Lessons In Practical Buddhism - Sirimangalo.Org

that would lead to our detriment. Yet, in spite of all of our
intellectual knowledge, we find ourselves drawn ever and
again towards actions, speech and thoughts that serve to
cause us more and more stress and dissatisfaction.
Intellectual understanding can therefore never be enough to
free one from suffering. In order to become truly free from
suffering, we must come to see clearly and empirically from
experience as to which states of mind lead to suffering and
which do not.
To accomplish this task, we must bring ourselves to observe
suffering as it is. Rather than run away from suffering or try
to chase it away, we must do just the opposite. We must
welcome our suffering as giving us the opportunity to learn
about suffering in general. The problem is not that suffering
exists, the problem is that we do not see it clearly. The
ordinary person is as though blind or in a dark room,
bumping into everything and causing great suffering and
upset because they cannot see anything. Once they turn on
a light, there will be no question of walking into a piece of
furniture, wall, or door. Insight meditation is truly as simple
as turning on a light. Once one sees clearly, one will have
accomplished all that need be done to let go of craving,
clinging, and suffering.
This is the first important aspect of a comprehensive
practice, practising to see the truth as it is – not the whole
truth, just the noble, useful, and beneficial truths of
suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the path to its
cessation. Rather than looking everywhere for knowledge
that serves no purpose, we should focus on what is truly
useful and beneficial, giving up our pursuit of what is not. A
person dedicated to becoming free from suffering should not
think much about worldly affairs, speculations, or philosophy.
One who desires to find true peace and happiness must
dedicate themselves to seeing suffering as suffering and
removing the wrong belief that clinging to anything will bring
happiness. When we see clearly thus, there will be nothing
that can bring us suffering – we will have conquered
suffering with wisdom alone, as the Buddha taught.
All objects of the senses are a source of suffering for us if we
cling to them. Many people, however, become indignant
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