Dhamma talkOther Dhamma talks1 Feb 2020
The role of questioning
Sayadaw U Tejaniya · 10 min
0:00−10:20
Uses compressed audio.
AI-written summary
The Sayadaw clarifies that asking questions helps observe natural cause-and-effect processes rather than storylines. When defilements arise, yogis should maintain awareness and right view instead of trying to suppress them.
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Transcript
EnglishBecause you said that the mind, you get— one cannot influence the mind; the mind is happening. This is what you're saying. Yeah, right, mind process is happening. Mind process is happening. But then I was thinking, um— But naturally our mind is— wholesome mind is not happening.
EnglishWholesome mind is naturally happening. Happening, yes. That's why we need to practice. Yes.
EnglishBut, but I want to— but I have a little conflict with this, because, for instance, when, uh, when the mind has fear, has fear,
Englishum, it— Then I can only help the mind when I start to rationalize. When I start to, like, why I fear, what can happen, and so on. Wait, wait. Fast. Very fast, fast, very beginner-fast, very, very, very fast. Important point is: what do you think about this fear?
EnglishWhat do you have— what idea you have this fear?
EnglishThat is the more important. What do you think this fear— how to say— what idea you have about this fear? I just— That is the main very important point. If this right view comes, then meditate is okay. Oh, but— If there's no right view, then difficult to practice. Yeah, but I have no, no, no.
EnglishI— So what do you think this fear— Fear— Fear is what? Fear is just— I mean, it's the feeling. It's just the feeling. Okay. Fear. Okay. And I don't have any other thinking about it. Okay, so. It's just the feeling of fear. It's like watching a snake, you know? Okay, okay. Then it— then you get interest, right? If you think as a nature, the mind can interest.
EnglishIf you are personally— personalized— personalized or identify about this, you can learn anything. Yeah, but, uh, but
Englishwhen I start— when the mind starts to analyze why is the fear, why— Okay, okay, okay. Why— Why. Then this helps. Ah, helps. Okay. This helps. Yeah, right, yeah. That is okay. But then I influence the mind. Then I do something to the mind. I want to say is why— question why— we are not trying to see the storyline, no?
EnglishYeah. Many people misunderstand it. They use the question about why mean is they try to think the story. When you— the why you fear comes because of some storyline there. Yes, yes. They try to find out the thinking, thinking the story. Not like this. We are not thinking. Why mean is we try to see the process.
EnglishWhy mean is because of the mind is process happening, happening, happening, happening. If you see the whole process, then we can understand why this happened. Because everything is cause and effect, cause and effect, right? So we use the why and you not— let's— you not try to think. If you want to know why, you more watch.
EnglishWatch the process. So if you continue the awareness, very important, beginning to end, if you continue the— see the process, understand why is already there. So don't think. If you think the storyline, then more— sometimes more angry, more fear, or more— because of concept.
EnglishThe more attention to the concept, more defilement will come.
EnglishSo we— we try to understand why we want to see the natural process continuously.
EnglishI explained many times when your anger come, I watch why this anger come, I watch most carefully. Then the mind is doing this. The mind— the mind activity is pay attention what he like.
EnglishCannot. The mind more attention to this object, and more angry come. So I can see this lobha craving. Because of craving, the anger come. I'm not thinking. I'm more watching the process. This epitome theory is the— I have— I said my story about this epitome theory, craving and aversion, yeah?
EnglishAs much as you attach, as much as you avoid or angry, that degree you attach this object, the opposite comes, that degree more. Nobody stop. This is the nature. So why mean— use the why question mean more watch the process. Watch the relative everything.
EnglishThe process, the— the happening. But people, they try to think the story. Why you angry? Because of him. Because of he come.
EnglishNot like this.
EnglishBecause of he talk. He talk something. That's why I angry, right? That is an— everybody know. Normal people know this way. But meditator know which mean cause of process. What the mind think, how the happening process. I want this happening. So when— that's why yesterday I talk about
Englishwhen your angry come or defilement come, awareness is— awareness also present, and he also
Englishbecome outside, see that this angry.
EnglishThis is not easy. This is a lot of momentum. Someone have a lot of momentum. Awareness already there, then when come home. Or awareness also there, when angry also there. That time nothing to do. Just see.
EnglishThen you can understand, really understanding the angry nature. Angry. What the angry? How they working, what they doing, why this happening. But this not easy.
EnglishA lot of understanding about the how to watch.
EnglishAnd awareness also not trying to be aware. Awareness is already there. So we call tapadi, right? That's why the— that time the one said, how to say outside, to watch this. What do you mean outside? What this mean is this is not vasana.
EnglishThis is no— not idea of self. This not my process. This idea come, then you back up. Wisdom become back up. So defilement also they come there of beginning to end. The fire is all happening. Awareness also sit there and watch this beginning to end. Then he realize something.
EnglishHe more realize the nature about anger.
EnglishBut this not easy. Because of angry come, awareness gone immediately. Because awareness not strong enough.
EnglishYes. Because even many values can know the anger, but it is too little. Yes. Too little of to know the fear. It's too little. Yeah. The wisdom must be very strong. That he know the way how to watch and that this already have. He must be have the some wisdom. Must be strong. He know this is a nature. And he interest— can interest about the process.
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Sayadaw U Tejaniya began his Buddhist training as a young teenager in Burma under the late Shwe Oo Min Sayadaw (1913–2002). After a career in business and life as a householder, he has become a permanent monk since 1996.…