คำสอน · พระอาจารย์สุรพงค์Teaching · Pra Ajarn Suraphong
อกุศลสามแบบที่น่ากลัวที่สุด: หลับ เล่า กาม คืออะไรThe Three Most Frightening Forms of the Unwholesome: What Are "Sleep," "Chatter," and "Sense-Pleasure"?
หลับในความหมายนี้อาจหมายถึงโมหะหรืออวิชชา ส่วนเล่าทำให้สติไม่อาจตั้งขึ้นสมบูรณ์ และกามคือตัณหาในรูปรสกลิ่นเสียงสัมผัสที่เป็นมูลเหตุเบื้องต้นของปัญหาทั้งหลาย หากปราศจากอุเบกขาธรรมและตัตรมัชฌัตตตาเจตสิกที่ควบคุมใจให้สมดุล อกุศลก็จะฉวยสิ่งเหล่านี้มาก่อโลภะและโทสะได้"Sleep" in this teaching may refer to delusion or ignorance; "chatter" prevents mindfulness from becoming fully established; and "sense-pleasure" is craving for sights, tastes, smells, and sounds — the root cause of every problem. Without equanimity and the mental factor that keeps the mind balanced, the unwholesome can turn these very things into triggers for greed and aversion.
Someone asked: they'd heard a fellow practitioner mention that a certain nun once said the three most frightening forms of are "sleep," "chatter," and "sense-pleasure" — but wasn't sure they'd understood correctly.
Sleep: Perhaps Meaning Delusion or Ignorance
Pra Ajarn explained that "sleep" in this context might mean delusion — not-knowing — or it could mean ; it depends on the details and context the speaker intended.
Chatter: Prevents Mindfulness From Becoming Fully Established
As for "chatter," it prevents our from becoming established, or keeps it incomplete. Mindfulness is the essential factor that lets become established and function; if the wholesome can't function, problems follow.
Sense-Pleasure: The Root Cause of Every Problem
As for "sense-pleasure" (kāma), it's a lure — craving for sights, tastes, smells, and sounds. We view the world through eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and body, toward forms, tastes, smells, sounds — all this delightfulness is sense-pleasure, the root cause of every problem, because these things do have genuine value: pleasantness, beauty, fragrance, delicious taste, soft and refined touch, pleasant sound — these are their genuine benefits. But once we lack equanimity, or lack the of even-mindedness (tatramajjhattatā) that regulates the mind and keeps it from scattering out of balance, the unwholesome can seize on these very things to trigger greed and aversion. This is exactly where wisdom is needed, to indulge in these things only appropriately.
What Offers Little Benefit Should Be Avoided — But Ordinary Sleep Is Necessary
As for things that offer little real benefit, such as alcohol, they should be avoided where possible. As for ordinary sleep, it depends on whether the intended meaning is ignorance or delusion — but if it truly means physical sleep, that is a necessity. Anyone who has struggled with insomnia knows the value of sleep, because just before falling asleep the body experiences real comfort and ease from adequate rest, so it remains necessary. Still, one must consider the true intended meaning of each term carefully.