The Teachings of Ajahn Suchart.
12 February 2023
Question: In life, we often run away from emptiness by buying things or eating things but in meditation, it's a place for peace and a place to embrace.
Than Ajahn: Yes, peace and happiness. True peace and happiness is the emptiness. The Buddha said nibbāna is the absolute emptiness. There's no thing, not even the body. Just the mind alone by itself, and there is no defilement either. No defilement, no greed, hate or delusion.
Student: And we can rest in it.
Than Ajahn: Yes, your mind will be at ease in that position. It’s a natural position. You don't have to act.
It's just a natural place for the mind to be.
But you have to go through the resistance of the defilement. The defilement doesn't want you to go into emptiness. The defilement wants you to go to the sensual objects, to see, to hear, to drink, to eat, and to socialise, so you have to fight against these obstacles.
Student: It's a very big battle, Than Ajahn.
Than Ajahn: Yeah, sensual pleasure is one of the obstacles that prevent you from going into emptiness. One of the five hindrances is the sensual pleasure desire. So you have to keep the eight precepts because the eight precepts will force you not to go after any sensual objects. Okay?
Student: Thank you.
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Question: Are samādhi and paññā together?
Than Ajahn: Yes, together, then you can get rid of your defilements. You cannot have one or the other to get rid of your defilements. You need both. You need samādhi to support your wisdom (paññā).
Student: Why are defilements so profound?
Than Ajahn: Because it’s deep rooted in your mind, so it takes a lot of effort and energy to extract the defilements from your mind. So you need wisdom and you need upekkhā from samādhi to do it.
Delusion is like darkness, while paññā is like the light. When there is light, then darkness disappears.
When you see aniccaṁ, dukkhaṁ, anattā, then delusion disappears. If you don't see aniccaṁ, dukkhaṁ, anattā, you will be in the dark, you’d think that everything belongs to you.
Student: There are wars everywhere, in Russia, China, Japan, etc. The world is very catastrophic. The world is not good for me.
Than Ajahn: Yes. The world is dukkha. So it’s better not be born in this world.
Student: Yes. The world is like a stove.
Than Ajahn: A stove. Very hot. A bonfire.
Student: But paññā is superior.
Than Ajahn: Yes, paññā will solve all your problems with the support of your samādhi. Without samādhi, you cannot use paññā to solve your problems.
“Dhamma in English, May 31, 2022.”
By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
YouTube: Dhamma in English.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_BnRZmNgECsJGS31F495g
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