Extracts of a talk given to a meditation class
By Bhikkhu Nagasena

I am always very happy to see you come to meditation class. By coming you show you have the desire to practice. Perhaps you have heard that meditation helps rid you of anxiety, fear, agitation, stress or depression. I can acknowledge to you that it does help and, of course, you are welcome to come for this reason. But as your teacher I would like to point out that Vipassana has a greater objective and greater rewards. Vipassana enables you to understand the Buddha’s teachings, the Dhamma, and by doing so see into the reality of all your experiences. Let me give you an example of the limitations of using the practice just to alleviate stress, anxiety, depression etc. Say I decide I want to go to London. This desire will have little effect if all I am doing is wanting to go. I need to take action. I must find out how to get there, which is the best method of travel: car, train or coach? how much it will cost, what are the traveling times, which is the quickest way? Without such action I may set off but go on a circuitous route and maybe never get there. I may eventually arrive but have wasted a lot of time and money along the way. It is the same with meditation practice – desire must be accompanied by both action and by the wisdom to know what is right action.

On the spiritual path desire without wisdom is of no benefit. Ignorance will never lead to achievement. So it is very important to understand what motive has brought you to this class. If you understand your motive clearly then through knowledge and wisdom it will become clear to you what effort you need to take to reach your goal. You must decide how you want to use your life, which way you want to go. If you decide you want nothing more than to find a way to relax, this practice may be of some use to you, along with many other techniques available elsewhere, but I do not believe in its long term benefit without spiritual aspiration and development. If your practice comes from your desire to dedicate your life to achieving enlightenment in this very life then you should hold fast to this determination. Keep the desire for enlightenment in your mind always and make sure that all your actions are in accordance with this intention.

The range of actions we need to perform to attain enlightenment is vast, some are very difficult. In this class we chant the Metta Sutta which is very meaningful to this subject. Included within the Sutta, amongst all the methods of attaining the state of peace is included …”you should not always be busy” Appakicco ca sallahukavutti. Always filling up your life with work and activities not only brings you stress, anxiety, exhaustion and depression but it deters the maintenance of the mindfulness that is cultivated in your meditation. I have actually had people say to me that they have xperienced the peace and calm that comes with practice but, unfortunately, when they are busy, have lots to do, lots of association with people, they lose this mindfulness and their mind becomes agitated, all calmness goes and they have to rush around and do many things. They can see what slowing down can do but seem unable to maintain it.

Obviously this low level of mindfulness will never achieve goals. Agitated through activities and lacking the wisdom to make changes, the mind is difficult, if not impossible, to control. You just cannot be mindful when you are rushing.

Simplicity is the answer, and it is a beautiful way to live. This is the way to develop a spiritual life. You do not need to give up the world but simplify. Even if you don’t achieve enlightenment in this life you will be able to change it for the better. Go slowly, develop your mind, develop your understanding and wisdom and I believe that you will find it possible to attain the stage of Sotapanna, stream entry. This is the first stage of achievement along the path to enlightenment and I do not think it is very hard.

Do not imagine, however, that with this attainment one eliminates the ego. No, the ego is very powerful and is only when you reach the ultimate, full enlightenment, that the ego dissolves. We can reduce the ego by developing knowledge and by understanding the law of kamma, cause and effect. By living according to the process of kamma and especially by living with purity of the mind, we will develop along the path. Do not believe in rites and rituals to purify your mind. It can only be purified through meditation practice, right action, knowledge and mindfulness. Do not get caught up in concepts of the eternal soul and a redeemer. Do not rely on anyone or anything external to yourself. None of this is compatible with Buddhist teaching. The Buddha himself said that he could only show us the way, we had to find our own salvation. Accepting the concept of a soul is not, on its own, harmful, but it should be seen through the understanding of the middle way between the two extremes of eternity and annihilation. If you rid yourself of the concept of a soul and a creator through developing understanding of the self then you will be clear about cause and effect, cause and consequence. Faith and confidence in the Buddha’s teaching, the Dhamma, will slowly purify your mind through meditation.

So, decide what is your reason for practice. Whatever your goal: relaxation or attainment of spiritual development, reduce your activities and practice well. As I said earlier, if you want to go to London and know this is what you want and you have understand the best way to get there then even if the journey is slow it will be sure and you will succeed. Understand why you are coming to this meditation centre. Are you interested in the Buddha’s teaching? You may feel you are interested and like some aspects of the Dhamma but don’t practice. This is not the way to develop spiritually. You must develop understanding and right effort. Slowly, step by step on the path with understanding and right intention you may find it very easy to attain the state of Sotapatti, even full enlightenment even in this lifetime, right here and now.

May al of you understand the Dhamma.