More effective
When going on a journey, it is more effective to travel with a good guide than to travel with a map. When going to nibbana, it is more effective to go with a good guide (a good meditation teacher) than with the “map” from a book.
Sayadawgyi's Intention
To be able to celebrate Panditarāma's Silver Anniversary, we need to look honestly and uncompromisingly at our previous work to see what is needed, what is missing, if there are any mistakes, so that we can correct shortcomings and weaknesses, fill in gaps, and set straight errors.
1. If you don't know the correct method of practice, remove this deficiency by learning.
2. If you don't have meditation knowledge, remove this deficiency by actual observation and practice.
Based on these two fundamental points, let our dhamma family, while working harmoniously; continue to march forward with this intention which is both correct and beneficial, so as to go from the Silver Anniversary onto the Golden and Diamond Anniversaries.
Teachers must have mettā (loving kindness) for their students,
Teachers and students must have respect for one another.
Good teachers must care for their students correctly,
Good students must respect their teachers properly.
Students must be properly dutiful toward their teachers,
Teachers must correctly depend on their students.
If this is so, mutual respect will flourish and spread.
Riddle
Take refuge in the three and keep the five, in good existences one shall stay,
In the human world one can live, the four lower realms will be far away.
Develop the four and the eight will come, happy one shall be.
In the dhamma one will find joy, from suffering one will be free.
(Answer: The Three Gems, the Five Precepts, the Four Satipatthāna, the Noble Eightfold Path)
Saying whatever you think, there will be no wisdom,
Without clear understanding, you'll take up wrong beliefs.
If you speak rightly from experience, there will be wisdom,
Understanding clearly, you'll follow right beliefs.
Hard to carry on
Problems among a group of relatives are difficult to clear,
As complex as unwinding threads all tangled in a bond.
Affairs concerning relatives thus leave one full of fear,
When familial duty's convoluted it's hard to carry on.
So that future generations can continue and gradually develop and flourish, Sayādaws very much depend on the young people who are ordained as novices and nuns who are taking responsibility for sāsana work.
Don't let the blood become cold
So that Buddhism does not die out in Myanmar, it is necessary for the blood of Buddhist culture to be always circulating in the bodies and hearts of Buddhists. It is necessary for the blood of Buddhist culture to stay warm without letting it become cold.
Buddhists must strive so that their ability to defend themselves becomes strong. They must practice Buddhist culture, both scriptural study and meditation until both are fulfilled to satisfaction.
Mental pollution will arise and overwhelm the minds of those who let their behavior, speech and minds go free without any self restraint. Therefore if these people are attacked they will retaliate in an incorrect way to gain the upper hand.
Although potent
Although a medicine may be potent, if you don't take it correctly according to the doctor's instructions, the disease won't be cured. Although the Buddha's dhamma is potent, if you don't practice correctly according to instructions, the disease of mental defilements will not be cured.
World Morality
The five codes of moral and ethical conduct which are called the five precepts are relevant not only for one person. Not to mention Buddhists, they are relevant for everyone. Each and every person should follow them. Therefore, because they are relevant for the whole world, we can call it World Morality (Sīla). Because they are relevant for the entire universe, we can call it Universal Morality (Sīla).
A sāsana which is not effective
It is proper to strive for a patipatti (practice) sāsana which is not without pariyatti (study), and a pariyatti sāsana which is not without patipatti. Theoretical knowledge without practical experience, and practical experience without theoretical knowledge is not effective.
Those who own the happiness of extinguishing defilements
Monks who only keep appearances but do not keep practice cannot experience the happiness of extinguishing the defilements. Therefore monks must not only keep appearances but must also keep practice.
Four Adornments
If the garland of generosity you wear and keep,
No matter where you are, you'll have joy and clarity.
You won't feel inferior to others because of your good deeds.
If the garland of morality you wear and keep,
No matter where you are, you'll have joy and clarity.
Your happiness and prosperity won't disappear or decrease.
If the garland of concentration you wear and keep,
No matter where you are, you'll have joy and clarity.
From confusion and bewilderment your life will be free.
If the garland of meditation you wear and keep,
No matter where you are, you'll have joy and clarity.
From the three afflictive ego clingings you will be released.
The power which is found only in Vipassana insight and not in scientific knowledge
Among the fastest things in the world, only the mind is the fastest. The ability to catch the wandering mind and observe it is only found in Vipassana insight. It is not found in scientific knowledge.
People think that meditation is just sitting. It is not only sitting. It is working to observe and know (mind-body) phenomena.
There is a saying that you can fight a fire before it starts by preventing it in advance. The Buddha gave us a method for preventing fires (of defilements) in advance, not just extinguishing them after they've already started burning.
According to the saying "Note every arising with mindfulness, always be on guard," after watching for fires (of defilements) which arise in one's mind, one must put them out, one must prevent them, if the mind catches fire one must immediately put it out.
Real culture is the essence of human beings
Applying self restraint so that one does not do wrong is not just beneficial for oneself. By doing so one indirectly and automatically does not harm others, does not cause others physical and mental suffering. Each and every person who follows religious beliefs must possess this essence of a human being.
Do you possess the sāsana?
It is very important to consider how much the dhamma vinaya, according to the Buddha's instructions, has been established inside one's own heart; whether you have worked to completion so that the Buddha's teaching is established in your heart; whether you truly possess the sāsana
Although there are different translations of the word "culture" according to different religions all over the world, in the teachings (field) which Sayadaw believes in, culture means: being able to control one's behavior, speech and mind so that one does not harm others; to prevent and protect oneself from causing physical and mental suffering....this is what Sayadaw believes in.
Let there be real Generosity (Dāna)
There is a lot of charity done for donor's own benefit. It is done with the desire for gaining fame. There is not a lot of real generosity. People wish to gain the negligible happiness of humans and devas, and adore sensual happiness which is intoxicating to the point of causing danger and death.
Treasures which bring happiness
Buddhist parents must try to give their children and grandchildren the flavor, practice and experience of the Buddha's teachings. If they succeed, then they will gain the happiness of having the treasures of good sons and daughters, which is a happiness that far exceeds the happiness of gaining treasures of gold and silver.