Wisdom Insight Letter No. 188
Q&A 40 I have heard sense restraint as a kind of non-grasping at signs, can you elaborate on what is meant by that?
Click for Korean Letter-지혜통찰편지
This is a follow-up question from the last letter.
Q: I have heard sense restraint as a kind of non-grasping at signs, can you elaborate on what is meant by that?
A: Aiming for enlightenment as a human being or seeking a better state of mental peace involves utilizing as mature an intellect as possible. Therefore, keeping the precepts and living a moral life is the foundation. Many religions and philosophical teachings also aim at this basic point.
Dhamma practice is to understand the laws of nature based on such a moral life, and insight wisdom arises by following the flow of nature. If you cannot see objects or phenomena as they are and suppress or hold on to them, insight wisdom cannot arise.
However, wanting to hold on to something can also become an obsession while practicing. If you grasp on a sign that you have attached, you may become obsessed with maintaining it when it becomes what you want it to be, which can become an obstacle to your practice. The sign is also just a passing phenomenon, and the phenomenon changes according to the conditions, and if you grasp on to it, you will already get away from the law of nature.
To understand that everything produced by mental and matter is only a phenomenon is to realize the three characteristics of impermanence, suffering and selflessness in Buddhism.
May all practice well and reach to Magga (道, the path of enlightenment) and Phala (果, the fruit of enlightenment) in this very life!
with Metta,
Ayya Kosalla
at Brahma Vihara Meditation Center in California
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법에 대한 질문이 있으신 분은 위의 이메일 주소로 질문을 남겨주세요.
위빠사나명상의 마음관찰에 대한 논문을 한글 원본으로 읽고 싶으신 분은 클릭해서 다운로드 받을 수 있습니다. (네이버에 PDF 첨부)
The Korean Wisdom Insight Letter is here 지혜통찰편지.
Buddha Sāsanaṁ Ciraṁ Tiṭṭhatu!
May the Buddha’s teachings last a long time!
Bhavatu Sabba Sotiṁ ca Maṅgalaṁ ca!!
May everyone be led on the path of peace and blessing!!
Sādhu Sādhu Sādhu!