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The Net of Love 6
To be awakened to the true nature of all dharmas means to see clearly their real face, so that dharmas are no longer traps or prisons. Liberation does not come from any deity, but from our own wisdom and mindfulness. When we understand the true nature of things, we let go of craving—the rope that binds us to suffering—and we walk in freedom and peace.
There are three kinds of giving:
- material giving: offering food, clothing, money to alleviate suffering
- dharma giving: transmitting the path of liberation, the most noble form of giving
- giving fearlessness: offering courage, helping others to be free from fear
Dharma giving is the most precious, because it leads us out of entanglement and brings about dharma joy—true happiness that arises when we practice the teachings. Dhamma-sukha is considered the greatest happiness among all pleasures.
Sensual craving is a binding rope; if the field of our mind is sown with the seeds of greed, anger, and ignorance, we will harvest suffering. On the other hand, if we sow wholesome seeds such as generosity and helping others, we will reap Mahāphala, the boundless fruits of merit. Only when we recognize and let go of sensual craving can we reach the other shore of freedom and happiness.