Page 135 - Extinguishment of self, in search of dhamma

If the deliciousness persists for ve minutes, try and see how would it be? Keep (the food) in our mouth without chewing. Why do we chew? The more we chew, the more delicious it is. The deliciousness is steadily released. If we chew then we just keep it in our mouth—for example, sweets that we like, if we just keep it in our mouth for a long time, it becomes banal. Therefore, when we keep a lollipop in our mouth, after awhile we need to adjust our tongue slightly so that a little bit of sweetness is released. After awhile it becomes bland, we move (our tongue) a bit more and more sweetness is released. So, we can steadily perceive (the sweetness). Therefore, causes and conditions that are changing, things that surround us—we need to have the right understanding. Look at the timing, places, persons—these are the types of causes and conditions for which we must act appropriately.
It is a dif cult thing. When we change according to causes and conditions, we are accused of having no principles. We are exible—so, we have no principles, we are disorganized. We need to have principles, to have structures—but, we can be exible in an orderly manner. The principles are broad but everything is adjustable—for appropriateness, for the maximum bene ts. Why do we change causes and conditions? For appropriateness, for the maximum bene ts. Why do we do it? For bene ts: Our bene ts, others’ bene ts—which one? If we focus only on our bene ts, it is called sel shness. If we focus only
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