Date: 06/01/2024 06/02/2024
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Otto Huang
Dharma Talk
To Cut off Desire with Desire
Once, the venerable Ananda was staying southeast of the city of Shravasti in the garden of Kusinara. A Brahmin came to the garden and asked him:
“Ananda, for what purpose do you follow the monk Gautama to study and practice?”
“Brahmin, it is for the purpose of cutting off desire.”
“Ananda, is there a method to cut off desire?”
“Brahmin, there is a method.”
“Ananda, what is the method?”
“Brahmin, a monk with the determination of desire, diligence, concentration, and observation, strives to practice meditation. Based on the power of meditation achieved, one can develop supernatural abilities that surpass ordinary people, and this can be a method to cut off desire.”
“Ananda, according to what you said, doesn’t that fall into an endless cycle? The desire for study is also a desire; isn’t it illogical to use desire to cut off desire?”
“Brahmin, let me ask you, please answer truthfully.
What do you think? Brahmin, before coming here, did you not first have the desire to come here? But after you arrived here, that desire disappeared, didn’t it?”
“Yes, friend!”
“Before coming here, the diligence you aroused to come here, after you arrived, that diligence disappeared, didn’t it?”
“Yes, friend!”
“Before coming here, you had the thought to come here, and after you arrived, that thought disappeared, didn’t it?”
“Yes, friend!”
“Before coming here, the observation you made whether to come here or not, after you arrived, that observation disappeared, didn’t it?”
“Yes, friend!”
“The principle is exactly the same, Brahmin! For a monk who has attained arahantship, his afflictions have been completely eradicated, a pure and holy life has been established, all that should be done has been done, he has laid down the burden of afflictions, achieved his goal, completely destroyed the bonds that lead to rebirth, and has been liberated in the ultimate enlightenment. At this time, his previous desire to achieve arahantship disappeared, the previous diligence to achieve arahantship disappeared, the previous determination to achieve arahantship disappeared, and the previous observation to achieve arahantship also disappeared.
Brahmin, do you say this leads to an endless cycle?”
“Ananda, of course, this situation has an end; it is not endless.
Truly great, Ananda! From today onwards, please bear witness to my lifelong refuge.”
Another time, the venerable Ananda was staying southeast of the city of Shravasti in the garden of Kusinara. A Bhikkhuni, who was infatuated with venerable Ananda, made a sexual suggestion to him by exposing her body. Venerable Ananda immediately turned away to show his refusal.
Venerable Ananda’s immediate and categorical refusal made the Bhikkhuni feel ashamed and she confessed to him. Venerable Ananda then said to her:
“Sister, our bodies depend on food, desire, and conceit, but to cut off the dependence on food, one still relies on food, to cut off the dependence on desire, one still relies on desire, to cut off the dependence on conceit, one still relies on conceit. Sister, our bodies come from the sexual intercourse of men and women, but the Buddha teaches us that we must cut off any bridge that could lead to sexual intercourse between men and women.
Sister, what does it mean to cut off the dependence on food by relying on food? When eating, one should contemplate like this: eating is not for pleasure, not for addiction, nor for being plump and charming, but simply to maintain the body, to survive, to treat the disease of hunger and thirst, to be able to practice for the sake of a pure and holy life, just like a cargo carrier who lubricates the cart with grease, only to carry goods; a patient with skin disease applies medicine, only to treat the disease, not for pleasure, addiction, or attractiveness, so after the previous feeling of hunger disappears, one should not greedily create a desire to eat, leading to overeating, one should remain self-alert to maintain a healthy life without blindness, and when the practice of a pure and holy life is achieved in the future, there is no need to cycle through birth and death, then the dependence on food is realized.This is how dependency on food is eliminated by using food itself.
Sister, how can one eliminate desire through desire? When one hears that a venerable one or a disciple of a venerable one has eradicated all afflictions and attained liberation, and one aspires, taking joy in the pursuit of liberation in study, and thereby in the future, through study, eradicates all afflictions and attains liberation, this is how desire is eradicated through desire.
Sister, how can one eliminate conceit through conceit? When one hears that a venerable one or a disciple of a venerable one has eradicated all afflictions and attained liberation, and one thinks: If that venerable one can achieve liberation, why can’t I? This then stimulates the pursuit of study for liberation, and eventually, through study, one eradicates all afflictions and attains liberation, this is how conceit is eradicated through conceit.”
Having heard the teachings of the venerable Ananda, the bhikkhuni left behind her worldly defilements, attained the purity of the Dhamma eye, rose to pay her respects to the feet of the venerable Ananda, and confessed to him saying:
“Venerable sir, now, I sincerely confess and repent for my foolish and inappropriate behavior just now, and I ask for your forgiveness.”
Venerable Ananda witnessed her confession and encouraged her to guard her behavior and abide by the precepts set by the Buddha.
