พระอาจารย์อธิบายว่าการถอนอกุศลติดตั้งกุศลทำได้โดยหลักการ แต่ต้องอาศัยการฝึกฝนและการให้เวลากับกุศล เพราะระบบที่เราให้เวลามากที่สุดจะเป็นใหญ่และควบคุมเรา เมื่อกุศลเป็นใหญ่ อารมณ์อกุศลจะฝ่อไปเอง พร้อมชี้ว่ามงคลชีวิตคือโรดแมปของการพัฒนาทั้งทางโลกและทางธรรม และต้องทำจนเป็นอัตโนมัติPra Ajarn explains that uninstalling the unwholesome and installing the wholesome works in principle but requires training and giving time to the wholesome, since whichever system we give the most time to becomes dominant and controls us. When the wholesome dominates, unwholesome moods wither on their own. He notes that the Mangala Sutta is a roadmap for developing in both the worldly and the Dhamma spheres, and that it must be practiced until automatic.
Someone asked: if the mind is like a device that relies on software to draw in energy, and we find ourselves facing negative or unwholesome thoughts so often that the mind starts to sink, what concrete, practical steps are there to uninstall software and install as quickly as possible?
It Works in Principle, but Requires Training
In principle it works, but it requires training, because a human's strength, untrained, isn't enough. As Luang Phor said, we know good and bad but can't resist — because it must be practiced until it becomes normal. If we habitually abide in the unwholesome, the unwholesome controls us; if habitually with the neutral, the neutral controls us; if habitually with the wholesome, the wholesome controls us, and then it's hard for the unwholesome to possess us or operate.
Whichever System We Give the Most Time To Becomes Dominant
The more time we give the wholesome, the more it can help us; give it little, and it's impossible for it to dominate and help. A day has twenty-four hours — whoever we give more time to becomes dominant, unavoidably. We must accept this truth to fix it. Some practice, give, keep precepts, go to the temple, yet still have problems — because their wholesome proportion is only momentary. What matters is the quality and the time given. Give much time to the wholesome, it helps much; much to the unwholesome, it can ruin our life; much to the neutral, it leads us into idle amusement, and life loses its substance.
When the Wholesome Dominates, Unwholesome Moods Wither on Their Own
Noting 'stop,' noting 'still,' yet it won't stop or still — because the unwholesome proportion is large. But when the wholesome proportion is large, it guides what to do, and the urge to do wrong withers on its own, because the wholesome brings the stored energy of to dissolve it: lust withers, aversion withers, delusion withers, greed withers, and suffering dissolves. So there is only one way — give time to practice, give time to the wholesome, learn and understand, and abide with them.
The Mangala Sutta Is a Roadmap for Both Worlds
It guides us to live in a suitable place, not associate with fools, associate with the wise, honor those worthy of honor, and have merit from the past — which is aspiration. The Mangala Sutta divides into two parts: verses one to twenty-one for the worldly sphere, and from verse twenty-two onward for the sphere. Buddhism is the religion of the knower; everything is laid out for humans to learn and understand the truth. Buddhism's roadmap is in the Mangala Sutta. Born as humans, we must study both worlds, to build our future — which isn't just the end of this life, but stretches over countless lifetimes. We can't look only at this one life.
It Must Be Practiced Until Automatic, and Until One Sees the Wonders
Uninstalling the unwholesome and installing the wholesome must be done continuously, until it becomes semi-automatic, then automatic — done until one sees the wonders that arise, and then everything becomes enjoyable and one wants to do it, knowing one is on the right path: flourishing in both the worldly and the Dhamma spheres. Even the Buddha, the grandmaster, Luang Phor, and Khun Yai chose this path, because it is worthwhile and can transform a life. Stay in surroundings and with s conducive to the wholesome, and make the aspiration for a life given to abiding with the wholesome nature, to knowing life's truth, and to attaining liberation of heart and liberation by wisdom — developing right view further and further.