Page 153 - Dhamma Practice

Phra Arjan: Actually, we should already know. Have we reached the core? Have we reached the sapwood? Or, are we in the process of removing the bark? Giving alms, maintaining the Buddhist precepts, practicing vipassana, the wisdom that emerges—which is the core? Arahants who have reached the core of dhamma, what are they attached to? But, we are in the process of preparing. Buddhist precepts, concentration—these are all sapwoods that cover the core of dhamma. They are the starting point to enter into the core of dhamma.
Practitioner: What is the best conscious phenomenon to contemplate in order to maintain awareness when we are care-free or when we lose our temper?
Phra Arjan: Contemplate the present conscious phenomenon—that is the best. When we have the awareness of the present, when we are aware that we are care-free, it will stop immediately. Observe that when we are aware that we are care-free, the phenomenon of care-freeness will stop. But, if we become aware after we have been care-free, and we wish to stop, then we need to extinguish the remnants of the phenomenon that linger in our mind, that want to re-emerge. The way to extinguish this phenomenon—as mentioned before— is to expand our mind widely, or to be still and move into our mind, to see the lingering tastes then they will disappear. The best way to stop is to contemplate the present phenomenon.
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