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4 EASTERN HORIZON | LEAD ARTICLE

REALIZATION

THROUGH STUDY AND

PRACTICE

By Venerable Mahinda Maha Thera

Venerable Mahinda was born in 1949 in Malacca, Malaysia. He was
ordained in 1976 under the late Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda Maha
Nayaka Thera. He is the founder of the Mettā Round the World project
which unites people throughout world in the practice of loving-
kindness for world peace, harmony, and stability. He has held Mettā
Conventions in Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Australia, with the next
Convention to be held in Malaysia in 2018. Currently Ven. Mahinda is
Abbot of the Aloka Meditation Centre in Australia, Founder/Spiritual
Director of the Australian Buddhist Mission Inc., Religious Advisor
to the Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia, Founder and Spiritual
Director of the Aloka Foundation, Malaysia, and Religious Patron of
the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia.

Benny Liow of Eastern Horizon asks Venerable Mahinda to explain how
important it is to study the Dharma before we commence practice, and
how can we eventually realize the truth taught by the Buddha. The
following on-line interview was made possible through the kind efforts
of Bro K.L. Lim of Aloka Foundation.

Buddhists are told that they should “Study, Practice, Realize” the
teachings of the Buddha. Can you please share where this is mentioned
in the Pāli scriptures and in what context did the Buddha give this
advice?

In the First Sermon of the Buddha, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, SN
56.11, the Buddha declared to the first five ascetics how he had perceived
and realized the Four Noble Truths.

“This is the Noble Truth of dukkha or suffering. It should be fully perceived.
And it has been fully perceived.” He went on to say, “This is the Noble Truth
of the cause of suffering (samudaya). It should be eradicated. And it has
been eradicated”. Similarly, “This is the Noble Truth of the cessation of
suffering (nirodha). It should be realized. And it has been realized”. Also,