Vipassana Meditation : Lectures On Insight Meditation by Venerable

4. Cessation of all kinds of physical suffering.5. Cessation of all kinds of mental suffering.6. Attainment of enlightenment.7. Attainment of nibbána.The Buddha began the Maha Satipatthána Sutta with these seven benefitsof mindfulness meditation. So you are sure to acquire these seven benefits ifyou put strenuous effort into your practice.We are lucky because we believe in the Buddha who is enlightened andwho teaches the right way which leads to the cessation of suffering. But weshould not be complacent. In the Pali texts, there is a simile:There is a great pond full of clear water with many lotus flowers in it. Atravelers hands are dirty. He knows that if he washes them in the pond, theywill be clean. But though he knows it, he does not go to the pond to wash hishands, his hands are still dirty. In this way, he passes the pond and continueshis journey.Then the question was asked in the text: "If the man remains dirty, who isto be blamed, the pond or the traveler?" Obviously, the traveler. Though heknew he could wash the dirt away in the pond, he did not do it. Therefore, thetraveler is to be blamed. The Buddha teaches us the way of mindfulness. If weknow the way but do not practice this mindfulness meditation, we will not getrid of suffering. If we do not get rid of suffering, who should be blamed? TheBuddha, the way of mindfulness, or us? Yes, we should be blamed. If youpractice this mindfulness meditation with strenuous effort, you will purifyyourself from all defilements and get rid of suffering by obtaining these sevenkinds of benefit., of mindfulness meditation.25