"We must distinguish between what needs to be understood and what needs to be abandoned regarding the khandhas. Box 2 is what needs to be understood, Box 3 is what needs to be abandoned.
When we understand the five khandhas and see anicca, one glimpse of anicca includes dukkha and anatta. By count, there are three characteristics - anicca, dukkha, anatta. But in the moment of arising, we see anicca first.
Is impermanence pleasant or suffering? When we see anicca, doesn't suffering become apparent? Can we tell that suffering 'don't come'? Can we say 'I don't want it'? Is there a 'self' in this? When we see anicca once, aren't dukkha and anatta included?
Therefore:
- The characteristic of anicca is dukkha sacca
- The characteristic of dukkha is dukkha sacca
- The characteristic of anatta is dukkha sacca
What else do we find besides suffering?
When we understand this, will craving for pleasure still arise? Isn't it taught that understanding leads to abandoning?
Regarding the five khandhas, we say 'transcending vedanā'. Can we transcend vedanā if craving arises? When dukkha sacca is fully understood, does craving still come? That's transcending vedanā - when craving doesn't arise.
The essential point is: understand it as the cessation of defilements. Can we escape the resultant vipāka? We can end defilements and prevent future khandhas, but we cannot do anything about resultant kamma.
Even the Buddha, when attaining parinibbāna in the sal grove of the Malla kings, experienced stomach illness. Though Jīvaka treated him, did the pain go away? Consider this.
Jīvaka's medicine was so potent that when thrown into the Ganges, it burst into flames and floated upstream. Such powerful medicine! Yet isn't it taught that we're bound to the cycle of existence except for hell?
People argue about this - some say it was from eating mushrooms, others say pork. But whether mushrooms or pork, the point is - this is vaṭṭa (the cycle of kamma). Isn't this worth considering?"
"In his youth, when the Bodhisatta was a doctor, there was a woman with a chronic illness. She had tried many treatments but nothing worked. She went to see the Bodhisatta doctor and said, 'Please treat my illness, doctor.'
He examined her carefully and asked about her condition. He said he could cure it, but he didn't have the medicine on hand. He would need to find it specially - it was both rare and expensive.
The woman promised to reward him well if cured. So he searched for and found the medicine, treating her properly. With just one dose, she was cured. No matter what someone says, actions speak louder than words - the proof of healing was evident in her behavior.
But when he went to collect payment, she claimed, 'The medicine worked at first, but the illness keeps coming back.' She didn't want to pay. Yet the Bodhisatta showed remarkable restraint and composure. With perfect composure, without losing his expression, he said, 'Yes, that was just ordinary medicine. You'll need root-cutting medicine to be completely sure.'
She, fearing the illness would return, asked for this stronger medicine. As a result, she got severe diarrhea and died. This was the ripening of kamma.
It wasn't because of eating pork or mushrooms - remember, except for hell, we're bound to the cycle of existence. How composed he was! He could even maintain a smile. If it were me (the monk speaking), I would have shown an angry face if someone refused to pay. I would have been upset, thinking 'After all my care, how dare they deceive me like this!'
See how different the levels of composure are? This comes from practice. We must practice both worldly and spiritual matters. Practice makes perfect, understand? Isn't this worth examining? These are essential points.
So should we still think it was because of eating pork or mushrooms? No, it was vipāka (karmic result). Except for hell, we're bound to the cycle of existence.
When the learned noble disciple understands this, having heard it, they reflect. We must avoid falling into unwholesome states. Unwholesome states must be abandoned. Conventionally, we avoid them; through wisdom, we know and abandon them. Isn't this worth studying? Think about it..."
He examined her carefully and asked about her condition. He said he could cure it, but he didn't have the medicine on hand. He would need to find it specially - it was both rare and expensive.
The woman promised to reward him well if cured. So he searched for and found the medicine, treating her properly. With just one dose, she was cured. No matter what someone says, actions speak louder than words - the proof of healing was evident in her behavior.
But when he went to collect payment, she claimed, 'The medicine worked at first, but the illness keeps coming back.' She didn't want to pay. Yet the Bodhisatta showed remarkable restraint and composure. With perfect composure, without losing his expression, he said, 'Yes, that was just ordinary medicine. You'll need root-cutting medicine to be completely sure.'
She, fearing the illness would return, asked for this stronger medicine. As a result, she got severe diarrhea and died. This was the ripening of kamma.
It wasn't because of eating pork or mushrooms - remember, except for hell, we're bound to the cycle of existence. How composed he was! He could even maintain a smile. If it were me (the monk speaking), I would have shown an angry face if someone refused to pay. I would have been upset, thinking 'After all my care, how dare they deceive me like this!'
See how different the levels of composure are? This comes from practice. We must practice both worldly and spiritual matters. Practice makes perfect, understand? Isn't this worth examining? These are essential points.
So should we still think it was because of eating pork or mushrooms? No, it was vipāka (karmic result). Except for hell, we're bound to the cycle of existence.
When the learned noble disciple understands this, having heard it, they reflect. We must avoid falling into unwholesome states. Unwholesome states must be abandoned. Conventionally, we avoid them; through wisdom, we know and abandon them. Isn't this worth studying? Think about it..."
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