Verse 239
Gradually, gradually,
a moment at a time,
the wise remove their own impurities
as a goldsmith removes the dross.
Reflection
No amount of wishing things were otherwise
gives us what we long for. We want the pure gold
of pristine awareness so we need to enter the fires
of purification. This verse instructs us on how
to watch over the burning: too much heat - we
are trying too hard - enduring heedlessly we get
hurt in our practice. Not enough heat - shying
away from difficulties - following preferences for
comfort and ease, there is no improvement in our
practice. We just become more foolish as the years
go by. Our habits are the dross and with gradual
fine-tuning of our effort we learn letting go. The
aim of all this work is the realisation of the state
of luminous awareness. We then have something
inherently valuable to share with others.
Ajahn Munindo
Gradually, gradually,
a moment at a time,
the wise remove their own impurities
as a goldsmith removes the dross.
Reflection
No amount of wishing things were otherwise
gives us what we long for. We want the pure gold
of pristine awareness so we need to enter the fires
of purification. This verse instructs us on how
to watch over the burning: too much heat - we
are trying too hard - enduring heedlessly we get
hurt in our practice. Not enough heat - shying
away from difficulties - following preferences for
comfort and ease, there is no improvement in our
practice. We just become more foolish as the years
go by. Our habits are the dross and with gradual
fine-tuning of our effort we learn letting go. The
aim of all this work is the realisation of the state
of luminous awareness. We then have something
inherently valuable to share with others.
Ajahn Munindo
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