Guide to Knowing the Truth (Part 2)

When a hearing-consciousness arises in your mind, recognize it internally with understanding: "Ah, the Noble Truth of Suffering (Dukkha Sacca) is manifesting." Thus, the hearing-consciousness is Dukkha Sacca (the truth of suffering), and the knowing mind is Magga Sacca (the truth of the path). If this Magga Sacca does not arise, then craving (tanha), clinging (upadana), and kamma (volitional action) will follow. When kamma arises, rebirth (jati), aging (jara), and death (marana) will follow on the other side. Craving and clinging are the kilesa vatta (cycle of defilements), kamma is the kamma vatta (cycle of volitional actions), and rebirth, aging, and death are the vipaka vatta (cycle of results). If Magga Sacca arises, these three cycles are broken. These cycles are occurring within your own mind-stream. They cannot be stopped by going to the Buddha, praying, or asking him to cut them off for you. Only by cutting them off yourself, with your own wisdom (vijja) and path factors (magga) that know the truth, will they cease. That little hearing-consciousness is Dukkha Sacca. That little knowing mind is Magga Sacca, Vijja Magga (the wisdom path). When vijja (wisdom/knowledge) arises, it also means the cessation of ignorance (avijja nirodha), the cessation of formations (sankhara nirodha), the cessation of consciousness (vinnana nirodha), and the cessation of this entire mass of suffering (dukkha khandhassa nirodha). Therefore, conclude that the only thing that can save you is the wisdom that knows the truth. Once the truth is known, future suffering ceases, and the suffering from past deluded actions also ceases. It cuts through past and future. It cuts off past kamma and future kamma. When you make the hearing-consciousness fit with the Path Knowledge of Arising and Passing Away (Udayabbaya Magga), then the subsequent craving, clinging, and kamma no longer come. When kamma doesn't come, future aggregates (khandhas) do not arise. If kamma doesn't come, aggregates don't arise. Because aggregates don't appear, past kammas lose the opportunity to bear fruit. Past kammas can only bear fruit when there is an aggregate (a mind-body existence). Present kamma also doesn't arise, so it doesn't create future aggregates. Kamma can only follow and bear fruit where aggregates exist. Where no aggregates arise, results cannot be given. Thus, the Path (Magga) cuts off both past kammas and present kammas. Even if these kammas were to bear fruit, only Dukkha Sacca would result. Therefore, the wisdom that knows the truth also cuts off the Dukkha Sacca that past kamma would have produced. Future kammas also will not arise if the truth is known. Once cut off by the Path like this, there is no need to fear past kammas, nor is there any need to fear present-life kammas. Kamma causes the aggregates to arise; with the aggregates comes all the suffering inherent in Dukkha Sacca – all of this is ended. Therefore, if you want suffering to end, there is no other way than striving to know the truth. Without knowing the truth, there is ignorance (avijja). Only by knowing the truth does wisdom (vijja) arise. When a hearing-consciousness arises, know it, perceive it as Dukkha Sacca, and develop that awareness. When a smelling-consciousness arises, know it as Dukkha Sacca. When an eating-consciousness arises, know it as Dukkha Sacca. When an itching-consciousness or a thinking-consciousness arises, just keep developing the awareness: "This is Dukkha Sacca." As you develop this, the Path cuts off past kammas and also prevents present kammas from arising. Past kammic debts (vatta debts) are cleared, and new cycles (vatta) do not come. The cycle is broken. Because of your own Dependent Origination (Paticcasamuppada), your own cycle exists. Unless you cut your own Paticcasamuppada with your own Path Knowledge, the cycle will not break. Therefore, if you wish to be free from the cycle, to reach Nibbana, you must cut your own Paticcasamuppada yourself. You must strive to know the truth. So, observe every consciousness that arises in your mind-stream. If a seeing-consciousness arises, observe it. If an inhaling-consciousness arises, observe it. If a desire-to-eat-consciousness arises, observe it. If a desire-to-sleep-consciousness arises, observe it. For every arising consciousness, just keep perceiving: "This is all only Dukkha Sacca." Every time you observe, the observed object is Dukkha Sacca, and the observing wisdom is Magga Sacca. Observing like this, past kammas are cut off, and present kammas cease to arise. The cutting off of past kamma is also due to the Path. The cutting off of present kamma is also solely due to the Path. Therefore, understand and remember this: Only the Path (Magga) is the true, certain refuge. Dr. Ashin Parami See also: http://myakyunthar.blogspot.com/2011/03/blog-post_30.html?m=1