Page 74 - Extinguishment of self, in search of dhamma

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If we have the willingness, they will be easily resolved. Resolve them one point at a time, then we will be able to do better. But, if we just sit around doing nothing, then they will be dif cult to resolve. In relating natural conditions, some practitioners are very eager to relate. Hence, when they see me, they will just speak, speak, and speak. In other cases, practitioners are not able to relate natural conditions in front of them: This is not it, that is not it. It is not empty like this. But, how it is empty, they do not relate. They just focus on it is not this, it is not that. But, if they relate about what it is, then that is it—rather than relating for a long time about what it is not.
For example, a practitioner relates about sensations. Today, sensations were very strong, even with wilful contemplation, they could not be defeated. Then, there is no time to do other things. The way we should contemplate is like this: We should focus on contemplating and observing the emergence-cessation phenomenon. There is no need to observe the lumpiness characteristics (Translator’s note: Of sensation). In the following meditative session, the practitioner searched only for sensations, when they could not be found, he became sad, regretting that he could not do the dhamma homework given. Today, I sat but could not experience any sensation, so I did not do the dhamma homework. So, what was present? There were only thoughts, no sensations. So, I did not contemplate, I could not do the dhamma homework.