Winning over our mind is to build up pāramī (perfection of virtues). Losing to the mind, losing to the defilements, is to weaken our pāramī (perfection). Pāramī (perfection) is encouragement or the strength of mind that can win over the defilements, can win over the hindrances. It is not the same as building Dāna pāramī (giving), Sīla pāramī (morality). It is Bhāvanā pāramī (cultivation of the mind). But, it also needs Dāna (giving), Sīla pāramī (morality). (If one) keeps the precepts well, concentration will arise easily. The precept is partially broken, or a monk who breaks the precepts often, can no longer concentrate during sitting meditation. Just like the roof is leaking, the rain falls, the sunlight shines. It is not comfortable to stay. The house that has a leaking roof. It is not comfortable for people to stay. It is the same as the mind. The precept is broken so one becomes hot. Hot and cold in one’s own mind. Just like the words of Buddha, he said “Sīlena sugatiṁ yanti”, sīla (virtue) will bring happiness. “Sīlena bhoga sampadā”, sīla (virtue) will bring wealth and prosperity. “Sīlena nibbutiṁ yanti”, sīla (virtue) is the foundation of Nirvana. All the Buddhas said this. So, stop defilements right away, one of eight precepts. The more subtle precept is to win over the hindrances, because the hindrances are the defilements in the middle (level). Use concentration, the mind is focused, “I am not sleepy”, “I am going to wake up”. Get out of bed right away. So, (you) won over it. It is like a poor man, who wanted to make merit. The poor couple, worked like day labourers. They would like to listen to Dhamma so they took turns. Today the husband wore the cloth to listen to Dhamma. Then, the next day, the wife wore the (same) cloth. They were very poor. One day, he listened to Dhamma of Buddha, then he had a lot of faith. They had only one cloth, the cloth for covering the body like a robe. Indian villagers. Their clothes were old. He would like to give his dirty cloth to Buddha because it was his important possession. He would no longer have it to cover his body. He took turns wearing it with his wife. He struggled to decide from early evening. I cannot remember the time. But, I know that it was early, mid evening and he won over his mind late (evening), before the sermon ended. At first he hesitated. He would like to give. He had to fight with the embarrassment of not having a cloth to wear. He fought with his unwillingness to give. It was his last possession. Until late (evening),“Shitangme” he shouted loudly. “Shitangme”, “Shitangme”. It means “(I) won”, “(I) won”. He brought the cloth to give to Buddha and then shouted loudly. The King was listening. “What is happening to this man, ‘shitangme’?” said the King. The King called the man. Then, the man told the King that he had won over his mind wanting to give his cloth. Because he and his wife had to take turns to wear the cloth. Winning over the mind is pāramī (the perfection of virtue). The King listened. So, he gave the man his cloth. The King gave a better quality cloth, many rolls of cloth and other valuables. Buddha gave him his blessing, told him that if you won over your mind at the beginning (of the evening), you would get triple in return. Won over in the middle (of the evening), you would get double in return. Won over late (in the evening). So, only received this much. But, it is still a lot. The result of winning over your mind is like this. Those who lose to their mind will continue to be poor. If that man had faith but did not give the cloth, unwillingness to give. So, today, I preached about winning over our mind, pāramī (the perfection of virtue) occurs because one does not give up. Buddha is superb. He has been through the path of self-mortification. He did not give up. He was thin, until only his ribs showed. (He) fought, held the breath until the ears rang. The air could not escape. Until he heard the sound of the mandolin, tight strings, broken strings. Loose strings will not make a good sound. They have to be tightened just right. Must walk the middle path. So, he stopped. He took the middle path, the mind path. He did not go through the path of self-mortification anymore. But, it is not like all spoilt children who walk the middle path. It is not. The lazy way, comfortable way. Can no longer do the work. Winning over our mind. Do not forget our steps. Act against the impulses, have patience, take care of the mind. Must do it like a habit. (If) it does not let you come, come to listen to Dhamma. Because of laziness, it will take you to failure. Laziness in doing work is a cause of ruin too. Laziness in practicing meditation. What is it called? Disaster of perseverance. Perseverance is weak so it is unsuccessful.
Winning over our mind is to build up pāramī (perfection of virtues). Losing to the mind, losing to the defilements, is to weaken our pāramī (perfection). Pāramī (perfection) is encouragement or the strength of mind that can win over the defilements, can win over the hindrances. It is not the same as building Dāna pāramī (giving), Sīla pāramī (morality). It is Bhāvanā pāramī (cultivation of the mind). But, it also needs Dāna (giving), Sīla pāramī (morality). (If one) keeps the precepts well, concentration will arise easily. The precept is partially broken, or a monk who breaks the precepts often, can no longer concentrate during sitting meditation. Just like the roof is leaking, the rain falls, the sunlight shines. It is not comfortable to stay. The house that has a leaking roof. It is not comfortable for people to stay. It is the same as the mind. The precept is broken so one becomes hot. Hot and cold in one’s own mind. Just like the words of Buddha, he said “Sīlena sugatiṁ yanti”, sīla (virtue) will bring happiness. “Sīlena bhoga sampadā”, sīla (virtue) will bring wealth and prosperity. “Sīlena nibbutiṁ yanti”, sīla (virtue) is the foundation of Nirvana. All the Buddhas said this. So, stop defilements right away, one of eight precepts. The more subtle precept is to win over the hindrances, because the hindrances are the defilements in the middle (level). Use concentration, the mind is focused, “I am not sleepy”, “I am going to wake up”. Get out of bed right away. So, (you) won over it. It is like a poor man, who wanted to make merit. The poor couple, worked like day labourers. They would like to listen to Dhamma so they took turns. Today the husband wore the cloth to listen to Dhamma. Then, the next day, the wife wore the (same) cloth. They were very poor. One day, he listened to Dhamma of Buddha, then he had a lot of faith. They had only one cloth, the cloth for covering the body like a robe. Indian villagers. Their clothes were old. He would like to give his dirty cloth to Buddha because it was his important possession. He would no longer have it to cover his body. He took turns wearing it with his wife. He struggled to decide from early evening. I cannot remember the time. But, I know that it was early, mid evening and he won over his mind late (evening), before the sermon ended. At first he hesitated. He would like to give. He had to fight with the embarrassment of not having a cloth to wear. He fought with his unwillingness to give. It was his last possession. Until late (evening),“Shitangme” he shouted loudly. “Shitangme”, “Shitangme”. It means “(I) won”, “(I) won”. He brought the cloth to give to Buddha and then shouted loudly. The King was listening. “What is happening to this man, ‘shitangme’?” said the King. The King called the man. Then, the man told the King that he had won over his mind wanting to give his cloth. Because he and his wife had to take turns to wear the cloth. Winning over the mind is pāramī (the perfection of virtue). The King listened. So, he gave the man his cloth. The King gave a better quality cloth, many rolls of cloth and other valuables. Buddha gave him his blessing, told him that if you won over your mind at the beginning (of the evening), you would get triple in return. Won over in the middle (of the evening), you would get double in return. Won over late (in the evening). So, only received this much. But, it is still a lot. The result of winning over your mind is like this. Those who lose to their mind will continue to be poor. If that man had faith but did not give the cloth, unwillingness to give. So, today, I preached about winning over our mind, pāramī (the perfection of virtue) occurs because one does not give up. Buddha is superb. He has been through the path of self-mortification. He did not give up. He was thin, until only his ribs showed. (He) fought, held the breath until the ears rang. The air could not escape. Until he heard the sound of the mandolin, tight strings, broken strings. Loose strings will not make a good sound. They have to be tightened just right. Must walk the middle path. So, he stopped. He took the middle path, the mind path. He did not go through the path of self-mortification anymore. But, it is not like all spoilt children who walk the middle path. It is not. The lazy way, comfortable way. Can no longer do the work. Winning over our mind. Do not forget our steps. Act against the impulses, have patience, take care of the mind. Must do it like a habit. (If) it does not let you come, come to listen to Dhamma. Because of laziness, it will take you to failure. Laziness in doing work is a cause of ruin too. Laziness in practicing meditation. What is it called? Disaster of perseverance. Perseverance is weak so it is unsuccessful.
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