The Two Faces of Reality – Part 6

As long as we think, investigate and understand wrongly, these things will oppose us.

But as soon as we begin to investigate properly, that which we experience will bring us to wisdom and clear understanding, just as the chickens came to their understanding. In this way, we can say that they practiced .’vipassana ‘.. They know in accordance with truth, it's their insight.

In our practice, we have our senses as tools which, when rightly used, enable us to become enlightened to the Dhamma. This is something which all meditator should contemplate.

When we don't see this clearly, we remain in perpetual conflict. So, as we live in the quietude of the forest, we continue to develop subtle feelings and prepare the ground for cultivating wisdom. Don't think that when you have gained some peace of mind living here in the quiet forest that that's enough. Don't settle for just that! Remember that we have to cultivate and grow the seeds of wisdom. As wisdom matures and we begin to understand in accordance with the truth, we will no longer be dragged up and down. Usually, if we have a pleasant mood, we behave one way; and if we have an unpleasant mood, we are another way. We like something and we are up; we dislike something and we are down. In this way we are still in conflict with enemies. When these things no longer oppose us, they become stabilized and balance out.

There are no longer ups and downs or highs and lows. We understand these things of the world and know that that's just the way it is. It's just "worldly dhamma".

‘Worldly dhamma’changes to become the ‘path’.’Worldly dhamma’ has eight ways; the ‘path’ has eight ways. Wherever ‘worldly dhamma’ exists, the ‘path’ is to be found also. When we live with clarity, all of our worldly experience becomes the practicing of the ‘eightfold path’. Without clarity, ‘worldly dhamma’ (the eight worldly conditions are: gain and loss, honor and dishonor, happiness and misery, praise and blame) predominates and we are turned away from the ‘path’ (the eightfold path comprise 8 factors of spiritual practice leading to the extinction of suffering:right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration). When right understanding arises, liberation from suffering lies right here before us. You will not find liberation by running around looking elsewhere!

So don't be in a hurry and try to push or rush your practice. Do your meditation gently and gradually step by step. In regard to peacefulness, if you want to become peaceful, then accept it; if you don't become peaceful, then accept that also. That's the nature of the mind. We must find our own practice and persistently keep at it.

Perhaps wisdom does not arise! I used to think, about my practice, that when there is no wisdom, I could force myself to have it. But it didn't work, things remained the same. Then, after careful consideration, I saw that to contemplate things that we don't have cannot be done. So what's the best thing to do? It's better just to practice with equanimity.

If there is nothing to cause us concern, then there's nothing to remedy. If there's no problem, then we don't have to try to solve it. When there is a problem, that's when you must solve it, right there! There's no need to go searching for anything special, just live normally. But know what your mind is! Live mindfully and clearly comprehending. Let wisdom be your guide; don't live indulging in your moods. Be heedful and alert! If there is nothing, that's fine; when something arises, then investigate and contemplate it.

Coming to the Center

Try watching a spider. A spider spins its web in any convenient niche and then sits in the center, staying still and silent. Later, a fly comes along and lands on the web. As soon as it touches and shakes the web, .boop!. . the spider pounces and winds it up in thread. It stores the insect away and then returns again to collect itself silently in the center of the web.

Watching a spider like this can give rise to wisdom. Our six senses have mind at the center surrounded by eye, ear, nose, tongue and body. When one of the senses is stimulated, for instance, from contacting the eye, it shakes and reaches the mind. The mind is that which knows, that which knows form. Just this much is enough for wisdom to arise. It's that simple.

Like a spider in its web, we should live keeping to ourselves. As soon as the spider feels an insect contact the web, it quickly grabs it, ties it up and once again returns to the center. This is not at all different from our own minds. .Coming to the center. Means living mindfully with clear comprehension, being always alert and doing everything with exactness and precision . this is our center. There's really not a lot for us to do; we just carefully live in this way. But that doesn't mean that we live heedlessly thinking.There is no need to do siting or walking meditation!. and so forget all about our practice. We can't be careless! We must remain alert just as the spider waits to snatch up insects for its food.

To be continued

Excerpt From the Book: Everything Is Teaching Us - Ajahn Chah