"What teachings should we study and rely on? People ordain as monks, build monasteries, offer kathina robes, build pagodas - all wanting happiness. When we collect all these merits, don't we say 'Idaṃ me puññaṃ āsavakkhayaṃ vahaṃ hotu' (May this merit of mine lead to the extinction of defilements)?
We need to distinguish between true and false happiness. Human happiness, deva happiness, and brahma happiness are all false happiness. Though we call them happiness, are they free from aging, sickness, and death? No, these are temporary.
These are called:
- Puññābhisaṅkhāra (meritorious formations)
- Āneñjābhisaṅkhāra (imperturbable formations)
We need to understand these saṅkhāra (formations).
In the scriptures, we find:
- Vaṭṭa-dāna (giving that leads to continued existence)
- Vaṭṭa-sīla (morality that leads to continued existence)
- Vaṭṭa-samatha (concentration that leads to continued existence)
And their opposites:
- Vivaṭṭa-dāna (giving leading to liberation)
- Vivaṭṭa-sīla (morality leading to liberation)
- Vivaṭṭa-samatha (concentration leading to liberation)
No Buddha has ever rejected dāna (giving). So what do they reject? They reject kilesa (defilements). Don't they teach about the three cycles:
- Kilesa-vaṭṭa (cycle of defilements)
- Kamma-vaṭṭa (cycle of actions)
- Vipāka-vaṭṭa (cycle of results)
Only when these three cycles cease is there Nibbāna. This is true happiness. That's why we say 'Idaṃ me puññaṃ āsavakkhayaṃ' - may these merits lead to the cessation of āsavas.
The four āsavas (mental effluents) that must end:
1. Kāmāsava (sensual desire)
2. Bhavāsava (desire for existence)
3. Diṭṭhāsava (wrong views)
4. Avijjāsava (ignorance)
To end these āsavas, one must understand:
- Khandha (aggregates)
- Āyatana (sense bases)
- Dhātu (elements)
- Sacca (noble truths)
- Paṭiccasamuppāda (dependent origination)
Only through this understanding can the āsavas be eliminated. Isn't this worth examining thoroughly?"
This teaching emphasizes the distinction between worldly happiness and true happiness (Nibbāna), and outlines the path to achieve genuine liberation through understanding fundamental Buddhist principles.
