พระอาจารย์อธิบายว่าฆราวาสต้องดำเนินตามวิถีพุทธ รู้จักประตูและหนทางที่มุ่งตรงต่อพระนิพพานผ่านศูนย์กลางกาย เจริญมัชฌิมาปฏิปทาผ่านปฐมมรรคเข้าสู่ดวงธรรม พร้อมยกตัวอย่างพระผู้ปฏิบัติในอดีตและอธิบายความแตกต่างระหว่างวงบุญพิเศษกับวงบุญอื่นPra Ajarn explains that a layperson must follow the Buddhist path, know the gate that points directly toward nibbana, and cultivate the Middle Way through the center of the body — while noting the difference between the 'special merit lineage' and ordinary practitioners who must walk the path step by step.
Someone asked: what way of life should a layperson follow in order to attain the and reach nibbana?
Knowing the Gate and the Path That Points Directly to Nibbana
Reaching nibbana requires following the Buddhist path, and specifically requires knowing the way — the gate — that points directly toward nibbana. Generally, only those in the 'special merit lineage' know and recognize this, because they were taught it while still in the Tusita heaven. This lineage carries great merit and does not wish to enter the path and fruit of nibbana ahead of others; instead they choose to remain and help all beings first, entering nibbana only as the very last. Because of this, they are granted the special privilege of knowing the way to pass through the crystal sphere into nibbana temporarily. Those in other merit lineages don't have this privilege, because the special lineage is backed and protected by the 'sage aspect,' while other lineages are backed by the 'liberating aspect' — enough to offer some protection from the fire of unwholesome karma.
Pra Ajarn gave an example: Luang Phor Pan of Wat Bang Nomkho once sent Luang Phor Ruesi Ling Dam to study the Dhammakaya with our grandmaster. He was able to reach the inner Buddha-body, but he did not keep it, because his aspiration was toward the path and fruit of nibbana. Instead, he applied that knowledge for the benefit of people, drawing on through resolve to generate psychic ability of the mind that could help others.
Cultivating the Middle Way Through the First Path
It's true that the Noble Eightfold Path exists, and as long as it exists, the path and its fruit exist too — but without knowing the gate, the way isn't easy; knowing the gate makes it easy. This means aiming for the Middle Way within, entering through the first path (pathama magga) into — the spheres of morality, concentration, wisdom, liberation, and knowledge-and-vision of liberation — passing through each body in sequence of refinement: from the celestial bodies, the form-brahma and formless-brahma bodies, through the gotrabhu body, and the bodies of stream-entry, once-return, non-return, and arahantship — both the path and the fruit of each. Once one's refinement matches that of the arahant body, one reaches nibbana — coming to know that nibbana truly exists, paying respects to the Buddha within the nibbana-realm, and purifying one's own elements of being with the element of nibbana itself.
Relying on Patience to Cultivate the Four Noble Truths
Without knowing the way, the path is difficult. One must cultivate all the way to the end of suffering, relying on ( ) to recognize suffering clearly and build up, stage by stage, the resolve needed to pass through each obstacle — recognizing suffering, its cause, its ceson, and abiding in the four aspects of the Noble Path. This is the way for those in the 'other merit lineage,' who are not part of the special lineage, and who must walk this path step by step.