KNOWING IS NOT NOTHING BECAUSE IT IS GATHERING DATA

| Taiwan Retreat 2018 Q&A 11 (41:45-44:10)

In daily life, sometimes when awareness is not good and defilement is very strong, you give in to the defilement. Still, continue to be aware so that the mind can learn something.

Sometimes I follow the anger, but with awareness behind trying to know, trying to learn.

If defilement is weak, it comes, shows its nature, and disappears. But sometimes it is powerful and overwhelms the mind. I still try to be aware and follow the process.

Sometimes, I get angry and keep yelling; however, the mind still tries to know whatever is happening. This is learning; the mind understands deeply when it learns many times over.

We cannot control defilements every time; sometimes we lose, but we try to be aware. Knowing is not nothing. Knowing is something – it is gathering information. The mind does not win, but it learns.

When enough is learned, wisdom can then see that anger is totally not good.