BUDDHIST STUDY: A teaching I have worked with recently 2 BUDDHIST STUDY: A teaching I have worked with recently 2

"With attachment to this life - there is no Dharma practitioner;
Attachment to samsara - no renunciation;
Attachment to self-purpose - no Enlightenment Thought;
If grasping arises - there is no view."

When I initially encountered the reading, I was on a different level to where I am now. Consequently, I viewed the text as though through different colored spectacles. Perhaps I should say they were covered in grease and grime, but after focusing upon the text for a time, they are much cleaner currently.

After a thorough reading, a little contemplation, and 'fishing' in my inner divinity with the root text as bait, I caught a big beautiful fish of understanding!

The key to my own personal comprehension of this passage was in breaking it down into 8 pieces:
Life - Dharma practitioner
Samsara - renunciation
Self-purpose - Enlightenment
Grasping - view

It was then simply a case of finding the 'right meaning' for each of these eight definements, from all the possibilities. Many Buddhist terms can be taken in several ways, at varying levels, and have many differing shades and side shoots. The official teachings and the 'fishing act' combined to help me understand the correct references. Once done, the text had far more value and meaning, and therefore I was able to gain from the instruction.

By the time I had worked out the precise meanings, I had already progressed with my practice towards attaining some practical use from the passage. When I began, I was unclear concerning half of the text - it was as if I were on two separate levels, one each for half of the verse. But by the time I had worked through the 8 definitions and returned to the root text with them - or leveled it all onto one deeper level - I had already automatically taken a few strides into personal advancement based on what it was teaching.