"Haven't there been as many Buddhas as grains of sand in the Ganges? Isn't it taught that under one Buddha alone, 24 asankheyyas and 80 kotis of beings attained liberation? Under just one Buddha, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges.
Have any of today's Dhamma listeners met these countless Buddhas? Even I haven't met them. Isn't it worth examining where these beings are? #They_are_in_hell. That's how long the hell realm's lifespan is.
#When_one_falls_into_hell_they_miss_encountering_many_Buddhas. Isn't this worth contemplating? Isn't the hell realm's lifespan extremely long if we haven't met so many Buddhas? Yes, it is. How frightening!
These karmic debts, if not cleared through Vipassana insight and Path knowledge, must be paid with one's body, understand? Even paying with one's body, can these debts be cleared? No, they cannot. Isn't this worth contemplating?
To understand if debts can be cleared, consider this: If someone is stabbed with a needle or sword, if someone is tied up and tortured - would the victim have good thoughts or anger? Would they be pleased or displeased? Is that displeasure wholesome or unwholesome? See, #How_much_unwholesomeness_accumulates!
Can these debts be cleared through:
- Dana (giving)?
- Sila (morality)?
- Samatha (concentration)?
- Paying with one's shoulder?
- Paying with one's flesh?
No, they cannot.
#Only_Vipassana_Path_and_Fruition_knowledge can clear these debts. These insights can only be heard when a Buddha appears. Without a Buddha, how can we hear about these insights?
The knowledge of:
- Five aggregates
- Twelve sense bases
- Eighteen elements
- Four Noble Truths
- Dependent Origination
Isn't it taught as Right View, Right Thought, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration? These are the five factors of insight.
The objects of insight are:
- Five aggregates
- Twelve sense bases
- Eighteen elements
- Four Noble Truths
- Twelve links of Dependent Origination
#Understanding_any_of_these_clears_the_debt
Haven't we heard of Venerable Rahula attaining liberation through understanding just the earth element? Through just one element! Aren't there those who attained liberation through understanding just feeling? Or just consciousness? Isn't this worth examining?
Therefore, one needs to understand the aggregates, the truths, and Dependent Origination. That's why we need Kammassakatā Sammādiṭṭhi - faith in kamma and its results.
All these accumulated unwholesome actions - if Vipassana insight and Path knowledge arise, all these debts are cleared. Doesn't Angulimala serve as proof? How clear is this example!
The unwholesome actions we've done are as vast as the universe. Without Vipassana insight and Path knowledge, these debts cannot be cleared. Therefore, #We_must_strive_to_understand_this_Dhamma with faith. Can we afford to be heedless? No, we cannot."
