064 His Full-Final Attainment
It was not long after he had put forth his utmost effort, with the support of great-mindfulness and great-wisdom working unfailingly and continually, that late one night he was seated absorbed in contemplation on top of a large, flat rock under the leafy branches of a lone tree, by the side of a mountain. All around this tree was a clearing, and there was a gentle breeze adding coolness and comfort to the silence of the scene. It was a place where he occasionally used to sit during the day. Unfortunately, the writer does not know its exact location, having forgotten to take note of the name of the tree, or of the mountain, or even of the district in question. The mind was drinking in the taste of his account to such an extent that the details have been forgotten. Even several days after its telling, the wonders of his story did not fade away. The writer also felt self-pity, brooding over whether or not such an attainment would be possible for oneself. At that time it never entered the writer's mind that one day an attempt would be made to record the Venerable Acharn's life, as is being done at present.From evening to late that night, the Venerable Acharn contemplated the Law of Dependent Origination,[26] both during walking meditation and sitting meditation, in both its serial and reverse order, backwards and forwards again and again, traversing and re-traversing the great domain where ignorance and desire have been massing to create various aspects of suffering within the mind. This was the most critical point of the battle between the Venerable Acharn, who struck with the death-dealing weapon of great-mindfulness and great-wisdom, and ignorance, which is renowned for its most skilful tactics. Ignorance is clever, not only in its defensive manoeuvres, whereby it is adroitly evasive, but also in aggressive strategy, whereby it can launch a surprise attack on its opponent with devastating results. And that, of course, is to be expected of one who has been reigning over the Great Kingdom of Rebirths and Redeaths from time immemorial, with the minds of sentient beings within its powerful grip. But in the life-and-death struggle with the Venerable Acharn that night, the powerful and crafty monarch of the Three Realms was helplessly dethroned. He was toppled and fell before the relentless strikes of the great weapon of great-mindfulness and great-wisdom. His heretofore unchallenged authority [in the case of other worldlings] was challenged by the Venerable Acharn, and he was finally and absolutely defeated.
According to the Venerable Acharn's narration, the worlds at that time seemed to tremble with awe and wonder. In various celestial realms the angels thundered out their whole-hearted appreciation, exclaiming that there had now occurred in the world another Noble Disciple of the Buddha, and that they were overjoyed at the event. Human beings, however, may not have been aware of this, since due to their indulgence in pleasures, they would not have been able to know that just a moment ago the mind of a human being had realized the Supreme Dharma.
After a while, when the thunderous exclamation had died down, what remained of him was the absolute purity of the dharma which bathed his body and mind and enveloped all the worlds. To him it was so breathless a wonder that it was indescribable to others. Whatever loving-kindness and interest there had been in teaching others now [momentarily] disappeared. This was because of the realization of the fact that the dharma at that level is so subtle, profound and wonderful that it would be practically impossible for most people to understand it. For a moment he hesitated to offer the message to others, being content with experiencing the wonders of the dharma alone. He was overcome by gratitude towards the Buddha, who realized the whole truth and who proclaimed it for the sake of Deliverance. That message is absolutely true, being irrefutable in all respects. Through respectful gratitude, he was moved to an insatiable recollection all night of the virtues of the Buddha and his excellence. But so profound is the dharma that to preach it would be inviting harsh and hostile criticism, and, as a result, efforts in that direction would hurt rather than help others. This was the thought which momentarily passed through his mind just after the discovery of the Supreme Dharma. It was after a few moments that he broadened his perspective, reviewed his practice and surveyed others' potentialities.
The Buddha's Path was intended for all, who, like him, cared and dared to take up the challenge. There were more of these kinds of people. Ever since the proclamation of that message by the Buddha, there have been an innumerable number of disciples who have been able to realize and attain to the same dharma, after as well as before the complete passing away of the Buddha. It was this afterthought that made him decide to bring the Buddha's message once again to those who would listen to it in earnest and with respect. There would be no point in teaching those who would not listen or who would listen without respect or interest, taking the dharma for granted and treating it as merely commonplace. Only after a series of painful ordeals was the Supreme Dharma won. It was therefore useless 'dissolving' the priceless dharma 'in the ocean' as one would dissolve a worthless thing. It was for the sake of those who listened that the dharma was proclaimed. A physician prescribes a remedy for his patients with a view to curing them of their suffering and pain. As long as they prefer living with their disease, so long will they turn a deaf ear to the physician's advice.
A person governed by dharma is self-sufficient, and is able to find peace and bliss in all circumstances, since he does not have to depend on anyone or anything for his welfare and security. There is nothing which can disturb or upset the mind which has been absolutely purified and which is unshakable. Because of this, the Venerable Acharn preferred staying in the wilds most of the time. He helped others from time to time when occasion permitted. Where there is dharma, there is peace and bliss. When the mind is dharma, it is bliss and peace itself. To struggle [for outward results] would only be imposing suffering on oneself. This made the Venerable Acharn very careful in preaching the dharma, never doing so indiscriminately. The means and methods adopted by the Buddha must always be considered and followed. This had always been the guideline for his practice. It should also be the guideline for other practicing Buddhists so that they will remind themselves to follow the Buddha's Dispensation with self-control and reap full benefit in the present and future.
Having considered again the means and methods of preaching and practice, the Venerable Acharn again contemplated the Supreme Dharma which had dawned upon his mind. It was the full and complete manifestation of dharma. It was at the same time unexpected, unimaginable, and indescribable. He felt as though he had been dead and then had been born once again, but it was a death and birth so wonderful that they could not be related to anything known thus far. The insight that appeared with this new and wonderful birth was unknown and undreamed of, despite the fact that it inherently belonged to the mind itself. So miraculous and excitingly wonderful was the glory of its ray dawning upon him that for the moment it occurred to him that there might not be anyone who would be able to understand the dharma so paradoxical and so profound.