With developed interest, they will someday be able to appreciate the Teachings of the Buddha on impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and non-self. By examining thoughts, forms, feelings, and so on, they will soon discover that there is no 'self’ running things but that things come about according to cause and effect. This discovering for confirmation of the Truth of the nature of things, that they are impermanent, suffering-filled, and without a permanent ego or self, is the arising of wisdom. It will help them to see existence from a different point of view, and so their clinging and attachments to the Aggregates will be gradually reduced.
The main purpose of one’s spiritual practice is to try to attain this wisdom so as to be able to see the truths of the continuous manifestations of the body and mind! Each day may not seem so different to some people, but to others, every hour, every moment, can be unbearable because of changes, because of this lack of wisdom. Since they are unable to perceive that both body and mind are subject to change, unsatisfactory, and without a permanent entity, they are easily subject to grave pains and disappointment when things that are dear to them break up or disappear. The heart of practice is therefore to learn to realise that all compounded things are impermanent in nature.
Those who would like to attain this wisdom have to learn to sit and train their minds to understand the characteristics of all compounded things. Therefore, this Order has been formed for the purpose of training the minds of those who end up sitting on one of the cushions. They not only learn how to sit for long hours, but they also learn how to listen and then how to think or contemplate on what has been heard. Although prayers are recited and seem to be the main training, yet it is not! Prayers are important, but without the ability to sit and to concentrate, the quality of prayers would be nothing.
It can be said that those who will seriously practise here will find inner satisfaction in their practice, as few other places of worship can offer. This is because they have the opportunity to sit, and through sitting in contemplation, many virtues can be cultivated. What can one do with the mind when one is seated? Thoughts must come by, and they will be analysed, and then concentration will be developed. A concentrated mind is one of the best assets of life, as mindfulness and wisdom can arise from it!
Many of those who come with emotional problems are suffering because they have not learned how to see things as they arise. Broken marriages result mainly as a result of selfish cravings on the part of one of the parties. A person who suffers from this clinging to sensual pleasures is not likely to learn to sit and contemplate on his or her problems and weaknesses. The other party who is hurt will have all the time to think because he or she is desperately trying to save the marriage. Those who come to seek counselling are generally the ‘hurt’ parties.
It takes great skill to handle people who are suffering emotionally. Negative thoughts will cause them to seek vengeance or to do anything to salvage the situation. It is not easy to reason with desperate people who are suffering from fear, anger, and loss. It is more difficult to speak to those who hold the idea that death is the best means of ending the situation. But they are before you, and you are not an expert in marriage counselling, so what is to be done?
If you will spend more time to examine the Aggregates with a concentrated mind and are able to clearly see the impermanent nature of all things, you will develop skilful means to help them see the truth and to become less emotionally hurt. This applies to all other sufferings of body and mind. Their answers can be found through contemplative practice.
Thursday, 21st April 1988 (3rd Moon 5th Day)