Daily Reading ~ November 26

Hoa Vo Uu (Buddha Dharma Education Association)
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika

The Buddha’s Words of Wisdom

I will show you grasping and worry and I will show you the letting go of and freedom from grasping and worry. And what is grasping and worry? Concerning this, ordinary folk have this view: “This body is mine, I am this, this is myself.” For one like this, the body alters and changes, and owing to this alternation and change, grief, sorrow, suffering, lamentation and despair arise in him. And it is the same with his feelings, perception, mental constructs and consciousness.

And what is letting go of and freedom from worry? Concerning this, the well taught noble disciple has this view: “This body is not mine. I am not this, this is not myself.” For one like this, the body alters and changes, but in spite of alternation and change, grief, sorrow, suffering, lamentation and despair do not arise in him. And it is the same with feeling, perception, mental constructs and consciousness. Thus, there is letting of and freedom from grasping and worry.