พระอาจารย์อธิบายว่าควรฟังธรรมในวันพระ เมื่อจิตถูกวิตก 3 อย่างครอบงำ และเมื่อมีผู้รู้มาแสดงธรรม พร้อมชี้ว่าปัญหาไม่ได้อยู่ที่กามคุณโดยตรง แต่อยู่ที่ความยินดียินร้ายที่เกิดตามมา และการฟังธรรมคือหนทางเชื่อมกับผู้รู้ภายในเพื่อดับความยินดียินร้ายนั้นPra Ajarn explains that we should listen to Dhamma teachings on holy days, whenever the mind is overcome by the three kinds of harmful thought, and whenever a wise teacher is speaking. He shows that the real problem isn't sense pleasure itself but the delight and aversion that follow it, and that hearing the Dhamma is how we connect with the inner knower who can dissolve that reactivity.
Someone asked Pra Ajarn to expand on Blessing 26: "Hearing the at the proper time."
When Should We Listen to the Dhamma
Just as a mirror reflects whether our body is beautiful or unkempt, hearing the Dhamma at the right time reflects back to us our own goodness or shortcomings. There are three occasions to listen: first, on holy days, once a week; second, whenever the mind is overcome by harmful thoughts that leave it agitated and clouded — these fall into three categories: thoughts of sensual craving, thoughts of ill will, and thoughts of harming or taking advantage of others — whenever these three arise, one should go and listen to the Dhamma right away; and third, whenever a wise teacher — someone with , ability, and genuine Dhamma — is speaking, because such a person is rare in this world.
Why We Must Listen to the Dhamma
Every life changes for the better only when good new information enters it and we accept it. Without that, change is difficult. Every life is dominated by the three forces of nature, and we store the information each one feeds us in memory. The unwholesome side pressures and misguides us toward boredom, distress, stress, exhaustion, discouragement, hopelessness, depression, restlessness, irritation, and confusion. Without correct information, we cannot refuse these voices when they arise. But with better information, we can push back and reject them.
Where Do These Three Harmful Thoughts Come From
Our world is made up of forms, sounds, smells, tastes, and touch, perceived through eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind. Thoughts of sensual craving arise from delighting in these things — the more we delight, the more we want, until it becomes greed. Thoughts of ill will and of harming others arise from aversion — not liking something, which leads to irritation, resentment, and grudges. Pra Ajarn pointed out that the real problem isn't sense pleasure itself, but the delight and aversion we attach to it. If we remain neutral, neither delighting nor resenting, sense objects have no power over us at all. This is why we must restrain the eye, ear, nose, tongue, and body, establishing so we don't swing into pleasure or displeasure — and equanimity can then take root.
Listening to the Dhamma Connects Us With the Inner and Outer Knower
Animals connect with their inner knower only through , but humans can first learn from an outer knower and then develop a connection to the inner one. Listening to the Dhamma helps us understand how each force of nature operates, and every time we learn and understand, the sphere of wisdom grows brighter — the stream of merit flows through the center of that brightness. The more we listen to the Dhamma, the brighter the sphere of wisdom becomes, and the better equipped we are to resolve the problems that arise in life.