kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkNOkRELIGION kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkby kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkBuddhadasakBhi hu kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkTranslatedkfromkthekThaikbykBhi hukPunno kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkForkmorekinformation: kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkDhammadanakFoundation kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkc/okSuankMo h kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkChaiya kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkSuratkThanik84110 kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkThailand kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkFirstkelectronickedition:kkSeptemberk1996 kkkkkTranscribedkdirectlykfromkdis skprovidedkbykSanti arokBhi

hu kkkkkFormattingk&kProofreading:kScottkOserk<oser@hep.uchicago.edu> kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkThiskelectronickeditionkiskoffered kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkFORkFREEkDISTRIBUTIONkONLY kkkkkkkkkkkkkkbykarrangementkwithkthekDhammadanakFoundation. kkkkThisktextkiskakgiftkofkDhamma.kYoukmaykprintkthiskfilekforkyour kkkkpersonalkuse,kandkyoukmaykma ekandkdistributekunalteredkcopies kkkkofkthiskfile,kprovidedkthatkyoukchargeknokfeeskofkanyk indkfor kkkkitskdistribution.kOtherwise,kallkrightskreserved.

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk*k*k*k*k*k*k*k* kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkCONTENTS k kkkkkkkkkkk-kGeneralkInformation kkkkkkkkkkk-kEditor'skPreface kkkkkkkkkkk-kTranslator'skNote kkkkkkkkkkk-kOnkVoidness kkkkkkkkkkk-kNokReligion kkkkkkkkkkk-kGlossary kkkkkkkkkkk-kAboutkthekAuthor kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk*k*k*k*k*k*k*k* kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkGENERALkINFORMATION Otherkboo skbykBuddhadasakBhi hu: Handboo kForkMan ind MindfulnesskWithkBreathing:kUnveilingkthekSecretskofkLife Buddha-DhammakForkStudents KeysktokNaturalkTruth HeartwoodkofkthekBodhikTree:kThekBuddha'skTeachingkonkVoidness

ThekBuddha'skDoctrinekofkNot-Self ThekFirstkTenkYearskofkSuankMo h Christianityk&kBuddhism PracticalkDependentkOrigination WhykWerekYoukBorn? WhykDhamma? DhammickSocialism kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkFORkFREEkDISTRIBUTIONkONLY kkkkkkkkkkkk"ThekgiftkofkDhammaksurpasseskallkotherkgifts." kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkPublishedkby: kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkBuddha-DhammakMeditationkCenter kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk8910kS.kKingerykHighway kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkHinsdale,kILkkk60521kkkUSA kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkWithkhelpkfrom: kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkThekBuddhadasakFoundation kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkThekDhamma-SabhakFoundation kkkkkkkkkkkkkkThekFoundationkforkthekLongkLifekofkBuddhism kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkCopyrightkThekDhammadanakFoundation,k1993 Permissionktokreprintkinkpartkorkinkwholekwillkbekgrantedkuponkwritten request.kkThiskelectronickversionkiskavailablekwithkthekgracious permissionkofkthekDhammadanakFoundation. Pleasekwritekto: kkkkDhammadanakFoundation kkkkc/okSuankMo h kkkkAmpoekChaiya kkkkSuratkThanikkk84110 kkkkThailand ManykofkBuddhadasa'skwritingskarekavailablekfromkWisdomkPublications (Boston,kMA).kkOtherskmaykbekobtainedkbykcontactingkthekBuddha-Dhamma MeditationkCenterkorkthekDhammadanakFoundationkatkthekabovekaddresses.

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

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkEDITOR'SkkPREFACE Onkthekoccasionkofkthiskyear'skcentennialkofkChicago'sk1893 ParliamentkofkthekWorld'skReligions,kthekBuddha-DhammakMeditation CenterkofkHinsdale,kIllinoisk(aksuburbkofkChicago)khaskchosenkto reprintk"NokReligion"kforkfreekdistributionkduringkandkafterkthis year'skParliament.kkItkiskofferedkaskaksmallkcontributionktokthe discussionskinkChicago,kparticularlykbecausekthekauthorkcannotkbe present,kandkinkhopekthatkfriendskfromkotherkreligionskwillkappreciate BuddhadasakBhi hu'skemphasiskonkattachmentkandkvoidness. BuddhadasakBhi huksincerelykbelieveskthatkworldkpeacekis possible,kifkhumanitykwouldkonlykconquerkthekselfishnesskwhichkiskthe

causekofkallkourkconflictskandktroubles.kkMoreover,khekinsistskthat thekworld'skreligionskarekthekmostkimportantkvehicleskforkpropagating unselfishness.kkInkthiskboo ,khekdigskintokthekheartkofkselfishness, namely,kattachmentktok"I"kandk"mine,"kandkpointsktokthekunselfish remedy.kkWekhopekthatkreaderskwillkfindkitkusefulkinktheirkown spiritualkliveskandkinkourkcommonksearchkforklastingkpeace. k "NokReligion"kwaskoriginallykaktal kgivenktokakBang o kBuddhist groupkink1967.kkItkwasktranslatedkbykBhi hukPunnokinkthekmid-70'skand publishedkinkBang o ,kbutkhaskbeenklongkout-of-print.kkThekmanuscript haskbeenknewlykrevisedkforkthekcurrentkedition. Thekoriginalktal kwaskdeliveredkspontaneouslykandkinformally. WhilekonksomekoccasionskBuddhadasakBhi hukpreferskakmorekformal style,kwhenkspea ingkwithkDhammakfriendskandkstudentskhekprefersktokbe informal.kkWekhavektriedktokmaintainksomekofkthekflavorkofkthektal 's style,kforkexample,kbykusingkcontractionskandkretainingksomekThai expressions. ThekVenerablekAjarnkwaskspea ingktokakgroupkwhichkiskalready familiarkwithkthekLordkBuddha'skteachingkandkthekVenerablekAjarn'skway ofkexplainingkit.kkThus,khektoo kforkgrantedkakcertainkfamiliaritykwith eykBuddhistktermskandkprinciples.kkTherefore,kthektranslatorkand editorkhavekinterpolatedkexplanationskintokthektextkwherekwekfeltkit wasknecessarykforkthekunderstandingkofkreaderskunfamiliarkwithkthe VenerablekAjarn'skstylekofkteaching,kwhichkwaskparticularlyktersekin thisktal .kkWekhavekdonekourkbestktokbeksparingkwithkthesekadditions, merelyktryingktokbridgekthekgapkbetweenkthekoriginalkaudiencekofkthe tal kandksubsequentkreaderskofkthiskboo ,kincludingknon-Buddhists. ThekVenerablekAjarn'sktal skusuallykcontainkakhealthykdosekofkterms fromkPali,kthekscripturalklanguagekofkTheravadakBuddhism.kkWekhave usedkeasilykunderstandablektranslationsktokthekbestkofkourkability. Manykofkthektermskarekexplainedkinkthektextkandkbecomekclearkaskthey arekusedkrepeatedly,kforkexample,ksufferingk(du ha),kattachment (upadana),kandknot-selfk(anatta).kkAksmallkglossarykiskprovidedkto explainkthosektermskwhichkmaykneedkfurtherkexplanation. ThekVenerablekAjarnkassumedkthatkhiskaudiencekwaskfamiliar withkthekprinciplekofknot-self;khowever,kthiskmaykbekunfamiliarkto non-Buddhistkreaders.kFromkthekhighestktoktheklowestkformskand phenomenakofknature,knothingkcankbekfoundkwhichkisktrulykakself,kthat is,kaklasting,kseparate,kindividualkbeing.kkAllkthings--exceptkfor Nibbana--arektransient,kconditioned,kinherentlykunstable,kand liablektokdecay.kThus,keverythingkisknot-selfk(anatta)kandkvoidkof inherentkselfhood.kkAlthoughkthiskfactkisn'tkexplainedkdirectlykinkthe tal ,ktherekareknumerouskexampleskwhichkshouldkhelpkreadersktokdeepenktheir understandingkofkthisk eykaspectkofkreality. AskthekvenerablekAjarnkwaskspea ingktokakThaikBuddhist audience,khekrefersktokThailand'skmostkprominentkreligions:kBuddhism, Islam,kandkChristianity.kk(Sincekthekreadingkaudiencekiskmuchkbroader, wekhavekaddedkreferencesktokotherkworldkreligions.)kkThekcentral religiousktermkinkThailand,kaskinkmuchkofkSouthkandkSoutheastkAsia,kis "Dhamma"kork"Dharma."kkWekhavekretainedkitkinkthiskedition,krather thankusingkEnglishktranslations,kforktwokreasons.kkFirst,knokEnglish translationkcaptureskthekfullkrichnesskandkdepthkofk"Dhamma."kkSecond, Englishktermsktendktokbekcoloredkandkconfoundedkbykthekcultureskand religionskwhichkhavekproducedkthemkandkwhich,kinkturn,kdistortkthe religiousksensibilitieskofkotherkcultureskandklanguages.

Inkthekoriginalktal ,kallkcitationskfromkscripture,kboth BuddhistkandkChristian,kwerekfromkmemorykandkinkloosekparaphrase.kkFor thiskboo ,khowever,kallkquoteskfromkthekBiblekhavekbeenkcopiedkfrom RevisedkStandardkEditionkofkthekAmericankBiblekSociety.kkAllkfootnotes arekbykthektranslatorkandkeditor. Finally,kspecialkthan sktokthekCenterkforkthekLongkLifekof BuddhismkofkWatkCholapratankRangsaritk(Nontaburi)kforkthekusekofktheir Macintosh,ktokPhrakJarankAranyadhammokforkteachingkmekhowktokusekit, andktokPhrakSurasa kSurayanokforkorganizingklayoutkandkprinting. Than skandkblessingskalsoktokthekmanykpeople,kbothkinkChicagokand Bang o ,kwhosekgiftskofk nowledge,ktime,kenergy,kandkfundskmadekthis reprintkpossible. Inevitably,ksomekmista eskwillkbekfoundkinkthe presentkedition.kkAllkcomments,kcorrections,kandkcriticismskwillkbe cheerfullykwelcomed.kkMaykallkbeingskrealizekthekbestkthingkthat lifekhasktokoffer--theklastingkpeacekofkvoidness. Santi arokBhi hu kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkSuankMo h 25kJulyk1993 kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk*k*k*k*k*k*k*k*

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkTRANSLATOR'SkNOTE Ak eykexpressionkusedkinkallkofkBuddhadasakBhi hu'sktal skto grabkthekattentionkofkkThaikaudienceskisk"tua-goo."kkkTua-goo"kmustkbe translatedkask"I",kbutkthekfullkconnotationskofkthekThaikwordkdoesknot comekthrough.kkThaikhaskliterallykdozenskofkformskforkthekfirstkperson pronoun.kkOfkthese,k"tua-goo"kiskonekofkthekmostkcolloquialkandkin manykcaseskiskconsideredkvulgar.kkItskusekoftenkimplieskangerkonkthe partkofkthekspea er.kkItskfrequentkusekbykthekVenerablekAjarnkstri es thekaudiencekwithkgreatkimpact.kkThiskimpactkiskfeltkonkmanyklevels. Whenkheksaysk"Sufferingkiskcausedkbykattachmentktoktua-goo"kor requestskusktokeliminatektua-goo,kkitkleadsktheklistenerktokseekhow thekegokiskankemotionalkreactionktokstimulikandkhowkselfishnesskalways resultskfromkit.kkFinally,ktheklistenerkmaykrealizekthatkegokis basicallykakmisconceptionkandkillusion.kkHence,kthekVenerablekAjarn's usekofkthekwordk"tua-goo"kcankoftenkstartlektheklistenerkintokaknew perspective,ksomethingkthatkcouldkneverkhappenkifkhekwerektokusekany ofkthekmorekneutralkfirstkpersonkpronouns.kkAskEnglishkhaskonlykone formkofkthekfirstkpersonksingularkpronoun,kallkofkthesekmanykshadeskof meaningkareklostkinktranslation.kkThektranslatorkhaskresortedktokusing askmanykdifferentkwordskaskpossiblek("I",k"self",k"ego",ketc.)kinkthe hopekthatkperhapskonekofkthemkwillkstimulatekthekreaderktokakfresh viewkofkhimselfkorkherself. Bhi hukPunno kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk*k*k*k*k*k*k*k*

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkONkVOIDNESS

kkkkkkkkkkkkkDokwor kofkallk indskwithkakmindkthatkiskvoid kkkkkkkkkkkkAndktokthekvoidnessksurrenderkallkofkthekfruits; kkkkkkkkkkkkkEatkthekfoodkofkvoidnesskaskthekholykoneskdo, kkkkkkkkkkkYou'llkhavekdiedktokyourselfkfromkthekverykstart. kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkBuddhadasakBhi hu k kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk*k*k*k*k*k*k*k*

Ikdidn'tkcomekherektodayktokgivekanykformalksermonkorklecture, butktokhavekankinformalkchatkamongkfriends.kkIkhopekthatkyoukallkagree tokthis,ksokthatkwekcankspea kandklistenktokeachkotherkwithout formalitykandkrituals,kevenkifkourktal kherekbecomesksomewhat differentkorkunusual.kkFurther,kIkintendktokspea konlykaboutkthekmost essentialkmatters,kimportantktopicskwhichkpeoplekconsiderktokbe profound.kkTherefore,kifkyoukdon'tklistenkcarefullykyoukmaykfindkit difficultktokfollowkandkmightkmisunderstand,kespeciallykthosekofkyou whokhaven'tkheardkthekpreviousktal skinkthiskseries.kk(Askakmatterkof fact,kit'skalsokdifficultkforkme,kforkwithkeachknewktal kIkmust maintainkakconnectionkwithkthekpreviouskones.) Theklastktal kwaskcalledk"WhatkTokDokTokBekVoid."kkThisktimekI intendktoktal kaboutk"NokReligion."kkIfkyoukfindktheksubjectkstrange orkincomprehensible,korkifkdon'tkagree,kpleasekta ekthektimektokthin itkover.kkButkremember,kitkisn'tknecessaryktokbelievekorksubscribekto whatkIksaykrightkaway. Whenkwekmeetktogetherkli ekthis,kIkfeelktherekisksomething whichkpreventskuskfromkunderstandingkeachkotherkandkthiskthingkis simplykthekproblemkofklanguagekitself.kkYouksee,ktherekarektwok inds ofklanguage.kkOnekiskthekconventionalklanguagekthatkordinarykpeople spea ,kwhatkIkcallk"peopleklanguage." Peopleklanguagekiskusedkbykthekordinarykpeoplekwhokdon't understandkDhammakverykwellkandkbykthosekworldlykpeoplekwhokarekso densekthatktheykarekblindktokeverythingkbutkmaterialkthings.kkThen, therekisktheklanguagekwhichkiskspo enkbykthosekwhokunderstandkreality (Dhamma),kespeciallykthosekwhok nowkandkunderstandkrealitykinkthe ultimateksense.kkThiskiskanotherk indkofklanguage.kkSometimes,kwhen onlykakfewkwordskorkevenkjustkakfewksyllableskarekuttered,kthe ordinaryklistenerkfindskDhammaklanguagekparadoxical,kcompletely oppositektoktheklanguagekhekspea s.kkWekcankcallkitk"Dhammaklanguage." Youkalwayskmustkta ekcarektokrecognizekwhichklanguagekiskbeingkspo en. Peoplekwhokarekblindktokthektruekrealityk(Dhamma)kcankspea konly peopleklanguage,kthekconventionalklanguagekofkordinarykpeople.kOnkthe otherkhand,kpeoplekwhokhavekgenuinelykrealizedkthekultimatektruth (Dhamma)kcankspea keitherklanguage.kkTheykcankhandlekpeopleklanguage quitekwellkandkarekalsokcomfortablekusingkDhammaklanguage,kespecially whenkspea ingkamongkthosekwhok nowkreality,kwhokhavekalreadykrealized thektruthk(Dhamma).kkAmongstkthosekwithkprofoundkunderstanding,kDhamma

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkNOkRELIGION kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk27kJanuaryk1967 kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkSuankUsomkFoundation,kBang o

languagekiskusedkalmostkexclusively,kunfortunately,kordinarykpeople can'tkunderstandkakword.kkDhammaklanguagekiskunderstoodkonlykbykthose whokarekinkthek now.kkWhatkiskmore,kinkDhammaklanguagekitkisn'tkeven necessaryktokma ekaksound.kkForkexample,kakfingerkiskpointedkorkan eyebrowkraisedkandkthekultimatekmeaningkofkrealitykiskunderstood.kSo, pleasekta ekinterestkinkthesektwok indskofklanguage--people languagekandkDhammaklanguage. k Tokillustratekthekimportancekofklanguage,kletkuskconsiderkthe followingkexample.kkOrdinary,kignorantkworldlykpeoplekarekunderkthe impressionkthatktherekiskthiskreligionkandkthatkreligion,kandkthat thesekreligionskarekdifferent,ksokdifferentkthatkthey'rekopposedkto eachkother.kkSuchkpeoplekspea kofk"Christianity,"k"Islam,"k"Buddhism," "Hinduism,"k"Si hism,"kandksokon,kandkconsiderkthesekreligionsktokbe different,kseparate,kandkincompatible.kkThesekpeoplekthin kandkspea accordingktoktheirkpersonalkfeelingskandkthuskturnkthekreligionskinto enemies.kkBecausekofkthiskmentality,ktherekcomektokexistkdifferent religionskwhichkarekhostilelykopposedktokeachkother. Thosekwhokhavekpenetratedktokthekessentialknaturekofkreligion willkregardkallkreligionskaskbeingktheksame.kkAlthoughktheykmayksay therekiskBuddhism,kJudaism,kTaoism,kIslam,korkwhatever,ktheykwillkalso saykthatkallkreligionskarekinwardlyktheksame.kkHowever,kthosekwhokhave penetratedktokthekhighestkunderstandingkofkDhammakwillkfeelkthatkthe thingkcalledk"religion"kdoesn'tkexistkafterkall.kkTherekiskno Buddhism;ktherekisknokChristianity;ktherekisknokIslam.kkHowkcankthey bektheksamekorkinkconflictkwhenktheykdon'tkevenkexist?kkItkjust isn'tkpossible.kkThus,kthekphrasek"Nokreligion!"kiskactually Dhammaklanguagekofkthekhighestklevel.kkWhetherkitkwillkbekunderstood orknotkisksomethingkelse,kdependingkuponktheklistener,kandkhas nothingktokdokwithkthektruthkorkwithkreligion. I'dkli ektokgivekaksimplekexamplekofkpeopleklanguage,kthe languagekofkmaterialism.kk"Water"kwillksuffice.kkAkpersonkwhokdon't nowkmuchkaboutkevenktheksimplestkthingskthin skthatktherekarekmany differentk indskofkwater.kkTheykviewkthesekvariousk indskofkwaterkas ifktheykhaveknothingkinkcommon.kkTheykdistinguishkrain-water, well-water,kunderground-water,kcanal-water,kswamp-water,kditch-water, gutter-water,ksewer-water,ktoilet-water,kurine,kdiarrhea,kandkmany otherk indskofkwaterkfromkeachkother.kkAveragekpeoplekwillkinsistkthat thesekwaterskarekcompletelykdifferent,kbecauseksuchkpeoplekta e externalkappearanceskasktheirkcriteria. Akpersonkwithksomek nowledge,khowever,k nowskthatkpure waterkcankbekfoundkinkeveryk indkofkwater.kkIfkyoukta ekrain-waterkand distillkit,kyoukwillkgetkpurekwater.kkIfkyoukta ekriver-waterkand distillkit,kyoukwillkgetkpurekwater.kkIfkyoukta ekcanal-water, sewer-water,korktoilet-water,kandkdistillkit,kyoukwillkstillkgetkpure water.kkAkpersonkwithkthiskunderstandingk nowskthatkallkthose differentk indskofkwaterkarektheksamekaskfarkaskthekwaterkcomponentkis concerned.kkAskforkthosekelementskwhichkma ekitkimpurekandkloo different,ktheykaren'tkthekwaterkitself.kkTheykmaykcombinekwithkwater, andkalterkwater,kbutktheykarekneverkwaterkitself.kkIfkwekloo kthrough thekpollutingkelements,kwekcankseekthekwaterkthatkiskalwaysktheksame, forkinkeverykcasekthekessentialknaturekofkwaterkisktheksame.kkHowever manyk indskofkwaterktherekmaykseemktokbe,ktheykarekallktheksamekaskfar askthekessentialknaturekofkwaterkiskconcerned.kkWhenkwekloo katkthings fromkthiskviewpoint,kwekcankseekthatkallkreligionskarektheksame.kkIf theykappearkdifferentkit'skbecausekwekarekma ingkjudgmentskonkthe basiskofkexternalkforms.

Onkankevenkmorekintelligentklevel,kwekcankta ekthatkpurekwater andkexaminekitkfurther.kkThen,kwekmustkconcludekthatktherekiskno water,konlyktwokpartskhydrogenkandkonekpartkoxygen.kkThere'sknokwater left.kkThatksubstancekwhichkwekhavekbeenkcallingk"water"khas disappeared,kit'skvoid.kkTheksamekisktruekeverywhere,knokmatterkwhere wekfindkthektwokpartskofkhydrogenkandkonekpartkofkoxygen.kkInktheks y, inkthekground,korkwhereverkthesekpartskhappenktokbekfound,kthekstate ofkwaterkhaskdisappearedkandkthektermk"water"kisknoklongerkused.kkFor onekwhokhaskpenetratedktokthisklevelkofktruth,ktherekisknoksuchkthing askwater. Inktheksamekway,konekwhokhaskattainedktokthekultimatektruth seeskthatktherekisknoksuchkthingkaskreligion.kkTherekiskonlykakcertain naturekwhichkcankbekcalledkwhateverkwekli e.kkWekcankcallkitk"Dhamma," wekcankcallkitk"Truth,"kwekcankcallkitk"God,"k"Tao,"korkwhateverkwe li e,kbutkwekshouldn'tkparticularizekthatk"Dhamma"korkthatk"Truth"kas Buddhism,kChristianity,kTaoism,kJudaism,kSi hism,kZoroastrianism,kor Islam,kforkwekcankneitherkcaptureknorkconfinekitkwithklabelskor concepts.kkStill,ksuchkdivisionskoccurkbecausekpeoplekhaven'tkyet realizedkthisknamelessktruthkforkthemselves.kkTheykhavekonlykreached thekexternalklevels,kjustkaskwithkcanal-water,kmuddykwater,kandkthe rest. ThekBuddhakintendedkforkusktokunderstandkandkbekablektoksee thatktherekisknokperson,kthatktherekisknokseparatekindividual,kthat therekarekonlykdhammaskorknaturalkphenomena.kkTherefore,kwekshouldn't clingktokthekbeliefkthatktherekiskthiskreligionkandkthatkreligion.kkWe addedktheklabelsk"Buddhism,"k"Islam,"kandk"Christianity"kourselves, longkafterkthekfoundersklived.kkNonekofkthekgreatkreligiouskteachers everkgavekakpersonalknamektoktheirkteachings,kli ekwekdoktoday.kkThey justkwentkaboutkteachingkuskhowkwekshouldklive. Pleasektryktokunderstandkthiskcorrectly.kkWhenkthekfinalklevel iskreached,kwhenkthekultimatekisk nown,kknotkevenkmankexists.kkThere iskonlyknature,konlykDhamma.kkThiskrealitykcan'tkbekconsideredktokbe anykparticularkthing;kitkcan'tkbekanythingkotherkthankDhamma.kkIt can'tkbekThai,kChinese,kIndian,kArab,korkEuropean.kkItkcan'tkbekblac , brown,kyellow,kred,korkwhite.kkItkcan'tkbekeasternkorkwestern, southernkorknorthern.kkNorkcankitkbekBuddhist,kChristian,kIslamic,kor anythingkelse.kkSokpleasektryktokreachkthiskDhamma,kforkthenkyoukwill havekreachedkthekheartkofkallkreligionskandkofkallkthings,kandkfinally comektokthekcompletekcessationkofksuffering. Althoughkwekcallkourselvesk"Buddhists"kandkprofesskBuddhism, wekhaven'tkyetkrealizedkthektruthkofkBuddhism,kforkwekarekacquainted withkonlykaktinykaspectkofkourkownkBuddhism.kkAlthoughkwekbekmon s, nuns,knovices,klaykdevotees,korkwhatever,kwekarekawarekofkonlykthe bar ,kthekouterkcoveringkwhichkma eskuskthin kourkreligionkis differentkfromkthekotherkreligions.kkBecausekwekhavekfailedkto understandkandkhaven'tkyetkrealizedkourkownktruth,kwekloo kdownkupon otherkreligionskandkpraisekonlykourkown.kkWekthin kofkourselveskaska specialkgroupkandkofkotherskaskoutsiderskorkforeigners.kkWekbelieve thatktheykarekwrongkandkonlykwekarekright,kthatkwekarekspecialkand havekakspecialkcalling,kandkthatkonlykwekhavekthektruthkandkthekwaykto salvation.kkWekhavekmanykofkthesekblindkbeliefs.kkSuchkideaskand beliefskshowkthatkwekarekstillkignorant,kkverykfoolishkindeed,kjust li eklittlekbabieskwhok nowkonlyktheirkownkbellies.kkTellkaksmall childktokta ekakbathkandktokwashkwithksoapktokgetkallkthekdirtkoff; theklittlekchildkwillkscrubkonlykherkbelly.kkShekdoesn'tk nowktokwash

allkover.kkShekwillkneverkthin kofkwashingkbehindkherkearskorkbetween herktoeskorkanywherekli ekthat.kShekmerelykscrubskandkpolisheskher tummykvigorously. Inkthisksamekwaykaskthekchild,kmostkofkthekadherentskof Buddhismk nowkonlykakfewkthings,ksuchkaskhowktokta ekandkhowktokget. Evenkwhilekdoingkgood,ksupportingkthektempleskandkmon s,kandkobserving thekprecepts,ktheirkonlykobjectivekisktokgetksomething,ktheykevenkwant tokgetkmorekinkreturnkthanktheykgave.kkWhenktheykma ekofferings,ksome peoplekexpectkbac ktenktimeskwhatktheykgave,ksomekakhundredktimes, somekakthousand,kandksomekevenkmore.kkInkthiskcase,kitkwouldkbekmore accuratektoksaykthatkthesekpeoplek nowknothingkatkall,kforktheykare acquaintedkonlykwithkhowktokgetkandkhowktokta e.kkThatkisn'tkBuddhism atkall.kkIt'skthekreligionkofkgettingkandkta ing.kkIfkeverktheykcan't getkorkcan'tkta eksomething,ktheykarekfrustratedkandktheyksuffer. RealkBuddhismkisktok nowkhowktokgetkwithoutkgettingkandkta ekwithout ta ingksokthatktherekisknokfrustrationkandknoksufferingkatkall.k Thiskmustkbekspo enkaboutkverykoftenkinkorderktokacquaint everyonekwithkthekheartkofkBuddhism:kkNon-Attachment.kkBuddhismkis aboutknotktryingktokseizekorkgraspkanything,ktoknotkclingkorkattachkto anything,knotkevenktokthekreligionkitself,kuntilkfinallykrealizing thatktherekisknokBuddhismkafterkall.kkThatkmeans,kifkwekspea directly,kthatktherekisknokBuddha,knokDhamma,kandknokSangha!(*)k However,kifkwekspea kinkthiskway,knobodykwillkunderstand;ktheykwillkbe shoc edkandkfrightened. [*kThekBuddha,kDhamma,kandkSanghak(Community)karekthekbelovedkTriple GemkwhichkmostkBuddhistskcherishkaskthekbasiskofktheirkfaith.]k Thosekwhokunderstand,kseekthatkthekBuddha,kthekDhamma,kandkthe Sanghakarektheksamekthing,kthatkis,kjustkDhammakorkjustkNaturekitself. Thekcompulsionktokseizekandkhangkontokthingskaskpersonskand individuals,kaskthiskandkthat,kdoesn'tkexistkinkthem.kkEverythingkis non-personal,kthatkis,kiskDhammakorkNaturekinkitskpurekstatekor whateverkyoukwishktokcallkit.kkButkwekdareknotkthin kli ekthis.kkWe arekafraidktokthin kthatktherekisknokreligion,kthatktherekiskno Buddha,kDhamma,korkSangha.kkEvenkifkpeoplekwerektaughtkorkforcedkto thin kinkthiskway,ktheykstillkwouldn'tkbekablektokunderstand.kkIn fact,ktheykwouldkhavekaktotallykdistortedkunderstandingkofkwhatkthey thoughtkandkwouldkreactkinkthekoppositekwayktokwhatkwaskintended. Forkthiskreason,kafterkthekpassingkawaykofkthekBuddha,kthere appearedkmanyknewksystemskofkreligiouskpractice.kkThekteachingskwere reorganizedkintokdescendingklevels,kwithklower,kmorekaccessible aspects,ksokthatkevenkifksomeonekwishedktokma ekofferingskinkorderkto gainkheavykbenefitskinkreturn,kequalktokdozens,khundreds,korkthousands ofktimesktheirk"merits,"kitkcouldkbekdone.kkThiskwaskakpreliminary arrangementksokthatkthekrewardskforkgoodkdeedskwouldkbekakbaitkto attractkpeoplekandk eepkthemkfromkgoingkastray.kAskakstartingkpoint, peoplekwerekencouragedktokhangkonktokthekgoodkandkitskrewardskaskmuch askpossible.kkIfktheykcontinuedktokdokso,ktheykwouldkeventually discoverkthatkitkwaskunnecessaryktokclingkorkbekattachedktokgoodness. Theykwouldkcomektokseekthatkanyksuchkattachmentkiskunsatisfyingkand painful.kkThus,ktheykwouldkgraduallykdisentanglekthemselveskfromkthe habitkofkattachment.kkThiskiskhowkDhammakleadskthroughksuccessively higherklevelskandkiskwhykthekpracticekofkDhammakinkitskearliestkstage iskbasedkonk"gainingkmerits"ktokletkpeoplekgetksomethingktheykreally li ekatkthekstart. k

TheknextkstepkonkthekpathkofkDhammakisktokvoluntarilykchoose toklivekakplainkandksimpleklife,kakpureklife,kinkwhichkonekisn'tkled astraykorkintoxicatedkbykanything.kkOnkthisklevel,ktherekiskstillka sensekofkthek"I"kwhokiskenjoyingkthiskmodekofkhappiness,kbutkit'ska better,kmorekdevelopedk"I." TheknextkhighestklevelkofkDhammakisktoknotkletkanyktraceskof thek"I"ktokremainkatkall.kkIt'skfinished.kkThekmindknoklongerkhaskthe feelingkofkbeingk"I,"kofkbeingkakself,kandktherekisknokwaykthat sufferingkorkdissatisfactionkcankhappen,ksincektherekisknok"I"kto suffer.kkSufferingkcan'tkoccurkbecausekthiskegolessnesskiskthekhighest happiness,kifkwekspea kinkpeopleklanguage.kkIfkwekspea kinkDhamma language,khowever,ktherekisknothingktoksay.kkTherekisknothingktokget, nothingktokhave,knothingktokbe--nokhappiness,knoksuffering,knothing atkall.kkWekcallkthisk"voidness."kkEverythingkstillkexists,kbutkit's freekandkvoidkofkanykfeelingkofkbeingk"I"kork"mine."kForkthiskreason weksayk"voidness." Tokseekthatkeverythingkiskvoidkisktokseekthingskaskbeing neitherkankaspectkofkoneselfknorkinkanywaykpossessedkbykoneself.kkThe wordsk"void"kandk"voidness"kinkthekcommonklanguagekofkignorantkpeople meankthatknothingkexists,kbutkinktheklanguagekofkthekBuddha,kthe Awa 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"kinktheksensekthatknothingkactuallykexistskiskthe languagekofkworldlykpeoplekwhokarektrappedkinktheirksenses,kiskthe languagekofkmaterialism,kisktheklanguagekofkhouseholderskwhok now nothingkbutktheirkhomes.kkHere,k"voidness"khaskgivenkuskanother examplekofkthekdifferencekbetweenkpeopleklanguagekandkDhammaklanguage. Wekshouldkalwaysk eepkinkmindkthisktruthkaboutklanguagekand discriminatekwhetherkthekwordskwekhear,kread,kandkusekarekpeople languagekorkDhammaklanguage.kkForkexample,kthekBuddhaksaid,k"Kill yourkfatherkandk illkyourkmother,kthenkyoukshallkattainkNibbana." "Killkyourkfatherkandkmother,kbekankungratefulkchild,kthenkyou shallkattainkNibbana."kkThekBuddhakdidn'tkmeankthatkwekshouldkta e thiskliterallykandk illkourkfleshkandkbloodkparents.kkInstead,khe meantkthatkignorancekiskak indkofkfatherkandkcravingkiskak indkof mother.kkThektwokgivekbirthktokego-consciousnesskandksubsequentlykall formskofkselfishnesskandksin.kkThere'sknokreasonktokfeelkany gratitudektowardkthem;kdestroykthemkimmediatelykandkNibbanakis realized. Tokspea kinkthiskfashionkisktokusekthekDhammaklanguage whichkthekordinarykpersonkiskunablektokunderstand.kkHekmustkstudykand inquire,kthin kandkreflect,kuntilkfinallykhekunderstands.kkButkthe Noblekones,kthosekwhokhavekrealizedkDhammakalready,kwill understandkimmediately,kthoughkonlykakfewkwordskarekspo enkand withoutkanykexplanationkorkadvice.kkJustkonekwordkiskenoughkforkthem tokunderstand,kwithoutkfurtherkexplanation,kbecausektheyk nowkDhamma languagekthoroughly. Thekwordsk"birth"kandk"death"krequirektheksamekdiscrimination regardingklanguage.kkInkpeopleklanguage,kthekwordk"birth"kmeansktokbe bornkfromkakmother'skwomb.kkInkDhammaklanguage,khowever,kthekword "birth"kmeansksomekformkofkattachmentkiskborn.kkThisk indkofkbirth happenskeveryktimekwekallowkthekarisingkofkakthoughtkorkfeelingkwhich

involveskgraspingkandkclingingktoksomethingkask"I"kork"mine,"ksuchkas, "Ikam,"k"Ikhave,"k"Ikthin ,"kandk"Ikdo."kkThiskiskthekbirthkofkthek"I" orkthekego.k Forkexample,kthin kli ekakcriminalkandkonekiskinstantlykborn askakcriminal.kkAkfewkmomentsklaterkthosekthoughtskdisappear,kone thin skli ekaknormalkhumankbeingkagainkandkiskbornkaskakhumankbeing oncekmore.kkIfkakfewkmomentsklaterkonekhaskfoolishkthoughts,kright thenkonekiskbornkaskakfool.kkIfkonekthenkthin skinkankincreasingly foolishkandkdullkmanner,konekwillkbekbornkaskankanimalkimmediately. Wheneverkankattachmentkiskfeltkintensely--whenkitkburnskinside onekwithkthekheatkofkfire--onekiskbornkaskakdemonkinkhell. Wheneverkonekisksokhungrykandkthirstykthatkonekcouldkneverkbe satiated,konekiskbornkaskankinsatiablykhungrykghost.kkWhenkonekis overlykcautiouskandktimidkwithoutkreason,konekiskbornkakcowardly titan.(*)kkThus,kinkaksinglekdaykonekcankbekbornkanyknumberkofktimesk inkmanykdifferentkforms,ksincekakbirthkta eskplacekeachkandkeveryktime therekariseskanykformkofkattachmentktokthekideakofkbeingksomething. Eachkconceptionkofk"Ikam,"k"Ikwas,"kork"Ikwill"kisksimultaneously akbirth.kkThiskiskthekmeaningkofk"birth"kinkDhammaklanguage. Therefore,kwheneverkonekencounterskthekwordk"birth,"konekmustkbekvery carefulktokunderstandkitskmeaningkinkeachkparticularkcontext. [*kAnimals,kdemons,khungrykghostsk(peta),kandkcowardlyktitansk(asura) arekthekinhabitantskofkthek"lowerkrealms"kinktraditionalkBuddhist cosmology.] "Birthkisksuffering."kkThesekwordskmeankthatkthekegoistick ind ofkbirthkdescribedkabovekiskalwayskpainfulkandkugly.kkThatkisktoksay, ifkwekallowk"I"ktokbekbornkinkanykmanner,ksufferingkoccurs immediately.kkIfkwekliveksimplykandkdirectlykinkthekawarenesskof "not-being-I,"kit'skli ekremainingkunbornkandkneverkexperiencing suffering.kkAlthoughkphysicalkbirthkhaskhappenedklongkago,ktherekiskno furtherkspiritualkbirthkofkthekegoistick"I." Onkthekotherkhand,kwheneverkankegoistickthoughtkorkfeeling arises,ktherekisksufferingkatkoncekandktheksufferingkalwayskfitskthe particulark indkofk"I"kthatkiskbeingkborn.kkIfk"I"kiskhuman,kitksuffers li ekakhuman.kkIfk"I"kiskankangel,kitksufferskangelically.kkIfk"I"kis demonic,kitksufferskhellishly.kkThekmannerkofkthekgraspingkand clingingkcankchangekrepeatedly,kevenkbeingkbornkaskbeasts,khungry ghosts,kandkcowardlyktitans.kkInkonekday,ktherekmaykbekmanykbirths, manykdozenskofkbirths,kandkeverykonekofkthemkiskunsatisfactory, frustrating,kandkpainful.kkTokdestroykthisk indkofkbirthkiskNibbana. Concerningkdeath,kthere'sknokneedktokspea kaboutkwhatkhappens afterkthekpeopleklanguagekversion.kkWhyktal kaboutkwhatkhappenskonce we'rekinkthekcoffin?kkInstead,kpleasekdealkwithkthiskmostkurgentkissue ofkego-birth,kthatkis,kdon'tkgetkbornkandktherekwillkbeknoksuffering. Withoutkthekfeelingkofkbeingkborn,ktherekisknokpersonkanymorekandkall thekproblemskdisappearkwithkit.kkThatkiskall.kkWhenktherekisn't thiskcontinualkbeingkborn,ktherekisknoklongerkak"somebody"ktokhave problems.kkIt'skasksimplekaskthat.kkThektimekremainingkinklifekiskno longerkankissuekoncekwek nowkhowktokexperiencekthekfactkthatkthisk"I" willkneverkbekbornkagain.kkThiskcankbekcalledk"non-birth."kkYoukmay callkitk"death"kifkyoukprefer. Sokyouksee,kbetweenkpeopleklanguagekandkDhammaklanguagekthekwords "birth"kandk"death"khavekoppositekmeanings.kkTheksameksituationkexists inkthekscriptureskofkotherkreligions,kespeciallykthosekof

Christianity.kkAskakresult,kthekChristianskdon'tkunderstandktheirkown Bible,kjustkaskwekBuddhistskdon'tkunderstandkthekTipita ak(Buddhist scriptures).kThus,kwheneverkmemberskofkthektwokmeet,ktheykendkup arguingkuntilktheykarekbluekinkthekface.kkThekquarrelskareksimply unbelievable;ktheykfightktokthekend.kkTherefore,kletkus developksomekunderstandingkconcerningkthiskmatterkofkpeople languagekandkDhammaklanguage. Wekhavekdiscussedkthekwordk"birth"kinkakBuddhistkcontext,know letkuskconsiderkakwordkfromkthekChristiankscriptures,ksuchkask"life." MatthewksayskthatkJesuskChristk"surrenderedkhisklifekaskakransomkfor many"k(Matt.k20:28).kkElsewhere,kJesusksaid,k"Ifkyoukwouldkenterklife, eepkthekcommandments"k(Matt.k19:17).kkThesektwokstatementskshowkthat thekwordk"life"khaskmorekthankonekmeaning.kkInkthekfirstkstatement, "life"kiskusedkinkitskpeopleklanguageksense.kkJesuskallowedkthemkto illktheklifekofkhiskbody,kwhichkiskthekordinarykmeaningkofk"life." "Life"kinktheksecondkpassagekisktheksamekwordk"life,"kbutkitknow refersktokaklifekthatkcankneverkbek illed.kkIt'skaklifekwhichkwill neverk nowkdeath.kkBykthiskwekseekthatkevenktheksimplekwordk"life"kcan havektwokverykdifferentkmeanings. Thekwordk"die"kprovideskanotherkexample.kkInkpeople language,k"tokdie"kmeanskthatkthekbodilykfunctionskhavekstopped, whichkiskthek indkofkdeathkwekcankseekwithkourkeyes.kkHowever,k"die" inktheklanguagekusedkbykGodkhaskquitekakdifferentkmeaning,ksuchkas whenkhekspo ektokAdamkandkEvekinkthekGardenkofkEdenktellingkthemknot tokeatkthekfruitkofkakcertainktree,k"forkinkthekdaykthatkyoukeatkofkit youkshallkdie"k(Gen.k2:17).kkEventually,kAdamkandkEvekatekthatkfruit, butkwek nowkthatktheykdidn'tkdiekinkthekordinaryksense,kthek indkthat putskpeoplekintokcoffins.kkThatkis,ktheirkbodieskdidn'tkdie.kkInstead, theykdiedkinkanotherkway,kinkthekDhammaklanguageksense,kwhichkiska spiritualkdeathkmuchkmorekcruelkthankbeingkburiedkinkakcoffin.kkThis fatekworsekthankdeathkwaskthekappearancekofkenormousksinkinktheir minds,kthatkis,ktheykbeganktokthin kinkdualistickterms--goodkand evil,kmalekandkfemale,kna edkandkclothed,khusbandkandkwife,kandksokon. Thekpairskofkoppositeskproliferatedkma ingkthekpainkverykheavy,kso muchksokthatktheirkmindskwerekfloodedkbykaksufferingksokseverekthat it'skimpossiblektokdescribe.kkAllkthiskhaskbeenkpassedkdownkthrough thekyearskandkinheritedkbykeveryoneklivingkinkthekpresentkera. ThekconsequenceskhavekbeenksokdisastrouskthatkthekChristians givektheknamek"originalksin"ktokthekfirstkappearancekofkdualistic thin ing.kOriginalkSinkfirstkhappenedkwithkthatkprimordialkcouplekand thenkwaskpassedkonktokallktheirkdescendantskdownktokthiskverykday. ThiskiskwhatkGodkmeantkbykthekwordk"death";kwheneverkwekparta ekof thiskfruitkofkdualismk(fromkthek"treekofkthek nowledgekofkgoodkand evil")kwekmustkdiekrightkthenkandkthere.kkThiskiskthekmeaningkof "death"kinkChristianklanguage. "Death"khasktheksamekmeaningkinktheklanguagekofkthe Buddha.kkWhykiskthiskso?kkBecausekbothkreligionskarekpointingktokthe samektruthkconcerningkattachmentkandkdualism.kkWhenever dualistickthoughtskarisektherekiskboundktokbeksuffering,kwhichkis death.kkDeathkmeanskthekendkofkeverythingkgood,kthekendkofkhappiness, thekendkofkpeace,kthekendkofkeverythingkworthwhile.kkThiskiskthe meaningkofk"death"kinkDhammaklanguage.kkMostkofkuskdiekthiskwaykmany timeskeachkday. It'skcalledk"death"kbecausekitkma eskthekheartkheavy. Itkalwayskcreateskakfeelingkofkfrustrationkandkdepressionktoksome

degree,knotktokmentionkworry,krestlessness,kandkanxiety.kkThekmore intelligentkandkcleverkakpersonkis,kthekmorekoftenkonekdieskandkthe morekprofoundkthekdeaths.kkThekcleverkperson'skdeathskarekmuchkmore specialkandkcreativekthankthosekofkankignorantkperson. Wekmustk nowkhowktokavoidkdeathkinkorderktokbekinkaccordkwith thekteachingskofkthekBuddhakandkJesusk(alongkwithkthekotherkprophets) ThekobjectivekofkBuddhismkisktheksamekaskofkChristianity:kkDon'tklet thiskoriginalksinkoverpowerkyou;kdon'tkletkdualistickattachment dominatekyourkheartkorkyourkmind.kkRefusektokletkitkdominatekthekmind everkagain. WekmustkalwayskbekawarekofkthektrueknaturekofkDhamma,k thatkinkrealityktherekisknokdualitykofkanyksort--nokgain,knokloss, nokhappiness,knoksuffering,knokgood,knokevil,knokmerit,knoksin,kno male,knokfemale.kkTherekiskabsolutelyknothingkatkallkthatkcankbe separatedkandkpolarizedkintokopposites.kkRatherkthankbuykintokthem,kwe oughtktoktranscend. Thekdualistickpairskarekthekbasiskofkallkattachment,ksokdon't fallkforktheirktric s.kkDon'tkattachktokanykofkthem.kkTrykto understandkthatkthesekthingskcankneverkbekseizedkandkheldkontokbecause theykarekimpermanent,klac kanykrealksubstance,kandkareknot-self.kkTryk tokgokaboutkyourkbusinesskwithkakmindkthatkiskunattached.kkWor kwithk akmindkthatkclingsktoknothingkandkiskfreekfromkallkformskof attachment.kkThiskiskcalledk"wor ingkwithkakvoidkmind." Wekshouldkperformkeveryk indkofktas kwithkakvoidkmind,kno matterkwhetherkit'skatkthekofficekorkatkhome.kkEvenkrestkand recreationkshouldkbekdonekwithkakvoidkmind,kakmindkthatkalwayskremains unattachedkandkfreekbecausekit'skabovekallkdualities.kkIfkwekwor kwith akbusykmind,kakmindkthatkiskrestlesskandkalwayskgraspingkandkclinging tokonekthingkorkideakafterkanother,kakmindkthatkiskover-burdenedkwith attachments,kthenktherekisksufferingkandkwekmustkinevitablykbekbornkin aklowlykstate.kkTheklowerkrealmskspo enkofkbyktraditionalkBuddhists happenkrightkthenkandkthere;kbirthkaskakdemonkinkhell,kaskakbeast,kas akhungrykghost,korkaskakcowardlyktitankta eskplacekatkthatkvery moment.kkThiskiskthekmostkseriouskproblemkfacingkhumanity,kit'skthe mostkoriginalksin,kandkit'skdeathkinkDhammaklanguage.kkTherefore,kwe shouldklive,kwor ,kandkplaykwithoutkattachments. TherekiskakshortkversekofkminekwhichkI'dkli ektokdiscuss. Dokwor kofkallk indskwithkakmindkthatkiskvoid Andktokthekvoidnessksurrenderkallkofkthekfruits; Eatkthekfoodkofkvoidnesskaskthekholykoneskdo, You'llkhavekdiedktokyourselfkfromkthekverykstart. Somekpeoplekarekunablektokunderstandkthiskversekandktheyk eepksaying thatkthekauthorkiskcrazy.kkNonetheless,kitkisn'tksokdifficultkto explain. Thatkwekshouldkdokeveryk indkofkwor kwithkakvoidkmindkiska warningkthatkthekbusykandkagitatedkmindkwhichkjumpskintokthingskwith attachmentkalwayskbecomeskdar kandkcloudedkwithkdelusion,kiskfullkof worrieskandkfears,kandkbecomeskgloomykandkinsecure.kkIfkpeoplekinsist onk eepingkthiskup,kbeforeklongktheykareksurektoksufferkaknervous brea downkorksomekotherk indkofkillness.kkIfktheykletkthesekmental diseaseskandkrelatedkphysicalkailmentskaccumulate,ktheykendkup confinedktokaksic kbed.kkEvenkthoughktheykmaykbekintelligent,

talented,kandksophisticatedkpeoplekwhokdokimportantkwor kandkearnka greatkdealkofkmoney,ktheykwillkstillkendkupkbeingkconfinedktokbedkwith nervouskbrea downs,kulcers,kandkotherkdisorderskcausedkbykinsecurity andkanxiety.kkAllkofkthesekillnesseskbeginkwithkattachingkand clingingktoksuchkthingskaskfamekandkmoney,kprofitkandkloss,khappiness andkunhappiness,kandkpraisekandkblame. So,kdon'tkgetkinvolvedkwithkthesekthings.kkGetkfreekofkallksuch attachmentskandkthekmindkwillkbekvoid.kkThekmindkwillkbekbrilliantly intelligent,kaskclearkandksharpkaskpossible.kkThen,kdokyourkwor kwith justksuchkakvoidkmindkaskthis.kAllkyourkneedskwillkbeksatisfied withoutkthekleastkbitkofkfrustrationkorksuffering.kkSometimes,kitkwill evenkseemktokbekakDhammicksortkofkfun.kkBestkofkall,kwor ingkli ekthis iskthek indkofkDhammakpracticekwhichkfreeskuskfromkthekfalse distinctionkbetweenkpracticingkDhammakatkthektemplekandkwor ingkat home.kkSuchkakdichotomykiskratherkfoolish;kit'skwhatkhappenskwhen peoplekthin konlykinkpeopleklanguage. AccordingktokDhammaklanguage,kwekmustkpracticekDhammakinkthis bodykandkmindkatktheksamektimekwekdokourkwor kwithkthisksamekbodykand mind.kkBothkwor kandkDhammakpracticekarekdonekinktheksamekplacekorkthe samekthing.kkThekpracticekofkDhammakisktherekinkthekwor ;kthekwor kin itselfkiskDhammakpractice.kkInkotherkwords,ktokdokwor kofkanyk ind withoutkgraspingkorkclingingkiskakwayktokpracticekDhamma.kkWherever andkwheneverkwekpracticeknon-attachment,ktherekandkthenkiskDhamma practice. Accordingly,kwhetherkwekarekengagedkinktrainingkthekmindktokbe unattachedkandkcalm,korkwhetherkwekarekwor ingktokearnkaklivingkin somekoccupationkorkanother,kifkwekdoksokwithkakvoidkmindkthatkformskno attachments,krightktherekiskthekpracticekofkDhamma.kkItkdoesn'tkmatter ifkwekarekinkankoffice,kakfactory,kakcave,korkwhatever.kkTokwor kli e thiskwithoutkgettingkinvolvedkinkattachments,kobsessions,kandkegokis whatkiskmeantkbyk"Dokwor kofkallk indskwithkakmindkthatkiskvoid." Thekresultkofkwor ingkthiskwaykiskthatkwekenjoykourselves whilekwor ing,kandkthatkthekwor kiskdonekwellkbecausekourkmindskare verykclearkandksharpkthen,kandktherekareknokworrieskaboutkthingskli e money.kkThekthingskwekneedkarekacquiredkinkthekusualkwayskandkallkthis withoutkthekattachmentkforgedkbykgraspingkandkstraining. Thiskbringskusktoktheksecondklinekofkthekversekwhichkisk"And tokthekvoidnessksurrenderkallkofkthekfruits."kWhenkourkwor kbears fruitkinkthekformkofkmoney,kfame,kinfluence,kstatus,kandksokforth,kwe mustkgivekitkallktokvoidness.kkDon'tkbeksokstupidkasktokclingktokthese thingskask"belongingktokme"--"mykmoney,"k"myksuccess,"k"myktalent," ork"my"kanything.kkThiskiskwhatkiskmeantkbyknotkattachingktokthe resultskofkourkwor . Mostkofkuskblindlykclingktokourksuccesseskandksokour experienceskofksuccesskincreasekourkselfishkdesireskandkdefilements ( ilesa).kLetkourselveskbekcarelesskforkonlykakmomentkandkwekwillkfall intokpainkimmediatelykduektokthekweightkofkattachmentskand anxieties.kkInktruth,kthisk indkofkmentalkorkspiritualkpainkiskalways happening.kkBeforeklong,kifkwekaren'tkcareful,kthekpainkmanifests itselfkphysicallykinkthekbodykaskwell.kkSomekpeoplekhaveknervous brea downskorkgokinsane,kwhilekotherskdevelopkonekofktheknumerous varietieskofkneurosesksokprevalentkinkthekworldktoday,kevenkthough theykmaykbekfamous,k nowledgable,kandkwealthy.kkAllkthiskpainkresults fromkthekfactkthatkpeoplekthekworldkoverkhavekmisunderstood,

abused,kandkignoredktheirkownkreligions. Wekshouldn'tkthin kthatkthekteachingkofknon-attachmentkis foundkonlykinkBuddhism.kkInkfact,kitkcankbekfoundkinkeverykreligion, althoughkmanykpeoplekdon'tknoticekbecausekit'skexpressedkinkDhamma language.kkItskmeaningkiskprofound,kdifficultktoksee,kandkusually misunderstood. Pleasekforgivekme,kIkdon'tkmeanktokbekinsulting,kbutkIkfeel thatkmanykreligiouskpeoplekdon'tkyetkunderstandktheirkownkreligion. Forkinstance,kinkthekChristiankBible,kSt.kPaulkadviseskusktok"Let thosekwhokhavekwivesklivekaskthoughktheykhadknone,kandkthosekwhokmourn askthoughktheykwereknotkmourning,kandkthosekwhokrejoicekaskthoughkthey wereknotkrejoicing,kandkthosekthatkbuykaskthoughktheykhadknokgoods, andkthosekwhokdealkwithkthekworldkaskthoughktheykhadknokdealingskwith it"kk(Cor.k7:29-31).kThiskpassagekiskfoundkinkthekNewkTestamentkofkthe ChristiankBible;kanyonekcankloo kitkup.kkItkshouldkbekunderstoodkin theksamekwaykaskourkbasickBuddhistkthemekofknon-attachment.kkThatkis, ifkyoukhavekakwife,kdon'tkattachktokhavingkher;kifkyoukhavekakhusband, don'tkclingktokhavingkhim.kkIfkyoukhavekpainfulkorksorrowful experiences,kdon'tkclingktokthemkask"I"kork"mine"kandkitkwillkbekaskif theykneverkhappened.kkThatkis,kdon'tkbeksadkaboutkthem.kkkDon'tkattach tokjoy,kgoods,kandkworldlykdealings,keither. Unfortunately,kthekfactkiskthatkmostkpeople--whateverktheir religion--arekdominatedkbykthesekthings.kkTheykletkthemselves sufferkintolerablykoverksuchkmatterskuntilkfinallyktheykgokinsanekor commitksuicide.kkButkthosekofkuskwhokfollowkSt.kPaul'skadvicekcankgo onkaskifknothingkhadkhappened.kThatk indkofksufferingkdoesn'tkhappen tokus,kwekremainkfine.kkWekbuykthingskwithoutkta ingkanythingkhome, whichkmeanskwekneverkgetkattachedktokwhatkwekbuykandkta ekhome.kkWe boughtkit,kwekbroughtkitkhome,kbutkit'skli ekwekdidn'tkbuykanything, becausekwekdon'tkgivekbirthktokthekthoughtkthatkwekpossessksomething. Thiskiskhowktokbuykandklivekaskthoughkhavingknokgoods,kbutkif youkdiscusskthiskpassagekwithksomekChristians,kyoukwillkfindkthatkthey don'tkunderstandkitkatkall.kkEvenksomekofkthekclergy,kthekteacherskof theirkreligion,kcouldn'tkexplainktokmekcorrectlykhowktokpracticekin accordancekwithkSt.kPaul'skinstructions.kkTheirkexplanationskwere vaguekandkobscure.kkTheykbeatkaroundkthekbushkandkdon'tkgivekany practicalkinterpretationkofkthekpassage.kkInkfact,kthiskpassagekhas theksamekmeaningkask"Dokwor kofkallk indskwithkakmindkthatkiskvoidkand tokthekvoidnessksurrenderkallkofkthekfruits,"kwhich,kofkcourse,kmany Buddhistskdon'tkunderstandkeither. Thekthirdklinekofkthekversekisk"Eatkthekfoodkofkvoidnesskas thekholykoneskdo."kkHere,ksomekpeoplekmightkas ,k"Then,kwhatkdokwe eat?"kkIfkeverythingkiskvoidkorkgivenkawayktokthekvoidness,kwhatkwill therekbektokeat?kkThekanswerkisktokeatkfoodkthatkbelongsktokvoidness, theksamekwaykthatkthekNoblekOneskdo.kWekwor kwithkakvoidkmindkandkturn allkthekrewardskoverktokvoidness.kVoidnesskthenkstoc pileskitkallkand preserveskitksafely.kkWhenkit'sktimektokeat,kwekcankeatkfromkthekstoc ofkvoidness,ktoo. Ifkyoukearnkakmillionkdollarsfromkyourkwor kandkstorekitkinkaksafekor thekban ,kofferkitktokvoidnesskandkdon'tkthin k"it'skmine,kitkbelongs tokme!"kkWhenkyoukspendkthekmoney,kdoksokwithktheksamekvoidkmind. Simplykusekthekmoneyktokbuyksomekfoodktokeat,korkwhateverkwekneedkto consume.kThiskiskwhatkiskmeantkbyk"Eatkthekfoodkofkvoidnesskaskthe

holykoneskdo." Inkthiskline,k"holykones"kmeanskthosekwhokunderstandkdeeply andkhaveknokattachments.kkWekourselveskoughtktokeatkinktheksamekway thatkthesekliberatedkoneskeat.kkThekBuddhakatekfoodkandkallkthe enlightenedkdiscipleskatekfood.kkSo,kwekaren'tksayingkthatkakBuddha doesn'tkhavektokeatkfoodkanymore,kbutkfromkwhomeverkhekgetskhis food,kit'skalwayskthekfoodkofkvoidness,kforkit'skreceivedkandkeaten withoutkanykfeelingskofkpossessionkorkattachment.kkAndkyet,kakBuddha alwayskhaskmorekthankenoughktokeat.kkThiskiskthekmeaningkofk"Eatkthe foodkofkvoidnesskaskthekholykoneskdo."

Tokpursuekthiskpointkaklittlekfurther:kevenkwhenkcaughtkinkan argumentkorkinvolvedkinkaklawsuitkwekshouldkbekrestrainedkandkmindful atkallktimesksokthatkthekmindkiskfreekofkattachment.kkTa ekcareknotkto bekattachedkorkemotionallykinvolved.kkInkotherkwords,kfirstkma eksure thekmindkiskvoid,kthenkarguekandkfightkoutkthekcasektokthekfinish.kkIn thiskway,kwekwillkhavekthekadvantage.kkOurksidekwillkdebatekmore cleverly,kwillkarguekmoreks ilfully,kandkwillkexperiencekakhigher levelkofkvictory. k Evenkinkcaseskwhenkwekarekforcedktokbekinsulting,kusekthe usualkwordskbutkdoksokwithkakvoidkmind.kkThiskmayksoundkfunnykand hopelesslykimpractical,kbutkitkreallykiskpossible.kkThekwordk"void" includesksuchkstrangekaspects;ktheykarekallkimplicationskofkwor ing withkakvoidkmind,kwillinglykgivingkallkthatkwekgetktokvoidness,kand alwayskeatingkfoodkfromkthekpantrykofkvoidness. Thekfourth,kfinal,kandkmostkimportantklinekofkthekversekis "You'llkhavekdiedktokyourselfkfromkthekverykstart."kkWekalreadykhave diedktokourselves--thatkpreciouskinnerk"me"kiskgone--fromkthe verykfirstkmoment.kkThiskmeanskthatkwhenkwekre-examinekthekpastkand reflectkuponkitkwithkclarity,kmindfulness,kandkwisdom,kwekwillk now forkakfactkthatktherekneverkwaskak"person"kork"individual."kkWekwill seekthatktherekarekonlykthekbasickprocesseskofklifek( handha),kthe sensorykmediak(ayatana),kkthekelementsk(dhatu),kandknaturalkphenomena (dhammas).kkEvenkthekthingskwekhadkpreviouslykclungktokaskexistingkno longerkexist.kkTheykdiedkinkthatkmoment. Everythingkhaskdiedkatkthekmomentkofktheirkbirth.kkThereknever waskank"I"kandktherekneverkwaskak"mine."kkInkthekpast,kwekwerekstupid enoughktoklugk"I"kandk"mine"karoundkallkthektime.kkNow,khowever,kwe nowkthektruthkthatkevenkinkretrospectktheykneverkwerekwhatkwektoo themktokbe.kkThey'reknot-me,kthey'reknot-mine,kthekme-ingkandkmy-ing diedkfromkthekverykstartkrightkupktokthiskmoment.kkThey'rekfinished, evenkinkthekfuture.kkDon'tkeverkagainkfallkforkanyk"I"kandk"mine"kin yourkexperiences.kkSimplykstopkthin ingkinktermskofk"I"kandkmine.kkSo

Wekcankdoktheksame.kkWhenkwekgivekallkthekrewardskofkourkwor tokvoidness,ktheykdon'tkdisappear.kNothingkisklost.kkPhysically,kin worldlykterms,keverythingkiskstillkthere.kkIt'skstoredkandkprotected inkthekusualkwayskandktheklawkstillkrecognizeskthatkitkbelongsktokus. Ifksomeonektriesktoksnatchkitkaway,kwekcankbattlektokprotectkour rightskinkcourt,kbutkalwayskwithktheksamekvoidkmind.kkThatkis,kwe needn'tkgetkangrykorkupset,kwekneedn'tksuffer,kwekneedn'tkfeel personallykinvolved,kwekneedn'tkattach.kkInkfact,kwithkcomplete non-attachmentkwekwillkbekablektokarguekourkcasekevenkbetter.kkWe needn'tkcreatekanykproblemskforkourselves,kthingskwon'tkbecome complicatedkandkdifficult,kandkwekwillkbekablektokprotectkourkrights mostkeffectively.

youksee,kwekneedn'tkinterpretkthiskversektokmeankthatkwekmust physicallyk illkourselves.kkOnekhasktokbektrappedkinkone'skegokto understandkitkinksuchkakway.kkSuchkankinterpretationkisktookphysical, tooksuperficial,kandktookchildish. Thisk"I,"kthiskego,kiskjustkakmentalkconcept,kakproductkof thought.kkTherekisknothingksubstantialkorkpermanentkuponkwhichkit's based.kTherekiskonlykankever-changingkprocesskflowingkaccordingkto causeskandkconditions,kbutkignorancekmisconstrueskthiskprocessktokbeka permanentkentity,kak"self,"kandkank"ego."kkSokdon'tkletkattached thoughtskandkfeelingskbasedkonk"I"kandk"mine"karise.kkAllkpainskand problemskwillkendkrightktherekandkthen,ksokthatkthekbodykbecomes insignificant,knoklongerkakcausekofkworry.kkIt'skmerelyka collectionkofkthekfivekaggregatesk( handha),kfunctioningkaccording tokcauseskandkconditions,kpurekinkitskownknature.kkThesekfive aggregateskorkcomponentkprocesseskofklifekareknaturallykfreekof attachmentkandkselfishness.kkAskforkthekinnerkaspect,kthose habitskofkdesirekandkselfishness,ktryktokdokwithoutkthem.kkKeep strivingktokpreventkthemkfromkbeingkbornkuntilkthekdefilementskand selfishnesskhaveknokmorekopportunitiesktokpollutekthe heart.kkInkthiskway,kwekforcekourselvesktokdie,kthatkis,kwekdie throughkthekeliminationkofkpollutingkselfishnesskandkdefilements ( ilesa). Justkdon'tkallowkanykegoistickconsciousness,kthat's thekmeaningkofk"death"kinkDhammaklanguage.kkWithoutkanything masqueradingkask"I"kandk"mine,"kwherekcanksufferingkta ekplace? Sufferingkcankonlykhappenktokank"I"kandkitsk"mine."kkSokyouksee, possessingk"I"kandk"mine"kiskthekheartkofksuffering.kkShouldktherekbe somekhappiness,kasksoonkaskclingingkcomeskinkthekhappinesskbecomes painful,kyetkonekmorekwayktoksuffer. Ignorantkpeoplekarekalwayskattachingktoksomething;ktheykdon't nowkhowktoklivekwithoutkclingingktok"I"kandk"mine."kkAskakresult, evenkbeneficialkthingskarekconvertedkintokcauseskofksuffering. Happinesskiskturnedkintokpain;kgoodnesskiskturnedkintokpain;kpraise, fame,khonourkandkthekli ekarekallkturnedkintokformskofksuffering.kkAs soonkaskwektryktokseizekandkhangkonktokthem,ktheykallkbecome unsatisfactory,kpainful,kandkugly.kkAmongkgoodkandkevil,kvirtuekand sin,khappinesskandkunhappiness,kgainkandkloss,kandkallkotherkdualistic pairs,ksufferingkinevitablykhappenskwheneverkwekattachktokeitherkpole ofkonekpairkorkanother.kkClingingktokonekpolekalsoktrapskuskinkits oppositekpartner. Whenkwekarekintelligentkenoughknotktokclingkorkbekattachedkto anykformkofkdualism,kthenkwekwillknoklongerksufferkbecausekofkthese things.kkGoodkandkevil,khappinesskandksuffering,kvirtuekandksin,kand thekrest,kwillkneverkbekpainfulkagain.kkWekrealizekthatktheykare merelyknaturalkphenomena,kthekordinarykstuffkofknature.kkTheykallkare naturallykvoidkandksoktherekisknoksufferingkinherentkinkanykofkthem. Thesekarekthekconsequenceskofknotkhavingkankego,kofknotkhaving anyk"I"kandk"mine"kinkthekmind.kkOutwardly,kwekmayksayk"I"kandk"my" accordingktoksocialkconventions,kbutkdon'tkletkthemkexistkinkthekkmind orkheart.kkAskSt.kPaulksaid,k"Letkthosekwhokhavekwivesklivekaskthough theykhadknone,kandkthosekthatkmournkaskthoughktheykweren'tkmourning .k.k.kandkthosekwhokbuykaskthoughktheykhadknokgoods." Externally,kwekshouldkbehavektheksamekaskotherskdo:kkeatkli e theykeat,kwor kli ektheykwor ,kandkspea kli ektheykspea .kkSpea kin

theirkpeopleklanguage:k"thiskiskmykhouse,kthiskiskmine."kkThere's nothingkwrongkinkusingkthesekwordskwhenknecessary,kbutkdon'tkletkthe mindkfallkforkthem.kkLeaveksuchkwordskoutside,kdon'tkletkthemkintokthe mind,kdon'tkbelievekthem.kkWekoughtkalwaysktoktrainkourselveskthis way,kthatkis,k"mouthkiskonekandkmindkanother."kkThekmouthksayskone thing,kbutkthekheartk nowskotherwise.k Actually,kthiskphrasekiskusuallykankinsultkusedkto condemnkliarskandkconmen,knotksomethingktokbekencouraged.kkInkthe end,khowever,kitkcankbekturnedkaroundkandkappliedktokakpersonkwho reallykpracticeskDhamma,kthatkis,kwhosekexternalkbehaviorkconforms withkworldlykconventionskbutkwhosekinternalkrealitykiskanother story.kkWhilekthekexternalkexpressionskactuallykta ekplace,ktheykdon't manifestkinkthekmind.kkWekcallkthis,k"mouthkiskonekandkmindkanother" ork"externalkandkinternalkdoknotkcorrespond."kkAkbehaviorkthatkwe usedktokcondemnkandktryktokabandonkbecausekofkitskdishonestykand croo ednesskbecomeskthekmostknoblekandkexcellentkformkofkspeech. SometimeskDhammaklanguagekseemskratherkstrange! Tokbekhonestkinkbothkmouthkandkmind,kthatkis,kspeechkand thought,kiskpeopleklanguage,knotkDhammaklanguage.kkOrdinarykpeople demandkthatkourkwordskhonestlykreflectkourkthoughts,kbutkwhenkitkcomes tokthekDhammaklanguagekofkthekBuddha,kwekpracticekinkthekmannerkcalled "mouthkiskonekandkmindkanother."kkInkotherkwords,kthekoutsidekappears onekway,kwhilekthekinsidekiskthekopposite.kkOutwardly,kinkourkspeech andkactions,kwekmaykpossesskallkthekthingskthatkotherskpossess,kbutkin thekmindkwekpossessknothing.kkInwardly,kwekarekbro ekandkban rupt, withoutkakpennyktokourknames.kkSokpleasekrememberkthisksayingkkk"mouthkiskonekandkmindkanother"k--kinkitskDhammaklanguagekmeaning ofkcourse,knotkinkthekpeopleklanguagekunderstanding.kkPleasekgivekit somekthought. Anotherkcommonkteachingkconcernskhumility.kkThe BuddhaktaughtkusknotktokboastkorkshowkoffkandkJesuskChrist emphasizedkthiskpointkevenkmore.kkTherekarekmanykpageskinkthekBible concerningkthisksubject.kkkInkthekSermonkonkthekMount,kJesuskteaches usktokdokourkreligiouskpractices--suchkaskpraying,kgivingkcharity -kkandkfasting,kinksecretksokasktoknotkletkotherskseek(Matt.k5-7, especiallyk6).kkIfkit'sksomethingkwekwantkothersktoksee,kthatkmeanskwe wantktokshowkoff,kwhichkiskattachment.kkIfkwekapplykhiskteachingkto ourkBuddhistkpractices,ksuchkaskwhenkwek eepkthekspecialkprecepts onkthekobservancekdaysk(uposatha),kwekshouldn'tkdresskupkorkpowderkand perfumekourselves.kkDon'tkletkanyonek nowkwekarek eepingkthekspecial precepts,kjustk eepkthemkstrictly.kkJesuskstresseskthiskpointkinkmany ways,kbothkinkthisksermonkandkelsewhere.kkWhenkofferingkprayerskto God,kfasting,korkpracticingkausterities,kdon'tkletkothersksee.kkIfkwe wishktokgivekalmskorkma ekakdonationktokcharity,kdoksoksecretly;kdon't letkothersk nowkwhokthekgiverkis.kkJesuskteacheskusktokdokeverything withoutkanyonek nowing.kkInkotherkwords,khiskaimkisktokteach non-attachment.kkThisk indkofkpracticekdestroyskselfishnesskand overcomesksin. Buddhistskshouldkbekablektokunderstandkthiskprinciple ofkgivingkwithoutklettingkanyonek now;kgivingkinkthiskwaykwill destroykthekgiver'skself-centerednesskmuchkmorekthankpublickgiving. Askyouk now,kwekli ektoksay,k"stic ingkgoldkonkthekimage'skbac ." Thisksayingkcankbekinterpretedkinktwokways.kkAskunderstoodkbykfoolish people,kthiskshouldkneverkbekdone,kbecausekstic ingkgoldkleafkonkthe bac kofkankimagekwon'tkgainkonekanykhonour,kreputation,korkother benefits.(*)kkOnkthekotherkhand,kwisekpeoplekta ekthekwordsk"stic ing

goldkonkthekimage'skbac "ktokmeanksomethingkgood,kbecausekonekdoesn't receivekanykrecognition,kpraise,kstatus,korkhonorkfromkthekact.kkOne hasn'tktradedkthekgoodnesskofkthekactkforkanykworldlykbenefits.kkThus, onekma eskmorekmeritkthankifkonekwerektokstic kthekgoldkonkthekfront ofkthekimage. [*kInkThailand,kputtingksmallksquareskofkgoldkleafkontokBuddhakimages andkotherkrespectedkobjectskiskakpopularkformkofkma ingkmerit. AccordingktokpopularkThaikbelief,kbykaffixingkgoldkleafktokthekeyes, mouth,kforehead,kchee s,ketc.,kofkakBuddhakimage,kthekonekwhokaffixes itkwillkbekrebornkinkherknextklifekwithkbeautifulkeyes,kmouth,kforehead, chee s,ketc.,kjustkli ekthosekofkthekimagekdecoratedkwithkgold.kkAt theksamektime,kherkmeritkma ingkiskseenkbykall.] HerekwekseekthatkthekteachingskofkChristianitykand Buddhismkarektheksame;ktheykhavektheksamekmeaning,knamely,kto destroykattachment.kkWekshouldkdokallkreligiouskdutieskandkpractices withoutkothersk nowing.kkInkthekend,kit'skli ektheykdon'tkexistkany morekandkwekdon'tkexistkeither.kkThere'sknokgood,knokevil,knokvirtue, noksin,knokhappiness,knoksuffering,kand,kfinally,knotkevenkany religion.kkThiskiskthekhighestklevelkofkreligion. Now,kletkuskconsiderkthekfactkthatknon-attachment,kthekhighestkDhamma, isksomethingkwonderful,kpriceless,kandkextraordinary.kkIt'skthekheart ofkeverykreligion.kkIt'skthekessencekofkDhamma.kkIfktherekiskakGod,kit cankonlykbekfoundkrightkherekinknon-attachment. Non-attachment,kthekhighestkDhamma,kiskwonderfulkprecisely becausekanyoneksee ingkitkneedknotkinvestkanything.kkNokmoney,kgold, orkjewelskarekneeded,knotkevenkaksinglekpenny.kkAccordingktokpeople language,knothingkcankbekobtainedkwithoutkankinvestment.kkIfkthey listenktokpeopleklanguage,kthosekwhokwishktokgainkmerit,kgoodness, orkwhateverkmustkpaykinkmoney,ksilver,kandkgold,korkinvestktheir labor.kkIfktheyklistenktokDhammaklanguage,khowever,kthekrealitykis quitekdifferent.kkThekBuddhaksaidkthatkNibbanakiskgivenkfreekof charge.kkNibbana--thekcoolnesskandkpeacekexperiencedkwhen there'sknokattachment--doesn'tkcostkakpenny.kkThiskmeanskthatkwe cankpracticekforktheksa ekofkNibbanakwithoutkspendingkanykmoneykalong thekway.kkJesusksaidkwhatkamountsktoktheksamekthing.kkHekinvitedkuskto drin kthekwaterkofklifekforkwhichktherekisknokcharge.kkHeksaidkthiskat leastkthreektimes.kkFurther,khekcalledkusktokenterketernalklife,kwhich meansktokreachkthekstatekwherekwekarekonekwithkGodkandkthereforekwill neverkdiekagain. "Letkhimkwhokiskthirstykcome,kletkhimkwhokdesireskta ekthe waterkofklifekwithoutkprice"k(Rev.k22:17).kkThiskcallkofkJesuskis identicalktokwhatkisktaughtkinkBuddhism.kkThekBuddhaksaidkthatkthe NoblekPathkofkLiberation,kthekLiberatingkResults,kandkNibbanakarekfree ofkcharge,knokmonetarykinvestmentkiskrequired.kkWeklivekaccordingkto thekNoblekEightfoldkPath,kwhichkmeanskwekgivekupkthis,kgivekupkthat, andk eepkgivingkupkthingskuntilkeverythingkisksurrendered.kkGivekup everythingkandkta eknothingkbac .kkDon'tkreceivekanykpaymentkandkwe won'tkhavektokpaykanything:kwekwillkrealizekwhatkiskcalledk"thekNoble Path,kthekLiberatingkResults,kandkNibbana."kWekcanktastekthekkflavor ofkNibbanakwithoutkpayingkakpenny. k WekspendkaklotkofkmoneyktryingktokbuykNibbana,kbutkthekmoney justkgetskinkthekway.kkIt'skli ekinvestingkmoneykinkorderktokwinka palacekinkheaven;kthektwokhaveknothingktokdokwithkeachkother.kkIn fact,ktheykarekincompatible.kkIfkwekwantktokgivekcharity,kitkshouldkbe

solelykforktheksa ekofkothers.kkNibbanakiskourkfirstkconcernkand requiresknokmoney.k Whykdokwekma ekdonationskthen?kkNotkforkourselves,kofkcourse, butktokhelpkourkfellowkhumankbeingsksokthatktheykmaykalsokreachkthat whichkrequiresknokfinancialkinvestment.kkSo,kwekcontributekmoneykto buildktempleskandkschools,kwekdevelopkmethodskofkteaching,kandkwe publishkboo skinkorderktokhelpkourkfellowkhumankbeingsktoktravelkon thekrightkpath,ktoktravelktowardkthatkwhichkiskobtainedkwithout paymentkk-kNibbana.kkThosekofkuskwhokintendktokearnkmeritkwithktheir goldkandksilverkshouldkpleasekthin kinkthiskway.k Ifkthosekwhokintendktokinvestktheirkmoneykforkso-called spiritualkrewardskdon'tkreconsider,ktheykwillkincurklosseskratherkthan ma ekprofits.kkNotkonlykwillktheykfailktokma ekakprofit,ktheykwon't evenkbekablektokrecoverktheirkinvestment.kkAndkwhenktherekisknokprofit andknokbrea ingkeven,ktherekiskonlykloss.kkTokactkthatkwaykgoes contraryktokthekwordskofkthekBuddhakwhoksaid,k"It'skfree."kkJesuskalso saidkthatkit'skfree.k Jesuskaddedkfurtherkthatkwhatk"youkreceivedkwithoutkpay,kgive withoutkpay"k(Matt.k10:8).kkItkseemskthatkthekBuddhakneverksaidkquite theksamekthing,kbutkwekcanksay,kfromkthekimplicationskofkhiskteaching, thatkhekcouldkeasilykhavekspo enkthesekwords.kkIfksomethingkis obtainedkforkfree,kwekoughtktokpasskitkonkforkfree,ktoo.kkDon'tkbe unwillingkorkreluctant.kkDon'tkgokta ingkadvantagekofkpeoplekby claimingkfavorskorkhintingkthatkthey'llkbenefitkbykhelpingkonekin such-and-suchkakwaykorkimplyingkthatkstudentskowekakdebtkofkgratitude toktheirkkteachers.kkAllkofkthatkiskinappropriate.kkWhenkwekget somethingkforkfree,kwekmustkgivekitkawaykforkfree.kkTherefore,kaskthe loftiestkofkallkthings,kthekDhammakofkeachkreligionkisksomethingktokbe obtainedkforkfree.kOncekwekhavekgotkit,kwekarekobligatedktokpasskitkon tokourkfellowkhumankbeingskforkfree,kalso.kkDon'tktryktokwheedlekany benefitskoutkofkitkinkreturn. Whenkwekma ekcontributionsktokreligiouskcauses,kthey arekforkakparticularkpurpose,kwhichkhasknokbearingkonkourkrealizing Nibbana.kkSuchkcontributionskarekmeantktokbekinstrumentalkin helpingkpeoplekwhokdon'tkyetkseekthekwayktokbekablektokfindkitkand eventuallykarrivekatkthatkwhichkiskgivenkawaykforkfreekto everyone.kkInkthekend,ktheykalsokwillkobtainkthatkpreciouskthing whichkiskobtainedkforkfree,kwithoutkanykobstacles. Ifkwekloo kcarefully,kwekwillkseekthatkthekpinnacle,kthekmost excellentkofkthings,kwhichkwekgetkforkfree,kiskcalledk"Nibbana"k(as wellkaskbykmanykotherknames).kkJesuskcalledkitk"Life."kkThiskstatekin whichkwekcurrentlykexistkiskdeath.kkBecausekeveryonekiskdying,kthey don'tkreachkGod,ktheykdon'tkreachkthekUltimate.kkYet,kifkwekfollowkthe teachingskofkJesuskwekarekbornkagainkatkonce.kkAfterkdyingkforkso long,kwekneedktokbekreborn.kkWhenkwekarekbornkanew,kwekarekbornkinto eternalklife,kwhichkisktrueklife.kkThekBuddhakspo ekinktheksame fashion.kkHeksaidkthatkwekdon'tkrealizekthatkthiskexistencekiskli e beingkdead,kthatkis,kthatkit'sksuffering.kkWekmustkma ekthekrequired nowledge,kwekmustkawa enkintokaknewkworld,knewlykborn.kkThenkthere willkbeknokmoreksuffering.kkTokunderstandkthiskiskakfundamental principle. k Upkuntilkthiskrealization,kwekwerekdead,kthatkis,kfullkofk"I" andk"mine."kAlwaysklivingkunderkthekburdenkofkegokandkegoismkiskdeath. Becausekofk"I"kandk"mine,"kwekdiedkoverkandkoverkagain.kkNowkwekare

rebornkintoketernalklife,ktheklifekofkNibbana,kthekdeathlessklife,kthe immortalitykinkwhichkallk"I"kandk"mine"kend.kkThekwordk"reborn"khere comesktokmeankaklifekwithoutkego,kfreekofk"I"kandk"mine."kkThiskiskthe trueklifekwhichkcankneverkdie.kkThekfivekaggregatesk( handha),kthe basickprocesseskofklife,kareknowkpure,kthekbodykandkmindkarekfreekof attachmentkandkselfishness.kkPriorktokthis,kthekfivekaggregates,kthe body-mindkprocess,kwerekcontinuallykbeingkgraspedkatkandkclungktokby meanskofk"I"kandk"my"kandkwerekalwayskstainedkbykthesekcorrupt attachments.kkThatkcontinuousk"I"kandk"mine"kwaskdeath. Whenkthekpollutingkdesireskandkattachmentskarekcompletelykgone therekiskaknewkbirthkinkthekworldkofkthekNoblekOnes.kk"Rebirthkinkthe worldkofkthekNoblekOnes"kiskakpeopleklanguagekexpression.kkInkDhamma language,kwekspea kofk"quenchingkit."kkQuenchkthek"I"kandkthek"mine"; quenchkegokandkitskselfishness.kkThenkthere'sknothing.kkTherekremains onlyksupremekvoidness,kwhichkiskNibbana.kkSoksayskDhammaklanguage. Ifkwekspea kinkpeopleklanguage,kaskJesuskChristkoftenkdid,kwe saykthatkonekiskrebornkinkthekworldkofkthekNoblekOneskandkthatkone livesketernallykinkthekKingdomkofkGod.kkThat'skpeopleklanguage.kkWhen wektranslatekitkintokDhammaklanguage,kwekusekthekoppositekwordskand spea kofk"quenching."kkOneklanguagekspea skofk"rebirth,"kwhilekthe otherktal skaboutk"utterkquenching."kkOnlykthekwordskarekdifferent. Inkpeopleklanguagekwektal kaboutkbeingkreborn;kinkDhammaklanguagekwe tal kaboutkquenchingkcompletely. Therefore,kletkusklivekaklifekofktotalkquenching,kaklifekthat douseskthekflameskofkdesire,kaklifekofkcoolness.kkWhenkwekarekburning, wekarekdying.kkkAkpersonkwhokiskhotkinsidekiskli ekakdemonkinkhell,kan animal,kakhungrykghost,korkakcowardlyktitan.kkSuchkakpersonkiskalways dying.kkHiskattachmentktok"I"kiskneverkquenched.kkHiskegokhasn'tkyet beenkdoused;kitkboilskandkbubbleskinsidekhimkwithkthekheatkofkfire. Itkhasktokbekcooledkdown.k Tokma ekthingskeasier,kwekshouldkrememberkthatkthekword "nibbana"kmeansk"tokcoolkdown."kInkIndiakatkthektimekofkthekBuddha, "nibbana"kwaskakcommonkeverydaykwordkspo enkinkthekhouses,kstreets,kand mar ets.kkWhenksomethingkhotkhadkcooledkdown,ktheykusedkthekword "nibbana"ktokdescribekit.kkIfkthekcurrykwasktookhotktokeat,kthen cooledkkdownkenoughktokbekeaten,ktheykwouldksaykthekcurrykisk"nibbana, soklet'skeat."(*) [*kActually,kthekwordskta eskonkdifferentkformskaskakverb,knoun,kand adjective,kandkaccordingktokcasekandkcontext.kkAskThaikdoesn't conjugatekwordskli ekthekIndianklanguages,konlykthekformk"Nibbana" iskused.] Wekcankseekthatkthekwordk"nibbana"kwasknotkoriginally kankexaltedkreligiouskterm,kbutkhadkankordinarykeverydaykusage inkpeopleklanguage--thekcoolingkdownkofksomethingkhot.kkFor example,kifkakred-hotkcharcoalkcoolskdownkuntilkitkcankbekpic edkup, wekcankcallkthatk"nibbana."kkIfkwekapplykthektermkonkakhigherklevel, suchkas,ktokanimals,kthenkitkrefersktokanimalskwhichkareknoklonger hot.kkThekheatkofkanimalskiskthekwildnesskandkfiercenesskwhichkis dangerouskforkhumans.kkIfkakwildkelephantkorkwildkbullkisktamedkand well-trainedksokthatkfinallykitskwildness,krebelliousness,kand viciousnesskdisappearkandkit'sksafekforkhumans,kwekcanksaykthat it'sk"nibbana,"kmeaningkitkhaskcooledkdown. Whenkwekspea kofkhumans,k"hot"kmeanskakpersonkwhokiskburning

andkboilingkaskifkinkhellkorkthekotherknetherworlds.kkThatkisn't Nibbana.kkAfterkwekdiscoverkthekwayktokapplykDhammaktokcoolkourselves off,kwekbeginktoknibbana,kcontinuektoknibbana,knibbanaksteadily, nibbanakuntilkeverythingkiskthoroughlykcool,kwhichkiskthekhighest levelkofkNibbana--absolutekcoolness. Evenknow,kwekmustknibbanaktoksomekextentkinkorderkto bekablektoksitkherekandkdiscusskDhammakli ekthis.kkOtherwise,kifkthe flameskwerekflaringkupkwithinkusknow,kwekwouldn'tkbekablektokremain sittingkhere.kkTherefore,kwekshouldkunderstandkthatkNibbanakiskrelated tokuskatkallktimes,kwithkeverykinhalationkandkexhalation.kkIf thiskweren'tkso,kifkwekhadknokconnectionktokNibbanakwhatsoever,kwe wouldkallkgokoutkofkourkmindskandkdiekbeforekwek newkit.kkFortunately, wekhaveksomekrelationshipkwithkNibbanaknearlykallkthektime.kkItkmay disappearktemporarilykwhenklust,khatred,korkdelusionkarise, whenkthekmindkiskta enkoverkbykdefilementskandkselfishness.kkButkwhen lust,khatred,kandkdelusionkaren'tkpresentkinkourkminds,kwekexperience aksmallkdegreekofkNibbana,kakbriefktastekorkfreeksamplekof Nibbana.kkDuektokthekbenefitskofkthesekrecurringkglimpseskofkNibbana, wekdon'tkgokcrazykandkdon'tkdiekfromkoverheat.kkWeksurvivekbykvirtue ofkNibbana'skbeneficialkeffects.kkTherefore,kwekshouldkthan kNibbana andkac nowledgekourkgratitudektokitkbykactingksokasktokhavekmorekand morekNibbanakforklongerkandklongerkperiodskofktime.kkKeepkcalmingkand coolingkthings,kthatkis,kdestroyk"I"kandk"mine."kkDon'tkletkegokpric upkitskearskandkpointkitsktail.kkWithkself-disciplinekandkgood manners,k eepkthekegoksmallkandkoutkofktrouble.kkkLessenkit,kreduce it,kshrin kit,kuntilkatklastknothingkremains,kthenkyoukwillkgetkthe bestkthingkthatkakhumankbeingkcankpossiblykget. Wheneverkwekquarrelkduektokopinions,kpride,kvanity,kor stubbornness,kitkshowskthatkwekhaveklostktouchkwithkNibbana.kkAtksuch moments,kwekarekcrazy.kkIfkwekargue,kquarrel,korkinterferekwithkothers atkanyktime--nokmatterkwhetherkoverkankordinarykaffairkorka religiouskone--wekarekinsane.kkInksuchkmoments,kwekaren'tkreally humankanymore,kbecausekwe'vekloweredkourselvesktoktheklevelkofkarguing andkfighting.kkAndkso,kaskwasksaidkbefore,kifkpeoplekremainkfoolish theykwillkthin kthatktherekarekmanykdifferentkreligionskwhichkare incompatiblekandkopposedktokeachkother,kwhichkarekenemieskthatkmust compete,kfight,kandkdestroykeachkother.kkThesekarekthekmostkstupidkand ignorantkofkpeople.kkTheykcausekandkexperiencekakgreatkdealkofktrouble. Whenkreligionskarekregardedkaskinkoppositionkandkconflict, peoplekbecomekenemieskaskakresult.kkEveryonekthin sk"Wekarekright,kthey arekwrong;ktheykarekwrong,kwekarekright,"kandksokforth,kandkthenkthere iskquarrellingkandkfighting.kkSuchkpeoplekarekincrediblykfoolish. Whatktheykarekquarrellingkaboutkiskonlykthekouterkshell.kkEveryone shouldkrecognizekthatkthesekarekonlykexternalkforms,ktheykaren'tkthe innerkessence. Whenkpeoplekofkintelligencekandkwisdomkgetktogetherkconcerning thekessentialskofkreligion,ktheykrecognizekthatkreligionskarekallkthe same.kkThoughkoutwardlyktheykmaykseemkdifferent,kintelligentkpeople nowkthatkthekinnerkspiritkmustkbektheksamekinkallkcases.kkThekinner essencekisktheksameknokmatterkhowkdifferentkthekexternalkformskare, justkli ekweksawkwithkthekanalogykofkwater.kkThekessentialkpureknature ofkwaterkiskalwaysktheksame,knokmatterkhowkputridkorkfilthykitkappears fromkthekoutside.kkItkisn'tkthekwaterkthatkiskdirty,kbutkthekother elementskthatkarekmixedkinkwithkthekwaterkthatkarekdirty.kkkWe shouldn'tkta ekthosekotherkelements.kkWhenkwekta ekthosekelements,kit meanskwekdrin kdirtykwater;kitkmeanskwekswallowkthekfilth,kurine,

excrement,korkwhatever,kkandkdon'tkdrin kpurekwater. Wheneverktherekiskakquarrel,kwhetherkit'skamongklaykpeople, novices,knuns,korkmon s,kitkmeanskthatkthekpeoplekinvolvedkarekeating filth,knamely,kthekdefilementskofk"I"kandk"mine."kkThiskshouldknever happen;kitkshouldkbekgivenkup.kkDon'tkpric kyourkearskandkpointkyour tails.kkDon'tkpuffkyourselfkwithkegokandkcreatekthesekconflictskof pride.kkThat'sklettingkthingskgoktookfar.kkRather,kourkdutykisktrykto pacifykthesekthingskandkcoolkthemkdown. Howksillykit'skthatkthekolderkakpersonkgets,kthekmorekfullkof egokhekorkshekbecomes.kkIkbegkyourkpardonkforkspea ingksokfran ly,kbut somekfactskcan'tkbekignored.kkWhykdokpeoplekbecomekmorekegoistickwith age?kkBecausekthekolderktheykget,kthekmorekaccustomedktheykarekto attachment;k"I"kandk"mine"kaccumulatekandkpilekupkinsidekuskaskwekage. Further,kpeoplekhaveksonskandkdaughters,ksoktheykpuffkthemselveskwith egokandkdeterminektoklordkitkoverktheirkchildren.kk"Mykson!kkHowkcould hekdokthatkwithoutkmykpermission!"kkWhenktheykhavekgrandchildren,kthey becomekevenkmorekpuffedkupkandksuperior.kkThus,kelderlykpeople arekmorekobsessedkwithk"I"kandk"mine"kthankchildrenkare. Ifkwekloo kbac katkchildhood,kwekwillkfindkthatkchildrenkhave veryklittlekego.kkImmediatelykafterkbirth,kit'skverykhardktokfindkmuch egokinkthem,kwhilekthekchildkinkthekwombkhaskhardlykanyktraceskofk"I"kor "mine"katkall.kkHowever,kaskwekgrowkintokadulthoodkandkbecomekfathers andkmothers,kandklaterkgrandfatherskandkgrandmothers,k"I"kand "mine"kdevelopskinkakmultitudekofkformskandkpersonalities.kkThese becomekdeeplykrootedkinkourkmindskandkstic ktherekwithksuchktenacity thatktheykarekverykdifficultktokremove.kkTherefore,koldkfol skshould bekverykcarefulkandkalert.kkTheykshouldktryktokreturnktokbeingkli e childrenkagain.kkTokbekli ekchildrenkiskak indkofkDhammakpractice whichkleadsktoknon-attachmentkandkvoidness.kkOtherwise,kthekolder theykget,kthekfurtherkawaykfromkthekBuddhakandkfromkNibbanaktheykwill endkup. Inktruth,kaskwekgrowkolderkwekshouldkgrowkcloserktokthe Buddha.kkInkotherkwords,kthekmorekwekagekthekyoungerkwekshouldkbe. Thekolderkwekget,kthekmorekyouthfulkwekshouldkbecome.kkAskwekgetkolder wekshouldkbecomekmoreklight-hearted,kcheerful,kbright,kandkfresh.kkWe shouldn'tkendkupkdrykandklifeless,ksokthatkwekgraduallykwitherkaway. Everybodykshouldkbecomekincreasinglykfresh,kbright,kandklight-hearted asktheykgrowkolder.kkAskwekage,kwekshouldkgetkcloserktokthekBuddha, thekDhamma,kandkthekSangha,kwhichkmeanskwekunderstandkDhammakmorekand more.kkThekmoreksuccessfulkwekarekinkma ingkthekinnerkflameskrecede, thekcoolerkwekbecome.kkAskwekgetkcooler,kwekfeelkincreasinglykmore refreshedkandkhearty,kwekloo kbrighterkandkmoreklively.kkWhenkwe havekcooledkdownkabsolutely,kwekwillkabsolutelykspar lekwith brightnesskandkcheer.kkTherefore,kthekmorekancientkwekget,kthekmore youthfulkwekshouldkbecome,kandkthekmorekcheerfulkandkfreshkwekshould loo kandkfeel. Theklivelykphysicalkactivitykandkfreshkcomplexionskofkyoung peoplekiskonek indkofkyouth,kwhilekthekyouthfulnesskofkkDhamma languagekk-kofkthekmind,kheart,kandkspirit--refersktokakspiritual brightness,kvigor,kandkserenitykthatkcomeskwithkhavingkmorekDhamma. Thiskiskthekyouthfulnesskofkheatksubsidingksokthatkcoolnesskcankenter andkenvelopkus.kkConsequently,kwekfeelkincreasinglykrefreshed,kvibrant, andkcheerful.kkSokletkallkelderlykpeoplekbecomekfreshkandkfullkof life.kkMaykwekallkbecomekmorekyouthful.kkJustkletkyouthfulnesskgrow insidekuskandkthatkproblemkofkbic eringkandkquarrellingkwillknoklonger

exist. Worsekthankthatkquarrellingkiskthekhabitkofk"extollingkoneself whilekputtingkdownkothers."kViciouskkbac -bitingkandkname-callingkhas nokplacekamongkBuddhistskandkanyonekwhokdoesksuchkthingskhaskceasedkto bekakBuddhist,kexcept,kperhaps,kinkname.kkBeingkakBuddhistkinkname alonekdoesn'tkmeankanythingkandkcan'tkbekdependedkupon.kkJust declaringkoneselfktokbek"Buddhist"kbecausekitskwrittenkonkone's birthkcertificatekorkbecausekoneksignedkupkatkcertainktempleskdoesn't accomplishkmuchkgoodkbecausektheykaren'tksincere.kkWekmustkbe genuinekBuddhistskinkthektrueksensekofkthekword,kwhichkmeansktokwea en andkreducek"I"kandk"mine"kinkorderktokbekcoolkandktherebykbekcloserkto Nibbana.kkSokwekneedn'tkdiscusskatrocitieskli ekdisparagingkand oppressingkothers,korkextollingkoneselfkwhilekputtingkdownkothers. Thesekthingskshouldkneverkhappen. Whatktokdokaboutkthosekwhokstillkengagekinksuchkbehaviour?kkI don'tk nowkwhatkclassktokputkthemkin:kkFirstkgrade?kkKindergarten? Nurserykschool?kkThesekarekstillktookhigh;ktherekshouldkbeksomeklower classkorkgradekforkpeoplekwhokbehavekinksuchkgrosskways.kkInkBuddhism, genuineklaykfollowerskneverkdoksuchkthings.kkEvenkthosekwhokarekatkthe indergartenklevelkandkhaveknotkyetkreachedkintokthekfirstkgradekof primarykschoolk nowkbetterkthanktokdoksuchkthings.kkTheyk nowkthat suchkbehaviourkiskhotkandkhasknothingktokdokwithkDhammakorkBuddhism. Progressingkthroughkthekupperkgrades,kthroughkthekjuniorkand seniorkclasses,ktherekisklesskegoismkuntil,kfinally,ktherekisknokmore "I"kandk"mine."kkOnkthekhighestklevel,kthere'sknokself,keverythingkis voidkofkself.kkThere'sknok"I,"knok"you,"knok"we,"knok"they,"kkwhich meanskthere'sknokBuddhism,kknokChristianity,kknokIslam,kandknokreligion. Howkcankdifferentkreligionskexistkwhenkthere'sknok"we,"knok"they,"kno "anybody,"kwhenktherekisknothingkbutkDhamma?kkTherekiskonlykpure naturekitselfk(suddhidhammakpavattanti),knaturekiskallkthatkexists -kkwithkeitherkactivekaspectskorkstillkaspects,kdependingkonkwhether somethingkiskconditionedkandktransientkorkunconditionedkand absolute.kkThosekwhokarekinkthekupperkgradeskalready understandkthis.kkThosekwhokarekink indergartenkandkprimary schoolkshouldkalsok nowkaboutkthisksokthatktheykcankprepare themselvesktokreachkitsklevel. Sokdon'tkgetkcaughtkupkinkenvykandkjealousy,kinkinsultskand praises,kinkharassingkandkinterferingkwithkothers,kinkarguingkand fighting,kinkextollingkoneselfkwhilekputtingkdownkothers.kkSuch behaviourkiskworthless.kkIt'skforkthosekwhokdon'tk nowkhowktoklearnkon evenktheklowestklevel.kkIt'sktooklowktokhavekakplacekinktheknetwor kof Buddhists.k Allkofkuskbeginkatkakpointkwherekwe'rekfullkofkclinging,kthen steadilykreducekthekclingingkuntilkwekdon'tkclingktokanythingkanymore, untilkwekreachkthekpointkwherekeverythingkiskvoidness:kvoidkofk"I"kand voidkofk"mine."kkUnderstandkthatkinkessencekeverythingkhaskbeenkvoid fromkthekstart.kkWhetherkphysicalkorkmental,kloo kdeeplykintokit's essentialknaturekandkitkwillkturnkoutktokbekvoid.kkTherekiskno clingingktherekanymore. Whateverkclingingktherekwaskhaskjustknowkhappened. Originally,ktherekwasknokattachment,kjustkaskallkwaterkoriginallykis purekandkclean.kkIt'skpurekaskitkformskinkthekclouds,kbutkpic skup finekparticleskofkdustkaskitkfallskthroughktheks y.kkOncekkitkfallskon roofskandkcollectskinkwaterkjars,kitkbecomeskfurther

contaminated.kEvenkmorekcontaminatedkiskthekwaterkinkwells,kstreams, ponds,kandkswamps.kkWorsekiskthekputridkwaterkfoundkinkditches, sewers,kandktoilets.kkAskwekexaminekthekexternalkchanges,kwekshould recognizekthatkthekdirtykelementskaren'tkthekwaterkandkaren't essential. Sokloo kdeeplykintokthiskverykbodykandkmindkwhenkthey'rekin theirknaturalkstate,kwhenktheykaren'tkpollutedkbykanykdefiledkobjects. Thekpure,knatural,kuncontaminatedkbody-mindkiskthekobjectkofk nowledge andkstudy.kkThek"I,"kthekego,k nowingkthis,k nowingkthat,kthiskis good,kthatkiskgood:kkthiskiskjustkdirtykstuff.kkTheykmixkwithkthe mind,kcontaminatekit,kandkmuc kitkup.kkNaturally,kinkthemselves,kour bodieskandkmindskaren'tkdirty,kbutkowingktokstupiditykand carelessnessktheknewlykspawnedkdefilementskinvade.kkIt'skthese impurekguestskwhichkenterkthekmindkandkcontaminatekit.kkkWhykthenkdo wekta ektheseklate-comingkimpuritiesktokbek"I,"k"me,"kork"mykownktrue self"?kkThey'rekjustknewkarrivals,kthere'sknothingkgenuinekaboutkthem. They'rekjustkdirt,kisn'tkitksillyktokta ekdirtkaskone'skself?kkOne endskupkwithkakdirtykself,kakdirtykego--nokdoubtkaboutkit. Thekmindkwhichkisk nowledgablekandkwise,kwhichkiskawa ened (Buddha),kdoesn'tkta ekanythingktokbekself.kkItkdoesn'tkta ekdirty thingskaskitsk"self."kkItkdoesn'tkta ekdefilementsktokbek"self."kkIf itkmustkhavekakself,kthekvoidnesskwhichkiskfreekofkdefilementskmustkbe thekself.kkThekvoidnesskofkdefilementskdoesn'tkattachkorkclingkto anything.kkEvenkthoughkthekmouthksaysk"Ikam"kork"Ikhave,"kthekmind insidekdoesn'tkfeelkanykattachment.kk"Mouthkiskonekandkmindkanother" atkallktimes.kkIkhopekthatkyoukwillkallkpracticekinkthiskway. AllkIkhaveksaidktodaykiskmerelykakchatkamongkfriends.kkIfkit werekakpublicklecturekorkformalksermon,kthesekthingskcouldn'tkbeksaid li ekthis.kkItkmightkcreatekakbigkdisturbance.kkHowever,kthiskhaskbeen justkankinformalktal kwithinkourksmallkcirclekofkfriends,kamongkthose whokshouldkbekablektokunderstand.kkIkonlykmentionedkthesekthings becausekIkthoughtkthekpeoplekherekarekcapablekofkunderstanding. Indeed,kIkhopekthatkeveryonekhasklistenedkcarefully,khaskbeenkablekto follow,kandkwillkthin koverkthekissueskseriously.kkThosekwhokseekthe truthkofkandkagreekwithkthesekprincipleskshouldktryktoklive accordingly.kBeforeklongkwekwillkprogressktokakhigherklevelkonkthe pathktokvoidnesskandkfreedomkfromksuffering.kkThenkwekcankdokwor kof allk indskwithkakvoidkmindkandkwekcankgivekallkofkthekfruitskto voidness.kkWekwillkbekablektokeatkthekfoodkofkvoidness.kkAndkso,kwe willkbekablektokdiekcompletelykfromkthekverykbeginning.kkThat'skthe end.kkThat'skthekendkofkbeingkakBuddhist;kit'skthekendkofkall religions. k Inkpeopleklanguagektheyksay,k"Don'tkwastekthekopportunitykof havingkbeenkbornkhumankandkofkhavingkencounteredkBuddha-Dhamma."kkIf wekspea kinkDhammaklanguage,khowever,kwekwouldkhavektoksay,k"It'skthe endkofkeverything.kkTherekisknothingkleftktokbekakproblemkeverkagain." Suchkaklifekcankbekcalledk"eternalklife,"kforktherekisknokmorekbirth, aging,killness,korkdeath.

Arekyoukreadyktokdiekbeforekdying? kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk*k*k*k*k*k*k*k* kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkGLOSSARY

anatta,kknot-self,kselflessness:kkthekfactkthatkallkthingsklac kany kkkklastingkessencekorksubstancekwhichkcouldkproperlykbe kkkkcalledkak"self."kk(Cf.ksunnata.) du ha,kkpain,khurt,ksuffering,kdissatisfaction:kkliterally,k"hard kkkktokbear";kthekstressfulkqualitykofkallkexperienceskwhich kkkkarekaccompaniedkbykdesire,kattachment,kandkego.kkDu ha kkkkiskalsoksaidktokbekakuniversalkcharacteristickofkallkphenomena;k kkkkbecausekthingskarekimpermanent,ktheykarekundependablekandkcan kkkkneverksatisfykus.kkThekinherentkdecaykandkdissolutionkofkthingsk kkkkiskdu ha. Dhamma,kNature,kNaturalkLaw,kDuty,kTruth:kkthekwaykthingsknaturally kkkkarekandkthekwaykwekmustkliveksokthatkthingsk(dhammas)kdon'tkbecome kkkkproblemskforkus. handha,kgroups,kheaps.kaggregates:kkthekfivekbasickprocesses kkkkorksub-systemskwhichkma ekupkhumanklife,knamely, kkkkbody,kfeeling,kperception,kthought,kandkconsciousness.kk ilesa,kdefilement,kpollution,kimpurity:kkthekvariousk kkkkmanifestationskofkselfishnesskwhichkdefilekthekmind,k kkkkespeciallykgreed,kanger,kandkdelusion. Nibbana,kkcoolness:kkthekultimatekgoalkofkBuddhistkpractice. kkkkThekcoolkpeacefulnesskofkNibbanakmanifestskwhenkthe kkkkfireskofkdefilement,kselfishness,kandksufferingkarek kkkkthoroughlykandkfinallykquenched. noblekeightfoldkpath:kkthekwaykofklifekleadingktokNibbana, kkkknamely,krightkunderstanding,krightkaspiration,kright kkkkspeech,krightkaction,krightklivelihood,krightkeffort,kright kkkkmindfulness,kandkrightkconcentration. NoblekOnes:kkhumankbeingskwhokhavekeradicatedkallkorkalmost kkkkallkofkthekattachmentskandkdefilements.kkTheykarekthe kkkkexemplarskofkBuddhistklifekduektoktheirkwisdom,kcoolness,k kkkkcalmness,kandkcompassion. sunnata,kvoidness:kkthekrealitykofkbeingkvoidkandkfreekof kkkkselfhood,kego,korkanythingkthatkcouldkbekta enktokbek"I" kkkkork"mine."kk(Seekanatta.) upadana,kattachment,kclinging,kgrasping:kktokholdkontoksome kkkkthingkfoolishly,kthatkis,ktokregardkitkask"I"kork"mine";kto kkkkta ekthingskpersonally kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk*k*k*k*k*k*k*k*

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkABOUTkTHEkAUTHOR BuddhadasakBhi hukhaskbeenkthekmostkimportantkinterpreterkand reformerkofkThaikBuddhistkthoughtkinkthiskcentury.kkSincekhekbegan SuankMo h,k"ThekGardenkofkLiberation,"kink1932,khekhaskunderta enkthe mostkinnovative,kinfluential,kandkwide-rangingkstudykofkthekPali

scriptureskofkTheravadakBuddhism.kkThesekstudieskwerekthekunderpinning forkhiskexperimentskandkresearcheskintoklifekandknature,koutkofkwhich developedkakcommandingkbodykofkwor .kkHisktal s,klectures,kand writings,kalongkwithkthekmonastickcommunitykhekfounded,khavekinspired manyktokta ekakfreshkloo katkBuddhismkandkreligion. BuddhadasakBhi hukhaskalwayskhadkakprofoundkinterestkinkother religionskandkhaskmadekmanykfriendskamongkthem.kkInkparticular,khekhas beenkinkdialoguekwithkChristianitykthroughkforeignkmissionarieskand localkChristianskwhokwerekdelightedktokfindkakBuddhistkmon kwhoksought onlyktokunderstandktheirkreligion,kwithoutkloo ingkdownkonkit.kkThis boo krevealsksomekofkhiskthoughtskonkreligion. TheksixtiethkanniversarykofkSuankMo hkwaskobservedkonkMayk27, 1992. Despitekthekafterkeffectskofkakheartkattac kandkminorkstro es, AjarnkBuddhadasakspentktheklastkfewkyearskofkhisklifekaskhekhadkspent thekpreviousksixty. ThekVenerablekAjarnkpassedkawaykatkSuankMo hkonkJulyk8,k1993. SuankMo h,kaidedkbykthekDhammadanakFoundationkandkotherksupporters, carrieskonkhiskwithkhiskwor . kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk*k*k*k*k*k*k*k*