"Because there is ignorance, there are impulses; because there are impulses, there is consciousness; because there is consciousness, there is the psyche-soma; because there is the psyche-soma, there are the six senses; because there are the six senses, there is contact; because there is contact, there is feeling; because there is feeling, there is craving; because there is craving, there is grasping; because there is grasping, there is becoming; because there is becoming, there is birth; because there is birth, there are old age, death, grief, and sorrow. That is how the entire mass of suffering arises." (T.N.Hanh, p. 2)
One of the most interesting things about Ajari Tanaka is his emphasis on the original, basic teachings of the Historical Buddha. While teaching a vast array of vajrayana, esoteric meditation method from a rare, surviving school of true mantrayana he is just as likely to talk passionately and at length about ideas, concepts and challenges right out of the Dhammapada as he is to dive into the celestial intricacies of mandala symbolism or deep, dense Buddhist philosophy.
The above quote is from "The Sutra of the Middle Way" a very short sutra from the original Pali Canon. It is the classical exposition of the twelve linked causal chain that Shakamuni Buddha identified as the mechanism by which our suffering arises. In this sutra Shakamuni describes how our own confusion gives rise to our own suffering as well as that of others.
But Shakamuni didn't stop with cleverly articulating the problem. The Buddha's powerful insight born of deep meditation, complete self knowledge inspired by great compassion uncovered the solution to our deepest frailty.
"But with the fading away of ignorance, impulses cease; with the fading away of impulses, consciousness ceases;.... and finally birth, old age, death, grief, and sorrow will fade away. That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases." (T.N. Hanh, p. 2-3)
Perhaps one of the most amazing things about the Historical Buddha is that he again and again points out that each of us is the sole source of our problems and at the same time we are the only solution to those vexing challenges. The Buddha taught that each of us must individually tackle our lives as we find it if we we wish to clean up the messes and uncover the meaning, the happiness and that calm relaxation we all hanker for. No one else can do the job. No one else has the power to keep us in our self imposed bounds or set us utterly free.
We are very grateful to Ajari Tanaka for sharing his passion for the teachings of Shakamuni Buddha. We are also deeply appreciative to him for teaching so many potent meditation methods that can help us loosen the grip of our own ignorance. With the help of that genuine guidance and fueled by our on efforts, we can really create the possibility that our own suffering will come to an end.
We hope everyone, everywhere will enjoy and grow strong from the simple, straightforward and powerful teachings of Shakamuni Buddha and that all the causes of their suffering will disappear like the tracks of a bird in the sky.
(Beyond the Self, Thich Nhat Hanh, Parallax Press, Berkeley California, 2010)
