Buddha’s final teaching instructions to his disciples is purportedly found in the Last Admonition
Sutra.
The basic tenet of this sutra is to always keep control of your mind. A brief quote from the text
says, “The mind can be compared to a poisonous snake, and a murderous brigand.” This
sounds a bit antithetical to the text found in Just Seeing Is Buddha Nature where it is said, “Let
all thinking and all external desires fall far away and let your mind go anyplace, with no
hindrance.”
So which is it? Let your mind go anyplace, or keep control of your mind?
These comments are only seemingly contrary. The key phrase uniting the two is “with no
hindrance.” Allow me to explain by beginning with a dictionary definition of the word
forbearance: “The quality of being patient and being able to control yourself in a difficult
situation.”
The ideograph for patience is represented by a heart being pierced by a sword. Our minds are
usually very full. It takes a sharp instrument to cut through dualistic thoughts, concepts,
judgements, and opinions.
What the Buddha is stressing by the word control is a deep, measured patience that when
exercised with proper intent can be of even greater value than observing the precepts.
Training our mind to see and bear witness to the fact that everything we encounter is only
passing phenomena, transient situations that are always fluctuating, we then begin to truly
awaken.
There is no “rescue boat” on the way that will somehow save your efforts to keep your
judgement mind intact. Looking for anything external to rely on always ends up as an empty
placebo. Perhaps many of you reading this have already realized this truth.
Don’t allow yourself to wallow in self serving, small minded ideas or philosophical constructs.
Remain unstuck from judgements and conditioning, two unwholesome vexations that are always
attempting to enter our consciousness and create ego priorities. Let your mind flow along with
each changing moment. Relax as situations appear. They may remain for awhile. Learn to be
patient and exercise forbearance as defined above and like magic, they will disappear.
Go beyond all divisions of like and dislike, self and other.
“Everyone has the ability to realize this truth.”
This was the first utterance from the Buddha after seeing the morning star and bearing witness
to Anuttara Samyak Sambhodi or “unexcelled perfect enlightenment.” This is an individual who
through their own efforts realizes the impermanence of all life and compassionately vows to
share this wisdom of non grasping with the world.