The Buddha taught a path of renunciation. To create space in the mind, one must give things up. To achieve the highest goals of one's practice, one must be prepared to relinquish everything.
Exactly.🙏🙏🙏 I studied Dhamma from a long time, but I didn't know that attachment (Raga) itself is painful until I understood the true meaning of the Pali word Anicca (disliking/unloving) in year 2024. Usually, people think that attachment is a requirement of happiness, but the pain in attachment makes the mind uncomfortable first and uses the mind to process bodily actions.
This is how someone, who actually reads the Suttas, takes them seriously and thinks a lot on them (and in general), teaches! 😄Marvellous talk bhante! 😁 Also, you very skillfully showed how Ānāpānasati is a less direct version of Maraṇasati (meant for those who found the later too sharp to bear). If done rightly, it will not be pleasant for most untrained minds. But if a Noble disciple sticks with it, he will naturally develop dispassion for everything eventually.
"The pleasure of avijja".. So that was it...!! I used to observe this all the time but didnt know a label. In fact at that time didnt know of ANY dhamma and my mind was too sharp..and stumbled upon too many obstacles. "Born buddhist" here but The Leap of Faith I took was tremendously powerful, and yes bhante as you say is a great antidote for fear at these crossroads. The analogue of the people going to Antarctica is so good!!! Thank you Venerable, so very inspiring.! Exactly what I needed at this stage of journey . May you attain Nibbana soon !🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Wonderful to hear that it might have been helpful. It is very interesting the way avijjā operates. Glad to hear that you've benefitted from the practice. I hope it leads you to the highest goal.
I was lead away from the path when I bought into (or perhaps misunderstood) the concept of "spiritual bypassing/materialism", many years ago. Thank you Bhante, for reaffirming that renounciation is indeed the way 🙏
