Dhamma from Achan Thong - Where Does the Dhamma Exist?

There is a question: where is the Dhamma? The Dhamma is found in the body, feeling, the mind, and mental objects.

The Dhamma is in ourselves, in our body and feelings. Feelings in the physical realm include pain, ache, stiffness, comfort, discomfort, and equanimity. Where is the mind? It is in our body. We should understand that it is the state of knowing which is called the mind. What does the mind know? It knows āramaṇa (mental objects). What is āramaṇa exactly? It is something held on to or grasped at. The mind holds on to āramaṇa. For example, breathing in and breathing out, or the abdominal rising and falling are the āramaṇa which the mind clings to or catches. This is the Dhamma. Where can we find the Dhamma? It exists within us: such as our liking and disliking, or greed and hatred. Then there is thīnamiddha, or discouragement. This manifests itself in drowsiness and the wandering of the mind – an inability to concentrate or to keep dwelling in certain mental objects. Vicikicchā is doubt. Doubt arising in the Buddha, the Dhamma (the Teaching), and the Sangha (the Order) leads to hell. Doubt as to whether one should go to the right or the left does not lead to hell, as it is general doubt. However, mistrust of the true worth of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha does lead one to hell.

The Dhamma is in ourselves. How can we find it? We need to be mindful. Establish mindfulness of parts of the body. When prostrating, keep mindfulness at your hands. While walking, be mindful of your feet. In sitting meditation, we may feel comfortable or uncomfortable. In instances such as this, mentally note vedanā, or feeling, with mindfulness. Know when our mind thinks good or bad thoughts. Mindfulness of mind-objects is to acknowledge when you are pleased, displeased, drowsy, distracted or in doubt. This is the way we seek the Dhamma. Such seekers of the Dhamma are called danto seṭṭho manussesu, or noble ones among humans. They earn this status because they train themselves (through insight meditation).

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