‘It’s you who should decide whether you need to be freed or not’

April 26 is Bak Full Moon Poya Day

You are your own savior and master. No one else. It’s you who should decide whether you need to be freed or not. Vidarshana Upeksha is the final post in the path of Nirvana.

When you sink into the deep inside of your chiththanupassana (mindfulness), you will find Nirvana there. That is how you accomplish Nirvana. Practice Vidarshana Upeksha, test whether your mind has reached that level and analyze it.

We have been in a race until now. Stop the race and relax. Those who go are actually not going, but those who do not go are actually going. It is the other way around. Understand this and live freely. Would there be a burden about the path to Nirvana? Would there be a rush to attain Nirvana? No, if you think so, you are out of track. You are mistaken and misled.

Have no expectations of Nirvana. While you eliminate the expectations, you are drawn towards Nirvana. Become an Arahath. This is the way to become an Arahath, there’s no other way. If there is any other way except this, it is just a falsehood. Nothing exists beyond this level.

This means he lives for the moment; his past and future have come to an end. Living for the moment, eating for the moment, walking for the moment and laughing for the moment. After reaching such a level, will there be a need for anything else? No, that’s the ultimate liberation. Get ready to make sacrifices to attain this.

Let us think that you go home today and smell a flower. You smell it and think there are other flowers that smell better. If you have Vidarshana Upeksha, you smell it and it just smelt. No further thoughts. Or else, if you think that flower has a better fragrance than the other, then your mind would say “you are crazy. Haven’t you heard of Vidarshana Upeksha?”.

Be mindful, but be in the present. Don’t be mistaken. It is not about being in mindfulness, it is all about living in the present. All the Arahaths and noble ones who have realized the path are in the present. Actually, it feels so free to live in the present. This is what we call becoming an Arahath. Anyone can make their minds reach this level. What you need to do is listen to this sermon, let go all the things in the past and influence your mind to stay at this level.

This is the freedom. No Nirvana exists apart from this. Vidarshana Upeksha is the last post. Beyond that is a relaxation. Arahathhood will be attained not in Vidarshana Upeksha but during the relaxation. Meditation will not lead you to be an Arahath. Rituals will not lead you to be an Arahath. Physical aspects will not lead you to be an Arahath. The wise will turn into an Arahath soon and be enlightened.

– Ven Siri Samanthabadra Thera