“Dhamma is so simple and yet people have made it so complicated. There cannot be anything simpler than Dhamma. It has been made complicated by adding this or that philosophy, this or that belief. Just practise; don’t make it complicated.” – SN Goenka
Life is changing quickly now. Much have happened the last few weeks. I have entered an introverted period as I have sat another 10-day course. I am realizing the limitations of communicating without actually being face to face with people. I have stopped using my cell phone and gotten rid of my digital camera and computer. I don’t do much e-mailing anymore either. This kind of communication has its uses, but it will never be as good as a face to face conversation. Of course, this blog is still important to me.
I am adapting more and more the lifestyle of a monk. Now I know I will be practicing Vipassana Meditation for the rest of my life. Simply because, there is no way I could go back to living the life I lived before. It is like a vail has been lifted from my eyes and finally I am seeing the true world in which we live. My life would be meningless without the dhamma. I want to face this challenge head on, in the present, within myself. Therefore I have decided to stay at the center at least through August.
Day by day, drop by drop, the defilments fade away. After this last course I know I want to eradicate my passions – my sexual desires. Finally I understand. I have been down that road so many times but now I know – it does not lead to happiness. Thanks to daily practice, Vipassana courses and serving I have realized the truth. What a relief it is!!
Thus I have made an adhitthana (a decision of strong determination) – that I will not enter a physical relation with anyone unless there is a great chance that the relationship will last for life. Of course with the natural eradication of passion as a mutual goal. My chances of ever meeting anyone who would want such a relationship are slim. But it does not matter. I am happy on my own.
This adhitthana has created such a calm for me. My mind is so balanced. Not jumping into fantasies about flirting or passionate dreams. When I look at a woman now, she is just another being in this world. And thus the possibility of loving all beings selflessly increases many times over. Passion is such a trap that holds us back from being the saints we could be.
I am becoming so comfortable here at the Vipassana center. The path is very long and I have just taken the first step. I feel so grateful that I am so well prepared for facing this challenge of a spiritual and devoted life. This path is not an easy one, but surely it leads to happiness.
I would never have been here unless so many noble people of the world would have contributed to my life. To all of you I am so grateful. And I would never have been here unless the saints of the past, the Buddha, his disciples and all that followed after, made this path available. The only way to pay back these debts of gratitude is to continue spreading the dhamma around the world so that you and all others also may find the happiness I know.
My metta is with you all,
walkthepath
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