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Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

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estrained, he accumulated many merits, <strong>and</strong> after death<br />

when his body was burned, many hard, shiny gem-like<br />

remains (sarira) were found in the ashes, <strong>and</strong> many<br />

people worshipped these relics. However, when ladies<br />

took them into their h<strong>and</strong>s, these sarira vanished; he<br />

would be able, it seems, to save only men—not women!<br />

These are two matters to illustrate what we mean by this<br />

obstacle.<br />

Bhante then gave another: He said, "I knew a<br />

bhiksu from Thail<strong>and</strong> who once asked me nervously,<br />

'Is it true that in the West, ladies might try to shake<br />

h<strong>and</strong>s with a bhiksu?' When I replied, 'Yes, it is the<br />

custom there,' that monk exclaimed, 'Oh! I could not<br />

bear that!' Thinking that he objected to the custom, I<br />

asked him why. In a shaking voice, he replied, 'If a<br />

woman touched my h<strong>and</strong>, I would be filled with<br />

passion!'" We all laughed.<br />

7. Conclusion to All Troubles<br />

Again from my experience, there are four principles to<br />

get rid of all these.<br />

a. Sunyata. Meditate on voidness very thoroughly, <strong>and</strong><br />

attain a degree of assurance-realization. There can be no<br />

trouble afterwards, as this is a powerful <strong>and</strong> very<br />

effective method.<br />

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