completely deserted place. Try it! Is it really possible that saÿsãra
will become deserted, due to lack of deluded people taking birth
there, simply because you put forth effort in your practice? Why
are you so worried about returning to occupy a place in saÿsãra?
You haven’t even died, yet every thought arising in your mind is
directed toward reserving a future existence for yourself. Why
is that? Whenever you reduce your efforts in practice, you are
automatically working hard to reserve a place in the continuing
cycle of birth and death. Consequently, birth and death are always
bound up with your heart and your heart is always bound up with
dukkha.
“I have made every effort to teach you the way of Dhamma,
candidly revealing everything that you should know about the
Four Noble Truths and the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. I
have withheld only certain aspects of Dhamma dealing with spe-
cific kinds of psychic perception that are not directly connected
with enlightenment, such as those special insights that I have
alluded to from time to time. I am always glad to listen to anyone
who experiences such perceptions and assist them in any way I
can. Once I have died, it will be very difficult to find someone
who can advise you on these matters. You must keep in mind that
the practice of Dhamma differs considerably from the theory of
Dhamma.^9 Those who have not actually attained samãdhi and
paññã, or magga, phala, and Nibbãna, cannot possibly teach others
the correct way to reach these attainments.”
Ãcariya Mun concluded his pacchima ovãda^10 by emphasizing the
importance of sankhãradhamma, just as the Lord Buddha had
done in his final instructions to the community of monks prior to