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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 15

Bhante Gunaratana

11. When zeal has sprung up v. Bending the ears, paying entire beginning of Dhamma, does not pay
(chandajāto ussahati), attention to the Dhamma attention to the middle nor does
12. You apply your will (ussahitvā one should listen to Dhamma he pay attention to the end of the
tuleti); (ohitasoto) as follows. Dhamma. He is compared to a pot
13. Having applied your will, you a) what is heard (Sutā) turned upside down. When the pot
scrutinize (tulayitvā padahati); b) remember it (dhatā) is turned upside down it does not
14. Having scrutinized, you strive, c) verbally recite (vacasā hold water no matter how much
resolutely striving, with paricitā) water you pour into it. His mind is
the body the ultimate truth d) reflect mindfully just like this pot. So his wisdom is
(pahitatto samāno kāyena c’eva (manasānupekkhatā) turned upside down.
paramasaccaṃsacchikaroti) e) penetrate it with right view
15. and see it by penetrating it or wisdom Suppose somebody listen to the
with wisdom (paññāya ca (diṭṭhiya suppaṭivijjhatā). beginning, middle and the end of
taṃativijjha passati). In this the Dhamma while he is sitting.
Three Kind of Listeners:
way there is the discovery of But as he stands up, he forgets
truth. (Adopted from Canki everything he heard. He is like a
Sutta) There are three kinds of individuals man who sits in a place keeping
listening to Dhamma: some fruit or nuts on his lap and
How to Listen to Dhamma eating them. Suddenly he stands up
i) One who has turned his wisdom forgetting the fruits or nuts in his
The way how one should listen to upside down (avakujjapañño) lap. Then all the fruits or nuts on his
Dhamma has also been stated by the ii) One who keeps his wisdom in his lap falls on the ground and scatters
Buddha. bosom (ucchanga pañño) here and there.
iii) One with wide wisdom
Attikatvā manasikatvā sabbacetaso (puthupañño). The third person listens to Dhamma
samannāharitvā ohitasoto while he is sitting. He pays attention
Dhammaṃ suṇāti. Suppose somebody goes to a to the beginning of the Dhamma,
i. Listens to Dhamma (Dhammaṃ monastery and listens to Dhamma middle of the Dhamma and end of
suṇāti). delivered by bhikkhus. They preach the Dhamma. When he gets up to
ii. This Dhamma is beneficial to me the Dhamma excellent at the leave he remembers everything he
(Atthikatvā). beginning, excellent in the middle heard. He is compared to a pot kept
iii, Pay mindful attention and excellent in the end. Morality, turning upside up so that when you
(manasikatvā). concentration and wisdom are all pour water into it water stays in it.
iv. Listen wholeheartedly by paying excellent. This person who goes to EH
total attention to Dhamma the monastery to listen Dhamma
(sabbacetaso samannāharitvā). does not pay attention to the