The teachings of Ajahn Mun
You are a practicing monk, a trained spiritual
warrior. Yet your fear of death surpasses that of the untrained laity. Why do
you let the kilesas harass you in this way? You have the mindfulness and wisdom
needed to defend yourself, so why don’t you use them? Go on the offensive.
Chase out the devious kilesas lurking there in your heart. Then you will
realize how stupid you’ve been, blindly serving their interests, unaware of the
power they have over you. A warrior’s victory depends on his willingness to
brave death on the battlefield. If you’re not willing to die, then you
shouldn’t enter the battle zone. Only by braving death will you be able to defeat
your enemies. If you are truly determined to transcend dukkha, by realizing its
true nature, you must view your fear of death as one form of dukkha – a product
of the kilesas stored in your heart. You can only resolve this matter by making
a stand on a battlefield conducive to victory. Persevere, and you will come to
realize fear’s harmful effects: it stirs the emotions and demoralizes the
spirit, always giving rise to suffering. It is better to take a defiant stand
now. Don’t simply keep clinging to that fear, hugging it tightly to your chest
and burning your heart until you cry out in agony. Fail to act decisively now
and your suffering will continue indefinitely.
(Ajahn Mun)
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