Mr Man wrote:Hi robertk
And if I were to read a dhamma book or study dhamma with the thought I will do this so "understanding can grow"?
a.
the thought of taking up a Dhamma book looking for wisdom to grow shows confidence in the value of the Dhamma. However it can also have a subtle desire behind it that may not be seen, and that can hinder wisdom.
This was transcribed from a discussion I had with Sujin boriharnwanaket in 1993
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Robert: And how does the thinking - the thinking is necessary too to consider the
Dhamma, but how can we understand how the thinking conditions the deeper
understanding of the present moment?
Sujin: Hmm, I don't want to say that thinking helps or one should think that one
should think - just the understanding of realities as realities. Thinking is
just a moment that thinks, that's all. Otherwise one will look forward to
something again to help, see? One has to come back to realities are realities
and what is thinking? Thinking is real and it's a moment which thinks by
conditions. By understanding this one doesn't mind whether there's thinking or
no thinking. Instead of thinking "Oh we should have thinking first in order to
help us as condition for right understanding" - that is all only thinking again
and again, again and again. Looking for something instead of just instant
awareness of realities. Just a short moment of awareness, that is right.
Otherwise when it's long it's motivated by following with the idea of self, so
as short as it is.
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So although the learning and considering of the Dhamma is vital that doesn't mean it's a simple 1+1 equation.