Dear Yong Peng,
op 18-07-2003 17:59 schreef Ong Yong Peng op ypong001@...:
Can I also say, from my understanding of the sutta text, that regardless of

> agreeable and disagreeable impressions, we have to develop a mental
> state (like the earth, water...) such that these impressions will not
> persistently overwhelm the mind?

N: first more about Rahula.
Sariputta explained in detail about the four great elements of earth, water,
fire and wind.
Sariputta spoke about the impermanence of outward rupas in explaining about
the calamities in nature. Evenso the rupas of the body are impermanent, they
fall away immediately.
As is explained in the "Greater Discourse on the Elephant's Footprint" (M
28):
< Ta~n-ce aavuso bhikku.m, pare akkosanti paribhaasanti rosenti vihesenti,
so eva.m pajaanaati: Upannaa kho me aya.m sotasamphassajaa dukkhaa vedanaa,
saa ca kho pa.ticca no appa.ticca, ki.m pa.ticca: phassa.m pa.ticca. So:
phasso anicco ti passati, vedanaa aniccaa ti passati, sa~n~naa aniccaa ti
passati, sa"nkhaaraa aniccaa ti passati, vi~n~naana.m aniccanti passati.>
(translation of Wheel 101) : So then if others abuse and scold and curse and
threaten a bhikkhu, he understands thus, "This painful feeling born of
ear-contact has arisen in me. That is dependent, not independent. Dependent
on what? Dependent on contact." Then he sees that contact is impermanent.."
the same for feeling, sa~n~naa, san"khaarakkhandha and vi~n~naa.na. We then
read:
< Tassa dhaataaramma.na.m-eva citta.m pakkhandati pasiidati santi.t.thati
adhimuccati>
And his mind enters into that very object (taking it just as an impersonal)
element, and acquires confidence, steadiness and decision (herein). >
This is the result of vipassana, understanding the five khandhas, that is,
the namas and rupas that appear one at a time, as impersonal elements.
The end result is perfect equanimity, a mind like earth, water, etc. We
cannot expect this to happen in the beginning. However, intellectual
understanding of nama and rupa as only conditioned elements can help to some
extent. It can help us when we experience loss, blame, dishonour, bodily
pain. We can begin to see these as results of kamma.
(to be continued)
Nina.