Please use this explanation only as a guide pointing the way forward, not as something to memorize word for word. I am always careful about giving very detailed explanations because I do not want students to cling to my words and create fixed ideas about the truth they are searching for. My words by themselves cannot awaken wisdom in you. Only mindful awareness firmly grounded in the present moment can lead directly to the truth. Never assume beforehand what the truth is. Do not speculate or build theories about meditation practice. And do not mistakenly believe that reading and understanding these explanations means that you truly understand body and mind. Only direct insight developed through mindfulness, investigated with wisdom, and supported by diligent effort can penetrate the truth.
At this stage of practice, the body has been fully internalized and the power of sexual attraction has already been broken. To continue progressing further, you must now use the same meditation method as a training exercise. The purpose is to train mindfulness and wisdom to become even faster, sharper, and more precise when dealing with the extremely subtle movements of the mind. Place the unpleasant image of the body before the mind as usual and observe how it withdraws back into the mind. Then place the image before the mind again and repeat the process, carefully observing how the image merges back into the mind itself. Practice this repeatedly until the mind becomes highly skilled at it. Once true skill develops, the image immediately dissolves back into the mind the moment attention focuses on it. When the basic truth behind sexual attraction has been clearly understood, the next step is to continue training the mind through this purely mental exercise. Sexual attraction itself is no longer a major problem because its main root has already been cut off permanently. It cannot return in the same powerful way as before. However, although most of it has been destroyed, subtle traces still remain, like tiny particles of dirt or rust clinging to the mind.
At the stage where external images fully merge into the Citta’s own inner image, we can say that at least half of the work of eliminating sensual desire has been completed successfully. This marks the entrance into the final and most advanced stage of practice. The remaining subtle traces of sensual desire must now be gradually removed using the same training method described earlier. Constantly refining the contemplation and the absorption of unpleasant body images strengthens wisdom further. As wisdom grows more skillful, larger portions of sensual desire are completely destroyed. As wisdom becomes increasingly powerful, the speed at which the images disappear into the mind also increases. Eventually, the moment attention touches an image, it immediately rushes into the mind, merges with it, and vanishes completely. Through continuous practice, this process becomes faster and faster. At the highest level of skill, the image disappears the instant it enters the mind. This investigation is extremely important for progress in the final stage of practice, where sensual desire has already been defeated and is retreating completely. Soon every remaining trace of it will be eliminated.
Once the meditator reaches the final stage and sees clearly the true source of beauty and ugliness, sensual desire can never rise up again. Its control over the mind has been broken permanently, and this state can never reverse. Even so, more work still remains in order to remove every last trace of sensual desire completely. This work takes time. The investigation at this stage becomes very subtle, complex, and rapid, with body images appearing and disappearing at incredible speed. Very intense effort is required to uproot every final trace of sensual desire. However, by this stage the meditator instinctively understands what must be done. The investigation naturally develops its own momentum without needing instruction from anyone else.
Mindfulness and wisdom have now become completely habitual, working together with amazing speed and precision. By the time this investigation reaches its final stage, body images vanish immediately as soon as they appear. It no longer matters whether the images merge into the Citta or not; only their appearance and disappearance are noticed. Images arise and vanish so quickly that the distinction between inner and outer no longer matters. Eventually, these images flicker in and out of awareness so rapidly that they cannot remain stable even for a moment. After every disappearance, the Citta experiences a deep sense of emptiness—emptiness of images and emptiness of form. Within this emptiness, an extremely refined awareness becomes very clear. Each time an image appears and disappears, the sense of emptiness becomes even deeper. At this stage, the Citta’s knowing nature becomes extraordinarily subtle and powerful, dominating awareness completely. Finally, all body images created by the mind disappear entirely and only emptiness remains. Within this emptiness, the Citta’s pure knowing nature stands alone, unmatched and completely dominant. When all mentally created body images finally cease, sensual desire is completely destroyed. The contemplation of the body has now reached its completion.
When the meditator finally realizes directly that all physical form is naturally empty—empty of personality, empty of beauty, empty of ugliness—the tremendous danger caused by sensual desire becomes fully understood. This destructive defilement spreads poison everywhere. It damages human relationships and disturbs the entire world, twisting people’s thoughts and emotions and creating anxiety, restlessness, and endless dissatisfaction. Nothing else causes as much disturbance and suffering in human life. It is one of the most destructive forces in the world. When sensual desire is completely destroyed, the entire world appears empty. The force that sets people’s hearts on fire and creates chaos in society has now been defeated and buried. The fire of sexual attraction has been extinguished permanently, and nothing remains to trouble the heart anymore. Once sensual desire is eliminated, Nibbāna appears very near. Sensual desire hides the truth and blinds people from seeing reality clearly. Therefore, when sensual desire is finally destroyed, the path, the fruits of practice, and Nibbāna can all be seen clearly and directly. They are now close at hand.
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