October 30 was Vap Full Moon Poya Day

Let go of all and stay free. Try to awaken the mind. Always make your mind clear. Awaken the wisdom. When your mind is awakened, it makes your inside visible to yourself. Many people don’t see the depth of their mind because their mind is filled with defilements. Let your mind be calm. Let it be serene. Let your mind lower the speed of your thoughts. Make it clear that everything is an illusion. Understand that there should not be attachments, expectations and ambitions.

There should be no point running behind anything. As you come to terms with this, the speed of thoughts will reduce. If you think that things really exist, you have to struggle to protect them. They can never be protected by guarding. But, when the reality is realized, we become equanimous. Accordingly, the number of thoughts become less. We will be in a big trouble if we think that they really exist. Because, we will struggle to protect them.

If we let go of them, there will be no thoughts. If we feel thirsty, we drink a glass of water. We drink water and keep away the glass. Then, there isn’t any thought in the mind. Thereafter, we realize the wonder of Dhamma we have found. If we feel this much happiness by the detachment of the glass of water, we will let go of the table on which the glass was placed. And the flower pot next to the table too. Then, I begin to realize a Dhamma not heard before. That means, the rapidity of the thoughts in the mind is soundly reduced. Thoughts generate in the mind because there is an attachment.

When someone walking on the road sees a youth who has taken drugs or a person who has injured himself, he pities them. Just a few thoughts, but he is hardly affected by them. While walking further, he sees his own son who has taken drugs. What happens? Limitless thoughts flow into the mind and affects him hard. Both children are of the same age. But, he is troubled deeply about his son.

It is not due to a problem with two children. He bears two attitudes regarding the two children. He has never seen the first child before. Therefore, some usual thoughts of pity comes to his mind. But his son has been with him all his life. That was why he felt so much sadness. Why do these thoughts come to your mind? It is only until you feel the idea of “myself” and “mine.” Only an intelligent person realizes this phenomenon. He understands that the thoughts generate until the ego exists.

What should he do to make his mind clear? He should let go of his ego. He can be perceived by letting go of the ego. Ultimately, he will become an enlightened one. After becoming an Arahant, he will see the same sight, that child and his own son. Now what does he feel? He feels the same towards both children. He feels so because he is an Arahant.

You have been thoroughly attached to the idea of ‘my own son or daughter’. When you become free from all the attachments after becoming enlightened, what should be the nature of the mind of such a person? The mind is very clear, pure, holy and sacred. The mind of that person has become blessed. He sees nothing special in the world. The mind is confused because of your ego. The feeling of “myself”, the concept of “myself”, the idea of “myself” struggles in you to protect yourself, look after yourself, nourish yourself and make yourself healthy. You think you should be highlighted. It causes thoughts into your mind at a stretch.

Each and every thought causes fatigue, stress, fear and panic. The root of all these is your ego. Everything has been messed up due to your ego. Everything has entangled due to your ego. If someone wants to untie this entanglement, it is necessary to let go of his ego. The attachment to all the belongings and possessions should be let go. Do free from all.

If you want to get rid of this life struggle, then let your mind be free from all. Then you will be free. When you stay free, your mind becomes clear. Your mind becomes clearer. When your mind becomes clearer, a better consciousness exists in your mind. Now, you have attended to the noble path. You have perceived it. You have realized it. Now you understand that when you keep exploring the deeper inside, the ladder used to get down disappears.

You all have children. They obeyed you when they were small. They dressed what you preferred. They worked according to your desire. They ate what you wanted. But, when they grew up, what happened? They did not obey you. They changed their lifestyle. When they changed their behavior, you felt sad. So, why did you think that they should not change? The problem is yours.

You thought that they should not change their behavior. Did you all behave as your parents’ wished? No, you did not. Understand the reality of the world. Do not live with the idea that everything should exist as your wish. When people think so, they cry, weep, lament and even die.

I read of a recent incident, where a man had built a big house in Texas, United States and later burnt it because he could not sell it. Legal action was filed against him by the authorities for destroying the property. He cannot destroy it even though it belonged to him. He died after he was found guilty. People die because of physical assets. But, if someone had preached him the Dhamma, then he would have become an Arhant as he let go of a huge property without any craving. But, unfortunately he didn’t meet a noble friend to guide him.

– Ven. Sri Samanthabadra Thera