hearts, defilements easily arise and flourish, then wait there ready
to cause harm whenever we’re off guard. We can never manage
to bring them under control. In an instant, they furtively infil-
trate our hearts and multiply until we cannot keep track of them
all. We can be sure they will cause us nothing but trouble. They
arise and flourish so quickly that, within the blink of an eye, they
are everywhere, and we are helpless to catch them. Sexual crav-
ing^5 is one such defilement – very easy to arise but so difficult
to purge. Sexual craving creates a destructive, offensive state of
mind that tends to express itself with unrivaled audacity. Because
everyone in the world is so fond of it, it becomes emboldened,
causing destruction everywhere while ignoring the moral conse-
quences. It does show some fear of people with Dhamma in their
hearts. But, more than anything else, it is terrified of the Lord
Buddha and the Arahants. Since these Noble Ones have com-
pletely demolished its normal playground, sexual craving does not
dare enter their hearts to prowl around. But it still creates plenty
of trouble for the rest of us who remain under its power.
Dhutanga monks are aware that these oppressive kilesas are
obstructing their spiritual progress. That’s the reason they torture
themselves with such arduous training practices. For kilesas are
not in the least disconcerted by the fact that monks have ordained
into the holy life and wear the yellow robes: the distinctive ‘badge
of victory’ for those who defeat the forces of Mãra. They invaria-
bly try to convince monks to give up the yellow robes and the spir-
itual quest they symbolize, refusing to admit defeat regardless of a
monk’s age or seniority. For this reason, dhutanga monks feel com-
pelled to use coercive methods in their struggle to eradicate the
kilesas from their hearts. They endure and press ahead in spite of
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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