Chapter 6 - Living In The World With Dhamma
Most people still dont know the essence of meditation practice. They think that walking meditation, sitting meditation and listening to Dhamma talks are the practice. Thats true too, but these are only the outer forms of practice. The real practice takes place when the mind encounters a sense object. Thats the place to practice, where sense contact occurs. When people say things we dont like there is resentment, if they say things we like we experience pleasure. Now this is the place to practice. How are we going to practice with these things? This is the crucial point. If we just run around chasing after happiness and away from suffering all the time we can practice until the day we die and never see the Dhamma. This is useless. When pleasure and pain arise how are we going to use the Dhamma to be free of them? This is the point of practice.
Usually when people encounter something disagreeable to them they dont open up to it. Such as when people are criticized: "Dont bother me! Why blame me?" This is someone whos closed himself off. Right there is the place to practice. When people criticize us we should listen. Are they speaking the truth? We should be open and consider what they say. Maybe there is a point to what they say, perhaps there is something blame worthy within us. They may be right and yet we immediately take offense. If people point out our faults we should strive to be rid of them and improve ourselves. This is how intelligent people will practice.
Where there is confusion is where peace can arise. When confusion is penetrated with understanding what remains is peace. Some people cant accept criticism, theyre arrogant. Instead they turn around and argue. This is especially so when adults deal with children. Actually children may say some intelligent things sometimes but if you happen to be their mother, for instance, you cant give in to them. If you are a teacher your students may sometimes tell you something you didnt know, but because you are the teacher you cant listen. This is not right thinking.
In the Buddhas time there was one disciple who was very astute. At one time, as the Buddha was expounding the Dhamma, he turned to this monk and asked, "Sariputta, do you believe this?" Venerable Sariputta replied, "No, I dont yet believe it." The Buddha praised his answer. "Thats very good, Sariputta, you are one who us endowed with wisdom. One who is wise doesnt readily believe, he listens with an open mind and then weighs up the truth of that matter before believing or disbelieving."
Now the Buddha here has set a fine example for a teacher. What Venerable Sariputta said was true, he simply spoke his true feelings. Some people would think that to say you didnt believe that teaching would be like questioning the teachers authority, theyd be afraid to say such a thing. Theyd just go ahead and agree. This is how the worldly way goes. But the Buddha didnt take offense. He said that you neednt be ashamed of those things which arent wrong or bad. Its not wrong to say that you dont believe if you dont believe. Thats why Venerable Sariputta said, "I dont yet believe it." The Buddha praised him. "This monk has much wisdom. He carefully considers before believing anything." The Buddhas actions here are a good example for one who is a teacher of others. Sometimes you can learn things even from small children; dont cling blindly to positions of authority.
Whether you are standing, sitting, or walking around in various places, you can always study the things around you. We study in the natural way, receptive to all things, be they sights, sounds, smells, tastes, feelings or thoughts. The wise person considers them all. In the real practice, we come to the point where there are no longer any concerns weighing on the mind.
If we still dont know like and dislike as they arise, there is still some concern in our minds. If we know the truth of these things, we reflect, "Oh, there is nothing to this feeling of liking here. Its just a feeling that arises and passes away. Dislike is nothing more, just a feeling that arises and passes away. Why make anything out of them?" If we think that pleasure and pain are personal possessions, then were in for trouble, we never get beyond the point of having some concern or other in an endless chain. This is how things are for most people.
But these days they dont often talk about the mind when teaching the Dhamma, they dont talk about the truth. If you talk the truth people even take exception. They say things like, "He doesnt know time and place, he doesnt know how to speak nicely." But people should listen to the truth. A true teacher doesnt just talk from memory, he speaks the truth. People in society usually speak from memory, he speaks the truth. People in the society usually speak from memory, and whats more they usually speak in such a way as to exalt themselves. The true monk doesnt talk like that, he talks the truth, the way things are.
No matter how much he explains the truth its difficult for people to understand. Its hard to understand the Dhamma. If you understand the Dhamma you should practice accordingly. It may not be necessary to become a monk, although the monks life is the ideal form for practice. To really practice, you have to forsake the confusion of the world, give up family and possessions, and take to the forests. These are the ideal places to practice.
But if we still have family and responsibilities how are we to practice? Some people say its impossible to practice Dhamma as a layperson. Consider, which group is larger, monks or laypeople? There are far more laypeople. Now if only the monks practice and laypeople dont, then that means theres going to be a lot of confusion. This is wrong understanding. "I cant become a monk..." Becoming a monk isnt the point! Being a monk doesnt mean anything if you dont practice. If you really understand the practice of dhamma then no matter what position or profession you hold in life, be it a teacher, doctor, civil servant or whatever, you can practice the Dhamma every minute of the day.
To think you cant practice as a layman is to lose track of the path completely. Why is it people can find the incentive to do other things? If they feel they are lacking something they make an effort to obtain it. If there is sufficient desire people can do anything. some say, "I havent got time to practice the Dhamma." I say, "Then how come youve got time to breathe?" Breathing is vital to peoples lives. If they saw Dhamma practice as vital to their lives they would see it as important as their breathing.
The practice of dhamma isnt something you have to go running around for or exhaust yourself over. Just look at the feelings which arise in your mind. When the eye sees form, ear hears sounds, nose smells odors and so on, they all come to this one mind, "the one who knows." Now when the mind perceives these things what happens? If we like that object we experience pleasure, if we dislike it we experience displeasure. Thats all there is to it.
So where are you going to find happiness in this world? Do you expect everybody to say only pleasant things to you all your life? Is that possible? No, its not. If its not possible then where are you going to go? The world is simply like this, we must know the world — Lokavidu — know the truth of this world. The world is something we should clearly understand. The Buddha lived in this world, he didnt live anywhere else. He experienced family life, but he saw its limitations and detached himself from them. Now how are you as laypeople going to practice? If you want to practice you must make an effort to follow the path. If you persevere with the practice you too will see the limitations of this world and be able to let go.
People who drink alcohol sometimes say, "I just cant give it up." Why cant they give it up? Because they dont yet see the liability in it. If they clearly saw the liability of it they wouldnt have to wait to be told to give it up. If you dont see the liability of something that means you also cant see the benefit of giving it up. Your practice becomes fruitless, you are just playing at practice. If you clearly see the liability and the benefit of something you wont have to wait for others to tell you about it. Consider the story of the fisherman who finds something in his fish trap. He knows something is in there, he can hear it flapping about inside. Thinking its a fish, he reaches his hand into the trap, only to find a different kind of animal. He cant yet see it, so hes in two minds about it. On one hand it could be an eel, [1] but then again it could be a snake. If he throws it away he may regret it... it could be an eel. On the other hand, if he keeps holding on to it and it turns out to be a snake it may bite him. Hes caught in a state of doubt. His desire is so strong he holds on, just in case its an eel, but the minute he brings it and sees the striped skin he throws it down straight away. He doesnt have to wait for someone to call out, "Its a snake, its a snake, let go!" The sight of the snake tells him what to do much more clearly than words could do. Why? Because he sees the danger — snakes can bite! Who has to tell him about it? In the same way, if we practice till we see things as they are we wont meddle with things that are harmful.
People dont usually practice in this way, they usually practice for other things. They dont contemplate things, they dont reflect on old age, sickness and death. They only talk about non aging and non death, so they never develop the right feeling for Dhamma practice. They go and listen to Dhamma talks but they dont really listen. Sometimes I get invited to give talks at important functions, but its a nuisance for me to go. Why so? Because when I look at the people gathered there I can see that they havent come to listen to the Dhamma. Some are smelling of alcohol, some are smoking cigarettes, some are chatting... they dont look at all like people who have come out of faith in the Dhamma. Giving talks at such places is of little fruit. People who are sunk in heedlessness tend to think things like, "When hes ever going to stop talking?... Cant do this, cant do that..." and their minds just wander all over the place.
Sometimes they even invite me to give a talk just for the sake of formality: "Please give us just a small Dhamma talk, Venerable Sir." They dont want me to talk too much, it might annoy them! As soon as I hear people say this I know what theyre about. These people dont like listening to Dhamma. It annoys them. If I just give a small talk they wont understand. If you take only a little food, is it enough? Of course not.
Sometimes Im giving a talk, just warming up to the subject, and some drunkard will call out, "Okay, make way, make way for the Venerable Sir, hes coming out now!" — trying to drive me away! If I meet this kind of person I get a lot of food for reflection, I get an insight into human nature. Its like a person having a bottle full of water and then asking for more. Theres nowhere to put it. It isnt worth the time and energy to teach them, because their minds are already full. Pour any more in and it just overflows uselessly. If their bottle was empty there would be somewhere to put the water, and both the giver and the receiver would benefit.
In this way, when people are really interested in Dhamma and sit quietly, listening carefully, I feel more inspired to teach. If people dont pay attention its just like the man with the bottle full of water... theres no room to put anymore. Its hardly worth my while talking to them. In situations like this I just dont get any energy arising to teach. You cant put much energy into giving when no ones putting much energy into receiving.
These days giving talks tends to be like this, and its getting worse all the time. People dont search for truth, they study simply to find the necessary knowledge to make a living, raise families and look after themselves. They study for a livelihood. There may be some study of Dhamma, but not much. Students nowadays have much more knowledge than students of previous times. They have all the requisites at their disposal, everything is more convenient. But they also have a lot more confusion and suffering than before. Why is this? Because they only look for the kind of knowledge used to make a living.
Even the monks are like this. Sometimes I hear them say, "I didnt become a monk to practice the Dhamma, I only ordained to study." These are the words of someone who has completely cut off the path of practice. Theres no way ahead, its a dead end. When these monks teach its only from memory. They may teach one thing but their minds are in completely different place. Such teachings arent true.
This is how the world is. If you try to live simply, practicing the Dhamma and living peacefully, they say you are weird and anti social. They say youre obstructing progress in society. They even intimidate you. Eventually you might even start to believe them and revert to the worldly ways, sinking deeper and deeper into the world until its impossible to get out. Some people say, "I cant get out now, Ive gone in to deeply." This is how society tends to be. It doesnt appreciate the value of Dhamma.
The value of Dhamma isnt to be found in books. those are just the external appearances of Dhamma, theyre not the realization of Dhamma as a personal experience. If you realize the Dhamma you realize your own mind, you see the truth there. When the truth becomes apparent it cuts off the stream of delusion.
The teaching of the Buddha is the unchanging truth, whether in the present or in any other time. The Buddha revealed this truth 2,500 years ago and its been the truth ever since. This teaching should not be added to or taken away from. The Buddha said, "What the Tathagata has laid down should not be discarded, what has not been laid down by the Tathagata should not be added on to the teachings." He "sealed off" the Teachings. Why did the Buddha seal them off? Because these Teachings are the words of one who has no defilements. No matter how the world may change these Teachings are unaffected, they dont change with it. If something is wrong, even if people say its right doesnt make it any the less wrong. If something is right, it doesnt change any just because people say its not. Generation after generation may come and go but these things dont change, because these Teachings are the truth.
Now who created this truth? The truth itself created the truth! Did the Buddha create it? No, he didnt. The Buddha only discovered the truth, the way things are, and then he set out to declare it. The truth is constantly true, whether a Buddha arises in the world or not. The Buddha only "owns" the Dhamma in this sense, he didnt actually create it. Its been here all the time. However, previously no one had searched for and found the Deathless, then taught it as the Dhamma. He didnt invent it, it was already there.
At some point in time the truth is illuminated and the practice of Dhamma flourishes. As time goes on and generations pass away the practice degenerates until the Teaching fades away completely. After a time the Teaching is re founded and flourishes once more. As time goes on the adherents of the Dhamma multiply, prosperity sets in, and once more the Teaching begins to follow the darkness of the world. And so once more it degenerates until such a time as it can no longer hold ground. Confusion reigns once more. Then it is time to re establish the truth. In fact the truth doesnt go anywhere. When Buddhas pass away the Dhamma doesnt disappear with them.
The world revolves like this. Its something like a mango tree. The tree matures, blossoms, and fruits appear and grow to ripeness. They become rotten and the seed goes back into the ground to become a new mango tree. The cycle starts once more. Eventually there are more ripe fruits which proceed to fall, rot, sink into the ground as seeds and grow once more into trees. This is how the world is. It doesnt go very far, it just revolves around the same old things.
Our lives these days are the same. Today we are simply doing the same old things weve always done. People think too much. There are so many things for them to get interested in, but none of them leads to completion. There are the sciences like mathematics, physics, psychology and so on. You can delve into any number of them but you can only finalize things with the truth.
Suppose there was a cart being pulled by an ox. The wheels arent long, but the tracks are. As long as the ox pulls the cart the tracks will follow. The wheels are round yet the tracks are long; the tracks are long yet the wheels are merely circles. Just looking at a stationary cart you cant see anything long about it, but once the ox starts moving you see the tracks stretching out behind you. As long as the ox pulls, the wheels keep on turning... but there comes a day when the ox tires and throws off its harness. The ox walks off and leaves the empty cart sitting there. The wheels no longer turn. In time the cart falls apart, its components go back into the four elements — earth, water, wind and fire.
Searching for peace within the world you stretch the cart wheel tracks endlessly behind you. As long as you follow the world there is no stopping, no rest. If you simply stop following it, the cart comes to rest, the wheels no longer turn. Following the world turns the wheels ceaselessly. Creating bad kamma is like this. As long as you follow the old ways there is no stopping. If you stop there is stopping. This is how we practice the Dhamma.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Considered a delicacy in some parts of Thailand.