The Dhammic Life Which Is Still a Secret
Photo: Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives C05549
“In everyday city life would there be any real tangible benefit from the casual study of laws such as impermanence, conditionality, not-self etc.?”
~ Response by Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu ~
The principle of idappaccayatā (conditionality, the interdependency of all things) can be studied anywhere or everywhere because this law governs the entire universe. The entire cosmos is under this law of conditionality, of interdependency. The laws such as impermanence (anicca) and not-self (anattā) are related to specific situations, specific problems, but still they can be studied both in the forest and in the city. So anywhere the laws of time and space apply, the law of idappaccayatā, the natural principle of conditionality, can be studied right there and then, whether at home, in the market, or in the forest.
The laws of impermanence, un-satisfactoriness, and not-self are included within the law of idappaccayatā and therefore are also universal.
From the retreat “The Dhammic Life Which Is Still a Secret,” as translated from the Thai by Santikaro
Dhamma Questions & Responses sessions were offered by Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu in 1990-1991 to foreign meditators attending Suan Mokkh International Dharma Hermitage courses.
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