BY ASHIN NYANISSARA
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Sermon on the Noble Truth preached by Sabaik Aing Sayadaw Ashin Nyanissara on the occasion of the alms-offering ceremony of food and robes held by the family of Ko Kyaw Khin Myint and Ma Khin Khin Sein at 6 am on the 25th. October 1983 at 134, Shwebontha Street, Rangoon. |
Two Types of Desire
In making a gift of charity, there is one thing to our liking. What is that one thing we like? A gift of charity made for liberation is better than any other one motivated by a desire for enjoyment of some kind.
Desire for enjoyment and desire for liberation; of these two the latter is no offence while the former is not free from an offence.
According to our scriptures enjoyment means Vedana (feeling).
Ledi Sayadaw is quoted as saying in his discourse on Five-Khandha (five aggregates of mind and matter) that enjoyment or self-gratification is Vedana (feeling) and that these two (enjoyment and self-gratification) must be treated as Vedana or Vedanakkhandha (aggregate of feeling).
It follows therefore that if a very good meritorious deed is accompanied by a desire for enjoyment or self-gratification it must be said, in the ultimate sense, that that desire is for Vedana only.
So, to-day we would advise you, Upasaka Ko Kyaw Khin Myint and Upasaki Ma Khin Khin Sein, to see that this noble act of merit in offering food and robes to the Buddha and members of His Sangha today is not motivated by a desire for enjoyment or for self-gratification but purely for liberation.
Why we say so? As already stated above enjoyment or self-gratification is Vedana according to Ledi Sayadaw's interpretation in his discourse on five Khandha:-
Viz: "Enjoyment or self-gratification is Vedana (feeling) and these two (enjoyment and self-gratification) must be treated as Vedana or Khandha (Vedanakkhandha)". Enjoyment or self-gratification means Vedana only.
Dukkha Vedana-Dukkha Sacca
(Feeling of Suffering or Pain) Noble Truth of Suffering (or Pain)
After making a gift of charity, if you, Kyaw Khin Myint want Vedana, you will get into Paticcasamuppada (The law of dependant origination otherwise known as the law of cause and effect).
Vedana Paccaya Tanha
It means that Vedana (feeling) gives rise to Tanha (craving or craving desire). Vedana coexists with Tanha.
It is clear that Sukha Vedana (Pleasant feeling) also coexists with Tanha. The same applies to Dukkha vedana (unpleasant or painful feeling). Why so? Because the Pali text says:
Dukkhisukkham Pattiyati
This means that a poor man is badly in need of wealth; he always longs for it (or craves for it>
A man of wealth also longs for more wealth always.
Paying little or no attention to his Dukkha Vedana, the poor man longs for Sukkha which he is in need of.
It will be seen, therefore, that a gift of charity motivated by a desire for enjoyment or self-gratification must be one made as a result of misunderstanding that Vedana is good (or Sukkha).
Whatever Vedana it is -
because of the text which says-
"Sankhittena Pancupadanakkhandha Dukkha" - It belongs to Dukkha Sacca (Truth of Suffering).
Whatever Vedana it is;
Whether it belongs to man, Deva or Brahma (ie., Kamaloka or world of sensuality, Devaloka, world of materiality and Arupaloka, world of immateriality) or anywhere in the 31 planes of existence, all types of enjoyment or self-gratification belong to Dukkha Sacca (Truth of Suffering).
Enjoyment or self-gratification in the worlds of man, Deva, Brahma or anywhere else, all are Vedanakkhandha according to Paramattha Sacca (Ultimate Truth).
Then, what will happen after getting this Vedana or Vedanakkhandha? It is Dukkha Sacca (Truth of suffering); is it so?
The gift of charity is made for liberation from Dukkha. If it is not so or if it is for enjoyment or self-gratification, the result will be Dukkha Sacca.
Meanings of Tanha (Craving), Sankhara (mental formation), Vedana (feeling) etc.
Enjoyment and self~gratification are the two that must be treated as Vedanakkhandha. This has been stated above.
So, if you get Vedanakkhandha, it is Dukkha Sacca. Why this Dukkha? Because there is a desire for enjoyment and self-gratification; it is a desire, that is Tanha, for these two, enjoyment and self-gratification, that Dukkha arises.
Then, in paticcasamuppada, the Law of Dependant Originations it is stated: "Vedana Paccaya Tanha" meaning that it is Vedana (feeling) that gives rise to Tanha (Craving). It is stated: "because of Vedana, Tanha arises. As a matter of fact, Vedana and Tanha do not arise separately, it is not that Tanha arises only after Vedana.
If you think over what we say properly here, you will see that it is because of Tanha that Vedana arises. Because you act on a desire for enjoyment, you get the objects of enjoyment. Is it not so?
It is the desire to enjoy or desire for self -gratification that is Tanha.
It is the action motivated by a desire for enjoyment or for self-gratification that is Sankhara (Volitional action or mental formation). Is it right?
It is the desire for enjoyment or self-gratification that is Tanha.
It is the action taken to enjoy or to gratify (yourselves) that is Sankhara, as a result of which you enjoy or gratify (yourselves). Is it not so?
Then this very act of enjoying or gratifying (yourselves) becomes Vedana. Please see it again:
(a) Desire to enjoy=Tanha
Action taken to enjoy=Sankhara
(b) Actual act of enjoying or gratifying=Vedana
It will be seen therefore, that action is taken as a result of Tanha which arises together with Sankhara.
Three types of Sankhara called Cetana (Volition)
Sankhara is nothing else but "Cetana" Sankhara means actual action taken by Cetana. Here we have three types of Dhamma (Sankhara).
(1) Tanha, that is desire (Lobha) to enjoy or to gratify yourselves.
(2) It is Cetana that is acting to enjoy or to gratify yourselves. This Cetana is also called Sankhara.
It is Cetana that gives rise to Kamma (action), that is Kaya Kamma (bodily action), Vacikamma (verbal action) and
(1) It is Tanha Lobha that is desire to enjoy.
(2) It is Cetana (otherwise called Kaya Kamma, Vacikamma and mano-kamma) that is taking action for enjoyment, and in other words it is Sankhara meaning Ponnabhi Sankhara (good volitional action), Aponnabhi Sankhara (bad volitional action) and Anejabhi Sankhara (neither good nor bad volitional action) respectively.
It is Ponnabhi Sankhara that is Cetana concentrated on Kusala Kamma (good action). It is Aponnabhi Sankhara that is Cetana concentrated on Akusala Kamma (bad action). It is Anejabhi Sankhara that is concentrated on Jhanas or trances in meditation.
Here Cetana is called Ponnabhi Sankhara, Aponnabhi Sankhara and Anejabhi Sankhara, respectively.
In the matter of Kamma, Cetana is called Kaya Kamma (bodily action), Vaci Kamma (verbal action) and Mano Kamma (mental action) respectively.
It must be remembered that the terminology only changes, not the spirit of the Dhamma; it is Cetana only. Is it so?
Well, today, a gift of charity has been made (which means good action taken); If it is motivated by a desire for enjoyment which is Tanha (craving), Cetana becomes Sankhara or Kamma giving rise to Kilesa (defilement). is not it so?
Don't allow Kelesa gum to get in
Referring to Kelesa gum, it has the essence of gum or a wet greasy gum; it is sticky and stuck up everywhere it gets in. How does the text say? The text says it is like Myauk Hnese. If you don't know Myauk Hnese, you can see gum from a banyan tree
In the country-side village young boys in summer used to catch sparrows with gum from banyan trees. In summer, these boys went round and cut up banyan trees with knives. Three or four days later, gum water came out from the banyan trees. The boys put the gum water into their pots. After boiling the gum, with a certain amount of oil they brought branches of banyan trees and bamboos to be plastered with gum. After getting the banyan tree branches and bamboos plastered with gum, they went to the river side and kept the tree branches and bamboos in several places to catch sparrows coming to drink water.
A large number of sparrows coming to the river side to drink water, had their feet stuck up with the gum-plastered branches and bamboos and lost their lives in the hands of sparrow hunting boys.
Here, what you have to remember is that anyone stuck with this greasy gum is bound to get killed. The hunter is always ready on his watch to catch every one stuck with the greasy gum for his food. Tanha, (craving desire), like this greasy gum, is sticky and stuck every where it is.
Three hunters on the watch
Here, what I would like to say is that you do not add to your Cetana a desire for enjoyment or self-gratification when making a gift of charity as this desire is Tanha which is greasy gum. If you add this Tanha, greasy gum, to your Cetana you will get stuck. Is it so?
If any one gets stuck anywhere in all the planes of life, he is like those sparrows stuck with the gum from banyan trees, which lost their lives in the hands of the sparrow hunting village boys.
It will be seen, therefore, that anyone anywhere in all the 31 planes of life who is stuck with Tanha, the greasy gum, will not forget that close watch is being kept by the three hunters, i.e., old age, decay and death; and that the life of anyone on whom a close watch is kept by these three hunters is always in danger.
So, we would urge you not to add Tanha, (greasy gum) which is a desire for enjoyment or self-gratification to this Cetana when performing a meritorious deed. If you do it, this Tanha (greasy gum) becomes Samudaya Sacca (Truth of the cause of Dukkha or suffering) while the actual enjoyment or self-gratification is Dukkha Sacca (Truth of Suffering).
What you do is for liberation from Dukkha, but you can not get liberation from Dukkha, Because you have Tanha (greasy gum) there, which is a desire for enjoyment or self-gratification, you get back to Dukkha Sacca. Is it not so?
Example of a hot frying pan and a lump of meat
Then, we have another example from Kamanam Adinava Katha (sensual enjoyment not real pleasure). This means that sensuality gives no real happiness; it is like a bloody lump of fresh meat.
If you put a lump of fresh meat, wet with red blood, into a frying pan on burning fire, what will happen? It will get stuck to the pan.
If you put a stone into this frying pan, would the stone get stuck? No, it wouldn't. If you put a lump of meat there it gets stuck gradually and finally it gets burnt into ashes. Is it not so?
A wet and greasy lump of meat gets stuck in a frying pan on burning fire but a dried object without wet and greasy element does not get stuck. This is Sacca (Truth). The meaning to be noted is:
Thirty one planes, thirty one planes of life means frying pan on burning fire.
The Khandha (aggregate of mind and matter) getting into the thirty one planes of life, which is the frying pan, means the lump of meat. Is it not so?
If a wet lump of fresh meat is put into a frying pan on burning fire, the meat gets stuck. In the same way Tanha which is a wet greasy gum, will get stuck on hot burning fire wherever the thirty one planes of life.
Thirty one planes means frying pan on fire.
Khandha means lump of meat.
Not to suffer from burning
If there is this Tanha (greasy gum) in the Khandha (lump of meat), it will get stuck wherever it is in the Thirty One Planes. What will happen if it gets stuck? Will get into the trouble of burning. It is like a lump of meat stuck in a frying pan on fire. Is it not so?
Small stones put into a frying pan on fire never get stuck. In the same way, the fires of old age, decay and death may be hot burning or scorching; but one whose Khandha is free from Tanha (sticky gum) does not get stuck nor does he get burnt.
Please note what the Thirty One Planes look like. They look like a frying pan on fire. It is said that all the planes of life of man, Deva and Brahma are a frying pan on burning fire. We and you all are now living a life of frying pan on burning fire, sitting, walking, standing, eating. Is it not so?
Every one of us with Tanha who today gets into the hot frying pan is stuck here. The more Tanha (sticky gum), one has the more he is stuck. The less Tanha one has, the less he is stuck. One, who has no Tanha at all, is not stuck at all irrespective of whether the frying pan is burning hot or no hot. One who is not stuck does not suffer from burning. One who is stuck suffers from severe burning. If he cannot severs it he will get burnt to ashes.
So, today, Upasaka Ko Kyaw Khin Myint and Upasaki Ma Khin Khin Sein, asked why this gift of charity is being made, yes, it is for severance from the pan on fire. Is it not so? Yes, it is for drying up the wet greasy gum; (it is for getting rid of Tanha). Is it not so?
This is Sacca Dhamma, Recitation of Pali texts is too tiring; this is indeed Catu Sacca Dhamma (Fourfold Noble Truth).
Man of Truth
When making a gift of charity with Sacca Nana (in-sight knowledge of the Noble truth) like this, what is the benefit? It is the benefit of Nissarana (path to liberation); You will have the benefit of getting to the path of liberation. If there is no Sacca Nana, it is not easy to get to the path of liberation. Is it not so?
This is the Sacca Dhamma which is the essence of Buddha Dhamma. If this Sacca Dhamma is taken out there remains nothing (of essence) in the Buddha Dhamma. This is because this Sacca Dhamma was preached by no other Gods except by the Sabinnu Buddha (All-enlightened One) only.
Every one of us having the opportunity to know the Noble Truth is man of men, man super-men; our God is the God of Gods and Buddhism is the religion of all religions.
Why so? Because it is full of Sacca (Truth).
Buddha reminds us to be careful of this as it is like a hot frying pan on burning and to look upon Khandha as a lump of eat.
All Khandhas and other things including those of wealth and luxury of man, Deva and Khandhas of man and Deva are all lumps of meat, while the various planes of life are frying pans on red burning fires. Tanha, however, is the wet greasy gum in the lump of meat.
So, what are you going to do today? You will have to do for getting rid of Tanha, the wet greasy gum. If Tanha (the gum) is got rid of, Vedana will not follow, however Cetana may make its utmost effort. Is it not so? Vedana is bound to follow if any effort is made without getting rid of Tanha, (the greasy gum).
Dukkha Sacca (Truth of Suffering) and Samudaya Sacca (Truth of Cause of Suffering)
If Vedana comes, what Sacca is this? This is Dukkha Sacca. Is it not so?
Vedana is Dukkha Sacca, so Tanha is cause and Vedana is effect.
In Paticcasamuppada (The Law of Dependant Origination), it says, "Vedana paccaya Tanha". This is a different kind of teaching. It shows that Vedana and Tanha used to arise together.
Today the masters of Paticca-samuppada are getting an oversight on it. They persist on teaching that because of Vedana Tanha arises. No, this is not correct. It is not that Tanha arises because of Vedana but only because of Tanha, Vedana arises.
Because of a desire to enjoy, you start working for and enjoy it.
The desire to enjoy is Tanha;
What happens on account of this Tanha?
You make an effort for enjoyment. This is Cetana.
With this Cetana you start working for it and get an opportunity to enjoy.
To enjoy is Vedana. Is it not so?
What kind of Sacca does this Vedana belong?
Vedana is Dukkha Sacca.
Tanha is Samudaya Sacca.
Because of Samudaya and Tanha there arise
Only because of Samudaya there arises Dukkha.
Only because of Tanha there arises Vedana.
We understand like this only. But, if you ask me: "Well Rev: Sire! Are you turning upside down the Buddha's teaching in the Paticcasamuppada that Vedana gives rise to Tanha?"
No, I am not. In the paticcasamuppada it is said that Tanha arises again along with Vedana also.
(1) After Tanha, desire for enjoyment.
(2) Cetana to act on desire for enjoyment arises.
(3) With Cetana you act and get enjoyment called Vedana.
If you ask whether Tanha stops after Vedana, it must be said that Tanha also starts Vedana. It must be said that Tanha also starts burning again along with Vedana. Paticcasamuppada says like this.
So, if this point is dealt with from the point of view of Sacca (Noble Truth), it is only "because of Tanha that Vedana arises." it must be understood like this.
What will happen if there is Tanha (desire or greasy gum)?
There arise Vedana, the act of enjoyment, which is Dukkha Sacca; thus it all becomes two types of Sacca.
Enjoyment and self-gratification; these are two in words to be noted as Khandha.
(1) Vedana is Dukkha Sacca.
(2) Desire for enjoyment or self-gratification is Lobha or Samudaya Sacca.
If we get Vedanakkhandha, the so-called lumps of meat, we are bound to get into trouble in the three planes of life as there is Tanha, wet gum, in Vedana like the lump of meat stuck in the frying pan on burning fire.
Cetana which is Ponnabhi Sankhara
Kusala Cetana or the good meritorious deed performed today is called Ponnabhi Sankhara.
The offer of alms-food, robes today to the Buddha together with the Sangha is called Ponnabhi Sankhara of the three types of
Sankhara stated above. Is it not so?
(1) It is Ponnabhi Sankhara that is Kusala Kamma (good act or action).
(2) It is Aponnabhi Sankhara that is Akusala Kamma (or evil act or evil action).
(3) It is Anejabhi Sankhara that is meditation for Jhana (Trances)
So, do not add Tanha, the greasy gum to your Cetana, called Ponnabhi Sankhara, which is good moral action or Kusala Kamma viz: Dana (gift of charity), Sila (Up-keep of good moral conduct), etc. Please don't add a desire For enjoyment or self- gratification.
So, this Cetana having no more Tanha (greasy gum) does not allow Vedana or Dukkha Sacca to arise.
You act on this Cetana or Kusala Kamma (good meritorious deed), bearing in mind that:
"Kama Dhamma (sensual desires) are like lumps of meat stuck on a frying pan on burning fire.
If you consider like this, what will happen? Your Cetana will get rid of Tanha. 'This kind of consideration is nothing but Sacca Nana, the insight knowledge of the Noble Truth to strip off Tanha (from Cetana)
Nirodha Sacca And Magga Sacca
Noble Truth of Extinction of Dukkha (suffering) and Noble Truth of Path to Nibbana or extinction of Dukkha (Suffering).
Samudaya and Dukkha are the two types of Sacca; comprehension of which will remove Tanha, the greasy gum.
It is Sacca Nana (Insight knowledge that removes Tanha.)
If Tanha (greasy gum) is dried up or removed by Sacca Nana, Tanha becomes extinct.
Why Tanha becomes extinct?
Because of Sacca Nana; if Nana (insight knowledge) steps in Tanha gets cleaned out. Is it not so?
Yes, then, Cetana gets itself attached to Sacca nana which has comprehended Samudaya and Dukkha. What is this good meritorious deed today as Cetana is attached to Nana (Sacca Nana)?
It is a meritorious deed of Nanasampayutta coexisting with insight knowledge.
Tanha cannot come in as Nana (Insight knowledge) is there already. Cetana where Tanha (greasy gum) cannot come in is called Cetana without Tanha or Cetana where the greasy gum has been dried up.
You will see therefore, that as there is no Tanha, you will not get stuck despite the burning fires of 31 planes of life. If you do not get stuck because you have no greasy gum (Tanha), this is peace (or happiness).
So, the drying up of Tanha (greasy gum) means extinction of all types of Dukkha or extinguishment of all fires. As you are not stuck (or attached) to the planes of life with burning fires that is called "Nirodha Sacca" or Noble Truth of extinction of Dukkha or suffering). Is it not so?
Then, what will happen to this Nanas (Insight knowledge) that has comprehended this Sacca (Truth)!
It becomes Magga Sacca (Truth of Path to extinction of Dukkha). Is it not so?
Catusacca Samma Ditthi
A lump of meat, which is the five-fold Khandha, gets into the three-fold plane of life, which is like a frying pan on burning fire; if you think over it and come to the conclusion that it gets stuck as Tanha (greasy gum) has not yet been dried up, it means that you have comprehended Dukkha Sacca.
Why is it stuck in the frying pan, the 31 planes of existence? It is because of Tanha (greasy gum). What is Tanha (greasy gum)? It is Samudaya Sacca. It is Magga Sacca if you comprehend like this.
If this Magga Nana, which is Sacca Nana, comes in, Tanha, greasy gum, gets dried up and it is not stuck; it is no burning.
What is it when Tanha, greasy gum, is dried up and what is it that is not burning? It is Nirodha Sacca.
Yes! Where is a meritorious act with Sacca Nana headed to? It is headed to Nibbana of ace. This Sacca Nana is called Catusacca Sammaditthi. Is it right?
Yes, this Catusacca Sammaditthi is leading the path of liberation. So we have preached the "Darokkhandhopama Sutta:"
Sammaditthi Bhikkhus, Nibbana
Ninna Nibbana Pona Nibbana Pubbara.
Then again:
It is Catusacca Sammaditthi 'Nana that comprehends clearly the Fourfold Noble Truth, leans towards Nibbana, which is Asankhata Dhamma extinguishing the eleven fires, bends towards and is headed to it (Nibbana).
Sadhu! ..........Sadhu!.......... Sadhu!
The End of Sacca Dhamma (Noble Truth).