Meditation Sequence (6)

Although we pray, "May I attain Nibbāna, the cessation of all suffering," if ignorance (avijjā) is not eradicated within us, suffering will only return. However, if we can eradicate it and the knowledge (vijjā) arises, we attain it without even needing to pray. The knowledge that sees arising and passing away is vijjā. The knowledge that detests arising and passing away is also vijjā. The knowledge that ends arising and passing away is also vijjā. If vijjā is not attained, then ignorance (avijjā) obscures understanding, craving (taṇhā) acts as ignorance's representative, coaxing and commanding us. We get caught again in craving's deceit, busily doing, acting, seeking, and searching. Craving, under the command of ignorance, pushes us only towards the place of death. Being forced to do what craving commands under ignorance, we become craving's slaves without even realizing it. Ignorance obscures: it veils the bad, making it seem good, and hides suffering. Craving makes us see existence as good. But when we obtain existence, we must face death. Who is responsible for bringing about this death? Ignorance and craving are the culprits. To end the drama of death, we must make ignorance and craving cease. That is why ignorance and craving are placed at the very center, the axis, of the wheel. They are the axis. They are the ones turning it. Ignorance and craving are the axle. They spin beings solely towards the path of death. They turn the Truth of Origin (Samudaya Saccā), they turn the Truth of Suffering (Dukkha Saccā). It is this ignorance and craving acting as the axle that spins us. That is why we die repeatedly. This is called the "Axis of the Taints" (Āsava Axis). Once the Axis of the Taints spins, we are left only with deaths. It spins only with Origin and Suffering. As long as these taints (āsavas) are not eradicated, we will keep dying repeatedly, spinning from one existence to another: dying in that realm, dying in this realm. But if just this ignorance and craving cease, this Axis of the Taints breaks, and the wheel can no longer turn. Therefore, we must break this axis. To break the axis, we must observe the arising and passing away (udayabbaya) of all phenomena (dhamma) that appear. When a mind arises, observe the mind. When, through observation, we see arising and passing away, craving/lust (lobha) becomes non-craving/non-lust (alobha), and ignorance (avijjā) becomes knowledge (vijjā). The axis is broken! The person who sees arising and passing away has broken the axis. Even when dwelling with a wholesome (kusala) state of mind, observe the arising and passing away of that wholesome mind. Observing and realizing its insubstantiality, one sees death. Seeing death is vijjā (knowledge). Then, one no longer desires this kind of death. Not desiring it is alobha (non-craving). Ignorance becomes knowledge; craving becomes non-craving. Right there, the axis breaks. Then, there is no one left to turn the wheel. So, to break the axis, break it with the vijjā that sees arising and passing away! Break it with the alobha that does not desire arising and passing away! It is killing the unknown with the known! It is killing desire with non-desire! Seeing arising and passing away, one also understands the Truth of Suffering (Dukkha Saccā). Understanding this, ignorance turns into knowledge. Clearly knowing it is indeed the Truth of Suffering, one no longer desires it. Not desiring it, craving also becomes non-craving (alobha). It is because they (ignorance and craving) spin that suffering occurs. When they can no longer spin, one goes only towards Nibbāna, the place free from suffering. The axis is broken, so saṃsāra cannot revolve anymore. When the axis breaks, the spokes also become useless. The four sections of the wheel circle are the spokes. These spokes also become unusable. All the rounds of suffering (vaṭṭa) break off and are released. Breaking the axis is the essential thing. Once the axis is broken, even the surrounding iron rim band around the wheel's circumference becomes useless. The iron rim band binding the four spokes also becomes unusable. Therefore, there is no way to break the axis apart from observing arising and passing away. Arising and passing away is the Truth of Suffering. Knowing it is vijjā. Knowing clearly that it is indeed the Truth of Suffering, not desiring it is alobha. Ignorance and craving cease; knowledge and non-craving arrive. That is the breaking of the axis. A wheel with a broken axis never rolls again. One permanently attains the eternal Nibbāna (Nicca Nibbāna), the constant Nibbāna (Dhuva Nibbāna). As long as the axis is not broken, life and death are impermanent. One must keep spinning through repeated deaths: dying here, dying there; one lifespan after another; one realm of existence after another – only experiences of life and death spinning on. We must break the axis to be free from life and death. Therefore, if you prefer contemplating feeling (vedanā), observe the arising and passing away of feeling. If you prefer mind (citta), observe the arising and passing away of mind. The observing knowledge is what works to break the axis. Venerable Dr. Parami