Bless all of you here. For the
people who are seeking Dhamma or the truth of life in all human
beings, there is no other work but studying oneself - the
essence of life, or the essence of Buddhism.
The true studying is to study
inside ourselves, not outside. The outside studying is only one
factor of living. To study inside life and thought is the true
study of the Buddha's teachings. If we study our minds and
lives, we will get the essential aspects of Dhamma that will
quench sufferings.
Today, the topic is "Seeking for
Nirvana in this life before death." To seek for Nirvana in this
life is necessary for everybody. It is urgent. It is a must for
us to study, to learn and to understand while we are alive in
order to cope with our daily life. Otherwise, we will have
missed the opportunity when we die.
Talking about Nirvana after death
is just a tactic of teaching other ways to encourage people to
study and raise their hopes.
Nirvana is the Law of Nature, or
Truth, which the Buddha taught us to seek for and possess in the
present. Everyone can prove it because his teachings are for
those who are alive, not for dead people. Life after death is
not provable and invisible. It is the future which has not come
yet.
If we would know, see, and
experience in this life, we would no longer have doubt. The
Buddha taught us not to have doubt, neither of our life or
actions.
Most people have tried to do
something good, but still have doubt or uncertainty about their
own actions. They didn't try to affirm the truth within
themselves so they couldn't guarantee themselves. If we had
proved it and could guarantee ourselves, then we would have the
confidence to challenge other people to prove the Truth.
The truth exists in human beings
in every walk of life. It belongs to everybody no matter what
nationality or language they speak, literate or illiterate. The
truth is here all the time as long as man exists. Whether there
is anyone to know it or not, it is there. Even if the Buddha
hadn't become enlightened, it would still be there. But the
Buddha was the first person to discover it. It is the Law of
Nature. It is a state of being which is natural.
Nirvana is in every moment of our
daily lives, but we don't know and don't understand that. So we
forget that and look for it outside of ourselves. If we really
want it in this lifetime and seek for it seriously, we will get
it.
If all of us here could see our
mind, our lives, at this moment, we would see that they are
normal (neutral state). That is Nirvana. Therefore, Nirvana is
provable and touchable. The Buddha taught that the Truth is
something that really exists. He saw that life has no illusion,
no suffering. Illusion and suffering are not real, they are
transient.
So the real and original life is
pure, or in other words, man is nothing. It exists naturally. We
don't have to do anything with it. Therefore, if we have found
the right method, and have done it correctly, we will certainly
get Nirvana automatically, without any expectation. That state
of being is so pure that even though we have it, it seems like
we have nothing. Everything is there, but there is nothing.
As I have said, we'd better seek
for Nirvana while we are alive. But there are some people who
expect the result in the future or after death. This kind of
belief has been taught in many religions all over the world,
even by those who claim that they had no religion. That's why we
can not find the truth, and can not see the state of being which
exists within ourselves.
All of you here are
well-educated. While you are listening to my talk, some may
understand, some may not. Listening is your duty, right or wrong
understanding is up to you. My duty is to talk about the truth.
Some people who really want it can understand easily, but it
seems to be difficult for some others.
Actually, everybody wants the
truth. At this moment, if we are in a normal state or have no
greed- anger-delusion, then Nirvana is already here. It exists
in human beings naturally. Everybody can find it, no need to
wait for it.
So I say, seek for it now, at the
present time. Be in the present every moment. Usually, we forget
ourselves and pay attention to other things outside of us.
Sometimes we think of the past or the future, and are not in the
present, so we have no real shelter.
If we can be in the present all
the time, then we will be closer to Nirvana. Right now, we're
lost, and can't find the way out. We can't find the thing that
will enlighten our life because we are busy thinking about the
past and future. We are concealed as if we have locked ourselves
up with no way out.
Therefore, try to be in the
present. Do not forget yourselves. Try to catch up with the
present moment by being aware of your daily movements. Being
aware of all your actions is a pure and excellent way to remind
us of ourselves.
To conclude simply, as long as we
have self-awareness, we do not have to do anything because it is
already perfect. Therefore, we should change our attitude and
seek for Nirvana at the present while we are alive, then we will
get what we want automatically.
This article
is from the book Beyond Text, Beyond Scriptures by
Luangpor Thong Abhakaro.