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Luang Por Liem: The Ways of the Peaceful - Wat Pah Nanachat

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without foundation – and he quotes from <strong>the</strong> Discourse <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Dung Beetle 25 : a beetle that feeds on excrement. His belly is full<br />

and round because <strong>of</strong> consuming all <strong>the</strong> excrement.<br />

Are we going to get lost and deluded with things like that?<br />

Material possessions and wealth, fame and praise – <strong>the</strong>se are<br />

external things. If <strong>the</strong>se things come to us, we should at least keep<br />

things within <strong>the</strong> scope <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> supporters’ intentions. <strong>The</strong>y want to<br />

enhance good and beautiful qualities. But if we lose ourselves in<br />

<strong>the</strong>se things, we won’t develop any <strong>of</strong> those qualities. We’ll fall<br />

into dangerous pitfalls. That’s why <strong>the</strong> Buddha gave <strong>the</strong> example<br />

<strong>of</strong> Devadatta 26 , who came under <strong>the</strong> sway <strong>of</strong> wealth, honour and<br />

praise. In <strong>the</strong> end it’s always wealth, honour and praise that ruins<br />

things.<br />

***<br />

25 Samyutta-Nikaya II Chapter VI, 17(Labhasankharasamyutta)<br />

26 Devadatta, deluded by <strong>the</strong> fame due to his psychic powers, tried to kill <strong>the</strong><br />

Buddha and take over <strong>the</strong> Sangha without success. Eventually he split <strong>the</strong><br />

Sangha, and was swallowed up by <strong>the</strong> earth for this heinous crime.<br />

64

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