ONLY WISDOM CAN UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF DEFILEMENT

|China 2018 Retreat File: 20180529 Q&A 6 (47:50-49:05)

Yogi: We can only see the angry and craving mind through the thinking and feeling.

Sayadaw: Only wisdom can understand the characteristics of the defilement. For example, when you watch the defilement, you can see feelings and thoughts. Thought is not defilement; thought is thought. Feeling is not defilement, feeling is feeling.

Defilement is defilement. They have different characteristics. Feeling is a particular function of mind; thought is another of function of mind; defilement is yet another function mind.

Only wisdom can understand the nature of defilement. When defilement arises, thinking and feeling are obvious too. All 3 are present. You can see differently depending on your wisdom level.

Yogi: Is defilement the motivation for the thinking and feeling?

Sayadaw: Yes, defilement motivates thinking and feeling. Wisdom also motivates thinking and feeling – when wholesome mind arises, thought and feeling are present too.