What could possibly be hotter than the fires of hell? According to conventional understanding, there are five extremely grave actions that lead to the fiercest hells. These five actions are: killing one’s father, killing one’s mother, killing an Arahant, physically harming a Buddha, and deliberately creating division within the Sangha. The results of these evil actions are clearly known within the heart. At the moment of enlightenment, the reality of heaven and hell becomes completely obvious. There is then no need to ask where they exist. The Buddha did not speak falsely. He directly knew these things and explained them exactly as he saw them.
Ahh! This supreme Dhamma is unbelievably profound and marvelous. It completely encompasses everything within the heart. When the truth is seen so clearly, there is no further need for questioning. The clarity perfectly matches the heart itself, leaving no room for doubt.
Later, when I investigated my past lives, it was terrifying to see how many times I had been born and died; how many times I had fallen into hell; and how many times I had risen into heavenly and Brahma realms only to fall back into hell once again. It was like the Citta climbing up and down a staircase endlessly.
But the Citta itself never dies. Do you understand this? The Citta never dies. Kamma is stored within it. Good kamma lifts the Citta upward into heavenly and Brahma realms. But once the good kamma is exhausted, the bad kamma hidden within pulls the Citta back down into hell realms. It is just like climbing up and down stairs. This is how things truly are, so people should wake up and pay attention.
Today I have revealed everything openly, even to the point that tears flowed from my eyes for all of you to see. Is this madness or virtue? Think carefully about it. Listen closely to the Dhamma I teach. I can say with certainty that my Citta has neither courage nor fear. It has gone beyond such emotions completely.
So I investigated my own past births. My goodness! If all the bodies from my countless past lives were spread across the whole of Thailand, there would not be any empty space left. Just one individual alone! Imagine how many births and deaths that would require. They were too many even to count. Then I thought about all living beings everywhere. Every single Citta has gone through the same endless cycle of birth and death. In this respect, all beings are equal. Stretching endlessly into the past are countless dead bodies from previous lives. It was a horrifying sight.
Because of this, I became deeply disgusted when reviewing my past lives. My goodness! After being reborn so many times, I still struggled on, continuing to seek birth again and again. If Dhamma had not finally ended the process, it would have continued endlessly. The more I investigated the nature of the world, the more unbearable it became. Everywhere I looked, all beings were trapped in the same endless cycle. In this respect, everyone is the same.
Then discouragement suddenly arose in my heart. I thought: “How can I possibly teach this Dhamma to people? What is the use of teaching? Since true Dhamma is so profound, how could anyone understand it? Would it not be better simply to live quietly and then pass away?” I became disheartened and felt little desire to teach. It seemed easier to escape alone rather than help others. At first, I could not see much benefit in teaching. But my reflections did not stop there. They continued to develop naturally within my heart.
As I looked at the condition of the world, I felt discouraged. Some people seemed so lost in darkness that they appeared hopeless. The Buddha called such people padaparama. Then I saw other types of individuals called neyya and vipacitaññu. Neyya individuals can still be trained in Dhamma. Sometimes they progress, and sometimes they fall back. If careless, they lose ground; but if diligent, they can progress quickly. Their future depends on their effort.
(Note:
Ugghatitaññu: One who understands the truth immediately upon a brief explanation.
Vipacitaññu: One who requires a more detailed, expanded explanation to grasp the truth.
Neyya: One who requires step-by-step guidance, consistent practice, and training over time to realize the truth.
Pada-parama: One who is unable to attain enlightenment in this lifetime and can only achieve a verbal or intellectual understanding of the teachings.)
Vipacitaññu individuals always move steadily toward the goal and never fall backward. However, they progress more slowly than ugghatitaññu individuals, whose wisdom is so sharp that they are ready to break through immediately. They are like cattle waiting at the gate; the moment the gate opens, they rush straight out. Such individuals can attain understanding in a single moment of insight.
All living beings belong to one of these four categories. As I investigated the world, these distinctions became naturally clear. Among humanity, there were still highly capable individuals. Ugghatitaññu individuals were fully ready to transcend suffering quickly. Next were vipacitaññu individuals, steadily progressing toward the goal. Then came the neyya individuals, torn between laziness and diligence within their hearts. Finally there were the padaparama individuals, human only in physical appearance. They had gained nothing beneficial for the future. After death, they could only fall lower and lower because they carried nothing wholesome with them. The upward path was blocked. Remember this well. I speak directly from my heart. Do you think I am inventing lies?
Compared to a completely pure heart, the whole world resembles a giant garbage heap containing many different grades of trash. From the highest type of person down to the lowest, all kinds are mixed together within the same world of conventional reality. It is a mixture of both good and bad. During my investigation, I carefully examined this great pile and discovered these four different kinds of people.
From that investigation, a realization arose that overcame my discouragement about teaching. A thought suddenly appeared within the Citta: “If this Dhamma is so supreme that almost no one can understand it, then how did I myself come to realize it? What caused this realization?”
As I reflected on the cause, my thoughts returned to the path of practice that had led me there. It was exactly the same path taught by the Lord Buddha: generosity, morality, and meditation. There is no other path. Looking back on my own practice, I realized that if this path worked for me, then it could work for others as well. Perhaps only a few people could truly reach the goal, but certainly some could. I could not deny this. Realizing that at least some people would benefit encouraged me to begin teaching those who were ready to learn.
Afterward, monks gradually gathered around me in the forests and mountains where I lived, and I taught them to be determined in their practice. Little by little, the teaching spread farther and farther. Today people from throughout Thailand and around the world come to hear Ajahn Maha Bua teach Dhamma. Some travel to listen in person, while others hear recordings broadcast by radio and the Internet.
I can assure you that the Dhamma I teach never departs from the truth I have personally realized. The Lord Buddha taught exactly the same truth that I am now explaining. Sādhu! Although I am insignificant compared to the Buddha, the confirmation of this realization exists clearly within my own heart. Everything I have realized agrees fully with the Buddha’s teaching. Nothing contradicts it in any way. That is why I teach with such determination throughout Thailand.
From an ordinary perspective, I may sound bold, like a victorious hero. But the supreme Dhamma within my heart has neither boldness nor fear. It has neither gain nor loss, victory nor defeat. Therefore, my teaching comes only from pure compassion. For example, if I see two dogs fighting and pull them apart, I do not care which dog wins or loses. The dogs themselves are the ones biting and suffering. I only separate them to stop the fighting. Dhamma works in the same way. It tries to stop people from constantly quarreling over who is right and who is wrong.
This is similar to what I have said about Thailand. Dhamma must speak according to truth. These days I am deeply involved with the world, constantly trying to stop people from fighting like dogs. Laypeople and monks alike push themselves forward, shouting and fighting for status and honor. So I teach Dhamma to restore peace among them. Dhamma is truth. If people abandon falsehood and hold firmly to truth, then society and the religion will become peaceful. But while everyone continues fighting, the country remains in turmoil. The Buddha’s religion centers on the human heart, yet this sacred ground is being destroyed by conflict.
So I ask everyone to stop. Nothing good comes from fighting like dogs. In truth, there are no winners. Both sides are hurt equally. Step back and let reason guide you. Then Thailand, its people, and the religion can all live peacefully without disaster.
Those who angrily insist they alone are right are already defeated. Arguing itself is wrong. It is like two boxers beating each other in the ring. Both leave wounded and bruised. There is nothing honorable in that. Arguments create bitterness and resentment on both sides. They become battles of ego and opinion where nobody listens to reason. If this continues, the whole country will suffer ruin.
I sincerely ask everyone to reflect on these words. Today I have shed tears while teaching this Dhamma for the benefit of the Thai people. If people stop fighting now, disaster can still be avoided. In worldly terms, those who stand for righteousness win, and those who admit their mistakes for the sake of peace are also winners. Then both sides can unite harmoniously. But if nobody gives way, then there will only be wounded people on every side. Thailand is a Buddhist country. I do not want to see Buddhists fighting like dogs and staining monasteries with conflict. Please abandon such madness.
Ultimately, hell realms, heavenly realms, Brahma realms, and Nibbāna themselves will reveal who is right and who is wrong, who is virtuous and who is evil. Never think you are beyond falling into hell. Do not cling stubbornly to opinions that oppose the Dhamma of the Lord Buddha. The true land of Dhamma is the heavenly realms and Nibbāna, the dwelling places of virtuous beings. Wrong views only drag people down into ugly conflict and endless suffering. Remember this carefully.
Today I have explained everything to the fullest extent. It has now been 53 years since I attained this supreme Dhamma. Today I described that experience for your benefit. This Dhamma never fails or becomes frustrated. It always remains perfectly true and correct. It naturally expresses itself according to circumstances. Today it expressed itself so powerfully that tears flowed from the eyes of Ajahn Maha Bua for everyone to see. This is the extraordinary power of Dhamma, and it is this same Dhamma that I teach. I never teach casually. I always teach with complete sincerity.
As I have said many times, I was always willing to sacrifice my life for the sake of Dhamma. Most people cannot imagine the effort I put into the practice because they have never practiced in the same way. But I truly made that effort, and these are the results. It shows the power of unwavering determination when used for Dhamma. The stronger the determination, the better the results. Then one can die victoriously instead of being defeated. Remember this well.
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