Page 60 - Extinguishment of self, in search of dhamma

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The thing that I ask you to focus on, the point that I try to correct—these are to prevent you from going around in circle, to enable you to progress. But, you do not do as I have told you, then you go and try various other methods— this and that. If you go and do what I have told you, but you are not able to do it; you are not able to experience the natural condition. Then, you can tell me, do not be afraid to be wrong. Do not be afraid that I will reprimand you. Of course, I will reprimand you. With no reprimand, you may not remember. In actual fact, I hardly reprimand, as I sympathize with practitioners. Just not being able to remember the dhamma home works is stressful enough. Then, when you cannot nd the phenomenon (Translator’s note: To contemplate), you are afraid that I will reprimand you. No, I will not. I am willing to empathize with practitioners.
Do you notice that sometimes when you relate you natural conditions incorrectly, I will help you along. When you are not able to relate, I will ask: Is it like this? Is it like that? Then, you can proceed. I ask questions so that you can relate correctly. This is because the natural conditions that you experienced are yours. We have practiced dhamma before and we related incorrectly before. We have misunderstood, we have made mistakes. This is normal. The important thing is that always try to remember our mistakes so that the next time the mistakes will be fewer—that is all. We need to continue to develop steadily.