พระอาจารย์อธิบายว่าชีวิตเราอยู่ภายใต้กฎแห่งกรรมและกฎไตรลักษณ์ที่ทำงานร่วมกันตลอดเวลา สิ่งเดียวที่จะช่วยพัฒนาจิตได้คือธรรมชาติฝ่ายกุศล การนั่งสมาธิเป็นเพียงการกำหนดใจง่ายๆ ให้เวลากับระบบกุศลธรรม และหัวใจสำคัญของการพัฒนาคือการให้เวลาอย่างจริงจัง ไม่ใช่ทำแบบขอไปทีThe teacher explains that our life operates under both the Law of Karma and the Law of the Three Characteristics working together at all times. The only thing that can truly help develop the mind is the wholesome nature — meditation is simply about settling the mind and giving genuine time to the system of wholesome dhamma, not going through the motions half-heartedly.
A lay follower asked the teacher to elaborate on a teaching from his mentor: "Development stalls in everything if the mind itself doesn't develop." Sitting meditation is described as a subtle form of merit that can turn what's bad into good and what's unsuccessful into success, because the mind can achieve things beyond ordinary reasoning.
The Law of Karma and the Law of the Three Characteristics Shape Our Life
The teacher explained that we live under both the Law of Karma and the Law of the Three Characteristics simultaneously, at all times. The Law of Karma gives continuous results moment by moment, drawing elements together according to completed blueprints — whether or unwholesome side is bearing fruit at any given time. The Law of the Three Characteristics is the constant competition among the three natures to seize control and force us into creating new causes. Most people don't realize they're subject to both laws at once. The only thing that can genuinely help is the wholesome nature — we cannot rely on anything else except cooperating with it. We must choose a side.
Precepts Give Immediate Results, Unlike Giving
The teacher explained that giving (dana) produces results only briefly and intermittently, but keeping precepts produces both immediate and continuous results, because the sphere of precepts draws in energy day and night without interruption. A person who keeps precepts differs completely from one who doesn't. When we undertake precepts with genuine intention to protect others and beings, and aim toward , that purity flows into the center of brightness in the mind — a tiny point finer than the tip of a needle — and gradually expands.
True Meditation Practice Is Simply About Settling the Mind
practice is simply about settling the mind — whether talking with a friend or working, one can still restrain and still the mind. Find a clear anchor point for attention, such as the breath at the nostrils, the heartbeat, or if unclear, circling the thumb and index finger together to give the "sphere of awareness" something to hold onto. Any posture is fine at first. If we feel no inclination to sit because of accumulated impurity, simply bring ourselves to sit before a Buddha image, set a time goal, and let whatever happens happen — whether we doze off or grow restless, it doesn't matter. Impurity discharges like a phone battery draining its charge; once discharged, clarity and calm return. What matters most is giving time to the system of wholesome , which the Triple Gem oversees, with Nibbana behind it all. Our role is to cooperate with wholesomeness — giving, keeping precepts, meditating, and studying Dhamma to develop wisdom.
The wholesome nature brings down more refined, more intelligent mind and s from subtler bodies to act as our guiding manager — unlike unwholesomeness, whose mental factors are entirely base, or neutrality, whose capacity is limited to old memories. We must rely solely on the wholesome nature. Development stalls in everything if the mind itself doesn't develop, and a mind that develops needs a beneficial "mentor mind" — the mind of wholesomeness, from the refined human body all the way up to the dhamma body.
Why Daily Sitting Sometimes Shows No Change
A follow-up question asked why some people meditate daily yet see no change. The teacher explained that this happens because, right after practicing, they go straight back to careless distraction — old impurity never fully clears before new impurity piles on top. What matters is giving enough time and practicing sincerely, not half-heartedly, because however much time we give, that's exactly how much the wholesome nature can help. Hoping for good results without giving genuine time simply isn't possible.