พระอาจารย์อธิบายว่าการมองเข้าไปในตนมี 2 นัย คือมองเห็นพระรัตนตรัยภายในแล้วหลอมรวมเป็นหนึ่งเดียว มองผ่านตนไปเห็นตัวตนที่แท้จริงของผู้อื่นด้วยความเคารพ และมองเห็นความไม่เที่ยงของกายเวทนาจิตธรรมที่ธรรมชาติ 3 ฝ่ายผลัดกันเข้าสิง แล้วปล่อยวางกลับมาดำรงอยู่กับพระรัตนตรัยซึ่งเป็นตัวตนที่แท้จริงThe teacher explains that looking within has two aspects: seeing the Triple Gem inside us and merging with it as one, then looking through ourselves to see the true nature of others with respect — and seeing the impermanence of body, feeling, mind, and mental states as the three natures take turns possessing us, then letting go and returning to abide with the Triple Gem, our true self.
A student asked what "looking within" (mong khao pai nai ton) means and how to practice it.
See the Triple Gem Within, and Merge with It as One
The teacher explained that looking within means looking inward to recognize the presence of our true self — the Triple Gem: the Buddha jewel, the jewel, and the Sangha jewel — present within every single person. Even while our inner vision is still dim and unclear, we simply ac that the Triple Gem is there, and merge ourselves with it into a single unity, letting our whole being become the , residing at . From there, we gather the mind and rest it in stillness at the center of that Buddha image, the center of our true self, staying with it. If the mind wanders, we simply bring it back again. Whether our eyes are open or closed, whether the image is clear or unclear does not matter — even without seeing it clearly, we simply feel that it is there, always.
Once we can look within to our own true self in this way, our inner knower will guide us to look through the people around us to see the true self of the world and of all beings — because every being, too, has a Dhammakāya residing at their own center. When we can look through ourselves and see the true nature of others and all beings in this way, we come to stand firmly in goodness, treating ourselves and others with respect, reverence, faith, correctness, and goodness. No harm or exploitation can arise from this.
See the Impermanence of Body, Feeling, Mind, and Mental States — Then Let Go
A second dimension of looking within is looking inward to see — to see the body, feeling, mind, and mental states that overlay our own. Three natures — , , and the neutral — take turns competing to possess our heart. Whichever one succeeds overlays its own body, feeling, mind, and state onto ours, and its thoughts and feelings appear as if they were our own. When we recognize that these are not truly "us" but merely an overlay, the three characteristics of existence become apparent — impermanence, arising from this ceaseless turnover between the three natures. When the unwholesome side takes hold, suffering appears, because what we feel and think in that moment is not truly our own — so we should not cling to it, but let it change as it will.
Even the circumstances and events of our life are the results of past karma, drawing certain elements together, creating pressure both inside and out. They arise, and they pass. Do not cling — let go, and return to abide with our true self, the Triple Gem, the one of boundless wisdom and power, who will guide us to stand firm in what is right and good — drawing in a continuous stream of pure energy called merit, washing away the stains that cloud us, and freeing us to move continuously from one level of refinement to the next.
What Comes from Continuously Abiding with the System of Wholesome Dhamma
When we abide with this system of wholesome Dhamma from waking to sleeping, the stream of merit flows continuously. Even while asleep, we rest within that pure energy; and when we wake, we wake within that same stream. All it takes is training ourselves to abide with this wholesome system — staying constantly aware, looking within, merging with the Triple Gem inside us, and continually seeing the truth of the nature that passes through our body, feeling, mind, and mental states.