คำสอน · พระอาจารย์สุรพงค์Teaching · Pra Ajarn Suraphong
ชีวิตเหมือนความฝัน: เดี๋ยวดีเดี๋ยวร้ายแต่ผ่านไปได้เสมอ เมื่อใจผูกไว้กับระบบกุศลธรรมLife Is Like a Dream: Sometimes Good, Sometimes Bad, but Always Passing — When the Heart Stays Bound to the Wholesome System
พระอาจารย์สุรพงค์สอนว่าชีวิตเป็นเหมือนความฝัน บางครั้งดีบางครั้งร้าย แต่ทุกอย่างผ่านไปได้เสมอตราบใดที่ใจยังผูกอยู่กับระบบกุศลธรรม ท่านอธิบายตัตรมัชฌัตตตาเจตสิกหรืออุเบกขาที่นำสู่ความตั้งมั่น อุปมาเด็กเข้าโรงเรียนวันแรกเพื่อฝึกวิริยะ และการเข้าถึงองค์พระธรรมกายตั้งแต่ 1% ถึง 100% ก่อนนำเข้าสู่การแผ่เมตตาและบทอธิษฐานจิตปิดท้ายPhra Ajarn Suraphong teaches that life is like a dream -- sometimes pleasant, sometimes a nightmare -- but everything always passes, as long as the heart stays bound to the wholesome system. He explains the equanimous mental factor (tatramajjhattata) that leads to steadiness, the analogy of a child's first day at school for building diligence, and reaching the Buddha image anywhere from 1% to 100%, before leading into the radiation of loving-kindness and the closing aspiration.
Practicing Dhamma and Right View: The Only Path to the Wholesome System at Depth
Phra Ajarn Suraphong opened the sitting by explaining that practicing is essential and necessary for every life, because it is the only way to connect us with system at a deep level. There is no other way to connect us with the Triple Gem at that depth. The deeper and subtler we go, the more we can access resources of real value, reaching the subtle inner components of the wholesome system that can control the elements of that finer system.
Everything hinges on attitude. Right view (samma ditthi) governs every process at every level. We need to adjust our attitude to be correct and good. If our attitude is correct, we will be released, freed from every wrong view, reaching a correct and good attitude that leads us to a truly excellent, wondrous life.
The Equanimous Mental Factor: Steady Balance That Leads to Firmness
Meditation is dwelling within the wholesome system, relying on (), faith (saddha), and the equanimous (tatramajjhattata) -- the quality that remains unmoved by whatever stimulates us, keeping the heart in balance. When balanced, we become steady; once steady, stability gradually arises, leading toward other subtle wholesome mental qualities, such as lightness of body and mind, gentleness and refinement, and a sense of open, spacious ease. All of these are subtle mental factors.
Two Kinds of Refinement Born From Sustained Attention
To access these subtle mental factors, we need to refine the heart. There are two kinds of refinement: refinement through sustained duration over time, and refinement through reaching fine detail -- being able to focus on the details of each moment of attention. Both arise naturally as a result of continuous, focused attention -- such as when we recite the phrase "" slowly, word by word.
The Analogy of a Child's First Day at School: Training the Heart in Diligence
Phra Ajarn explained that we need to give the heart work to do, so that it learns to focus, grows accustomed to focusing, and develops diligence. He compared this to raising a child: whether a child's heart becomes diligent or resistant depends entirely on how we train it. If we train a child's heart to grow accustomed to sustained effort, the child becomes diligent; if we neglect this, the child's heart becomes resistant. Whether it is our own heart or a child's, every heart needs instruction and training to gain and understanding, and to grow familiar with the quality called viriya -- diligent, persevering effort. Without cultivating it, a child's heart cannot develop that perseverance at all; it requires exposure until the child grows accustomed to persevering, and only then does responsibility begin to take root.
He gave the example of the day we send a small child to kindergarten for the first time: nearly every child cries and refuses to go, and once there, cries wanting to go home, missing their parents. But after some time passes and the child grows accustomed, the child wakes and goes to school on their own, taking responsibility. This same lack of readiness can occur even in an adult's heart, one that already understands its role and duties but is simply not yet accustomed to it. If we push ourselves gently at first, we gradually begin to manage.
He stressed that in the beginning this may feel difficult, because there is still much defilement, and the process feels forced and effortful. But as we continue practicing, the sphere of knowing draws in merit to cleanse that defilement, gradually lightening it, and the process becomes less forced -- workable, and increasingly easier over time.
Reciting "Samma Arahang" and Expanding the Crystal Dhammakaya Image Through the Whole Body
"Samma Arahang" is the name of the Dhamma-body of the Arahant, called according to his qualities -- the one who has practiced well and rightly, whose practice leads far from every defilement. This is our true self. We can reach him by uttering his name repeatedly; he then appears at . Once he appears, he does not appear empty-handed -- he takes our elements of seeing, remembering, thinking, and knowing, our earth, water, wind, fire, space, and consciousness elements, and refines them to clarity and , clearing away every defilement, every karmic result, every obstacle in life, connecting us to the stream of merit and treasure, and clearing the path ahead so that we may reap success with ease.
As we utter his name, he appears at the center of our body and heart, then expands to fill our entire body -- from a tiny bright point the size of a needle's tip, gradually growing larger until it overlaps as one with our body, so that our whole body becomes the crystal Dhamma-body, radiant, cool, clean, and pure. Our head becomes the crystal Dhamma-body's head with its radiant lotus-bud crown; our forehead becomes the Dhamma-body's forehead, sparkling and bright; our eyes become the Dhamma-body's eyes; our face becomes the Dhamma-body's face, gently smiling, refined and tender, cool and clear. Our neck, shoulders, and arms all become the crystal Dhamma-body, radiant, cool, clean and pure; our chest, belly, and back all become the crystal Dhamma-body, sparkling and radiant; our hips, thighs, knees, shins, and feet all become the crystal Dhamma-body, refined and gentle, cool, clean, pure, and radiant. We are the Buddha image, and the Buddha image is us; we cast aside every sense of the human body entirely, leaving only the feeling that we are the Buddha image, and the Buddha image is us.
Reaching the Buddha Image From 1% to 100%, and Accepting Whatever Degree We Attain
Our late revered teacher once said that reaching the Buddha image can be easy or difficult -- easy for those who know and understand, difficult for those who do not. The degree of attainment ranges from 1% to 100%; right now we might be reaching only 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, or 50%. Whatever we attain is still attainment -- if we attain it and then reject it, refusing to accept it, no benefit arises. But if we accept that we have reached 10% or 15%, benefit can indeed arise. Whether it is clear or unclear is simply due to the defilement veiling it from behind; but behind that veil is the pure, radiant crystal Buddha image -- our true self. We need only look through that veil to merge with our true self. Every recitation of "Samma Arahang" is an utterance of his name; when we utter it, he appears and expands, overlapping as one with us, coming to help clear away every defilement, purifying and liberating us from one dimension to the next, continuously.
Attitude Determines Suffering and Ease: Only Binding the Heart to What Is Lofty Brings Liberation
Phra Ajarn taught that the diligence required to focus on the recitation and mental image is viriya -- unwavering, persevering effort, carried on continuously. We should stay continuously aware of what we are aware of. If we are aware of something lofty, the heart is lifted along with it; if we are aware of something low, the heart sinks along with it. Everything depends on what we bind the heart to. Whether life brings suffering or ease depends on having a correct, good attitude. Only the wholesome system can give us that correct and good attitude; system only drags us down, again and again, into suffering after suffering. Simply by adjusting our attitude, life changes -- we become free of every kind of suffering. Simply by binding the heart to what is highest, the heart is liberated, reaching spaciousness and ease. Whatever causes us to cling and drags the heart down into suffering, we should let go of it, because everything passes -- it is only ever temporary.
Life Is Like a Dream: Good Dreams and Bad Dreams Always Pass
Phra Ajarn taught that every life unfolds according to its own causes and conditions. What must be one way, must be that way; what must be another way, must be that way too. Even if we wish it were otherwise, we cannot force it when it must be as it is -- and that in itself is not a problem. But if the outcome drags our heart down, we need to adjust our attitude so that it is correct, and then suffering will not arise for us.
Everything is like a dream -- sometimes a good dream, sometimes a nightmare. Every one of us has passed through the experience of both good dreams and bad dreams; even though they feel completely real while we are in them, they always pass, and then they pass beyond us again. What is there to fear, when we dwell within a system that is correct and good? Apart from the wholesome system, is there any other system that could truly benefit us? None at all -- only the wholesome system can benefit us. We dwell within the wholesome system, with the Triple Gem overseeing it and Nibbana standing behind it. And Nibbana is not just one, or two, or a hundred, or tens of thousands, or millions -- it is countless, asankhyeya, watching over and helping us always.
The Unwholesome Tries to Frighten the Heart: The Only Way Out Is Binding the Heart to the Wholesome
What is there that we should truly fear? The unwholesome side tries to make us lose our composure, startling and frightening us for a passing moment, so that it may seize the seat of the heart. It threatens us again and again, hoping to make our heart falter. The moment our heart falters, the unwholesome takes the seat of the heart, pressing and drawing in more unwholesome states, all of which bring nothing but suffering and harm. We should not allow this. The only way to be freed from suffering is to dwell with the wholesome system, binding the heart to what is good and supremely lofty -- bound to Nibbana, bound to the Triple Gem. Only the wholesome system can sustain us, as our teachers have always confirmed. Staying with them gives us warmth and reassurance. Every crisis passes as it came; it is only an experience meant to stir us, and we should never let it drag the heart down. Behind everything lies an energy that is either merit or demerit -- the unwholesome acts only through the energy of demerit, while the wholesome benefits us only through the pure energy called merit, which supports and helps us continuously. Our role is to dwell within the wholesome system, binding the heart to what is right and good, staying continuously aware without lapsing, so as to draw in that pure energy continuously. This is the one and only thing that can truly benefit us.
Loving-Kindness: Radiating From Ourselves to the Boundless Universe
Once we have purified ourselves, the next task is to benefit the world of beings and all sentient creatures, using the tool of the wholesome system called metta, . We need only set a sincere wish for goodness: may all beings be free from suffering and share everywhere. If we still cannot fully taste the flavor of loving-kindness, our late revered teacher advised us to draw on the heart of a mother, full of love and goodwill toward her own small child, and let that quality of mind arise within our own heart, then extend that goodwill outward to all people and beings: may all people and beings in the world be free from suffering and share happiness everywhere.
We then extend this heart, brimming with loving-kindness, outward to encompass the place where we are practicing. Loving-kindness, which relies on the heart as its source, shines only as far as the heart extends. Through its special quality, it dispels resentment and ill-will in the surrounding atmosphere entirely. We continue extending it to encompass the village, sub-district, district, and province, throughout the whole country, and onward to neighboring countries and all nations, until it encompasses the entire world, making this world a crystal world, radiant, cool, clean, and pure. May all people and beings in the world be free from suffering and share happiness everywhere -- earthbound devas, sky-dwelling devas, celestial beings of every heavenly realm, the formless Brahma gods, and beings in hell, hungry ghosts, and animals alike. For those who suffer much, may their suffering lessen; for those who suffer little, may it end and happiness arise; for those with little happiness, may it grow; and for those already abundant in happiness, may it grow still further.
We then extend this heart, filled with loving-kindness, out into the atmosphere of the cosmos, encompassing countless stars -- tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions -- and continuing onward to the ten thousand world-systems, the hundred thousand koti of universes, the infinite universe, so that our loving-kindness benefits all people, all beings, all things, and every element of Dhamma, making them radiant, cool, clean, and pure. Our heart expands, joyful, spacious, and at ease; wherever the heart extends, loving-kindness shines there too. This loving-kindness also dispels resentment and defilement in the hearts of people and beings entirely. The wholesome nature, taking this opportunity, seizes the seat of the heart, drawing in pure energy to correct and refine the elements of Dhamma within people and beings, purifying and liberating them by countless levels.
Phra Ajarn stressed that the effect of loving-kindness does not only refine the hearts of people and beings, but benefits the surrounding environment as well -- the earth, water, air, and sky, rivers, mountains, and seas, trees and grasses, towns and dwellings, and everyday belongings, all becoming radiant and fit for people and beings to inhabit. He concluded: whoever brings benefit to the world and the cosmos is able, in turn, to make use of the treasures of the world and the cosmos.
Resting in the Refined Body of Our Teachers and Setting Our Aspiration
We gather the heart to stop, gather the heart to stillness, within the continuously flowing stream of merit. We rest in stillness within the happiness, the purity, and the radiance at the center of the merit element; the heart is a sphere of accomplishment -- whatever we determine, so it becomes. We gather the heart to stillness within the Triple Gem, within the Buddha Jewel, the Dhamma Jewel, and the Sangha Jewel, merging ourselves with them into a single unity. Our life can never be apart from the Triple Gem; we must merge as one with them, remaining close, intimate, and familiar, dwelling in happiness and warmth at their center.
Besides the Triple Gem, we also have our great teachers, with whom we must merge our hearts into a single unity. We gather the heart to stop, gather the heart to stillness, within the utterly refined Dhamma-body of our late revered teachers -- Luang Pu, Luang Phor, and Khun Yai. As we bring them to mind, we appear bright and clear within them, and they appear bright and clear within us; both we and they appear luminous within Nibbana. We then pay respect and ask for their blessing, setting our aspiration and life-plan into the center of this radiant sphere of merit, so that throughout our entire path of accumulating perfections from this moment on, our life may be filled with wisdom, happiness, and purity, and every rightful, wholesome wish may come true.
Asking for Blessings and Setting the Life-Plan in Detail
We pay respect and ask for the blessing, merit, radiance, power, and unequivocal authority of Nibbana throughout all elements and all Dhamma, together with the blessing of our revered teachers, Luang Pu, Luang Phor, and Khun Yai. May all this merit and these perfections combine with the merit and perfections we ourselves have sincerely accumulated since our very first existence, through countless lifetimes, up to this present moment. May all this merit combine into sacred merit, possessing power, might, and boundless force, refining our body, speech, and mind, our elements of Dhamma, our seeing, remembering, thinking, and knowing, the elements of earth, water, wind, fire, space, and consciousness, making them bright, cool, clean, and pure. May we be freed from sacred misfortune, from the results of past karma, from obstruction by Mara, and from every manner of obstacle in life; may greed, hatred, delusion, lust, , wrong view, craving, and clinging all dissolve entirely, leaving no trace.
May we gain the eye that sees the Dhamma, reaching and penetrating the knowledge of the Dhammakaya, achieving the three knowledges, the eight knowledges, the six higher powers, the four kinds of analytical , the eight liberations, and the fifteen conducts, complete in every respect. May we also enjoy strong and complete health, a long lifespan, and the ability to accumulate merit and perfections throughout our entire life, safely to the very end, with an unceasing, elevated spirit in building perfections, heading straight along the path to Nibbana, to the very end of Dhamma. Wherever we travel, may we meet only good fortune and safety, may we be loved by both humans and devas, may we possess a bright wisdom that clearly penetrates the Dhamma of the Fully Enlightened Buddha, and whatever business or work we undertake, may it flourish and progress, yielding results beyond what we could imagine or expect, gaining vast wealth like that of a Universal Monarch, never lacking, able to make offerings of great generosity endlessly, generous without , using it fully to build perfections.
When the time comes to close our eyes and leave this world, may we be reborn in the Tusita heaven, in the special sphere of merit reserved for future Buddhas and great Bodhisattvas, and when we return to build perfections in the human world, may we be born into a family of right view, a crystal family, a Dhammakaya family, a model family for the world, a warm and loving family, complete and abundant with the utmost treasures of form, wealth, , retinue, gain, honor, praise and happiness, the paths and fruits of liberation, and the knowledge of the Dhammakaya. May we also possess a vast and sacred sphere of merit, able to recall our past lives from the moment of birth, together with a clear, bright inner Dhammakaya, and study the knowledge of the Dhammakaya correctly and faithfully alongside our revered teachers, Luang Pu, Luang Phor, and Khun Yai, from childhood until the end of our lifespan. Whatever unwholesome deed we may have committed by mistake or through carelessness in the past, throughout countless lifetimes, may that unwholesome karma be unable to catch up with us or bear its result, and may it become forgiven karma forever; may we commit no new unwholesome deed through body, speech, or mind. May all the merit we have sincerely accumulated combine together and yield its sacred result, powerful and wondrous, continuously from this moment onward, until the very end of Dhamma. May all these good wishes come to pass, come to pass, come to pass, for all of us, from this moment onward, in every life and every existence, until the very end of Dhamma, by the boundless power of every Fully Enlightened Buddha; may every wish be fulfilled.
Closing Chant
Phra Ajarn Suraphong closed the sitting by leading the chant of homage to the Triple Gem: Sabbe Buddha balappatta, paccekana nca yam balam, arahantananca tejena, rakkham bandhami sabbaso. Sabba-Buddhanubhavena, sabba-Dhammanubhavena, sabba-Sanghanubhavena, sadda-sotthi ntu te.