Attachment by Ven. Ajahn Sanong Katapunyo



The End of Suffering

People who are not deluded by old age, decay and death and are able to accumulate the merit must realise that The Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha actually originate in their mind. The Arahat is born out of a peaceful mind and also Nibbana, merit, demerit, happiness and unhappiness. Even if we try to meditate at least within one life in order to understand our mind, it will be worthwhile. We can understand how our three types of unwholesome consciousness - namely craving, anger and delusion - rise and the way to eliminate them, how much delusion we have, how it happens and know how to stop it. It is called "Mahakusalam Cittam" which means the mind which is permeated by the Dhamma and merit. This state of mind can purify the evil deed. So it is called "Nibbhanam Paramam Sukkham" which means Nibbana is bliss.

Conversely, if we are born under the power of emotions so that we lack the real comprehension of our own mind, we will be called an ignorant person who is not aware of anger, greed, delusion, love and hatred. People who are deluded are disturbed by non-stop thinking and peace of mind will not be found. As we are full of greed, hatred and delusion in this lifetime due to the lack of mindfulness, we are not sharp enough to catch up with these defilements. At the end of the day we give in to them and thus are completely ensnared by delusion.

So let us study a little about the mind. Even if we do not know anything else in this life, we can understand the Dhamma which occurs in our mind; we can be aware of what we are thinking of and know how to stop it. If you want to experience the whole process, you have to try to practise by observation. For example, when we breath in we are aware that we are breathing in, when we breath out we are aware that we are breathing out. What will happen when we cannot concentrate and start to think continuously about going here and there? In that case we should keep on repeating "Buddho, Buddho," In the end the thinking will be exhausted and stopped. At that moment peace, lightness, freedom and clarity will appear and suffering will be eradicated. At the same time, nervous tension will vanish followed by a refined mind containing wisdom. This is the right time to observe our mind. At that moment it is not coarse any longer.

If we have no Samadhi, the mind will not be refined and thinking will go on and on. When Samadhi is gained, the mind will be free and refined for once. Later on we will be sharp enough to notice all states of consciousness such as anger and stillness, peace and turmoil. Mindfulness will be gradually developed. To make great merit means training oneself for the awareness of different states of mind. It is called "Kusalam Cittam Uppanam", wholesome states of mind or "Kusala Dhamma", making one's mind wholesome at every moment. Merit is not to be found anywhere else but in making one's mind tranquil and by knowing its different states. The Buddha also studied his mind in the same way as everything originates from the mind whether it is merit, demerit, heaven or hell.

Finally may all brothers and sisters who are attending this cremation take an interest in the mind and study about it. If this is done, happiness will be the end result. It is called "Capable of eradicating suffering." All problems centre in this one mind and we should solve the problem right there, in our own mind.


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