The Path to Breaking Free from Wrong Views" (ခန္ဓာငါးပါးကို သိမြင်ခြင်း - မိစ္ဆာဒိဋ္ဌိမှ လွတ်မြောက်ရာလမ်း)

Know the form aggregate as impermanent
Know the feeling aggregate as impermanent
Know the perception aggregate as impermanent
Know the mental formations aggregate as impermanent
Know the consciousness aggregate as impermanent

When you understand the five aggregates, #doesn't_wrong_view_fall_away? When wrong view falls away, will you still believe in creation by the four Great Brahmas, eternal God, or Vishnu? #Doesn't_doubt_cease?

Understand that the āsavas of wrong view (diṭṭhāsava) and ignorance (avijjāsava) cease, do you hear?
Isn't this worth studying?

Now, when you see impermanence,
When you know and see impermanence:

Do you find form aggregate or its absence?
Do you find feeling aggregate or its absence?
Do you find perception aggregate or its absence?
Do you find mental formations aggregate or its absence?
Do you find consciousness aggregate or its absence? - This is impermanence, knowing is the Path.

#When_nothing_remains_how_can_there_be_attachment?
There's nothing left to cling to, right?
Isn't this worth studying?
These are the essential points.

#This_teaching_is_about_breaking_free_from_attachment
That's why it's taught "All conditioned things are impermanent" (Sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā), isn't it?

"Observing Impermanence ( or ) The Path to Liberation from Craving (အနိစ္စကို ရှုခြင်း - တဏှာမှ လွတ်မြောက်ရာလမ်း)

 

Didn't the Mogok Sayadaw teach us
to observe arising and passing away of phenomena as they appear?

We must observe whatever appears,
Isn't this worth examining?

Whatever phenomenon appears:
When bad things appear - they're impermanent
When good things appear - they're impermanent
When neutral things appear - they're impermanent

#We_can_only_be_at_peace_when_we_see_impermanence

Now, aren't all these five (aggregates)
taught as arising and passing away?

What Truth is this? (It's the Truth of Suffering, Venerable Sir)
Is it a pleasant phenomenon or a suffering phenomenon?

When you truly understand it as suffering, would you still want to acquire such aggregates again?
You won't cling to the present aggregates, right?
If you don't cling to the present, will you still long for future aggregates?
#No_more_longing...

The Path to Contentment ရောင့်ရဲတင်းတိမ်မှုဆီသို့

 

The teachings we must rely on are Vipassana wisdom, the two wisdom factors of the Path (Sammā-diṭṭhi and Sammā-saṅkappa), and the three concentration factors (Sammā-vāyāma, Sammā-sati, and Sammā-samādhi). Together, these five Path factors of insight know the aggregates, sense bases, elements, Noble Truths, and Dependent Origination - that's what they know.

The objects to be observed are the five aggregates, and the observing wisdom consists of these five Path factors. When we condense the three baskets of scripture (Tipitaka), it comes down to the five aggregates. #Is_there_anything_else_to_observe_besides_these_five_aggregates?

We sit in meditation to know these aggregates, walk meditation to know these aggregates, stand to know these aggregates, and lie down to know these aggregates. We thought we were a person, but what we find is just five aggregates.

Don't we experience stiffness, aches, pains, heat, cold, itching, and numbness while meditating? These are all manifestations of the aggregates. Isn't this worth contemplating?

When sitting and feeling itchy, do you like it or not? Can you command "Don't itch while I'm meditating"? Is that "I" real or not? It's not "I" at all. Sometimes there's tingling - can you command it to stop?

Sometimes there's pressure, pain, dizziness - does it happen according to your will? Is it "I" or not? These are #manifestations_of_the_aggregates. People don't recognize this as Dhamma, you see?

Don't we need to know what the aggregates are showing us? When we examine everything closely, is it stiffness or change? Is it tingling or change? Is it pain or change? Is it pressure or change? Is it itching or change?

#Besides_the_changing_nature_and_the_knowing_nature_is_there_anything_else? There are only these two. Don't these changing phenomena cease? Doesn't the knowing also cease? This arising and passing away - what Truth is it? (It's the Truth of Suffering, Venerable Sir).

Ah, we live daily with these suffering phenomena. Only during sleep is there a break, and even then, the bhavanga consciousness doesn't know anything. From the moment we wake up, at any time we look, not one thing the aggregates show us is pleasant. Isn't this worth contemplating?

We need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of these aggregates. When we understand this, we realize:
- For clothing, it's enough just to cover ourselves modestly
- For shelter, it's enough to have protection from rain, sun, and wind
- For food, it's enough to fill the stomach
#Isn't_this_sufficient_for_contentment?

Is there any need for extra embellishments and decorations? No matter how much we decorate and beautify, can we escape aging, sickness, and death? Can we stop aging? Can we avoid sickness? Can we escape death? No, we cannot. Isn't this worth contemplating? Study this. This needs to be examined carefully.

#We_need_to_understand_this_Dhamma_every_day_and_moment. That's why the Mogok Sayadaw repeatedly reminded us: "Listen to the Dhamma with your ears, but turn your wisdom toward the aggregates."

When wisdom turns toward the aggregates, do you still find the humans, devas, and brahmas you thought existed? What you find is not humans, devas, or brahmas, but just the five aggregates. #You_only_find_aggregates. Think about this.

If so, is there anything left of what you thought existed? When this becomes crystal clear in your mind and wisdom, #is_there_anything_left_to_cling_to? No, there isn't. Isn't this worth studying?

The Three Lurking Defilements (A Thief Analogy" (ပုန်းကွယ်နေသော ကိလေသာသုံးပါး - သူခိုးဥပမာ))

When the wheel of Dependent Origination (Paṭiccasamuppāda) turns(Cycling), we need to understand...

Aren't there extremely dangerous and disruptive thieves in villages, towns, and cities?

When people watch out for these thieves, they get caught, don't they?

When they say who the thieves are, don't the villagers and townspeople know?

Then they have to be careful of those village thieves.

Now, similarly, like these thieves,

Name the three types of Kilesa Vaṭṭa (cycle of defilements):

#They_are_lurking_and_hiding

Avijjā (ignorance), Taṇhā (craving), Upādāna (clinging)

This is why we are #repeatedly_reminded

But people don't stay mindful

#They_are_wandering_carelessly

Isn't this worth investigating? Think about this...
 

Breaking Through Personality-View Through Understanding Form(ရုပ်ကို နားလည်ခြင်းဖြင့် သက္ကာယဒိဋ္ဌိ ကျော်လွှားခြင်း)

 Isn't there wrong attention (micchā manasikāra) regarding persons and beings upon the aggregates? Think about it.

In seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and knowing, #the_aggregates_are_present.

If you understand these aggregates clearly and precisely, the wrong views of clinging to humans, devas, and brahmas will fall away. #Understanding_aggregates_is_necessary.

What is seen is covered by perception (saññā). When doubt about perception is cleared, uncertainty disappears. What is seen is just visible form (rūpa-dhātu), but perception mistakes it for princes and princesses. Isn't this mistaking marks on medicine bottles?

Wrong perception is saññā-vipallāsa
Wrong knowing is citta-vipallāsa
Wrong view is diṭṭhi-vipallāsa

Personality-belief (sakkāya-diṭṭhi) arises due to wrong perception, wrong knowing, and wrong view. Therefore, what is seen is covered by perception, and doubt will only clear when perception is investigated.

When looking through the lens of wisdom at visible form:
Are you seeing a person or just visible form?
Are you seeing a deva or just visible form?
Are you seeing a brahma or just visible form?
#You_see_only_form - isn't this worth investigating?

When you truly see only visible form:
Do you still find a person?
Do you still find a deva?
Do you still find a brahma?
Do you still find princes and princesses?

Why don't you find them? Because they don't exist.
For one who truly sees and knows they don't exist,
Can they still cling? How can they cling when #there_is_nothing_to_cling_to?

Isn't this worth examining? Let's study this...

The practical approach to understanding aggregates in meditation

 Looking at all three Piṭakas, don't we find the five aggregates? Didn't the Buddha have sakkāya (personality-belief)? Did he have diṭṭhi (wrong view)? Didn't the Buddha have five aggregates? Did he have upādāna (clinging)? #Having_aggregates_but_clinging_ceased. Isn't this worth contemplating?

Then, can we trust that the five aggregates are called sakkāya? Apart from these five aggregates, is there any other sakkāya? No, there isn't. When we summarize the five aggregates, we get citta (consciousness), cetasika (mental factors), and rūpa (matter). When we further consolidate these, we get nāma (mind) and rūpa (matter). Isn't this what's called sakkāya?

#Is_it_person_or_sakkāya? Is it deva or sakkāya? Is it brahma or sakkāya? See, #person_isn't_included. Isn't this also called the five aggregates? Isn't sakkāya called the five aggregates? That's why we need to understand the aggregates.

Now, #if_we_meditate_without_understanding_aggregates_will_wrong_view_be_eliminated? If we walk meditation without understanding aggregates, will wrong view be eliminated? If we stand without understanding aggregates, will wrong view be eliminated? If we lie down without understanding aggregates, will personality-belief be eliminated? Consider this.

Now, people read books and listen to dhamma, but #don't_understand_the_meaning_of_aggregates. Looking here, reading this book, reading that book - all you get is tired eyes while wrong view remains, understand?

Your eyes are getting blurry! Isn't this worth considering? It's so simple! If you look for difficult methods, it becomes difficult. #If_you_look_for_simple_methods_it's_simple. Think about it...

Carrying wholesome kamma is called fortune

 #How_to_contemplate_aggregates_and_truths (- When dealing with the world, while traveling, when riding in cars, isn't it good to contemplate the aggregates and truths? When flying in planes, isn't it good to contemplate aggregates and truths?

With your own mind, quietly, #you_need_to_carry_this_recitation. Same when riding ships. We need references for how to deeply reflect on these words.

Have you heard about Prince Janaka, a Bodhisatta of old, who observed eight precepts for seven days in the sea when his ship sank? You've heard how the deva Mechala rescued him, right?

All other people became fish food. Did they become fish food because they had precepts or because they didn't? Look there, #observing_precepts_is_virtue. Could the fish eat him?

If you contemplate this way and die in a plane crash, #wouldn't_you_reach_a_good_destination? If dying with path consciousness, you'd become a deva noble one. Even dying in a car crash. See how #wholesome_thoughts_enter?

But nowadays, people riding planes think scattered thoughts, and in cars they chat idly like popping corn or like cotton tree leaves falling.

Isn't it worth considering carrying this recitation? If you carry it always, isn't it taught as wholesome kamma? Is wholesome kamma unfortunate or fortunate? (Fortunate, Lord)

This is called #carrying_fortune. Strive to reach this state. It's good. Carrying wholesome kamma is called fortune, you see? But now people are carrying unwholesome things. #We_need_to_transform_our_wisdom.

From Stream-Entry to Arahantship

One must understand the Four Noble Truths to become a Stream-Enterer (Sotāpanna), Once-Returner (Sakadāgāmī), Non-Returner (Anāgāmī), and Arahant. Without understanding the Four Noble Truths, can one become a Stream-Enterer? Without becoming a Stream-Enterer, can one become an Arahant? #You_must_start_with_Stream-Entry.

Isn't this worth examining? Think about it. Thinking is practicing. That's why in the middle circle of the Two Roots, what are they? (Avijjā and Taṇhā, Venerable Sir). Consider this - in the structuring of truths, isn't wrong attention included?

#Wrong_attention_leads_to_craving,_the_Truth_of_Origin. When there's a cause of origin, don't the resultant aggregates arise? #When_aggregates_arise,_can_one_escape_aging,_sickness,_and_death? What truth is this? (The Truth of Suffering, Venerable Sir). Isn't this worth examining?

We need to understand both the Truth of Origin and the Truth of Suffering. Isn't it taught that right understanding comes from truly comprehending the Truth of Suffering? Doesn't wrong view cease? #Ignorance_ceases. Isn't this the #breaking_of_Dependent_Origination_at_its_source?

Now, in the moment of seeing and hearing, arising and passing away - what truth is this? (Truth of Suffering, Venerable Sir). Can the second still lead to the third? #Isn't_the_middle_cut_off? #Doesn't_the_end_stop? This is what needs to be understood. Only through understanding can we abandon.

It's about wrong and right attention, these two. #Right_understanding_is_needed. Isn't it taught that right view comes from truly comprehending suffering? Doesn't wrong view cease? Does craving still come? Does clinging still come? Craving comes from wrong attention. Isn't it taught "Dependent on feeling, craving arises"?

When one knows feeling as impermanent, suffering, and non-self, doesn't feeling cease after being experienced? What truth is this? (Truth of Suffering, Venerable Sir). When understood this way, does craving still come? With the cessation of feeling (comes the cessation of craving, Venerable Sir).

Now, #we_wrongly_attend_to_feelings_as_being_a_person_or_being. Don't we mistake it with food and drink? That's "dependent on feeling, craving arises." When knowing it as just feeling, doesn't view fall away? Doesn't doubt cease? Doesn't it pass away after being experienced? #Do_you_find_feelings_or_find_their_absence?

Isn't it taught that absence is impermanence? Isn't understanding taught as the Path? Does craving still come? Does clinging still come? Don't the taints of sensuality and becoming cease? When feeling is understood, the taints of views and ignorance cease.

When the characteristic of impermanence and Truth of Suffering are understood, don't the taints of sensuality and becoming cease? Don't all four taints end? When they end, doesn't the Truth of Origin die? Doesn't the cycle of aggregates end? #This_is_the_Truth_of_Cessation.