July 19, 2546 B.E.
Knowing What to Think
Today is the sixth day of this Rains-Retreat which is the season for attaining the Dhamma where the monks can see the Dhammakaya, the novice monks can see the Dhammakaya, and the lay devotees can see the Dhammakaya.
All of us are here to make clear the Path and Fruit of Nibbana and to pursue Perfections. It would behoove everyone to spend every microsecond in a useful manner. The Path and Fruit of Nibbana can be found at the seventh base in the center of one's body. Nibbana can be attained by keeping one's mind still and quiet.
The seventh base in the center of one's body is the place where the Lord Buddha and all the Arahats attain Nibbana. Therefore, we must follow in their footsteps by keeping our mind still and quiet and we must keep on practicing.
Thought can come to one's mind only one at a time.
If one has a good thought, then a bad thought or a thought which is neither good nor bad can ever appear.
If one has a bad thought, then a good thought or a thought which is neither good nor bad can ever appear.
If the thought is neither good nor bad, neither a bad thought nor a good thought can ever appear.
Everything depends on the person. It is up to each person to choose what thought to come to his mind. Whatever thought it may be, a good thought, a bad thought, a thought which is neither good nor bad, it is all up to each person.
If one's goal is to make clear the Path and Fruit of Nibbana, then one must allow only good thoughts to come into one's mind. If one allows only good thoughts to come to one's mind, one will not have the time to think a bad thought. Therefore, bring only good things to one's self by thinking and saying only good things. Then life will be made worthwhile.
Keep practicing and in time, you will see inner images because these are already there inside you. That is all there is to it. You can choose to be diligent or lazy. If you are diligent, then you will be able to see inner images faster. But if you are lazy, there is no telling when you will ever see an inner image. Laziness slows one down lifetime after lifetime. Laziness is dangerous. Therefore, everyone must be diligent.
