lllt:'UlldllUH, 11 yuu ::,11uu1u Mllt'll lllt:' lUUU llldl yuu1 W llt:' Ul

anyone is preparing, do not become trapped into wonder-

ing about what you will have to eat and how it will taste.

5. The Deslre for Touch

Among the tive sensations, touch is the one that has a
special connection with sex. Although there are severa!
55

kinds of touch, the most difficult form to overcome is

the one concerning sex. As meditation practitioners we
should be very aware of the power ofTouch in disturbing
our meditation.
There is a legend concerning a very advanced practi-
tionerwho lived in a remote mountain. One day the king
of the country, hearing about the accomplishments of
this practitioner, sent his messengers to fetch him and
bring him to the palace as an honored guest. The king
wished to pay homage to the practitioner and make
offerings to him. The practitioner flew to the palace
as the king wished and, in fact, did it severa! times. On
one of these occasions, the king asked the queen to pay
homage to the practitioner. ln doing so, the queen knelt
before the practitioner and put her hands upon his bare
feet to show her highest respect. The queen's hands were
very soft and the practitioner, never having had that kind
of experience before, suddenly felt very excited and ali at
once lost his Dhyana. He felt faint and his body became
very weak. He was no longer able to walk and had to be
carried back to his mountain retreat!
So, this is the danger of Touch to a meditation prac-
titioner! Now we will tum from the more metaphysical
desires to the more tangible ones, that is, the second set
of the Five Desires - the Desires for:
1. Wealth
2. Sex
3. Fame
4. Food
5. Sleep

56

The reason why I reserved the First Stage to the last is

partly because this Stage demands a much more thor-
ough discussion, and partly because it touches upon
some sensitive parts g( Q)I[ dajly çggçern; i.e., about
mnnl'.t-u CPv fnnrf f~mP P r At thP mPrP tn11rh nf thPcP