Q & A
170  Does no-self not lead to fatalism?

Question:  When you believe that there is no self who can do anything, does this not lead to fatalism?

Answer: When understanding develops you see more and more the value of knowing things as they are. You gain more confidence in the teachings and this conditions a sense of urgency to continue to develop understanding of all realities. There will be less inclination for laziness or for fatalism.

Question: Realities may not appear as they are in this life. Thus, one’s confidence must be quite strong in order to continue to develop understanding. One must be convinced that one is on the right Path.

Answer: We don't have to wait for realities to appear as they are; there can still be confidence. There is confidence with each wholesome moment of consciousness, for example, when we help someone else or when we study the teachings and consider them. We can verify that confidence is a wholesome reality. We should not immediately expect to know realities as they are, but we can have confidence while we develop different kinds of wholesomeness together with right understanding. We can verify that absolute realities are not concepts. Realities such as seeing, feeling or attachment have their own characteristics and their own functions. Their characteristics cannot be changed; they are true for everyone. Seeing is always seeing for everyone; we do not have to name it or label it in order to experience it. When we have more understanding of what realities are, we will be less deluded by concepts of people or self. We still cling to realities and concepts, but we know that right understanding will lead to a lessening of clinging

Date 7 Feb 2021

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