Using Craving To Abandon Craving [Presented by Dr.Tep Sastri @ SD/JTN]
The AN 4.159, Bhikkhuni Sutta shows that in order to abandon craving, one has to rely on craving.
Then Ven. Ananda approached the nun and, on arrival, sat down on a prepared seat. As he was sitting there, he said to the nun:
"This body, sister, comes into being through food. And yet it is by relying on food that food is to be abandoned.
This body comes into being through craving. And yet it is by relying on craving that craving is to be abandoned.
This body comes into being through conceit. And yet it is by relying on conceit that conceit is to be abandoned. ..."
"'This body comes into being through craving. And yet it is by relying on craving that craving is to be abandoned.' Thus was it said. And in reference to what was it said? There is the case, sister, where a monk hears, 'The monk named such-and-such, they say, through the ending of the fermentations, has entered & remains in the fermentation-free awareness-release & discernment-release, having known & realized them for himself in the here & now.' The thought occurs to him, 'I hope that I, too, will � through the ending of the fermentations � enter & remain in the fermentation-free awareness-release & discernment-release, having known & realized them for myself in the here & now.' Then, at a later time, he abandons craving, having relied on craving. 'This body comes into being through craving. And yet it is by relying on craving that craving is to be abandoned.' Thus was it said. And in reference to this was it said." http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
..............
How should we explain "it is by relying on craving that craving is to be abandoned" ? The explanation above was not clear to me on the first reading. Pondering over it again, I have this explanation: The desire/hope to be freed from craving is in itself craving. In other words, if one had no desire/hope to abandon the origin of dukkha then he would not make the right exertion to abandon craving. The desire has to be really strong to motivate a worldling to practice the Noble Eightfold Path !
Now, can you tell me how you would abandon conceit by relying on conceit?
*****************
Love Buddhas
tidathep/yawares
