A3. The attachmentto Atta can be so strong that it clings to pleasure and displeasure withsuch passion that we seek them out.  If we cannot acquire these feelingswithout doing wrong actions, we do so even when harming others; stealing,killing, etc. to gratify oneself.  Those who realize that nothinglasts forever begins to see that we need to do the most good we can, andattenuate as much as possible our desires, anger, and ignorance. Ignorance is indeed the root of all evils.  We thought things wouldlast forever, that's mainly why we want to control or possess them. In reality all arise and fall away according to conditions, even the "I","self" or any other things.  The beginning of wisdom (or "panna" inpali), starts with the study of normal, everyday occurrences and perceptions. When we realize little by little what we learned in theory: that what weperceive each moment can be experienced only through 6 ways and none other:eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and mind. Each is different from the others:color is completely different from heat, taste is different from soundetc.  And indeed all of these realities do not last: now you see light,then darkness, now there is music, then the touch of something, or a thought,etc.  Only then we have the very first glimpse of what we take asthe whole wide world with self as the center, as what it really is: ever-changing,impermanent realities, evolving with conditions, beyond anyone's control. When there are conditions, planets can explode, babies die, "accidents"happen.  All are truly anatta.
 
 

5 December1999