Page 43 - Extinguishment of self, in search of dhamma
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in our everyday lives. The key is that we are not able to use this unburdened mind all the time, as we lack expertise. But, if anyone can use this mind that is free from self in everyday life, that is excellent! If we can experience all natural conditions with a mind that is without self, without us, without them, see how happy our lives will become.
Being without self—without us, without them does not mean being without happiness. Without self, without us, without them is not a state of equanimity (upekkha) to all natural conditions. This is because a mind without self is a mind that is receptive to wholesomeness. If wholesomeness can emerge easily, happiness can emerge easily. Therefore, it is not always the sense of equanimity. The more unburdened the mind, the more happiness there is. Thinking about meritorious things, wholesomeness can emerge easily. This means that a mind that is free from de lements, free from self, is a mind that is receptive to wholesomeness. Therefore, as we hear about meritorious things, our mind will rejoice in that wholesomeness. Then, happiness and the power of merits will emerge. This is a wholesome mind.
Therefore, when we contemplate various natural conditions that emerge in our lives, we need to contemplate the true reality of those conditions. We should diligently contemplate the emergence-existence-cessation of all the important natural conditions. By contemplating emergence-
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