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The Middle Way Discourse
The first gatha teaches that in conditions, there cannot be a self-nature (Svabhava), because if self-nature arises from conditions, it is only a fabricated phenomenon, not the true nature. Looking at a flower or at Thay Minh Niem, we see that we cannot find a self-nature in the conditions such as the seed, the earth, the rain, the ancestors, the environment… There are two mistaken assertions that need to be abandoned:
- to think that self-nature resides within the conditions
- to think that self-nature arises from the conditions (a fabricated phenomenon)
When there is neither self-nature nor other-nature, there cannot be a phenomenon, because only through self-nature can there be other-nature, and vice versa. Understanding deeply the teachings of non-self and dependent co-arising helps us to:
- contemplate and reduce our attachment to self
- practice meditation to nourish the Sangha and ourselves
-
break through the three poisons:
- greed
- anger
-
ignorance
Practicing mindfulness of breathing, right view, and right thinking is the path that helps us stand firm in the midst of life, deeply understand that there is no fixed self-nature, and live lightly, not bound by mistaken perceptions.