I tell you honestly: I no longer experience past, present, or future because no trace of conventional reality remains in my heart. I can confirm that nothing of it is left. This is the power of the Buddha’s Dhamma in destroying the defilements. Dhamma exists in the heart. The defilements also exist in the heart and oppose Dhamma. We are the ones caught in the middle, receiving the good and bad results from this conflict, because we belong to the heart just as the heart belongs to us.
Dhamma supports and protects us. Our enemies, the defilements, constantly oppress and overpower us. Both arise from the same place—the heart. Through meditation practice, Dhamma slowly becomes strong enough to defeat the defilements inside us, from the coarse ones to the most subtle ones, until they are completely cut away from the heart. This is what is meant by destroying the entire mass of suffering created by the defilements. When that suffering is destroyed, Supreme Happiness appears; this is the arising of the Supreme Dhamma. It appears exactly where the brightness of Dhamma had long been hidden beneath a thick covering of defilements that blocked its radiance from shining out fully.
I remembered this great experience with tears while giving a recent talk. I have clearly known this experience in my heart since it first happened, but only recently did conditions arise that caused me to speak about it openly. The power of Dhamma is truly overwhelming when it expresses itself. It spreads out in every direction and deeply affects everything it touches. It affects not only the mind but also the body, such as tears flowing from the eyes. When connected with Dhamma, tears can pour out with tremendous force. The problem is that living beings everywhere are blind to the defilements. Tell me, who in this world has truly opened their eyes to see the truth of Dhamma? No one. So when people heard that Ajahn Maha Bua cried openly, they immediately wondered why. “If he has destroyed all defilements and become an Arahant, why is he crying?” Do you see? They mistake the tears for the Arahant itself.
Do you understand that every part of the human body belongs to conventional reality? These parts are connected to the Citta, which is responsible for them. Once the Citta collapses the enemies of conventional reality, those conditioned things are torn apart. Then the pure nature of the Citta shines out completely according to its own natural truth. This is one side of the experience.
Another side is this: at that same moment, a strong physical reaction happens, causing the body to shake and tremble. Is this trembling intentional? No. It is the result of Dhamma’s overwhelming power when it delivers the final blow to the defilements and separates them forever from the Citta. Such a powerful event creates a tremendous impact, as if the whole universe were shaking and trembling. That is what it feels like when Dhamma and the defilements finally separate completely, and the world of conventional reality splits apart from the world of Absolute Freedom. The pure nature of Dhamma then appears in all its supreme magnificence, fully revealed within the heart that experiences it.
Because the body and mind are closely connected with the Citta, they react strongly to this amazing and unique event. The true nature of the Citta had always existed, but it had never shown itself in this way to the body and conscious mind before. Since this experience is completely unprecedented, its impact is enormous. The body and mind are all conditioned things, tools used by the heart. When the Citta collapses the defilements, the pure nature that appears remains entirely unaffected. But the body and mind, which are ruled by impermanence, suffering, and non-self, are strongly affected. According to their unstable nature, reactions arise in them and then cease. But the pure nature of the Citta neither arises nor ceases. This is the difference between the two.
Because of this, it is impossible to compare the pure heart of an Arahant with the filthy physical body. Once someone clearly sees this truth for themselves, no further explanation is needed. In such a moment, one would simply bow and say “Sadhu” even if the Buddha himself were standing before them. Since the Ultimate Truth is directly known in one’s own heart, there would be no need to ask the Buddha for confirmation. “Nothing surpasses the Supreme Dhamma.” This realization appearing in the heart is the same pure nature possessed by the Arahant. It is a purity that completely goes beyond impermanence, suffering, and non-self. Those laws no longer apply there.
The body and mind are what become excited, such as when tears appear. Tears can arise for many reasons. Sadness causes tears, joy causes tears, smoke causes tears, and onions and garlic also cause tears. So why make such a big issue about tears? Tears are only water, the water element. Just like earth, fire, and wind, water is simply part of conventional reality. When the pure nature of Dhamma suddenly appears, these physical elements become stirred. But the pure nature itself remains completely unmoved. It is natural for the body and mind to react constantly. They respond to good and bad things, pleasure and pain, happiness and sorrow. They are always excitable in one way or another. But at this moment, it is the sudden appearance of pure Dhamma that moves them.
The body and mind are not the Arahant, and the Arahant is not the body and mind. Without exception, the body and mind belong completely to conventional reality. But that pure nature is entirely free from all traces of conventional reality. The two cannot mix together. They are completely separate. They only acknowledge each other according to their own nature. The body and mind, being conditioned things, behave according to conditioned laws. Pure nature, appearing by itself, belongs to Absolute Freedom. Since beginningless time, the body and mind of all beings have always remained true to their status as conditioned realities.
After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha and the Arahants did not destroy their body and mind to stop them from functioning. For example, laughter is a natural function of the body and mind, and so are tears. These are simply natural activities of conditioned phenomena. As long as the body and mind remain reasonably healthy, they can continue functioning normally. It is like using earth to build houses. Bricks, cement, stones, sand, and steel all come from the earth. As long as these materials exist, many things can be built from them.
What is wrong with people? Have you all become crazy? That is what I want to ask. People criticize me for shedding tears because of Dhamma, but has any of you ever seen the pure nature of Dhamma? Even I had never seen it before. None of my ancestors had seen that Supreme Dhamma either because they never practiced the path. I am a monk who practiced seriously. Through practice, I steadily gained understanding and wisdom step by step, exactly as I have explained to you. I practiced in this way until I finally reached the highest attainment, and that realization now expresses itself naturally.
Have any of you ever truly tried to realize the Supreme Dhamma? Or are you all simply sitting blindly with your mouths open, making foolish noises against the pure nature of Dhamma? Why not bark at the filth hanging around your own neck instead? Think carefully about this. That pile of filth is a blazing fire created by greed, anger, and delusion. Every person’s heart is polluted by it. Why do you not look at that instead? What is the point of criticizing the highest nature of Dhamma? The Buddha was supreme before all of us. If Ajahn Maha Bua is false to the Buddha’s teaching, then all the enlightened disciples of the Buddha would also be false. But those enlightened disciples have always been worthy of honor. Since when did filth become virtuous? What right does filth have to boast and criticize the conduct of an Arahant? It is nothing but a pile of filth. Do you understand?
Do you still not realize that your hearts are filled with defilement? Are you proud of that? Such harmful pride will drag you down even further. If you cannot see the danger of pride, you will oppose Dhamma. Opposing Dhamma is like striking a knife against a stone. What happens then? Or like driving a car into a mountain. Who gets damaged? The bucket of filth is the one destroyed. Those who have transcended the world suffer no harm. As Buddhists, you should remember this principle well: do not use your own filth to dirty others and destroy yourselves in the process. There is no benefit in doing that. The greatness I speak of—where does it come from? I have already shown it openly for all Thailand to see. Am I truly the greatest villain in the country while everyone else is pure and noble? Think about that carefully.
If you reject reason and truth, what will you accept instead? What are people searching for nowadays? I searched almost to the point of death to discover the Supreme Dhamma that I now teach my disciples with loving compassion. I am not boasting about myself. What is there to boast about? Boasting and gossip are useless extra burdens. What could possibly be added to the perfection of Dhamma? If something more were needed, how could it still be called perfect? Remember this carefully.
Thai Buddhists behave with shocking ignorance. As soon as I speak, the whole country starts barking loudly. It is pitiful, and I feel sorry for them. This is exactly how the Buddha felt when he wondered why the world was so blind. Tears flowed from his eyes out of compassion and amazement at the purity of Dhamma. Seeing how blind people were, the Buddha became discouraged about teaching them. He wondered how people could be so unaware of the filth in their own hearts. The same thing happens today. When people hear Dhamma teachings, instead of appreciating the teaching and trying to practice it sincerely, they criticize the teacher and harm themselves in the process. Why do they not try to do something beneficial for themselves instead? That is why I firmly say that Thai Buddhists are acting very foolishly.
Ajahn Maha Bua is never disturbed. Let the whole world bark however it wishes; I will continue speaking the truth and remain unaffected. The pure nature of Dhamma cannot be shaken by worldly conditions. Those influenced by bad actions must live with those bad actions. Those influenced by gain or loss must live with gain or loss. When goodness influences someone, goodness becomes their home, meaning they will be reborn according to that good karma. But when wrongdoing controls someone, they live with a burning fire inside their heart. Is that really what you want?
The Buddha’s Teaching is always timeless and relevant, just as when he declared:
“Why is there laughter and joy
when the world is constantly burning?
Covered by darkness,
why do you not seek the light?”
Listen carefully to that.
The Dhamma I teach is the same teaching. What madness has overcome all of you? You are following the same path as the drunkards whom the Buddha scolded when he spoke those words. He was speaking to drunken fools, not noble individuals. This story appears in the scriptures: the Buddha speaking to a group of drunkards. Think about the difference between them and the Buddha. Yet even after being scolded by the Buddha, they still did not recognize their faults.
The tears I recently shed carried the same message. Why are you still unaware of your own faults? Are you even more foolish than those drunkards? If you wish to avoid ruin, ask yourselves this question carefully.
I am now trying with all my strength to help society. In my heart there is no courage and no fear, no gain and no loss, no victory and no defeat. Everything I do to help others comes entirely from loving compassion. I sacrificed everything to attain the Supreme Dhamma that I now teach to you. Those sacrifices were not made to attain evil. I nearly died searching for Dhamma before I could finally proclaim to the world what I had realized. So why can people not accept it? What is happening to Thailand today? That is what I want to know.
The more self-important people become, the more arrogant and conceited they grow until they think they are wiser than the Buddha himself, the Supreme Teacher. Does Thailand not yet realize that its condition worsens day by day? People have become so foolish. No one pays attention to Dhamma anymore. Soon people may even stop visiting monasteries entirely. Look at how people reacted to my recent words. They mocked and ridiculed me with sarcasm. This is exactly what happens when defilements become powerful. When they saw me shedding tears, they scorned and insulted me. But I remain completely undisturbed. Even if every family in the country criticizes me, I have no quarrel with anyone. I teach only out of loving kindness. Why can people not accept this? Have Thai people truly become this ignorant?
Has the Buddha’s Dhamma completely disappeared from the world? Do the Buddha and the Dhamma no longer hold the highest place? Are practitioners who truly realize the Truth by following the Buddha’s path now regarded as frauds and enemies? What is wrong with Thai Buddhists? Are they no longer decent human beings? Why are they behaving like a pack of dogs? That is the attitude I am forced to speak with.
But I am not angry with anyone. The strength of my words comes from the power of Dhamma. Dhamma itself is unmoved and holds no anger or resentment toward anyone. Yet Dhamma always expresses itself with full power. The same is true for the defilements—they also express themselves forcefully with all their power. The difference is that the power of defilements brings great harm to the world, while the power of Dhamma cools the fires of the world like water.
Do you think I spoke out of anger? Where would anger come from? Anger comes from the defilements. For someone completely free from defilements, it is impossible to make him angry no matter how hard you try. There is no anger left in his heart at all. If even the smallest amount of anger remained, he could not be called an Arahant free from defilements. Anger, greed, and delusion are all defilements. Do you understand? Investigate this deeply and you will see the truth.
The physical body is completely part of conventional reality. As long as it remains connected to the pure nature of the Citta, it will naturally respond accordingly. There is nothing strange about this. Where am I wrong? Who here believes they are wise enough to challenge the Dhamma of the Buddha? Come forward and boast openly if you dare.
Go ahead and say, “Ajahn Maha Bua is a foolish monk.” I want to hear all you clever people speak. Come out from your hiding places and boast about your attainments in Dhamma. I truly wish to see something genuine appear, but I see nothing at all. Everywhere I look, I only see lazy people filled with greed, anger, and delusion. What kind of superiority is that? Yet they continue boasting endlessly in their madness.
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