Q : Last time, you mentioned Buddha’s teaching to be prescription to cure suffering. Could you further explain it?

A : The fundamental cause of human suffering is our ignorance of impermanence, no-self, and emptiness, or Three Marks of Existence. Therefore, the prescription for suffering is the way to be enlightened of Three Marks of Existence. If you completely understand and live based on Three Marks of Existence, you will be free from suffering. On the contrary, if you do not understand them and live attached to permanence, self, and formness, you will never escape from suffering.

Q: How can I realize impermanence, no-self, and emptiness?

A : For realization of impermanence, I would like to introduce ‘F our Awakenings of Mindfulness’ in the 『Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness』.?These four foundations of mindfulness are body, feelings, mind (thoughts), and mind-objects (phenomena), and you can contemplate through the examination of them.

Q: Could you explain the exact meaning of examination of body, feelings, mind, mind-objects?

A : It means you just observe and be aware of body, feelings, mind, and mind-objects without prejudice, delusion, and desire.

Q: How am I supposed to be aware and examine them?

A : Through body, you can examine its breathing rhythms, postures, and susceptibility. Through feelings, you can examine the pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral feelings. Through mind, you can examine the states of mind, such as lust, hatred, envy, doubt, etc. Through mind-objects, you can examine the physical and mental objects or contents at the given moment.

Q: What kind benefits can I gain from such investigation or observation?

A : In ordinary life, we are not clearly aware of changes except in serious situations. That is, we are indulged in the delusional thinking that all things, including us, are permanent and not changing. However, the investigation or contemplation of body, feelings, mind, and mind-objects leads us to face to face with change from moment to moment and to experience impermanence vividly. When you concentrate, you can realize body, feelings, mind, and phenomena are constantly changing.

Q: How can I practice no-self?

A : You can meditate on Five Aggregates: material form, feeling, perception (conception), karmic predisposition or volition, and discriminating consciousness.