Whether or not anyone proclaims the truth or Dhamma It already exists in the world. But there is need of a person who can correctly reveal it. The Buddha searched for the truth and found it. So we respect him as an exponent of the truth. In addition, by way of acknowledgment of his capacity, his exposition of the truth is called Buddhism. Whether or not someone submits to the Buddha, if he follows the truth, he can get benefit. But I think one cannot fully understand the profound truth of egolessness (anatta) without depending on the Buddha's skilful exposition.
THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE DHAMMA
Svakkhato bhagavata dhammno sanditthiko akaliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattam veditabbo vinnuhiti.
The Buddha's teaching or Dhamma is endowed with six attributes: it is well proclaimed, relating to the present, immediate in its results, inviting and challenging all, leading on to nibbana and to be comprehended by the wise each for himself.
1. Well-proclaimed (Svakkhato)
From the time of his supreme enlightenment until attaining parinibbana, a period of 45 years, the Buddha preached many discourses. They were enumerated in the following order. Dana katha which deals with the subject of alms-giving or charity. Sila katha which deals with the subject of morality. Sagga katha which describes the delights of the devas' blissful existence and Magga katha which exposes the disadvantages of sensual pleasures. None of his teaching is concerned with animosity, revenge, selfishness, racism or religious prejudice. Because it is systematically composed with correct grammar and meaning, no one can find any fault with his teaching. If a person listens to the Dhamma without cavil, captious ness or bigotry, there Is no reason for him to reject it.
From the following example you can make some estimate of the value of the Buddha's teaching. In the life-time of the Buddha, while a Brahman named Karanapalin was building a house, he saw the Brahman Pingiyanin coming towards him. When the latter approached him he asked, "What do you think of the Buddha's clarity in wisdom? As for me, I think he is rather wise.'
Pingiyanin said, 'Who am I to judge the Buddha's wisdom? To judge his wisdom one must be like him; he is too wise for me to even estimate."
"Why do you praise him so highly", the former asked.
Pingiyanin explained to him, "As a man, who is well satisfied with some choice savour, does not long for any other savours, even so, whenever a person hears any part of the Buddha's teaching he does not long for the talk of others.
"As a man who, overcome by hunger and weakness, If he tastes any part of a honey cake, enjoys the sweet, delicious taste, even so, whenever a person hears the Buddha's teaching he becomes elated, serene of mind and happy.
"As a clever physician can immediately take away the sickness of a patient, even so, whenever a person hears the Buddha's teaching his grief, lamentation, suffering, sorrow and despair vanish.
"As a man who is tortured by heat, thirst and weariness might come to a clear, sweet, cool pool and, plunging therein, bathe, drink and thus allay all his woe, even so, whenever anyone hears the Buddha's teaching all his woe and fatigue is wholly allayed because the Dhamma is proclaimed well and completely."
Karanapalin was very pleased with the explanation and then paid respect to the Buddha saying, "Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa - adoration to him, the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened." (1.A. iii. 237)
One should also know the other qualities of the Dhamma: it is good in the beginning, in the middle and in the end; and it sets forth the meaning and the letter of the holy life, wholly fulfilled and perfectly pure.
2. Relating to the Present (Sanditthiko)
It may be that some people think that the Buddha's teaching relates only to the future life. Some people even say that the Buddha threatened people with the past and enticed people by presenting the prospect of a bright future. But it is not like that. He related many stories to bring to people's attention the danger of unwholesome deeds and the merit of wholesome deeds. All his teachings can be condensed into the fact that there Is only cause and effect. He propounded the doctrine of dependent origination which can be stated as follows:-
Because of new existence all beings suffer decay and death. Clinging brings new existence into being. Clinging is due to craving that in turn stems from feeling. Again feeling is conditioned by sense contact which depends on the six senses. The six spheres of sense have their origin in mind and matter which are rooted in consciousness. Consciousness is due to kamma formations. The root cause of kamma formations is ignorance which is due to craving. Craving and ignorance depend on one another. To understand their relationship, one must practise meditation.
For the most part, the Buddha's teachings are about charity, morality and development of the mind or insight meditation. If a person practises the Dhamma he will get due benefit in accordance with his effort at any time.
A person who lacks morality will have to face disadvantages in his worldly and spiritual life. His bad reputation will spread among good people. When he approaches people he will suffer disfavour and timidity. An immoral person will die confused and then will be reborn in one of the four lower worlds; hell, animal, spirit or demons. To get the opposite results a person must keep the moral code.
A person who offers alms is loved by good and wise men and they come to him. His good reputation is spread abroad among people. He is respected and loved by many people. On the dissolution of the body at death he will be reborn in the happy, heavenly world.
A person who, by practising insight meditation, purifies his mind; overcomes sorrow and lamentation, is released from physical pain and mental distress, attains the noble path (magga) and realises nibbana. So the Dhamma gives many advantages, not only after death but also in this very life.
3. Immediately Effective (Akaliko)
The third attribute of the Dhamma is that it produces immediate results. This attribute is rather difficult to explain because it is related to the four supramundane paths, the fruits of holiness and the realisation of nibbana. When a person has mature knowledge of insight meditation, he roots out the defilements in stages by the four paths and immediately following those attainments he can be absorbed in the corresponding fruits of holiness and realisation of nibbana. Because one does not have to wait to get the fruit of the practice, the Dhamma is called immediately effective. To understand this attribute a person should meditate.
There are five hindrances of the mind by reason of which the mind is neither pliable, nor ready to meditate or purify itself, nor rightly composed for the destruction of the defilements. They are sensual desire, ill-will, sloth and torpor, remorse and worry, and doubt. To get free from these hindrances there is no simple way other than by meditating. When the mind is free from these five debasements it is pliable, pure, ready to get psychic knowledge and become an eyewitness to the true nature of life.
A person, being rid of these five hindrances which obstruct the heart and weaken insight knowledge, will know his own good or another's good and will know the good of both, and will realise the excellence of knowledge. So you should know that the more your insight meditation matures, the more you will understand the teachings of the Buddha.
4. Inviting Investigation (Ehipassiko)
The Buddha never encouraged blind faith and speculation. He allowed every aspect of his teaching to be questioned because his teaching can withstand critical Inspection by the wise. He always encouraged people to make inquiry into all teachings saying in the Kalama sutta, Do not believe anything which is based on hearsay, tradition, rumour, what is in any scriptures, speculation, axiom, plausible argument. bias towards a notion that has been pondered over, famous person's speech, one's respect for a teacher. But when you yourselves know, 'These things are bad, blameworthy, censured by the wise; these things lead to harm and sorrow,' abandon them. When you your selves know, 'These things are good, praised by the wise; these things lead to benefit and happiness' undertake and observe them.(A. i. 189)
See! How notable the Buddha's teaching is. He never boasted, "There is no need to enquire into my teaching because I am a great teacher; I know every thing perfectly." So for this reason we respect him.
Some believe in a creator who is eternal and has the power to create everything, including the world. They hold that the brevity or longevity of a man's life, or his poverty and wealth, etc., is predetermined by the creator. Perhaps some people's ultimate goal is to be associated with the creator after death.
During the life-time of the Buddha, a discussion about the best way to reach a state of union with Brahma sprang up among the people. In those days some people believed in Brahma as the creator. One day, two young Brahmans, Vasettha and Bharadvja, were debating about the direct way which leads to union with Brahma. But neither was able to convince the other because they held that only what their own teachers taught was right. To settle the dispute they agreed to go to the Buddha. They went to the Buddha and related their debate to him.
The Buddha asked them, "Do all your teachers say that a person who acts in accordance with their teaching, will reach a state of union with Brahma?"
"Yes venerable sir," they replied, "because of that we want to know which of them is right."
"Put aside that question for now and answer this; although your teachers pray and recite the three Vedas, dedicated to seeing Brahma, is there a single one of them who has ever seen Brahma face to face?"
"No, indeed not, venerable sir," they replied.
"Then in that case is it possible to believe in their words? They look like a string of blind men, who are clinging one to another, of which neither the foremost can see, nor the middle ones can see, nor can the hindmost see. Therefore the talk of your teachers turns out to be ridiculous. Just as a man who, never having seen a beautiful lady, and who does not know where she is, whether she is tail or short or of medium height, what colour her complexion is, but longs for and loves the most beautiful lady in the world; your teachers say, 'This is the most direct way which leads to a state of union with Brahma without knowing where Brahma is, who he is."
The Buddha then asked them whether Brahma possessed a wife and wealth; whether he had anger, mental obstructions, mental impurities. They replied, "Surely Brahma is without anger, mental obstructions and impurities, and possesses no wife or wealth."
Then the Buddha asked if their teachers were like this. "Indeed they are the opposite to this" they replied.
"Is it then possible for them to associate with Brahma? Just as a man who is standing on the river bank, and who wants to reach the other bank, will not reach it Just by saying 'Come here other bank, come over to this side!' Just so they will not be united with Brahma merely by their invoking, praying, hoping and praising."
The way to union with Brahma
Then the two Brahmans asked the Buddha, "Do you know the way which leads to the state of union with Brahma
"Yes, I know the way. Just as a man, who is born and brought up in a village and who has only just left that village, undoubtedly knows every road that leads to that village. Brahmas always stay with the four noble states of mind; loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic-joy and equanimity. So, if a person wants to associate with Brahma, he must possess right behaviour and conduct, must adopt and train himself in precepts, must fill himself with virtue in speech, deed and thought, must guard the doors of his senses and he must develop the four noble states of mind towards all beings and in all directions." The two young Brahmans were very pleased with the Buddha's explanation. (Tevijja Sutta; D. i. p 300, ch 13)
If you do not believe in his explanation, you can test his way to reach union with Brahma Here, you should not misunderstand that the Buddha believed in the creator. According to ancient tradition, Brahma was regarded as a creator. Although the Buddha spoke of and accepted the existence of Brahma he did not regard him as a creator.
To realise inner peace or Nibbana is the be-all and end-all of every Buddhist's life. Nibbana is the total extinction of suffering or mind and matter. In this regard, some people may think nibbana is useless because of this idea of annihilation. One should not misunderstand that as soon as a person realises nibbana, his mind and matter are absolutely extinguished. A person can realise nibbana and be absorbed into inner peace during his life time. Only after a person passes away as an Arahant or a Buddha, his mind and matter absolutely extinguished. There is no way to attain Nibbana but to practise the Dhamma. If a person puts the Dhamma into practice, even if he does not realise Nibbana, he will get due benefit in accordance with his own effort. There is no need for a Buddhist to rely on others for salvation. Just by practising the Dhamma a person will be promoting his own well-being. Although a person may be a Buddhist in name, if he is lacking in practise of Dhamma, he will not get any advantage from the Dhamma.
5. Leading on to Nibbana (Opaneyyiko)
Everybody must have a goal in their life or they will be like a rudderless boat. A Buddhist always keeps in mind his resolve to realise Nibbana and when he does wholesome deeds he has that view in mind. Once a person has realised Nibbana he will never again land in the four lower worlds. If he attains at least the first stage of the path (sotapatti magga) he will, from then on, be born at most seven times in the human world or in higher Deva and Brahma realms.
All of the Buddha's teachings lead towards nibbana. By following his dana katha one extinguishes the defilements of meanness and selfishness which lead to poverty in future lives. By following his sila katha one extinguishes mental corruption which leads to pain and disease. By following his magga katha one extinguishes all defilements and attains nibbana, the end of all suffering.
What is Nibbana?
Perhaps some people think that Nibbana is a place because, in some literary works, It is compared to a golden city. Actually it is not a place or a plane of existence. It cannot be seen by the eyes but it can be known by the mind only through the knowledge of the noble path (magga nana). The way to attain this knowledge is none other than the Eightfold Noble Path. The practice of charity and morality enables one to follow this path more easily, but if anyone wishes to be free from suffering he must follow all eight aspects of this path diligently and intelligently.
6. To be comprehended by everyone for himself (Paccattam veditabbo vinnuhi)
A worldling can understand the nature of Nibbana through hearsay or learning but he cannot realise it as an ariya does. An ariya means a person who has rooted out the flames of lust, hatred or ignorance which are the root causes of suffering. He always practises the eightfold path so he attains Nibbana by his own effort. No one can pass on the supramundane results to another as one might share other kinds of merits. Even the Buddha can only explain the way to attain it. It is up to each individual to follow that way in order to become a noble one.
It is more important to practise the Dhamma than to worship the Buddha. He never encouraged any kind of personality cult, even though he won the respect and veneration of all. During the time of the Buddha a bhikkhu named Vakkali was very much impressed by the noble appearance of the Buddha and he always followed him closely, neglecting to meditate. So the Buddha said to him, "It will be of no use to you merely to look at my face. "You must practise Insight Meditation; for indeed only the one who sees the Dhamma, sees me, one who does not see the Dhamma does not see me; so you should leave my presence." Vakkali felt very depressed and attempted to commit suicide by Jumping down from the Vulture's peak. The Buddha foresaw this so he sent forth his radiance to Vakkali and made him feel his presence, appearing as if in person to him. The Buddha said, "The bhikkhu who frequently feels Joy and is devoted to the teaching of the Buddha will realise Nibbana. "(Dhp. v 381)
With the Buddha near him, Vakkali soon forgot all his sorrow, and at the end of the Buddha's words Vakkali meditated on his ecstasy and attained Arahantship.
The story shows how important it is to practise the Dhamma. The harder a person tries to practise the Dhamma, the more he will get happiness. At least he will be free from self-accusation because a person may be able to deceive others he will always know his own intention. To comprehend the Dhamma, a person should practise insight meditation.
Insight Meditation
We can find various forms of meditation which are practised by different people. According to the dictionary, meditation means considering or thinking about something. Perhaps they may think that by meditating on God they can be free from greed, hatred and ignorance etc. It is only partly right. It is like the practice of Samatha meditation which was also taught by the Buddha. The practice of Samatha is for the sake of developing tranquillity by thinking about the attributes of the Buddha, Dhamma, Samgha, one's morality, charity etc. Such meditation leads at best to rebirth in a heavenly plane of existence. Heavenly beings still possess mind and matter. As long as there is mind and matter one has to suffer physical and mental pain. Nevertheless, samatha is a necessary prerequisite for vipassana meditation because without tranquillity one cannot understand the real nature of mind and matter.
Vipassana meditation, however, is not Just thinking about something. Its purpose is to understand correctly the nature of mind and matter within oneself. Only one who understands the real nature of mind and matter by meditating knows fully about their impermanence and unsatisfactoriness. Then he has no desire for them. Being free from all defilements, he realises Nibbana and puts an end to rebirth. Therefore the word meditation alone is not sufficient to cover the full meaning of the word Vipassana Insight meditation is a suitable translation for vipassana.
Should everyone practise insight meditation?
In this world everybody seeks happiness because nobody likes suffering. So, people are making all possible efforts to be free from suffering but they are not able to achieve perfect happiness. Their efforts are mainly concerned with their physical well-being which cannot provide permanent happiness. Trying to get momentary pleasure which depends on material gain they get hardship again and again. They are like a person who has drunk salty water. The more he drinks, the more thirsty he becomes. One's mind may be easily overwhelmed by sorrow, pain and grief when one meets difficult circumstances such as association with antagonistic people, separation from loved ones, or the frustration of one's desires.
Happiness and sorrow are conditioned by mental attitudes. A sensitive mind cannot tolerate unfavourable circumstances. An unstable building cannot withstand an earthquake; it will collapse easily. In the same way a person whose mind is undeveloped will easily be upset when he has to go through hard times. So. to maintain peace and happiness, a person should develop his mind. To develop the mind, the best way is to practise insight meditation. The more one meditates, the more mature one's mind will become and then one will be able to overcome sorrow, pain and grief when they arise.
The King of the Devas' Question
One day the King of the Devas was very unhappy because he knew that he would die after only seven more days. So he went to the Buddha to ask how to overcome his unhappiness. But without exposing his personal grief, he asked a general question, "All living beings always want to get happiness but they are not free from danger and suffering. Why is that?" The Buddha replied, "They do not get happiness because they bear envy and selfishness in their minds."
Sakka, the King of the Devas, asked again, "What is the cause of envy and selfishness?" The Buddha replied, "Envy and selfishness are caused by love and hatred. If they have no love or hatred they will not fall into the error of envy and selfishness. Love and hatred are in turn dependent on craving. And craving depends on discursive thinking about sense objects." (Sakka Panha Sutta; ii. 263)
If a person sees something he is likely to perceive it as attractive or repulsive. When he considers that it is attractive, desire arises in him. If it appears repulsive, hatred will arise. So it is reflection or thinking that causes love and hatred to arise. In order to prevent love and hatred arising, when a person sees something he should note "seeing, seeing." Then there is no need to consider whether it is pretty or ugly; or even whether It is a man or a woman. In the same way one should note the other sense objects as "hearing, tasting, smelling, touching and thinking."
In order to restrain his discursive thinking a person should concentrate his mind on one object in his body. The Buddha gave a lot of methods to prevent desire and hatred from arising. To follow his way there is no need to pay respect to him. The Buddha never said that one must respect him in order to practise his teaching. So a person of any religion can practise his method.
One of his methods is to concentrate on the breath. If a person wants to meditate he should first find a quiet place. Then cross the legs comfortably; sit with the upper body erect; close the eyes; breathe steadily; and concentrate on the nostrils. When a person breathes he will feel the air which passes through his nostrils. As he breathes in he must make a note of "in" to keep his mind on the process of breathing. When he breathes out he must make a note, "out". While a person is concentrating on the in and out breaths there is no greed, hatred or delusion In his mind. So he is gaining great merit as long as he is practising.
My teacher, the Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw teaches the method of concentrating on the rising and falling of the abdomen. When a person breathes in the abdomen rises. Then he must note "rising, rising." When he breathes out the abdomen will fall. Then he must note "falling, falling." For a beginner it may be easier for him to notice the rising and falling of the abdomen than to concentrate on the in and out breaths. It is like when a blacksmith is working, he watches the bellows. He sees the rising and falling of the bellows.
At first, a meditator's mind will often wander away from the object of meditation. There is no need to worry about this. This is one of the first realisations of meditation. Before a meditator practised insight meditation he did not know the nature of the mind. Perhaps he thought he could control his mind easily. But now he finds that the mind is like a wild animal tied to a post; it struggles hard and moves round and round to get away. Because people live without trying to control their minds, when they tie it to the post of vipassana it often runs away from the object of meditation.
While a person is meditating, if his mind reaches somewhere or he imagines meeting and speaking with somebody, he should note "meeting" or "talking." When this has been noted once or twice the mind will stop wandering away and then he can go back to noting the rising and falling of the abdomen. He will find that as he practises more and more the mind will gradually become tranquil and he will get some concentration.
When a person meditates for a long time, he will encounter feelings of stiffness, heat or pain etc. Perhaps he may think that meditating causes him to suffer more because in his daily life he tried to live a life of ease, comfort and luxury. When he feels stiffness, pain or heat etc., in one body posture he changes his body to another position to ease the sensation. Until a person suffers from a serious disease he regards his body as a pleasant or useful thing. But when he is stricken by a serious disease and is close to death he cannot easily change his posture to ease the sensation. Therefore one should practise in order to be able to overcome unpleasant sensations by developing patience and endurance before he meets with such an unfavourable circumstance.
Unpleasant sensations can be overcome by systematic practice. If, while a person is meditating, unpleasant sensations become unbearable, mindfulness must be focussed on the most conspicuous pain or heat etc., and then he must note them mentally as they arise as "pain, pain" or "heat, heat." While mindfulness is applied to these various sensations of pain and discomfort, they may increase in intensity. The meditator may then wish to change his posture, but this should not be done immediately. He should make a mental note of this wish and if he has to change his posture he must do so very slowly, noting the movements involved. But a meditator should not change his posture very often. He should continue noting with patience. If patience is lacking it will take much longer to develop samadhi or tranquillity. Without tranquillity, insight knowledge will not ensue. When mindfulness and insight knowledge have grown in strength the unpleasant feeling will disappear as if it has been suddenly taken away.
A meditator should not, however, hope that great benefits will come quickly and easily. According to the maturity of one's knowledge from practice in previous lives and the degree of effort in the present life one will get due benefit. Even if he cannot realise nibbana at once his efforts will not be in vain. All his endeavours will make his knowledge ripe for full development after some years or in future lives. Therefore everyone should practise insight meditation whenever they have a chance, as no one knows when they will have such a good opportunity again.
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