How proper analysis of experience in terms of the five aggregates leads to the elimination of wrong view and doubt.
"#To_know_khandhas_we_must_analyze_khandhas_and_truths, understand? How do we analyze khandhas?
When seeing something improper through the eye, doesn't anger arise? Sometimes thinking 'seeing them must be due to past connections' - #that's_greed_defilement. 'I hate seeing them' - #that's_hatred_defilement. Is this known or unknown? Not knowing is #delusion_defilement.
When there's defilement cycle (kilesavaṭṭa), doesn't kamma cycle come? When kamma cycle comes, doesn't resultant cycle follow? Birth, aging, death... Isn't this worth examining? #The_key_is_cessation_of_defilement_cycle.
Therefore mindfulness when seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, thinking - isn't mindfulness-wisdom taught as like a fortress and spear?
With mindfulness, what's seen - #person_or_visible_form? Man or woman, or visible form? Devas and brahmas, or visible form?
Isn't seeing consciousness taught as cakkhu-viññāṇa? Does consciousness arise alone? Aren't feeling, perception, volition present? Is the experience of form a person or feeling? Deva or feeling? Brahma or feeling?
When feeling is seen, are people, devas, brahmas still found? Why not? (Because they don't exist, Lord).
Is perception of form a person or perception? Deva or perception? Brahma or perception? Only perception is found.
What urges experiencing and perceiving - person or volition? Deva or volition? Brahma or volition?
When feeling, perception, volition combine, don't we have four mental aggregates? Only with these four does seeing consciousness arise.
#Are_they_beings_or_five_aggregates? When beings aren't found, are improper thoughts still found? Is 'past connection' still found? Is hatred still found? Why not? (Because they don't exist, Lord).
#What's_found_is_five_aggregates - #the_object_of_observation. When aggregates are analyzed and only five aggregates are found, not beings, #doesn't_wrong_view_fall_away? #Don't_doubts_cease?
This is how to analyze aggregates. #Knowledge_enables_abandoning. Isn't this worth considering?"
Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.
When seeing something improper through the eye, doesn't anger arise? Sometimes thinking 'seeing them must be due to past connections' - #that's_greed_defilement. 'I hate seeing them' - #that's_hatred_defilement. Is this known or unknown? Not knowing is #delusion_defilement.
When there's defilement cycle (kilesavaṭṭa), doesn't kamma cycle come? When kamma cycle comes, doesn't resultant cycle follow? Birth, aging, death... Isn't this worth examining? #The_key_is_cessation_of_defilement_cycle.
Therefore mindfulness when seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, thinking - isn't mindfulness-wisdom taught as like a fortress and spear?
With mindfulness, what's seen - #person_or_visible_form? Man or woman, or visible form? Devas and brahmas, or visible form?
Isn't seeing consciousness taught as cakkhu-viññāṇa? Does consciousness arise alone? Aren't feeling, perception, volition present? Is the experience of form a person or feeling? Deva or feeling? Brahma or feeling?
When feeling is seen, are people, devas, brahmas still found? Why not? (Because they don't exist, Lord).
Is perception of form a person or perception? Deva or perception? Brahma or perception? Only perception is found.
What urges experiencing and perceiving - person or volition? Deva or volition? Brahma or volition?
When feeling, perception, volition combine, don't we have four mental aggregates? Only with these four does seeing consciousness arise.
#Are_they_beings_or_five_aggregates? When beings aren't found, are improper thoughts still found? Is 'past connection' still found? Is hatred still found? Why not? (Because they don't exist, Lord).
#What's_found_is_five_aggregates - #the_object_of_observation. When aggregates are analyzed and only five aggregates are found, not beings, #doesn't_wrong_view_fall_away? #Don't_doubts_cease?
This is how to analyze aggregates. #Knowledge_enables_abandoning. Isn't this worth considering?"
Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.
Clinging
Craving
The Cycle of Birth and Death
How transforming our approach to difficult situations like debt collection can lead to merit rather than unwholesome states.
"#One_needs_much_wisdom regarding matters of kamma. In the world, whether in random encounters, trade, or employment, aren't there always exchanges between people?
When dealing with those who owe us or those we owe, #unwholesome_states_often_arise. When someone borrows money or buys on credit, don't we have to collect when the time comes?
When repeatedly asking, they get angry - wholesome or unwholesome? When we don't receive payment and get angry - wholesome or unwholesome? #These_are_unwholesome_states.
#The_method_of_collecting_debt needs wisdom too. In our region, about 30 miles from Gangaw town, in a small village of 700-800 houses, U Ba San and Daw Kwe Aye... After about six months or a year, they went to collect...
'Are you all in trouble now?' When asked about their situation, 'Uncle, we've been trying to find money to pay. We just can't find it.' 'Well, if you can't pay, that's alright. Just stay peaceful, stay peaceful.'
Doesn't the creditor find peace this way? Could #today's_Dhamma_listeners do this? No, even I (the monk) couldn't. I think about going to collect ten thousand kyats owed, for example.
After a year, if interest was charged at 1.5%, the interest alone would be over five thousand. 'What's wrong with you all? Have some empathy' - shouldn't we say this? But then does this bring peace or suffering? Is our tone wholesome or unwholesome? #When_debt_isn't_paid_unwholesome_states_arise.
When they say they can't pay and ask to stay peaceful, #though_money_isn't_received_doesn't_merit_arise? Now people make merit offering ten or twenty thousand in alms.
#Making_others_peaceful_is_meritorious. That's why learning and wisdom are like paint creating patterns. Merit arises. Looking at the year's accounts in business, don't some make five or ten hundred thousand profit? Though that debt wasn't collected, #looking_at_the_year's_end_there's_even_more.
#Intention_brings_corresponding_results. Isn't it taught 'Cetanāhaṃ bhikkhave kammaṃ vadāmi' - I declare intention is kamma? Notice it's taught as intention..."
Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.
When dealing with those who owe us or those we owe, #unwholesome_states_often_arise. When someone borrows money or buys on credit, don't we have to collect when the time comes?
When repeatedly asking, they get angry - wholesome or unwholesome? When we don't receive payment and get angry - wholesome or unwholesome? #These_are_unwholesome_states.
#The_method_of_collecting_debt needs wisdom too. In our region, about 30 miles from Gangaw town, in a small village of 700-800 houses, U Ba San and Daw Kwe Aye... After about six months or a year, they went to collect...
'Are you all in trouble now?' When asked about their situation, 'Uncle, we've been trying to find money to pay. We just can't find it.' 'Well, if you can't pay, that's alright. Just stay peaceful, stay peaceful.'
Doesn't the creditor find peace this way? Could #today's_Dhamma_listeners do this? No, even I (the monk) couldn't. I think about going to collect ten thousand kyats owed, for example.
After a year, if interest was charged at 1.5%, the interest alone would be over five thousand. 'What's wrong with you all? Have some empathy' - shouldn't we say this? But then does this bring peace or suffering? Is our tone wholesome or unwholesome? #When_debt_isn't_paid_unwholesome_states_arise.
When they say they can't pay and ask to stay peaceful, #though_money_isn't_received_doesn't_merit_arise? Now people make merit offering ten or twenty thousand in alms.
#Making_others_peaceful_is_meritorious. That's why learning and wisdom are like paint creating patterns. Merit arises. Looking at the year's accounts in business, don't some make five or ten hundred thousand profit? Though that debt wasn't collected, #looking_at_the_year's_end_there's_even_more.
#Intention_brings_corresponding_results. Isn't it taught 'Cetanāhaṃ bhikkhave kammaṃ vadāmi' - I declare intention is kamma? Notice it's taught as intention..."
Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.
The nature of aggregates (khandhas) and how this understanding leads to liberation through the cessation of craving, clinging, and kamma.
"Looking at the Three Baskets collectively, aren't five aggregates taught? Didn't the Buddha have sakkāya (personality-belief)? Did he have wrong view? Didn't the Buddha have five aggregates? Did he have attachment? #Having_aggregates_but_attachment_ceased. Isn't this worth examining?
Consider stream-enterers like Visākhā and Anāthapiṇḍika - didn't they live happily with spouses, enjoying children and grandchildren?
Is this enjoyment beings or feeling (vedanā)? #It's_vedanā. Is it Visākhā or vedanā? #Don't_we_need_to_know_it_as_vedanā? When that vedanā is pleasant, doesn't craving arise? Is it Visākhā or craving? Isn't this worth considering?
When vedanā is clearly understood, perception, formations, and consciousness can also be understood, along with material form. Consider this.
When they eat, dress, or engage in activities, doesn't craving for enjoyment arise? This liking, wanting - #is_it_person_or_craving? Self or craving? Isn't craving taught as personality-belief? Then #doesn't_wrong_view_fall_away?
When craving arises, doesn't it cease? Do you find craving or its absence? #Isn't_seeing_impermanence_as_non-existence_taught_as_path? Does craving arise again? Without craving, can clinging arise?
Without clinging, can kamma arise? #Don't_three_types_of_dependent_origination_cease? Dependent origination of craving, clinging, and kamma - all three cease.
When they cease, doesn't the cycle of aggregates end? #Isn't_this_taught_as_the_truth_of_cessation? This is why we listen to Dhamma, practice meditation, practice walking meditation - #to_understand_the_aggregates..."
Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.
Consider stream-enterers like Visākhā and Anāthapiṇḍika - didn't they live happily with spouses, enjoying children and grandchildren?
Is this enjoyment beings or feeling (vedanā)? #It's_vedanā. Is it Visākhā or vedanā? #Don't_we_need_to_know_it_as_vedanā? When that vedanā is pleasant, doesn't craving arise? Is it Visākhā or craving? Isn't this worth considering?
When vedanā is clearly understood, perception, formations, and consciousness can also be understood, along with material form. Consider this.
When they eat, dress, or engage in activities, doesn't craving for enjoyment arise? This liking, wanting - #is_it_person_or_craving? Self or craving? Isn't craving taught as personality-belief? Then #doesn't_wrong_view_fall_away?
When craving arises, doesn't it cease? Do you find craving or its absence? #Isn't_seeing_impermanence_as_non-existence_taught_as_path? Does craving arise again? Without craving, can clinging arise?
Without clinging, can kamma arise? #Don't_three_types_of_dependent_origination_cease? Dependent origination of craving, clinging, and kamma - all three cease.
When they cease, doesn't the cycle of aggregates end? #Isn't_this_taught_as_the_truth_of_cessation? This is why we listen to Dhamma, practice meditation, practice walking meditation - #to_understand_the_aggregates..."
Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.
How our responses to difficult situations can transform unwholesome states into opportunities for merit through proper understanding and attitude.
"Now when collecting debts, if one can't collect, doesn't the thought 'I'll report to police' arise? Is this wholesome or unwholesome? #It's_unwholesome, understand?
Look at a thermos - put hot water in, isn't it hot? Put cold water in, doesn't it become cold?
Like the thermos example, when collecting debt: 'You're in trouble now!' 'What's wrong?' 'U Ba San, I've been trying to find money to pay you. I just can't find it.' 'If you can't, that's okay. Just stay peaceful.' 'Don't worry about it, stay peaceful' - isn't that what's said?
Like #pouring_cold_water_on_burning_coals, doesn't it cool down? The heat of 'when will they pay?' When they come to collect, can you pay or not? Doesn't worry arise? #It's_burning. When told 'stay peaceful,' isn't it like pouring cool water?
Even if they don't get their money, looking at the year's end, doesn't it increase? Doesn't merit arise? #Don't_people_even_deliberately_make_donations? Like paint falling creates a pattern, having this learning and wisdom, doing meritorious deeds, doesn't it gradually increase? That's why hearing leads to fulfillment of the ear, fulfillment leads to Dhamma.
Therefore, isn't it taught to have faith in kamma and its results? 'Cetanāhaṃ bhikkhave kammaṃ vadāmi' - intention determines karmic results, isn't that taught? While the mouth speaks of intention, if there's no #faith_in_the_heart, it's empty, understand? Isn't this worth examining? These are the essential points..."
Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.
Look at a thermos - put hot water in, isn't it hot? Put cold water in, doesn't it become cold?
Like the thermos example, when collecting debt: 'You're in trouble now!' 'What's wrong?' 'U Ba San, I've been trying to find money to pay you. I just can't find it.' 'If you can't, that's okay. Just stay peaceful.' 'Don't worry about it, stay peaceful' - isn't that what's said?
Like #pouring_cold_water_on_burning_coals, doesn't it cool down? The heat of 'when will they pay?' When they come to collect, can you pay or not? Doesn't worry arise? #It's_burning. When told 'stay peaceful,' isn't it like pouring cool water?
Even if they don't get their money, looking at the year's end, doesn't it increase? Doesn't merit arise? #Don't_people_even_deliberately_make_donations? Like paint falling creates a pattern, having this learning and wisdom, doing meritorious deeds, doesn't it gradually increase? That's why hearing leads to fulfillment of the ear, fulfillment leads to Dhamma.
Therefore, isn't it taught to have faith in kamma and its results? 'Cetanāhaṃ bhikkhave kammaṃ vadāmi' - intention determines karmic results, isn't that taught? While the mouth speaks of intention, if there's no #faith_in_the_heart, it's empty, understand? Isn't this worth examining? These are the essential points..."
Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.
The Bimaran Stupa Inscription: A Golden Relic of Gandharan Buddhism
Discovery by Charles Masson (1834–1837 CE / 2377–2380 BE)
While excavating Stupa No. 2 at Bimaran, Afghanistan, British explorer Charles Masson uncovered:
A gold reliquary depicting the Buddha flanked by Brahma and Indra.
A steatite casket with two Kharoṣṭhī inscriptions.
Coins of Indo-Scythian king Azes II (r. ~35–12 BCE), dating the relics to ~50 BCE (500 BE).
The Inscriptions: A Donor’s Devotion
1. Around the Casket:
"This religious gift of Śivarakṣita, son of Muñjavāda, is enshrined in honor of the Blessed One’s relics and for the worship of all Buddhas."
"This religious gift of Śivarakṣita, son of Muñjavāda, is enshrined in honor of the Blessed One’s relics and for the worship of all Buddhas."
2. On the Lid:
"Relics of the Bhagavān [Buddha], donated by Śivarakṣita, son of Muñjavāda."
"Relics of the Bhagavān [Buddha], donated by Śivarakṣita, son of Muñjavāda."
Key Details:
Donor: Śivarakṣita, a layman from the Muñjavāda clan (possibly a merchant or official).
Language: Hybrid Sanskrit-Prakrit in Kharoṣṭhī script—common in Gandharan Buddhism.
Purpose: Merit-making for the donor’s family and all beings.
Why This Matters
Earliest Buddha Image?
The gold reliquary’s anthropomorphic Buddha (rare before 1st c. CE) suggests Greco-Buddhist art began earlier than thought.
Indo-Scythian Context:
Azes II’s coins confirm the stupa’s 1st-century BCE date, bridging Scythian and Kushan Buddhist patronage.
Tragic Loss:
The Taliban destroyed Bimaran Stupa in the 1990s—making Masson’s finds (now in the British Museum) irreplaceable.
Earliest Buddha Image?
The gold reliquary’s anthropomorphic Buddha (rare before 1st c. CE) suggests Greco-Buddhist art began earlier than thought.
Indo-Scythian Context:
Azes II’s coins confirm the stupa’s 1st-century BCE date, bridging Scythian and Kushan Buddhist patronage.
Tragic Loss:
The Taliban destroyed Bimaran Stupa in the 1990s—making Masson’s finds (now in the British Museum) irreplaceable.
Azes II & the "Forgotten" Buddhist Kings
The Indo-Scythians (Śakas), though nomadic invaders, embraced Buddhism—Azes II’s era saw:
Construction of Bimaran and Butkara Stupas.
Fusion of Greek, Persian, and Indian art styles.
Did You Know? The reliquary’s Buddha-Brahma-Indra triad mirrors Hindu iconography—showing early interfaith dialogue.
(Source: Buddhist Art of Gandhara, W. Zwalf, 1996)
Perception and reality
"#Must_have_faith_in_kamma, #must_rely_on_wisdom. Wisdom means knowing the aggregates, sense bases, elements, truths, and dependent origination. 'Patience is the highest austerity.'
Let's examine through conventional truth and consciousness-seeing: When someone speaks harmful words to us, don't we exist as recipients? Look at the body - does the flesh diminish? If not, is there need for anger? Can it hurt like a needle? Is there need for anger? #This_is_conventional_truth.
From ultimate truth and wisdom-seeing perspective, examining the Three Baskets, don't we find five aggregates? #In_the_five_aggregates_isn't_form_included? Form of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and mental objects, along with heart-base and mind-objects.
Didn't the Buddha teach that this material form is like a bubble in a stream? If we see, hear, and know it as a bubble, do we still find anything to love or hate? #Free_from_love_and_hate.
In that freedom, does this bubble have any essence? When struck, doesn't it #burst_and_become_water? It came from water, returns to water. Consider this.
Understand this water metaphor: Take a newborn, five days old, who dies. Leave it through Tagu-Kason (April-May). After three-four days, doesn't it all turn to liquid? Nothing remains.
Does anything of that child remain? All becomes liquid. #Isn't_it_taught_starting_from_kalala_fluid? Think about it. Examining like this, will there still be attachment to permanence? No.
Let's examine through conventional truth and consciousness-seeing: When someone speaks harmful words to us, don't we exist as recipients? Look at the body - does the flesh diminish? If not, is there need for anger? Can it hurt like a needle? Is there need for anger? #This_is_conventional_truth.
From ultimate truth and wisdom-seeing perspective, examining the Three Baskets, don't we find five aggregates? #In_the_five_aggregates_isn't_form_included? Form of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and mental objects, along with heart-base and mind-objects.
Didn't the Buddha teach that this material form is like a bubble in a stream? If we see, hear, and know it as a bubble, do we still find anything to love or hate? #Free_from_love_and_hate.
In that freedom, does this bubble have any essence? When struck, doesn't it #burst_and_become_water? It came from water, returns to water. Consider this.
Understand this water metaphor: Take a newborn, five days old, who dies. Leave it through Tagu-Kason (April-May). After three-four days, doesn't it all turn to liquid? Nothing remains.
Does anything of that child remain? All becomes liquid. #Isn't_it_taught_starting_from_kalala_fluid? Think about it. Examining like this, will there still be attachment to permanence? No.
"Therefore, for vipassana wisdom and path wisdom, #one_must_know_each_form_and_mind_to_reach_voidness. Search in form - do you find beings? Search in mind - do you find beings? What's found: #beings_or_mind_and_matter?
Perception covers what's seen. Isn't it taught that doubt is cleared by investigating perception? We see color-form, but perception says 'princess,' 'prince.' Then doesn't 'karmic connection' arise? Doesn't 'pleasant sound' arise? Consider this.
When seeing 'karmic connection,' does it occur in form-aggregate or in the concept of prince/princess? #We_see_through_the_concept_of_prince/princess, through the concept of beings, through the concept of male/female. That's why we find 'karmic connection.'
When hearing a sound, doesn't aversion arise? Does this aversion occur in sound-aggregate or in the concept of being? #It_occurs_in_the_concept_of_being. Perception covers what's heard. Isn't it taught that doubt is cleared by investigating perception?
We hear sound, but perception says 'being,' perception says 'insult.' We get angry because we hear 'insult.' #If_we_hear_'sound'_would_we_get_angry? Consider this. Isn't it taught that perception covers what's heard, and doubt is cleared by investigating perception?
Isn't it taught 'mindfulness when seeing, mindfulness when hearing'? With mindfulness in front, #is_it_person_or_sound? Beings or sound? Princess/prince or sound? Male/female or sound? #Just_sound.
Don't we find ear-consciousness as mind-phenomenon? Sound as material phenomenon? Two things: mind and matter. Beings or mind-matter? Persons or mind-matter? Princess/prince or mind-matter? #With_mind-matter_isn't_it_right_attention?
Consider what the Mogok Sayadaw taught: 'Ear receives Dhamma, wisdom turns to aggregates.' So #mind-matter_is_aggregates. Consider this.
Sound is form-aggregate, knowing consciousness is ear-consciousness - consciousness-aggregate. Turning to aggregates like this, do you still find beings? Princess/prince? Persons? #What's_found_is_mind_and_matter.
Finding mind-matter, do you find princess/prince? Beings? Why not? (Because they don't exist, Lord). If they don't exist, do you still find pleasantness in their sound? Do you still find harshness? Consider this carefully..."
Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.
Perception covers what's seen. Isn't it taught that doubt is cleared by investigating perception? We see color-form, but perception says 'princess,' 'prince.' Then doesn't 'karmic connection' arise? Doesn't 'pleasant sound' arise? Consider this.
When seeing 'karmic connection,' does it occur in form-aggregate or in the concept of prince/princess? #We_see_through_the_concept_of_prince/princess, through the concept of beings, through the concept of male/female. That's why we find 'karmic connection.'
When hearing a sound, doesn't aversion arise? Does this aversion occur in sound-aggregate or in the concept of being? #It_occurs_in_the_concept_of_being. Perception covers what's heard. Isn't it taught that doubt is cleared by investigating perception?
We hear sound, but perception says 'being,' perception says 'insult.' We get angry because we hear 'insult.' #If_we_hear_'sound'_would_we_get_angry? Consider this. Isn't it taught that perception covers what's heard, and doubt is cleared by investigating perception?
Isn't it taught 'mindfulness when seeing, mindfulness when hearing'? With mindfulness in front, #is_it_person_or_sound? Beings or sound? Princess/prince or sound? Male/female or sound? #Just_sound.
Don't we find ear-consciousness as mind-phenomenon? Sound as material phenomenon? Two things: mind and matter. Beings or mind-matter? Persons or mind-matter? Princess/prince or mind-matter? #With_mind-matter_isn't_it_right_attention?
Consider what the Mogok Sayadaw taught: 'Ear receives Dhamma, wisdom turns to aggregates.' So #mind-matter_is_aggregates. Consider this.
Sound is form-aggregate, knowing consciousness is ear-consciousness - consciousness-aggregate. Turning to aggregates like this, do you still find beings? Princess/prince? Persons? #What's_found_is_mind_and_matter.
Finding mind-matter, do you find princess/prince? Beings? Why not? (Because they don't exist, Lord). If they don't exist, do you still find pleasantness in their sound? Do you still find harshness? Consider this carefully..."
Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.
No-Self ,nonpermanent ,the five aggregates and identity-view
"When examining the six sense doors and aggregates, do you find various humans, devas, brahmas, animals, and hungry ghosts, or do you find the five aggregates? Is it because beings aren't found that they don't exist? (Yes, Lord)
#If_they_don't_exist_why_cling_to_humans_devas_brahmas? What we find isn't beings but the five aggregates. Isn't it worth examining how these five aggregates exist?
What's the nature of the form aggregate? (The nature of change and destruction, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find form or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?
What's the nature of the feeling aggregate? (The nature of experiencing, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find feeling or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?
What's the nature of the perception aggregate? (The nature of recognition, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find perception or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?
What's the nature of the formations aggregate? (The nature of volition, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find formations or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?
What's the nature of the consciousness aggregate? (The nature of knowing, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find consciousness or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?
Since beings never existed from the start, is there anything to cling to? The aggregates that seem to exist - don't they arise and pass away? Can they be clung to? Like this, #doesn't_identity_view_fall_away?
This requires faith. #With_faith_and_practice_breakthrough_comes_quickly. Consider this.
Distinguish between what appears and what's found. What appears is beings, what's found is five aggregates. What appears is beings, what's found is mind, mental factors, and matter. What appears is beings, what's found is mind and matter.
With this faith, practicing diligently, isn't it taught you can attain in the morning what you practice in the evening, or attain in the evening what you practice in the morning? Within seven days perhaps. This is essential. #This_needs_repeated_repeated_study..."
Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.
#If_they_don't_exist_why_cling_to_humans_devas_brahmas? What we find isn't beings but the five aggregates. Isn't it worth examining how these five aggregates exist?
What's the nature of the form aggregate? (The nature of change and destruction, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find form or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?
What's the nature of the feeling aggregate? (The nature of experiencing, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find feeling or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?
What's the nature of the perception aggregate? (The nature of recognition, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find perception or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?
What's the nature of the formations aggregate? (The nature of volition, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find formations or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?
What's the nature of the consciousness aggregate? (The nature of knowing, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find consciousness or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?
Since beings never existed from the start, is there anything to cling to? The aggregates that seem to exist - don't they arise and pass away? Can they be clung to? Like this, #doesn't_identity_view_fall_away?
This requires faith. #With_faith_and_practice_breakthrough_comes_quickly. Consider this.
Distinguish between what appears and what's found. What appears is beings, what's found is five aggregates. What appears is beings, what's found is mind, mental factors, and matter. What appears is beings, what's found is mind and matter.
With this faith, practicing diligently, isn't it taught you can attain in the morning what you practice in the evening, or attain in the evening what you practice in the morning? Within seven days perhaps. This is essential. #This_needs_repeated_repeated_study..."
Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.
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