The path to Nirvana is openness, honesty and truthfulness

June 24 is Poson Poya Day

Don’t let your mind be crammed with extraneous irrelevancies; concentrate only on what’s absolutely necessary. Shut out everything else as taxing one’s mind with unnecessary external influences lead to mental exhaustion. Therefore, don’t cram your mind with any matter that doesn’t relate or is relevant to your life.

Learn to let it go and be free. This is Dhamma, the noble path. You need to adhere to Dhamma and you need to follow it. Otherwise, you will die one day with the Dhamma you had merely memorized. Let go of what books taught you and what you may have derived from sermons. Search for something that is felt in your heart. That is the truth.

We are used to memorizing what is in books. If memorizing leads to the discovery of the truth, who would realize the truth first? I know everything written in books more than you all. But it does not work that way. You cannot attain Nirvana like that. You need self-realization. Nirvana is within your heart. You need to connect with your heart to express it. You also need to be accurate, straightforward and realistic. That is the path to Nirvana. Now, it’s clear that Nirvana is connected to our lives as a whole. Supatipanna and Ujupatipanna – that’s being straight-forward and practical. However, only the wisest will realize the truth.

You need to move forward on the path. Your status is irrelevant. What I preach is understood by both the rich and poor. Only a sharp intelligence is needed. Wisdom or the intelligence is the only qualification needed to realize the path. During the time of Gauthama Buddha, a wealthy person named Anepindu and princess Vishaka, servants Punna and Rajjumaala all became Sothapanna. Their limitations of wisdom were different. Anyone can understand this as long as it is absorbed without any attachments.

Don’t get attached to anything, not even to this sermon. Just let it go and listen freely. Be straight forward. Tell what you want to tell. Do what you want to do. Scold to the face of someone if there’s a need to do so. Face it without retreating through the back door. Unless you start like this, you cannot reach your destination. The secret to this path is openness, honesty and truthfulness. All these qualities will lead to Nirvana.

Those who tread on this path will never lie, not even for their own comforts. Can you practice these simple qualities? It’s not something impossible. If a person can practice these qualities for three consecutive years, he will become Sothapanna. He should have an open heart which will guide him to the wisdom of Sothapanna. After reaching that status, he need to be more open. Be free. Why? We were born with nothing. It was only after our birth that things kept adding to our lives. Even our parents. Those additions will be removed gradually.

Why are you shattered when they are lost? Because you expected them to be there always. What is the right that you have to think on these lines? If a person is honest and open, he realizes the truth. There are no conditions to be honest, open and truthful.

– Ven. Siri Samanthabadra Thera