkthosekthatkmournkaskthoughktheykweren'tkmourning.k.k.kandkthosekwhokbuykaskthoughktheykhadknokgoods."

Externally,kwekshouldkbehavektheksamekaskotherskdo:kkeatkli etheykeat,kwor kli ektheykwor ,kandkspea kli ektheykspea .kkSpea kin


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theirkpeopleklanguage:k"thiskiskmykhouse,kthiskiskmine."kkThere'snothingkwrongkinkusingkthesekwordskwhenknecessary,kbutkdon'tkletkthemindkfallkforkthem.kkLeaveksuchkwordskoutside,kdon'tkletkthemkintokthemind,kdon'tkbelievekthem.kkWekoughtkalwaysktoktrainkourselveskthisway,kthatkis,k"mouthkiskonekandkmindkanother."kkThekmouthksayskonething,kbutkthekheartk nowskotherwise.k

Actually,kthiskphrasekiskusuallykankinsultkusedktocondemnkliarskandkconmen,knotksomethingktokbekencouraged.kkInktheend,khowever,kitkcankbekturnedkaroundkandkappliedktokakpersonkwhoreallykpracticeskDhamma,kthatkis,kwhosekexternalkbehaviorkconformswithkworldlykconventionskbutkwhosekinternalkrealitykiskanotherstory.kkWhilekthekexternalkexpressionskactuallykta ekplace,ktheykdon'tmanifestkinkthekmind.kkWekcallkthis,k"mouthkiskonekandkmindkanother"ork"externalkandkinternalkdoknotkcorrespond."kkAkbehaviorkthatkweusedktokcondemnkandktryktokabandonkbecausekofkitskdishonestykandcroo ednesskbecomeskthekmostknoblekandkexcellentkformkofkspeech.SometimeskDhammaklanguagekseemskratherkstrange!

Tokbekhonestkinkbothkmouthkandkmind,kthatkis,kspeechkandthought,kiskpeopleklanguage,knotkDhammaklanguage.kkOrdinarykpeopledemandkthatkourkwordskhonestlykreflectkourkthoughts,kbutkwhenkitkcomestokthekDhammaklanguagekofkthekBuddha,kwekpracticekinkthekmannerkcalled"mouthkiskonekandkmindkanother."kkInkotherkwords,kthekoutsidekappears

onekway,kwhilekthekinsidekiskthekopposite.kkOutwardly,kinkourkspeechandkactions,kwekmaykpossesskallkthekthingskthatkotherskpossess,kbutkinthekmindkwekpossessknothing.kkInwardly,kwekarekbro ekandkban rupt,withoutkakpennyktokourknames.kkSokpleasekrememberkthisksayingkkk-"mouthkiskonekandkmindkanother"k--kinkitskDhammaklanguagekmeaningofkcourse,knotkinkthekpeopleklanguagekunderstanding.kkPleasekgivekitsomekthought.

Anotherkcommonkteachingkconcernskhumility.kkTheBuddhaktaughtkusknotktokboastkorkshowkoffkandkJesuskChristemphasizedkthiskpointkevenkmore.kkTherekarekmanykpageskinkthekBibleconcerningkthisksubject.kkkInkthekSermonkonkthekMount,kJesuskteachesusktokdokourkreligiouskpractices--suchkaskpraying,kgivingkcharity

-kkandkfasting,kinksecretksokasktoknotkletkotherskseek(Matt.k5-7,especiallyk6).kkIfkit'sksomethingkwekwantkothersktoksee,kthatkmeanskwewantktokshowkoff,kwhichkiskattachment.kkIfkwekapplykhiskteachingktoourkBuddhistkpractices,ksuchkaskwhenkwek eepkthekspecialkpreceptsonkthekobservancekdaysk(uposatha),kwekshouldn'tkdresskupkorkpowderkandperfumekourselves.kkDon'tkletkanyonek nowkwekarek eepingkthekspecialprecepts,kjustk eepkthemkstrictly.kkJesuskstresseskthiskpointkinkmanyways,kbothkinkthisksermonkandkelsewhere.kkWhenkofferingkprayersktoGod,kfasting,korkpracticingkausterities,kdon'tkletkothersksee.kkIfkwewishktokgivekalmskorkma ekakdonationktokcharity,kdoksoksecretly;kdon'tletkothersk nowkwhokthekgiverkis.kkJesuskteacheskusktokdokeverythingwithoutkanyonek nowing.kkInkotherkwords,khiskaimkisktokteachnon-attachment.kkThisk indkofkpracticekdestroyskselfishnesskand

overcomesksin.

Buddhistskshouldkbekablektokunderstandkthiskprincipleofkgivingkwithoutklettingkanyonek now;kgivingkinkthiskwaykwilldestroykthekgiver'skself-centerednesskmuchkmorekthankpublickgiving.Askyouk now,kwekli ektoksay,k"stic ingkgoldkonkthekimage'skbac ."Thisksayingkcankbekinterpretedkinktwokways.kkAskunderstoodkbykfoolishpeople,kthiskshouldkneverkbekdone,kbecausekstic ingkgoldkleafkonkthebac kofkankimagekwon'tkgainkonekanykhonour,kreputation,korkotherbenefits.(*)kkOnkthekotherkhand,kwisekpeoplekta ekthekwordsk"stic ing


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goldkonkthekimage'skbac "ktokmeanksomethingkgood,kbecausekonekdoesn'treceivekanykrecognition,kpraise,kstatus,korkhonorkfromkthekact.kkOnehasn'tktradedkthekgoodnesskofkthekactkforkanykworldlykbenefits.kkThus,onekma eskmorekmeritkthankifkonekwerektokstic kthekgoldkonkthekfrontofkthekimage.

[*kInkThailand,kputtingksmallksquareskofkgoldkleafkontokBuddhakimagesandkotherkrespectedkobjectskiskakpopularkformkofkma ingkmerit.AccordingktokpopularkThaikbelief,kbykaffixingkgoldkleafktokthekeyes,mouth,kforehead,kchee s,ketc.,kofkakBuddhakimage,kthekonekwhokaffixesitkwillkbekrebornkinkherknextklifekwithkbeautifulkeyes,kmouth,kforehead,chee s,ketc.,kjustkli ekthosekofkthekimagekdecoratedkwithkgold.kkAttheksamektime,kherkmeritkma ingkiskseenkbykall.]

HerekwekseekthatkthekteachingskofkChristianitykandBuddhismkarektheksame;ktheykhavektheksamekmeaning,knamely,ktodestroykattachment.kkWekshouldkdokallkreligiouskdutieskandkpracticeswithoutkothersk nowing.kkInkthekend,kit'skli ektheykdon'tkexistkanymorekandkwekdon'tkexistkeither.kkThere'sknokgood,knokevil,knokvirtue,noksin,knokhappiness,knoksuffering,kand,kfinally,knotkevenkanyreligion.kkThiskiskthekhighestklevelkofkreligion.

Now,kletkuskconsiderkthekfactkthatknon-attachment,kthekhighestkDhamma,isksomethingkwonderful,kpriceless,kandkextraordinary.kkIt'skthekheart

ofkeverykreligion.kkIt'skthekessencekofkDhamma.kkIfktherekiskakGod,kitcankonlykbekfoundkrightkherekinknon-attachment.

Non-attachment,kthekhighestkDhamma,kiskwonderfulkpreciselybecausekanyoneksee ingkitkneedknotkinvestkanything.kkNokmoney,kgold,orkjewelskarekneeded,knotkevenkaksinglekpenny.kkAccordingktokpeoplelanguage,knothingkcankbekobtainedkwithoutkankinvestment.kkIfktheylistenktokpeopleklanguage,kthosekwhokwishktokgainkmerit,kgoodness,orkwhateverkmustkpaykinkmoney,ksilver,kandkgold,korkinvestktheirlabor.kkIfktheyklistenktokDhammaklanguage,khowever,kthekrealitykisquitekdifferent.kkThekBuddhaksaidkthatkNibbanakiskgivenkfreekofcharge.kkNibbana--thekcoolnesskandkpeacekexperiencedkwhenthere'sknokattachment--doesn'tkcostkakpenny.kkThiskmeanskthatkwe

cankpracticekforktheksa ekofkNibbanakwithoutkspendingkanykmoneykalongthekway.kkJesusksaidkwhatkamountsktoktheksamekthing.kkHekinvitedkusktodrin kthekwaterkofklifekforkwhichktherekisknokcharge.kkHeksaidkthiskatleastkthreektimes.kkFurther,khekcalledkusktokenterketernalklife,kwhichmeansktokreachkthekstatekwherekwekarekonekwithkGodkandkthereforekwillneverkdiekagain.

"Letkhimkwhokiskthirstykcome,kletkhimkwhokdesireskta ekthewaterkofklifekwithoutkprice"k(Rev.k22:17).kkThiskcallkofkJesuskisidenticalktokwhatkisktaughtkinkBuddhism.kkThekBuddhaksaidkthatktheNoblekPathkofkLiberation,kthekLiberatingkResults,kandkNibbanakarekfreeofkcharge,knokmonetarykinvestmentkiskrequired.kkWeklivekaccordingktothekNoblekEightfoldkPath,kwhichkmeanskwekgivekupkthis,kgivekupkthat,

andk eepkgivingkupkthingskuntilkeverythingkisksurrendered.kkGivekupeverythingkandkta eknothingkbac .kkDon'tkreceivekanykpaymentkandkwewon'tkhavektokpaykanything:kwekwillkrealizekwhatkiskcalledk"thekNoblePath,kthekLiberatingkResults,kandkNibbana."kWekcanktastekthekkflavorofkNibbanakwithoutkpayingkakpenny. k

WekspendkaklotkofkmoneyktryingktokbuykNibbana,kbutkthekmoneyjustkgetskinkthekway.kkIt'skli ekinvestingkmoneykinkorderktokwinkapalacekinkheaven;kthektwokhaveknothingktokdokwithkeachkother.kkInfact,ktheykarekincompatible.kkIfkwekwantktokgivekcharity,kitkshouldkbe


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solelykforktheksa ekofkothers.kkNibbanakiskourkfirstkconcernkandrequiresknokmoney.k

Whykdokwekma ekdonationskthen?kkNotkforkourselves,kofkcourse,butktokhelpkourkfellowkhumankbeingsksokthatktheykmaykalsokreachkthatwhichkrequiresknokfinancialkinvestment.kkSo,kwekcontributekmoneyktobuildktempleskandkschools,kwekdevelopkmethodskofkteaching,kandkwepublishkboo skinkorderktokhelpkourkfellowkhumankbeingsktoktravelkonthekrightkpath,ktoktravelktowardkthatkwhichkiskobtainedkwithoutpaymentkk-kNibbana.kkThosekofkuskwhokintendktokearnkmeritkwithktheirgoldkandksilverkshouldkpleasekthin kinkthiskway.k

Ifkthosekwhokintendktokinvestktheirkmoneykforkso-calledspiritualkrewardskdon'tkreconsider,ktheykwillkincurklosseskratherkthanma ekprofits.kkNotkonlykwillktheykfailktokma ekakprofit,ktheykwon'tevenkbekablektokrecoverktheirkinvestment.kkAndkwhenktherekisknokprofitandknokbrea ingkeven,ktherekiskonlykloss.kkTokactkthatkwaykgoescontraryktokthekwordskofkthekBuddhakwhoksaid,k"It'skfree."kkJesuskalsosaidkthatkit'skfree.k

Jesuskaddedkfurtherkthatkwhatk"youkreceivedkwithoutkpay,kgivewithoutkpay"k(Matt.k10:8).kkItkseemskthatkthekBuddhakneverksaidkquitetheksamekthing,kbutkwekcanksay,kfromkthekimplicationskofkhiskteaching,thatkhekcouldkeasilykhavekspo enkthesekwords.kkIfksomethingkis

obtainedkforkfree,kwekoughtktokpasskitkonkforkfree,ktoo.kkDon'tkbeunwillingkorkreluctant.kkDon'tkgokta ingkadvantagekofkpeoplekbyclaimingkfavorskorkhintingkthatkthey'llkbenefitkbykhelpingkonekinsuch-and-suchkakwaykorkimplyingkthatkstudentskowekakdebtkofkgratitudetoktheirkkteachers.kkAllkofkthatkiskinappropriate.kkWhenkwekgetsomethingkforkfree,kwekmustkgivekitkawaykforkfree.kkTherefore,kasktheloftiestkofkallkthings,kthekDhammakofkeachkreligionkisksomethingktokbeobtainedkforkfree.kOncekwekhavekgotkit,kwekarekobligatedktokpasskitkontokourkfellowkhumankbeingskforkfree,kalso.kkDon'tktryktokwheedlekanybenefitskoutkofkitkinkreturn.

Whenkwekma ekcontributionsktokreligiouskcauses,ktheyarekforkakparticularkpurpose,kwhichkhasknokbearingkonkourkrealizing

Nibbana.kkSuchkcontributionskarekmeantktokbekinstrumentalkinhelpingkpeoplekwhokdon'tkyetkseekthekwayktokbekablektokfindkitkandeventuallykarrivekatkthatkwhichkiskgivenkawaykforkfreektoeveryone.kkInkthekend,ktheykalsokwillkobtainkthatkpreciouskthingwhichkiskobtainedkforkfree,kwithoutkanykobstacles.

Ifkwekloo kcarefully,kwekwillkseekthatkthekpinnacle,kthekmostexcellentkofkthings,kwhichkwekgetkforkfree,kiskcalledk"Nibbana"k(aswellkaskbykmanykotherknames).kkJesuskcalledkitk"Life."kkThiskstatekinwhichkwekcurrentlykexistkiskdeath.kkBecausekeveryonekiskdying,ktheydon'tkreachkGod,ktheykdon'tkreachkthekUltimate.kkYet,kifkwekfollowktheteachingskofkJesuskwekarekbornkagainkatkonce.kkAfterkdyingkforksolong,kwekneedktokbekreborn.kkWhenkwekarekbornkanew,kwekarekbornkinto

eternalklife,kwhichkisktrueklife.kkThekBuddhakspo ekinktheksamefashion.kkHeksaidkthatkwekdon'tkrealizekthatkthiskexistencekiskli ebeingkdead,kthatkis,kthatkit'sksuffering.kkWekmustkma ekthekrequired

nowledge,kwekmustkawa enkintokaknewkworld,knewlykborn.kkThenktherewillkbeknokmoreksuffering.kkTokunderstandkthiskiskakfundamentalprinciple.k

Upkuntilkthiskrealization,kwekwerekdead,kthatkis,kfullkofk"I"andk"mine."kAlwaysklivingkunderkthekburdenkofkegokandkegoismkiskdeath.Becausekofk"I"kandk"mine,"kwekdiedkoverkandkoverkagain.kkNowkwekare


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rebornkintoketernalklife,ktheklifekofkNibbana,kthekdeathlessklife,ktheimmortalitykinkwhichkallk"I"kandk"mine"kend.kkThekwordk"reborn"kherecomesktokmeankaklifekwithoutkego,kfreekofk"I"kandk"mine."kkThiskiskthetrueklifekwhichkcankneverkdie.kkThekfivekaggregatesk( handha),kthebasickprocesseskofklife,kareknowkpure,kthekbodykandkmindkarekfreekofattachmentkandkselfishness.kkPriorktokthis,kthekfivekaggregates,kthebody-mindkprocess,kwerekcontinuallykbeingkgraspedkatkandkclungktokbymeanskofk"I"kandk"my"kandkwerekalwayskstainedkbykthesekcorruptattachments.kkThatkcontinuousk"I"kandk"mine"kwaskdeath.

WhenkthekpollutingkdesireskandkattachmentskarekcompletelykgonetherekiskaknewkbirthkinkthekworldkofkthekNoblekOnes.kk"RebirthkinktheworldkofkthekNoblekOnes"kiskakpeopleklanguagekexpression.kkInkDhammalanguage,kwekspea kofk"quenchingkit."kkQuenchkthek"I"kandkthek"mine";quenchkegokandkitskselfishness.kkThenkthere'sknothing.kkTherekremainsonlyksupremekvoidness,kwhichkiskNibbana.kkSoksayskDhammaklanguage.

Ifkwekspea kinkpeopleklanguage,kaskJesuskChristkoftenkdid,kwesaykthatkonekiskrebornkinkthekworldkofkthekNoblekOneskandkthatkonelivesketernallykinkthekKingdomkofkGod.kkThat'skpeopleklanguage.kkWhenwektranslatekitkintokDhammaklanguage,kwekusekthekoppositekwordskandspea kofk"quenching."kkOneklanguagekspea skofk"rebirth,"kwhilektheotherktal skaboutk"utterkquenching."kkOnlykthekwordskarekdifferent.Inkpeopleklanguagekwektal kaboutkbeingkreborn;kinkDhammaklanguagekwe

tal kaboutkquenchingkcompletely.

Therefore,kletkusklivekaklifekofktotalkquenching,kaklifekthatdouseskthekflameskofkdesire,kaklifekofkcoolness.kkWhenkwekarekburning,wekarekdying.kkkAkpersonkwhokiskhotkinsidekiskli ekakdemonkinkhell,kananimal,kakhungrykghost,korkakcowardlyktitan.kkSuchkakpersonkiskalwaysdying.kkHiskattachmentktok"I"kiskneverkquenched.kkHiskegokhasn'tkyetbeenkdoused;kitkboilskandkbubbleskinsidekhimkwithkthekheatkofkfire.Itkhasktokbekcooledkdown.k

Tokma ekthingskeasier,kwekshouldkrememberkthatkthekword"nibbana"kmeansk"tokcoolkdown."kInkIndiakatkthektimekofkthekBuddha,"nibbana"kwaskakcommonkeverydaykwordkspo enkinkthekhouses,kstreets,kand

mar ets.kkWhenksomethingkhotkhadkcooledkdown,ktheykusedkthekword"nibbana"ktokdescribekit.kkIfkthekcurrykwasktookhotktokeat,kthencooledkkdownkenoughktokbekeaten,ktheykwouldksaykthekcurrykisk"nibbana,soklet'skeat."(*)

[*kActually,kthekwordskta eskonkdifferentkformskaskakverb,knoun,kandadjective,kandkaccordingktokcasekandkcontext.kkAskThaikdoesn'tconjugatekwordskli ekthekIndianklanguages,konlykthekformk"Nibbana"iskused.]

Wekcankseekthatkthekwordk"nibbana"kwasknotkoriginallykankexaltedkreligiouskterm,kbutkhadkankordinarykeverydaykusageinkpeopleklanguage--thekcoolingkdownkofksomethingkhot.kkFor

example,kifkakred-hotkcharcoalkcoolskdownkuntilkitkcankbekpic edkup,wekcankcallkthatk"nibbana."kkIfkwekapplykthektermkonkakhigherklevel,suchkas,ktokanimals,kthenkitkrefersktokanimalskwhichkareknoklongerhot.kkThekheatkofkanimalskiskthekwildnesskandkfiercenesskwhichkisdangerouskforkhumans.kkIfkakwildkelephantkorkwildkbullkisktamedkandwell-trainedksokthatkfinallykitskwildness,krebelliousness,kandviciousnesskdisappearkandkit'sksafekforkhumans,kwekcanksaykthatit'sk"nibbana,"kmeaningkitkhaskcooledkdown.

Whenkwekspea kofkhumans,k"hot"kmeanskakpersonkwhokiskburning


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andkboilingkaskifkinkhellkorkthekotherknetherworlds.kkThatkisn'tNibbana.kkAfterkwekdiscoverkthekwayktokapplykDhammaktokcoolkourselvesoff,kwekbeginktoknibbana,kcontinuektoknibbana,knibbanaksteadily,nibbanakuntilkeverythingkiskthoroughlykcool,kwhichkiskthekhighestlevelkofkNibbana--absolutekcoolness.

Evenknow,kwekmustknibbanaktoksomekextentkinkorderktobekablektoksitkherekandkdiscusskDhammakli ekthis.kkOtherwise,kifktheflameskwerekflaringkupkwithinkusknow,kwekwouldn'tkbekablektokremainsittingkhere.kkTherefore,kwekshouldkunderstandkthatkNibbanakiskrelatedtokuskatkallktimes,kwithkeverykinhalationkandkexhalation.kkIfthiskweren'tkso,kifkwekhadknokconnectionktokNibbanakwhatsoever,kwewouldkallkgokoutkofkourkmindskandkdiekbeforekwek newkit.kkFortunately,wekhaveksomekrelationshipkwithkNibbanaknearlykallkthektime.kkItkmaydisappearktemporarilykwhenklust,khatred,korkdelusionkarise,whenkthekmindkiskta enkoverkbykdefilementskandkselfishness.kkButkwhenlust,khatred,kandkdelusionkaren'tkpresentkinkourkminds,kwekexperienceaksmallkdegreekofkNibbana,kakbriefktastekorkfreeksamplekofNibbana.kkDuektokthekbenefitskofkthesekrecurringkglimpseskofkNibbana,wekdon'tkgokcrazykandkdon'tkdiekfromkoverheat.kkWeksurvivekbykvirtueofkNibbana'skbeneficialkeffects.kkTherefore,kwekshouldkthan kNibbanaandkac nowledgekourkgratitudektokitkbykactingksokasktokhavekmorekandmorekNibbanakforklongerkandklongerkperiodskofktime.kkKeepkcalmingkandcoolingkthings,kthatkis,kdestroyk"I"kandk"mine."kkDon'tkletkegokpric

upkitskearskandkpointkitsktail.kkWithkself-disciplinekandkgoodmanners,k eepkthekegoksmallkandkoutkofktrouble.kkkLessenkit,kreduceit,kshrin kit,kuntilkatklastknothingkremains,kthenkyoukwillkgetkthebestkthingkthatkakhumankbeingkcankpossiblykget.

Wheneverkwekquarrelkduektokopinions,kpride,kvanity,korstubbornness,kitkshowskthatkwekhaveklostktouchkwithkNibbana.kkAtksuchmoments,kwekarekcrazy.kkIfkwekargue,kquarrel,korkinterferekwithkothersatkanyktime--nokmatterkwhetherkoverkankordinarykaffairkorkareligiouskone--wekarekinsane.kkInksuchkmoments,kwekaren'tkreallyhumankanymore,kbecausekwe'vekloweredkourselvesktoktheklevelkofkarguingandkfighting.kkAndkso,kaskwasksaidkbefore,kifkpeoplekremainkfoolishtheykwillkthin kthatktherekarekmanykdifferentkreligionskwhichkare

incompatiblekandkopposedktokeachkother,kwhichkarekenemieskthatkmustcompete,kfight,kandkdestroykeachkother.kkThesekarekthekmostkstupidkandignorantkofkpeople.kkTheykcausekandkexperiencekakgreatkdealkofktrouble.

Whenkreligionskarekregardedkaskinkoppositionkandkconflict,peoplekbecomekenemieskaskakresult.kkEveryonekthin sk"Wekarekright,ktheyarekwrong;ktheykarekwrong,kwekarekright,"kandksokforth,kandkthenkthereiskquarrellingkandkfighting.kkSuchkpeoplekarekincrediblykfoolish.Whatktheykarekquarrellingkaboutkiskonlykthekouterkshell.kkEveryoneshouldkrecognizekthatkthesekarekonlykexternalkforms,ktheykaren'tktheinnerkessence.

Whenkpeoplekofkintelligencekandkwisdomkgetktogetherkconcerning

thekessentialskofkreligion,ktheykrecognizekthatkreligionskarekallkthesame.kkThoughkoutwardlyktheykmaykseemkdifferent,kintelligentkpeople

nowkthatkthekinnerkspiritkmustkbektheksamekinkallkcases.kkThekinneressencekisktheksameknokmatterkhowkdifferentkthekexternalkformskare,justkli ekweksawkwithkthekanalogykofkwater.kkThekessentialkpureknatureofkwaterkiskalwaysktheksame,knokmatterkhowkputridkorkfilthykitkappearsfromkthekoutside.kkItkisn'tkthekwaterkthatkiskdirty,kbutkthekotherelementskthatkarekmixedkinkwithkthekwaterkthatkarekdirty.kkkWeshouldn'tkta ekthosekotherkelements.kkWhenkwekta ekthosekelements,kitmeanskwekdrin kdirtykwater;kitkmeanskwekswallowkthekfilth,kurine,


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excrement,korkwhatever,kkandkdon'tkdrin kpurekwater.

Wheneverktherekiskakquarrel,kwhetherkit'skamongklaykpeople,novices,knuns,korkmon s,kitkmeanskthatkthekpeoplekinvolvedkarekeatingfilth,knamely,kthekdefilementskofk"I"kandk"mine."kkThiskshouldkneverhappen;kitkshouldkbekgivenkup.kkDon'tkpric kyourkearskandkpointkyourtails.kkDon'tkpuffkyourselfkwithkegokandkcreatekthesekconflictskofpride.kkThat'sklettingkthingskgoktookfar.kkRather,kourkdutykisktryktopacifykthesekthingskandkcoolkthemkdown.

Howksillykit'skthatkthekolderkakpersonkgets,kthekmorekfullkofegokhekorkshekbecomes.kkIkbegkyourkpardonkforkspea ingksokfran ly,kbutsomekfactskcan'tkbekignored.kkWhykdokpeoplekbecomekmorekegoistickwithage?kkBecausekthekolderktheykget,kthekmorekaccustomedktheykarektoattachment;k"I"kandk"mine"kaccumulatekandkpilekupkinsidekuskaskwekage.Further,kpeoplekhaveksonskandkdaughters,ksoktheykpuffkthemselveskwithegokandkdeterminektoklordkitkoverktheirkchildren.kk"Mykson!kkHowkcouldhekdokthatkwithoutkmykpermission!"kkWhenktheykhavekgrandchildren,ktheybecomekevenkmorekpuffedkupkandksuperior.kkThus,kelderlykpeoplearekmorekobsessedkwithk"I"kandk"mine"kthankchildrenkare.

Ifkwekloo kbac katkchildhood,kwekwillkfindkthatkchildrenkhaveveryklittlekego.kkImmediatelykafterkbirth,kit'skverykhardktokfindkmuchegokinkthem,kwhilekthekchildkinkthekwombkhaskhardlykanyktraceskofk"I"kor

"mine"katkall.kkHowever,kaskwekgrowkintokadulthoodkandkbecomekfathersandkmothers,kandklaterkgrandfatherskandkgrandmothers,k"I"kand"mine"kdevelopskinkakmultitudekofkformskandkpersonalities.kkThesebecomekdeeplykrootedkinkourkmindskandkstic ktherekwithksuchktenacitythatktheykarekverykdifficultktokremove.kkTherefore,koldkfol skshouldbekverykcarefulkandkalert.kkTheykshouldktryktokreturnktokbeingkli echildrenkagain.kkTokbekli ekchildrenkiskak indkofkDhammakpracticewhichkleadsktoknon-attachmentkandkvoidness.kkOtherwise,kthekoldertheykget,kthekfurtherkawaykfromkthekBuddhakandkfromkNibbanaktheykwillendkup.

Inktruth,kaskwekgrowkolderkwekshouldkgrowkcloserktoktheBuddha.kkInkotherkwords,kthekmorekwekagekthekyoungerkwekshouldkbe.

Thekolderkwekget,kthekmorekyouthfulkwekshouldkbecome.kkAskwekgetkolderwekshouldkbecomekmoreklight-hearted,kcheerful,kbright,kandkfresh.kkWeshouldn'tkendkupkdrykandklifeless,ksokthatkwekgraduallykwitherkaway.Everybodykshouldkbecomekincreasinglykfresh,kbright,kandklight-heartedasktheykgrowkolder.kkAskwekage,kwekshouldkgetkcloserktokthekBuddha,thekDhamma,kandkthekSangha,kwhichkmeanskwekunderstandkDhammakmorekandmore.kkThekmoreksuccessfulkwekarekinkma ingkthekinnerkflameskrecede,thekcoolerkwekbecome.kkAskwekgetkcooler,kwekfeelkincreasinglykmorerefreshedkandkhearty,kwekloo kbrighterkandkmoreklively.kkWhenkwehavekcooledkdownkabsolutely,kwekwillkabsolutelykspar lekwithbrightnesskandkcheer.kkTherefore,kthekmorekancientkwekget,kthekmoreyouthfulkwekshouldkbecome,kandkthekmorekcheerfulkandkfreshkwekshouldloo kandkfeel.

Theklivelykphysicalkactivitykandkfreshkcomplexionskofkyoungpeoplekiskonek indkofkyouth,kwhilekthekyouthfulnesskofkkDhammalanguagekk-kofkthekmind,kheart,kandkspirit--refersktokakspiritualbrightness,kvigor,kandkserenitykthatkcomeskwithkhavingkmorekDhamma.Thiskiskthekyouthfulnesskofkheatksubsidingksokthatkcoolnesskcankenterandkenvelopkus.kkConsequently,kwekfeelkincreasinglykrefreshed,kvibrant,andkcheerful.kkSokletkallkelderlykpeoplekbecomekfreshkandkfullkoflife.kkMaykwekallkbecomekmorekyouthful.kkJustkletkyouthfulnesskgrowinsidekuskandkthatkproblemkofkbic eringkandkquarrellingkwillknoklonger


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exist.

Worsekthankthatkquarrellingkiskthekhabitkofk"extollingkoneselfwhilekputtingkdownkothers."kViciouskkbac -bitingkandkname-callingkhasnokplacekamongkBuddhistskandkanyonekwhokdoesksuchkthingskhaskceasedktobekakBuddhist,kexcept,kperhaps,kinkname.kkBeingkakBuddhistkinknamealonekdoesn'tkmeankanythingkandkcan'tkbekdependedkupon.kkJustdeclaringkoneselfktokbek"Buddhist"kbecausekitskwrittenkonkone'sbirthkcertificatekorkbecausekoneksignedkupkatkcertainktempleskdoesn'taccomplishkmuchkgoodkbecausektheykaren'tksincere.kkWekmustkbegenuinekBuddhistskinkthektrueksensekofkthekword,kwhichkmeansktokwea enandkreducek"I"kandk"mine"kinkorderktokbekcoolkandktherebykbekcloserktoNibbana.kkSokwekneedn'tkdiscusskatrocitieskli ekdisparagingkandoppressingkothers,korkextollingkoneselfkwhilekputtingkdownkothers.Thesekthingskshouldkneverkhappen.

Whatktokdokaboutkthosekwhokstillkengagekinksuchkbehaviour?kkIdon'tk nowkwhatkclassktokputkthemkin:kkFirstkgrade?kkKindergarten?Nurserykschool?kkThesekarekstillktookhigh;ktherekshouldkbeksomeklowerclasskorkgradekforkpeoplekwhokbehavekinksuchkgrosskways.kkInkBuddhism,genuineklaykfollowerskneverkdoksuchkthings.kkEvenkthosekwhokarekatkthe

indergartenklevelkandkhaveknotkyetkreachedkintokthekfirstkgradekofprimarykschoolk nowkbetterkthanktokdoksuchkthings.kkTheyk nowkthatsuchkbehaviourkiskhotkandkhasknothingktokdokwithkDhammakorkBuddhism.

Progressingkthroughkthekupperkgrades,kthroughkthekjuniorkandseniorkclasses,ktherekisklesskegoismkuntil,kfinally,ktherekisknokmore"I"kandk"mine."kkOnkthekhighestklevel,kthere'sknokself,keverythingkisvoidkofkself.kkThere'sknok"I,"knok"you,"knok"we,"knok"they,"kkwhichmeanskthere'sknokBuddhism,kknokChristianity,kknokIslam,kandknokreligion.Howkcankdifferentkreligionskexistkwhenkthere'sknok"we,"knok"they,"kno"anybody,"kwhenktherekisknothingkbutkDhamma?kkTherekiskonlykpurenaturekitselfk(suddhidhammakpavattanti),knaturekiskallkthatkexists-kkwithkeitherkactivekaspectskorkstillkaspects,kdependingkonkwhethersomethingkiskconditionedkandktransientkorkunconditionedkandabsolute.kkThosekwhokarekinkthekupperkgradeskalreadyunderstandkthis.kkThosekwhokarekink indergartenkandkprimary

schoolkshouldkalsok nowkaboutkthisksokthatktheykcankpreparethemselvesktokreachkitsklevel.

Sokdon'tkgetkcaughtkupkinkenvykandkjealousy,kinkinsultskandpraises,kinkharassingkandkinterferingkwithkothers,kinkarguingkandfighting,kinkextollingkoneselfkwhilekputtingkdownkothers.kkSuchbehaviourkiskworthless.kkIt'skforkthosekwhokdon'tk nowkhowktoklearnkonevenktheklowestklevel.kkIt'sktooklowktokhavekakplacekinktheknetwor kofBuddhists.k

Allkofkuskbeginkatkakpointkwherekwe'rekfullkofkclinging,kthensteadilykreducekthekclingingkuntilkwekdon'tkclingktokanythingkanymore,untilkwekreachkthekpointkwherekeverythingkiskvoidness:kvoidkofk"I"kand

voidkofk"mine."kkUnderstandkthatkinkessencekeverythingkhaskbeenkvoidfromkthekstart.kkWhetherkphysicalkorkmental,kloo kdeeplykintokit'sessentialknaturekandkitkwillkturnkoutktokbekvoid.kkTherekisknoclingingktherekanymore.

Whateverkclingingktherekwaskhaskjustknowkhappened.Originally,ktherekwasknokattachment,kjustkaskallkwaterkoriginallykispurekandkclean.kkIt'skpurekaskitkformskinkthekclouds,kbutkpic skupfinekparticleskofkdustkaskitkfallskthroughktheks y.kkOncekkitkfallskonroofskandkcollectskinkwaterkjars,kitkbecomeskfurther


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contaminated.kEvenkmorekcontaminatedkiskthekwaterkinkwells,kstreams,ponds,kandkswamps.kkWorsekiskthekputridkwaterkfoundkinkditches,sewers,kandktoilets.kkAskwekexaminekthekexternalkchanges,kwekshouldrecognizekthatkthekdirtykelementskaren'tkthekwaterkandkaren'tessential.

Sokloo kdeeplykintokthiskverykbodykandkmindkwhenkthey'rekintheirknaturalkstate,kwhenktheykaren'tkpollutedkbykanykdefiledkobjects.Thekpure,knatural,kuncontaminatedkbody-mindkiskthekobjectkofk nowledgeandkstudy.kkThek"I,"kthekego,k nowingkthis,k nowingkthat,kthiskisgood,kthatkiskgood:kkthiskiskjustkdirtykstuff.kkTheykmixkwithkthemind,kcontaminatekit,kandkmuc kitkup.kkNaturally,kinkthemselves,kourbodieskandkmindskaren'tkdirty,kbutkowingktokstupiditykandcarelessnessktheknewlykspawnedkdefilementskinvade.kkIt'sktheseimpurekguestskwhichkenterkthekmindkandkcontaminatekit.kkkWhykthenkdowekta ektheseklate-comingkimpuritiesktokbek"I,"k"me,"kork"mykownktrueself"?kkThey'rekjustknewkarrivals,kthere'sknothingkgenuinekaboutkthem.They'rekjustkdirt,kisn'tkitksillyktokta ekdirtkaskone'skself?kkOneendskupkwithkakdirtykself,kakdirtykego--nokdoubtkaboutkit.

Thekmindkwhichkisk nowledgablekandkwise,kwhichkiskawa ened(Buddha),kdoesn'tkta ekanythingktokbekself.kkItkdoesn'tkta ekdirtythingskaskitsk"self."kkItkdoesn'tkta ekdefilementsktokbek"self."kkIfitkmustkhavekakself,kthekvoidnesskwhichkiskfreekofkdefilementskmustkbe

thekself.kkThekvoidnesskofkdefilementskdoesn'tkattachkorkclingktoanything.kkEvenkthoughkthekmouthksaysk"Ikam"kork"Ikhave,"kthekmindinsidekdoesn'tkfeelkanykattachment.kk"Mouthkiskonekandkmindkanother"atkallktimes.kkIkhopekthatkyoukwillkallkpracticekinkthiskway.

AllkIkhaveksaidktodaykiskmerelykakchatkamongkfriends.kkIfkitwerekakpublicklecturekorkformalksermon,kthesekthingskcouldn'tkbeksaidli ekthis.kkItkmightkcreatekakbigkdisturbance.kkHowever,kthiskhaskbeenjustkankinformalktal kwithinkourksmallkcirclekofkfriends,kamongkthosewhokshouldkbekablektokunderstand.kkIkonlykmentionedkthesekthingsbecausekIkthoughtkthekpeoplekherekarekcapablekofkunderstanding.Indeed,kIkhopekthatkeveryonekhasklistenedkcarefully,khaskbeenkablektofollow,kandkwillkthin koverkthekissueskseriously.kkThosekwhokseekthe

truthkofkandkagreekwithkthesekprincipleskshouldktryktokliveaccordingly.kBeforeklongkwekwillkprogressktokakhigherklevelkonkthepathktokvoidnesskandkfreedomkfromksuffering.kkThenkwekcankdokwor kofallk indskwithkakvoidkmindkandkwekcankgivekallkofkthekfruitsktovoidness.kkWekwillkbekablektokeatkthekfoodkofkvoidness.kkAndkso,kwewillkbekablektokdiekcompletelykfromkthekverykbeginning.kkThat'sktheend.kkThat'skthekendkofkbeingkakBuddhist;kit'skthekendkofkallreligions. k

Inkpeopleklanguagektheyksay,k"Don'tkwastekthekopportunitykofhavingkbeenkbornkhumankandkofkhavingkencounteredkBuddha-Dhamma."kkIfwekspea kinkDhammaklanguage,khowever,kwekwouldkhavektoksay,k"It'sktheendkofkeverything.kkTherekisknothingkleftktokbekakproblemkeverkagain."

Suchkaklifekcankbekcalledk"eternalklife,"kforktherekisknokmorekbirth,aging,killness,korkdeath.

Arekyoukreadyktokdiekbeforekdying?


kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkGLOSSARY


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anatta,kknot-self,kselflessness:kkthekfactkthatkallkthingsklac kanykkkklastingkessencekorksubstancekwhichkcouldkproperlykbekkkkcalledkak"self."kk(Cf.ksunnata.)

du ha,kkpain,khurt,ksuffering,kdissatisfaction:kkliterally,k"hardkkkktokbear";kthekstressfulkqualitykofkallkexperienceskwhichkkkkarekaccompaniedkbykdesire,kattachment,kandkego.kkDu hakkkkiskalsoksaidktokbekakuniversalkcharacteristickofkallkphenomena;kkkkkbecausekthingskarekimpermanent,ktheykarekundependablekandkcankkkkneverksatisfykus.kkThekinherentkdecaykandkdissolutionkofkthingskkkkkiskdu ha.

Dhamma,kNature,kNaturalkLaw,kDuty,kTruth:kkthekwaykthingsknaturallykkkkarekandkthekwaykwekmustkliveksokthatkthingsk(dhammas)kdon'tkbecomekkkkproblemskforkus.

handha,kgroups,kheaps.kaggregates:kkthekfivekbasickprocesseskkkkorksub-systemskwhichkma ekupkhumanklife,knamely,kkkkbody,kfeeling,kperception,kthought,kandkconsciousness.kk

ilesa,kdefilement,kpollution,kimpurity:kkthekvariouskkkkkmanifestationskofkselfishnesskwhichkdefilekthekmind,k

kkkkespeciallykgreed,kanger,kandkdelusion.

Nibbana,kkcoolness:kkthekultimatekgoalkofkBuddhistkpractice.kkkkThekcoolkpeacefulnesskofkNibbanakmanifestskwhenkthekkkkfireskofkdefilement,kselfishness,kandksufferingkarekkkkkthoroughlykandkfinallykquenched.

noblekeightfoldkpath:kkthekwaykofklifekleadingktokNibbana,kkkknamely,krightkunderstanding,krightkaspiration,krightkkkkspeech,krightkaction,krightklivelihood,krightkeffort,krightkkkkmindfulness,kandkrightkconcentration.

NoblekOnes:kkhumankbeingskwhokhavekeradicatedkallkorkalmost

kkkkallkofkthekattachmentskandkdefilements.kkTheykarekthekkkkexemplarskofkBuddhistklifekduektoktheirkwisdom,kcoolness,kkkkkcalmness,kandkcompassion.

sunnata,kvoidness:kkthekrealitykofkbeingkvoidkandkfreekofkkkkselfhood,kego,korkanythingkthatkcouldkbekta enktokbek"I"kkkkork"mine."kk(Seekanatta.)

upadana,kattachment,kclinging,kgrasping:kktokholdkontoksomekkkkthingkfoolishly,kthatkis,ktokregardkitkask"I"kork"mine";ktokkkkta ekthingskpersonally


kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkABOUTkTHEkAUTHOR

BuddhadasakBhi hukhaskbeenkthekmostkimportantkinterpreterkandreformerkofkThaikBuddhistkthoughtkinkthiskcentury.kkSincekhekbeganSuankMo h,k"ThekGardenkofkLiberation,"kink1932,khekhaskunderta enkthemostkinnovative,kinfluential,kandkwide-rangingkstudykofkthekPali


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scriptureskofkTheravadakBuddhism.kkThesekstudieskwerekthekunderpinningforkhiskexperimentskandkresearcheskintoklifekandknature,koutkofkwhichdevelopedkakcommandingkbodykofkwor .kkHisktal s,klectures,kandwritings,kalongkwithkthekmonastickcommunitykhekfounded,khavekinspiredmanyktokta ekakfreshkloo katkBuddhismkandkreligion.

BuddhadasakBhi hukhaskalwayskhadkakprofoundkinterestkinkotherreligionskandkhaskmadekmanykfriendskamongkthem.kkInkparticular,khekhasbeenkinkdialoguekwithkChristianitykthroughkforeignkmissionarieskandlocalkChristianskwhokwerekdelightedktokfindkakBuddhistkmon kwhoksoughtonlyktokunderstandktheirkreligion,kwithoutkloo ingkdownkonkit.kkThisboo krevealsksomekofkhiskthoughtskonkreligion.

TheksixtiethkanniversarykofkSuankMo hkwaskobservedkonkMayk27,1992. Despitekthekafterkeffectskofkakheartkattac kandkminorkstro es,AjarnkBuddhadasakspentktheklastkfewkyearskofkhisklifekaskhekhadkspentthekpreviousksixty.

ThekVenerablekAjarnkpassedkawaykatkSuankMo hkonkJulyk8,k1993.SuankMo h,kaidedkbykthekDhammadanakFoundationkandkotherksupporters,carrieskonkhiskwithkhiskwor .


no religion - buddhadasa

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