1 00:00:00,585 --> 00:00:02,544 He could not even remember two words 2 00:00:02,544 --> 00:00:04,054 How could he possibly become an arhat 3 00:00:04,865 --> 00:00:07,434 The Buddha had more than a thousand monks in his sangha 4 00:00:07,464 --> 00:00:10,913 Including princes Brahmins and heirs of wealthy merchants 5 00:00:10,945 --> 00:00:12,173 Every one of them was exceptionally bright 6 00:00:12,425 --> 00:00:13,593 And diligent in practice 7 00:00:13,984 --> 00:00:15,103 But there was one man 8 00:00:15,105 --> 00:00:17,513 Who could not memorize even a four line verse 9 00:00:17,785 --> 00:00:20,393 His older brother practiced very well in the sangha 10 00:00:20,504 --> 00:00:22,344 But for twenty four whole years 11 00:00:22,344 --> 00:00:23,434 He achieved nothing 12 00:00:23,745 --> 00:00:27,153 Finally his own brother told him before everyone 13 00:00:27,385 --> 00:00:28,794 You are not cut out for practice 14 00:00:28,824 --> 00:00:29,873 Go home 15 00:00:30,065 --> 00:00:32,993 He stood at the temple gate trembling as he cried 16 00:00:33,424 --> 00:00:33,814 Then 17 00:00:34,265 --> 00:00:35,753 The Buddha came over 18 00:00:36,605 --> 00:00:36,915 Hello 19 00:00:37,245 --> 00:00:37,714 Everyone 20 00:00:38,046 --> 00:00:39,095 I am Leo Wang 21 00:00:39,165 --> 00:00:41,044 In this story of spiritual practice 22 00:00:41,046 --> 00:00:44,232 We will tell the most unlikely comeback in Buddhist history 23 00:00:44,463 --> 00:00:47,152 The protagonist is called Culapanthaka 24 00:00:47,503 --> 00:00:50,232 His name means Little Roadside 25 00:00:50,583 --> 00:00:53,952 Because his mother gave birth to him on her journey home 26 00:00:54,263 --> 00:00:55,972 His brother was called Mahapanthaka 27 00:00:56,304 --> 00:00:57,192 Great Roadside 28 00:00:57,664 --> 00:00:59,092 Both brothers later became monks 29 00:00:59,463 --> 00:01:01,033 But their fates were entirely different 30 00:01:01,344 --> 00:01:02,993 The older brother was naturally gifted 31 00:01:03,024 --> 00:01:05,513 And quickly found his place in the sangha 32 00:01:05,784 --> 00:01:06,332 But the younger brother 33 00:01:06,584 --> 00:01:08,313 In the words of the scriptures 34 00:01:08,343 --> 00:01:10,075 Was extraordinarily slow 35 00:01:10,385 --> 00:01:11,614 How slow was he 36 00:01:12,185 --> 00:01:14,474 The Buddha taught him a four line verse 37 00:01:14,745 --> 00:01:16,034 When he remembered the first two lines 38 00:01:16,105 --> 00:01:17,474 He forgot the last two 39 00:01:17,786 --> 00:01:18,894 When he learned the last two 40 00:01:19,346 --> 00:01:20,715 He forgot the first two again 41 00:01:21,025 --> 00:01:21,694 He was taught again and again 42 00:01:22,066 --> 00:01:22,994 And forgot again and again 43 00:01:23,265 --> 00:01:24,295 Not just for a day or two 44 00:01:24,706 --> 00:01:26,315 But for decades 45 00:01:26,625 --> 00:01:27,994 Picture that scene 46 00:01:28,185 --> 00:01:30,875 More than a thousand monks practiced diligently 47 00:01:31,105 --> 00:01:32,345 Yet he alone 48 00:01:32,346 --> 00:01:34,719 Could not memorize even the most basic verse 49 00:01:35,070 --> 00:01:37,228 One day his fellow monks could no longer hold back 50 00:01:37,230 --> 00:01:38,138 They laughed at him to his face 51 00:01:38,629 --> 00:01:39,948 You sit here all day 52 00:01:39,950 --> 00:01:41,299 Can you recite even one verse for us 53 00:01:41,990 --> 00:01:42,778 He opened his mouth 54 00:01:43,150 --> 00:01:44,599 But could not say a single word 55 00:01:44,990 --> 00:01:46,599 Everyone burst out laughing 56 00:01:47,088 --> 00:01:50,016 Then his brother Mahapanthaka made a decision 57 00:01:50,487 --> 00:01:51,237 His brother told him 58 00:01:51,608 --> 00:01:53,416 You have been here for so many years 59 00:01:53,528 --> 00:01:54,696 And learned nothing 60 00:01:55,088 --> 00:01:56,037 Monastic life is not for you 61 00:01:56,368 --> 00:01:57,337 Go home 62 00:01:57,728 --> 00:01:58,516 This was not cruelty 63 00:01:58,847 --> 00:02:00,617 It was the honest judgment of an older brother 64 00:02:00,728 --> 00:02:02,016 You are not made for this 65 00:02:02,448 --> 00:02:04,647 Culapanthaka stood at the temple gate 66 00:02:04,647 --> 00:02:06,367 Unable to stop crying 67 00:02:06,679 --> 00:02:07,707 I want you to pause for a moment 68 00:02:07,998 --> 00:02:09,527 And feel what that scene was like 69 00:02:09,799 --> 00:02:12,367 Someone devoted more than twenty years to one pursuit 70 00:02:12,438 --> 00:02:13,608 It was not for lack of effort 71 00:02:13,679 --> 00:02:16,367 He tried and discovered he truly could not do it 72 00:02:16,799 --> 00:02:19,328 Then even the person closest to him gave up on him 73 00:02:19,679 --> 00:02:20,388 That kind of despair 74 00:02:20,679 --> 00:02:22,127 Does not belong only to ancient times 75 00:02:22,359 --> 00:02:23,997 In any field 76 00:02:23,998 --> 00:02:25,687 You can find moments like this 77 00:02:26,158 --> 00:02:27,768 You desperately try to learn something 78 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:29,437 Others master it after three tries 79 00:02:29,438 --> 00:02:31,328 You still cannot after thirty 80 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:32,768 You begin to wonder 81 00:02:32,839 --> 00:02:34,728 Whether you were ever meant to be here 82 00:02:35,583 --> 00:02:36,332 At that very moment 83 00:02:36,743 --> 00:02:37,751 The Buddha arrived 84 00:02:37,903 --> 00:02:38,971 The Buddha did not console him 85 00:02:39,303 --> 00:02:40,622 He did not tell him to stop crying 86 00:02:40,623 --> 00:02:42,272 Nor encourage him to try again 87 00:02:42,422 --> 00:02:44,471 The Buddha simply looked at him quietly 88 00:02:44,542 --> 00:02:47,272 Then did something no one expected 89 00:02:47,503 --> 00:02:49,832 He handed Culapanthaka a broom 90 00:02:50,063 --> 00:02:52,631 The most ordinary broom in the monastery 91 00:02:52,702 --> 00:02:53,702 Made of bundled bamboo twigs 92 00:02:53,702 --> 00:02:54,992 And used to sweep fallen leaves 93 00:02:55,142 --> 00:02:55,652 The Buddha said 94 00:02:56,063 --> 00:02:57,462 You do not need to memorize anything now 95 00:02:57,463 --> 00:02:58,411 From this day forward 96 00:02:58,662 --> 00:02:59,672 You will sweep 97 00:02:59,862 --> 00:03:00,851 Sweep the monastery every day 98 00:03:01,262 --> 00:03:02,772 And repeat two words as you sweep 99 00:03:03,142 --> 00:03:03,911 Remove dust 100 00:03:04,343 --> 00:03:05,152 Remove dust 101 00:03:05,662 --> 00:03:06,712 Only those two words 102 00:03:07,294 --> 00:03:09,263 Then something even stranger happened 103 00:03:09,493 --> 00:03:12,142 Culapanthaka could not remember even those two words 104 00:03:12,454 --> 00:03:13,122 When he remembered remove 105 00:03:13,574 --> 00:03:14,342 He forgot dust 106 00:03:14,773 --> 00:03:15,362 When he remembered dust 107 00:03:15,653 --> 00:03:16,462 He forgot remove 108 00:03:17,053 --> 00:03:19,783 So the Buddha instructed the other monks 109 00:03:19,933 --> 00:03:23,452 Whenever you see him forget those words while sweeping 110 00:03:23,454 --> 00:03:25,327 Give him a reminder 111 00:03:25,757 --> 00:03:28,566 An absurd scene soon appeared across the monastery 112 00:03:28,917 --> 00:03:32,207 A middle aged monk swept back and forth every day 113 00:03:32,317 --> 00:03:33,607 Muttering under his breath 114 00:03:33,797 --> 00:03:34,147 Remove dust 115 00:03:34,597 --> 00:03:35,286 Remove dust 116 00:03:35,757 --> 00:03:36,587 Sometimes he would stop 117 00:03:36,838 --> 00:03:37,846 Looking completely lost 118 00:03:37,998 --> 00:03:39,587 And a nearby monk would call out 119 00:03:39,917 --> 00:03:40,566 Remove dust 120 00:03:41,077 --> 00:03:41,987 Then he would remember 121 00:03:42,118 --> 00:03:42,626 Oh right 122 00:03:42,917 --> 00:03:43,267 Remove dust 123 00:03:43,838 --> 00:03:44,647 And keep sweeping 124 00:03:45,278 --> 00:03:45,946 To worldly eyes 125 00:03:46,278 --> 00:03:47,716 This scene 126 00:03:47,718 --> 00:03:48,846 Was a joke 127 00:03:49,158 --> 00:03:51,156 A man who could not remember two words 128 00:03:51,158 --> 00:03:52,027 How could he practice anything 129 00:03:52,757 --> 00:03:53,906 But what the Buddha saw 130 00:03:54,238 --> 00:03:55,166 Was something else 131 00:03:55,948 --> 00:03:57,956 And that is the heart of todays story 132 00:03:58,348 --> 00:04:00,256 Why did the Buddha choose this method 133 00:04:00,827 --> 00:04:02,296 Why a broom of all things 134 00:04:03,027 --> 00:04:06,236 Why did the fool everyone abandoned 135 00:04:06,307 --> 00:04:07,576 Eventually become an arhat 136 00:04:08,267 --> 00:04:10,258 Let us unpack the first layer 137 00:04:10,530 --> 00:04:13,658 The Buddha did not give Culapanthaka a formula 138 00:04:13,729 --> 00:04:15,459 He gave him an instruction to act 139 00:04:15,770 --> 00:04:17,128 The words remove dust 140 00:04:17,129 --> 00:04:19,579 Literally mean sweeping away dirt and grime 141 00:04:19,889 --> 00:04:21,999 But what was the Buddha really designing 142 00:04:22,730 --> 00:04:24,738 He took an abstract goal of practice 143 00:04:24,769 --> 00:04:27,459 And bound it to a concrete bodily movement 144 00:04:27,690 --> 00:04:29,809 You do not need to understand affliction 145 00:04:29,810 --> 00:04:30,809 Or ignorance 146 00:04:30,810 --> 00:04:32,339 Or the emptiness of the five aggregates 147 00:04:32,569 --> 00:04:33,999 You only need to pick up the broom 148 00:04:34,250 --> 00:04:35,459 And sweep the ground clean 149 00:04:35,490 --> 00:04:36,819 While saying remove dust 150 00:04:37,129 --> 00:04:38,939 As the body removes the dirt outside 151 00:04:39,050 --> 00:04:41,831 The mind naturally begins removing the dirt within 152 00:04:41,982 --> 00:04:43,651 How ingenious was this design 153 00:04:44,141 --> 00:04:44,530 Think about it 154 00:04:44,901 --> 00:04:47,420 If the Buddha had taught him a complex doctrine 155 00:04:47,422 --> 00:04:48,050 He could not have remembered it 156 00:04:48,461 --> 00:04:49,910 And his practice would have stopped there 157 00:04:49,982 --> 00:04:51,990 But a broom demands no memory 158 00:04:52,221 --> 00:04:54,420 It only asks you to reach out your hand 159 00:04:54,422 --> 00:04:55,230 And begin sweeping 160 00:04:55,542 --> 00:04:58,511 Every movement itself contains the whole practice 161 00:04:58,742 --> 00:05:00,751 He does not need to know why he sweeps 162 00:05:00,862 --> 00:05:01,990 He only needs to sweep 163 00:05:02,221 --> 00:05:04,670 In the framework we established before 164 00:05:04,821 --> 00:05:07,751 The Buddha bypassed his sixth consciousness 165 00:05:07,821 --> 00:05:10,470 His conscious capacity for logical analysis 166 00:05:10,581 --> 00:05:14,191 And planted a seed directly in his bodily memory 167 00:05:15,021 --> 00:05:17,030 It does not matter if you cannot memorize sutras 168 00:05:17,062 --> 00:05:19,831 Because sutras travel through linguistic encoding 169 00:05:19,942 --> 00:05:22,951 And language is precisely your weakest channel 170 00:05:23,221 --> 00:05:24,670 The Buddha chose another path 171 00:05:24,701 --> 00:05:29,110 Letting practice enter through palms footsteps and breath 172 00:05:29,261 --> 00:05:33,151 This is the most extreme case of teaching to the student 173 00:05:33,302 --> 00:05:35,670 The Buddha was not indulging a slow student 174 00:05:35,701 --> 00:05:38,516 He had found the students unique doorway 175 00:05:39,028 --> 00:05:40,677 Now for the second layer 176 00:05:40,828 --> 00:05:43,477 Culapanthaka could not remember even two words 177 00:05:43,508 --> 00:05:46,837 In worldly terms that is a severe intellectual disability 178 00:05:47,068 --> 00:05:48,667 But from the perspective of practice 179 00:05:48,667 --> 00:05:50,217 What did this limitation mean 180 00:05:50,667 --> 00:05:53,797 I discussed this in the episode on talent and spiritual capacity 181 00:05:53,987 --> 00:05:56,237 Talent and spiritual capacity are different things 182 00:05:56,467 --> 00:05:58,717 Talent is ability in the worldly realm 183 00:05:58,828 --> 00:06:01,316 Memory logic and language ability 184 00:06:01,347 --> 00:06:03,237 These are tools of the sixth consciousness 185 00:06:03,427 --> 00:06:04,737 But what is spiritual capacity 186 00:06:05,268 --> 00:06:08,636 It is how close you are to reality as it is 187 00:06:08,867 --> 00:06:09,936 A person with strong spiritual capacity 188 00:06:10,188 --> 00:06:11,277 Is not necessarily intelligent 189 00:06:11,347 --> 00:06:13,688 But has very little obscuring the mind 190 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,518 A viewer left a comment under that episode 191 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:18,849 That stayed with me 192 00:06:19,280 --> 00:06:19,669 He said 193 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:21,888 In worldly terms 194 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,969 Most people may not think I am especially intelligent 195 00:06:25,280 --> 00:06:28,609 But many Buddhist teachers say I have strong spiritual capacity 196 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:30,628 At first he found that contradictory 197 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:32,409 Then he understood 198 00:06:32,479 --> 00:06:34,688 It was not that he was smarter than others 199 00:06:34,719 --> 00:06:36,289 His mind was simply less complicated 200 00:06:36,719 --> 00:06:38,789 Then he mentioned a key term 201 00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:40,208 Cognitive obstruction 202 00:06:40,559 --> 00:06:40,948 He said 203 00:06:41,479 --> 00:06:42,909 More thoughts mean more obstacles 204 00:06:43,359 --> 00:06:45,089 Fewer thoughts mean fewer obstacles 205 00:06:45,479 --> 00:06:49,785 That comment struck the heart of Culapanthakas story 206 00:06:50,176 --> 00:06:52,385 We previously devoted an episode to cognitive obstruction 207 00:06:52,975 --> 00:06:56,225 Many think it is an obstacle caused by knowing too much 208 00:06:56,455 --> 00:06:59,664 Like reading so much that you no longer know what to choose 209 00:07:00,136 --> 00:07:01,544 That understanding is wrong 210 00:07:01,816 --> 00:07:02,765 The obstruction in cognitive obstruction 211 00:07:03,136 --> 00:07:04,785 Does not obstruct knowledge itself 212 00:07:04,936 --> 00:07:08,585 It is the minds habit of splitting the world in two 213 00:07:08,736 --> 00:07:09,525 One half is me 214 00:07:09,775 --> 00:07:11,905 The other is the object I perceive 215 00:07:12,256 --> 00:07:14,934 This dual structure of perceiver and perceived 216 00:07:14,936 --> 00:07:16,304 Is the real obstruction 217 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:17,119 Now consider this 218 00:07:17,136 --> 00:07:19,124 How powerful is an intelligent persons sixth consciousness 219 00:07:19,696 --> 00:07:23,184 It can analyze reason model and generalize 220 00:07:23,975 --> 00:07:27,104 But all these abilities rest on one premise 221 00:07:27,215 --> 00:07:29,304 There is an I doing the analysis 222 00:07:29,376 --> 00:07:31,345 And an object being analyzed by me 223 00:07:31,655 --> 00:07:32,934 With every new analysis 224 00:07:32,936 --> 00:07:35,297 This dual structure is reinforced once more 225 00:07:35,689 --> 00:07:36,677 But Culapanthaka 226 00:07:37,249 --> 00:07:39,138 His sixth consciousness barely functioned 227 00:07:39,528 --> 00:07:42,056 He could not construct complex conceptual frameworks 228 00:07:42,289 --> 00:07:43,287 Which also meant 229 00:07:43,289 --> 00:07:45,898 He had fewer conceptual frameworks to dismantle 230 00:07:46,088 --> 00:07:48,977 His starting line seemed behind everyone else 231 00:07:49,049 --> 00:07:50,496 But viewed from another dimension 232 00:07:50,568 --> 00:07:51,938 He was closest to the finish 233 00:07:52,208 --> 00:07:55,246 Because the goal is not how much knowledge you accumulate 234 00:07:55,249 --> 00:07:57,297 But how many obscurations you remove 235 00:07:57,489 --> 00:07:59,857 It resembles a classic problem in machine learning 236 00:07:59,929 --> 00:08:01,338 Called overfitting 237 00:08:01,648 --> 00:08:04,088 Feed a model too much training data 238 00:08:04,088 --> 00:08:06,417 And it treats every bit of noise as a pattern 239 00:08:06,489 --> 00:08:08,818 So it loses sight of the real signal 240 00:08:09,049 --> 00:08:09,996 The more complex the model 241 00:08:10,289 --> 00:08:12,378 The more easily it mistakes noise for truth 242 00:08:13,129 --> 00:08:15,338 But an extremely simple model 243 00:08:15,369 --> 00:08:17,297 With only two parameters 244 00:08:17,297 --> 00:08:18,093 Remove dust 245 00:08:18,208 --> 00:08:20,198 Can cut directly through the noise 246 00:08:20,448 --> 00:08:21,537 And reach the essence 247 00:08:21,848 --> 00:08:25,823 Culapanthaka was that model with the fewest parameters 248 00:08:26,135 --> 00:08:27,263 Now for the third layer 249 00:08:27,775 --> 00:08:29,563 Culapanthaka swept the ground every day 250 00:08:29,935 --> 00:08:31,303 Repeating remove dust 251 00:08:31,734 --> 00:08:32,203 One day 252 00:08:32,494 --> 00:08:34,024 As he swept he wondered 253 00:08:34,294 --> 00:08:36,323 Why did the Buddha ask me to repeat these words 254 00:08:37,014 --> 00:08:39,023 The broom sweeps dust from the ground 255 00:08:39,134 --> 00:08:40,804 So what is the dust in my mind 256 00:08:41,614 --> 00:08:42,403 The scriptures record 257 00:08:42,734 --> 00:08:43,974 That this very thought 258 00:08:43,974 --> 00:08:45,864 Opened the path of practice for him 259 00:08:46,055 --> 00:08:48,464 He did not awaken through logical reasoning 260 00:08:48,494 --> 00:08:51,423 He awakened through an analogy grounded in bodily experience 261 00:08:51,734 --> 00:08:53,824 The broom cleared dirt from the ground 262 00:08:53,854 --> 00:08:55,864 He had performed that movement countless times 263 00:08:56,055 --> 00:08:58,104 His body knew it completely 264 00:08:58,254 --> 00:09:01,064 When he projected that bodily experience inward 265 00:09:01,215 --> 00:09:04,064 Removing inner defilements was no longer abstract 266 00:09:04,094 --> 00:09:06,743 It became something he already knew how to do 267 00:09:07,295 --> 00:09:08,724 He had swept the ground countless times 268 00:09:09,094 --> 00:09:10,094 And with every sweep 269 00:09:10,094 --> 00:09:13,543 The act of removing dust was carved deeper into his body 270 00:09:13,854 --> 00:09:16,253 When that bodily memory became deep enough 271 00:09:16,254 --> 00:09:17,814 It naturally turned inward 272 00:09:17,815 --> 00:09:20,104 And became the clearing of inner afflictions 273 00:09:20,254 --> 00:09:22,214 You do not need to understand what afflictions are 274 00:09:22,215 --> 00:09:25,378 You only need to sweep in the same way 275 00:09:25,849 --> 00:09:28,378 The Surangama Sutra records his own account 276 00:09:28,568 --> 00:09:28,917 He said 277 00:09:29,288 --> 00:09:30,858 The Buddha took pity on my slowness 278 00:09:30,888 --> 00:09:32,498 And taught me to settle and regulate my breath 279 00:09:32,609 --> 00:09:34,738 I observed the subtle qualities of breathing 280 00:09:34,768 --> 00:09:36,037 And my mind suddenly opened 281 00:09:36,369 --> 00:09:38,658 My afflictions and habits dissolved completely 282 00:09:39,129 --> 00:09:40,658 He became an arhat 283 00:09:41,209 --> 00:09:43,858 The man mocked by everyone for more than twenty years 284 00:09:44,009 --> 00:09:45,978 The man who could not remember two words 285 00:09:46,089 --> 00:09:47,057 Had attained realization 286 00:09:47,329 --> 00:09:49,648 This outcome sent shock waves 287 00:09:49,648 --> 00:09:51,417 Through the sangha of that time 288 00:09:51,729 --> 00:09:54,608 Because so many monks a hundred times smarter than him 289 00:09:54,609 --> 00:09:56,177 Were still struggling along the path 290 00:09:56,329 --> 00:09:58,417 Yet the man who could not remember two words 291 00:09:58,528 --> 00:09:59,901 Arrived first 292 00:10:00,293 --> 00:10:01,661 Even more astonishing 293 00:10:01,693 --> 00:10:03,621 After his attainment Culapanthaka 294 00:10:03,693 --> 00:10:05,702 Suddenly gained unobstructed eloquence 295 00:10:06,212 --> 00:10:08,042 He began teaching the nuns 296 00:10:08,492 --> 00:10:09,001 What did he teach 297 00:10:09,492 --> 00:10:10,741 Simply remove dust 298 00:10:11,132 --> 00:10:12,161 How to sweep away the dirt outside 299 00:10:12,413 --> 00:10:13,781 And the dirt inside 300 00:10:14,053 --> 00:10:15,942 The nuns who heard his teaching 301 00:10:16,012 --> 00:10:17,741 Also became arhats 302 00:10:18,092 --> 00:10:20,462 A man who once could barely express himself 303 00:10:20,573 --> 00:10:22,661 Became a teacher who awakened others 304 00:10:22,933 --> 00:10:25,901 The scriptures call him foremost in grasping meaning 305 00:10:26,173 --> 00:10:29,901 Meaning he understood the essence of the Dharma most precisely 306 00:10:30,212 --> 00:10:32,062 Consider the weight of that title 307 00:10:32,252 --> 00:10:34,021 Among more than a thousand members of the sangha 308 00:10:34,132 --> 00:10:35,661 He was named foremost in grasping meaning 309 00:10:36,012 --> 00:10:36,962 Not Sariputra 310 00:10:37,372 --> 00:10:38,462 Not Ananda 311 00:10:38,573 --> 00:10:40,981 But Culapanthaka the sweeper 312 00:10:41,732 --> 00:10:42,842 Does that seem absurd 313 00:10:43,173 --> 00:10:46,022 The slowest man became foremost in grasping meaning 314 00:10:46,613 --> 00:10:47,941 It is not absurd at all 315 00:10:48,332 --> 00:10:50,662 Precisely because he had only one broom 316 00:10:50,733 --> 00:10:52,941 He took that broom as far as it could go 317 00:10:53,332 --> 00:10:55,301 He had no hundred tools to choose from 318 00:10:55,373 --> 00:10:57,341 No thousand theories to compare 319 00:10:57,412 --> 00:11:00,221 And never jumped from one teaching to another 320 00:11:00,493 --> 00:11:02,622 All he had were the words remove dust 321 00:11:02,973 --> 00:11:03,762 Only those two words 322 00:11:04,052 --> 00:11:06,022 He polished them with his entire life 323 00:11:06,133 --> 00:11:08,742 Until they pierced through the shell of concepts 324 00:11:08,853 --> 00:11:11,101 And became a genuine inner experience 325 00:11:11,733 --> 00:11:14,221 When a person possesses only one thing 326 00:11:14,373 --> 00:11:16,581 Either that scarcity destroys them 327 00:11:16,692 --> 00:11:19,461 Or they turn that one thing into a doorway 328 00:11:19,773 --> 00:11:21,701 Culapanthaka chose the latter 329 00:11:22,452 --> 00:11:22,922 Or perhaps 330 00:11:23,253 --> 00:11:25,181 He had no other choice 331 00:11:25,373 --> 00:11:27,331 And that very absence of choice 332 00:11:27,332 --> 00:11:29,029 Became his greatest advantage 333 00:11:29,461 --> 00:11:31,769 Have you seen this pattern in yourself 334 00:11:32,341 --> 00:11:34,189 When you have too many options 335 00:11:34,301 --> 00:11:36,179 You spend more time choosing 336 00:11:36,181 --> 00:11:38,510 Than you spend acting 337 00:11:38,821 --> 00:11:42,510 You compare weigh and hesitate between different methods 338 00:11:42,620 --> 00:11:45,139 Every change of method makes you start again 339 00:11:45,140 --> 00:11:47,309 So you never follow any path to the end 340 00:11:47,380 --> 00:11:48,130 But some people 341 00:11:48,380 --> 00:11:49,460 Are simple by nature 342 00:11:49,461 --> 00:11:52,429 Or their circumstances allow them to do only one thing 343 00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:54,090 So they quietly keep doing it 344 00:11:54,380 --> 00:11:55,350 Until in the end 345 00:11:55,461 --> 00:11:57,990 They reach a place you may never reach 346 00:11:58,260 --> 00:11:59,750 This is not empty inspiration 347 00:11:59,861 --> 00:12:03,023 It is a fact about cognitive structure 348 00:12:03,414 --> 00:12:05,214 The brains default mode network 349 00:12:05,215 --> 00:12:06,744 Is what runs automatically in your mind 350 00:12:06,855 --> 00:12:09,384 When you are doing nothing 351 00:12:09,615 --> 00:12:13,224 It loves comparing evaluating and planning 352 00:12:13,534 --> 00:12:15,043 Should I change to another method 353 00:12:15,534 --> 00:12:17,563 Is someone elses method better than mine 354 00:12:18,054 --> 00:12:19,734 How far have I progressed in practice 355 00:12:19,735 --> 00:12:20,884 Have I improved since yesterday 356 00:12:21,414 --> 00:12:24,744 These thoughts are themselves how cognitive obstruction works 357 00:12:24,894 --> 00:12:28,864 They keep inserting an extra layer between you and the present 358 00:12:29,054 --> 00:12:32,224 That layer is thinking about practice 359 00:12:32,774 --> 00:12:35,384 But because Culapanthaka had limited intellect 360 00:12:35,495 --> 00:12:38,903 His default mode network lacked these complex operations 361 00:12:39,254 --> 00:12:40,203 He did not compare 362 00:12:40,495 --> 00:12:41,283 He did not evaluate 363 00:12:41,575 --> 00:12:42,584 He did not plan 364 00:12:43,054 --> 00:12:44,104 He simply swept 365 00:12:44,975 --> 00:12:45,724 The Buddha said sweep 366 00:12:46,095 --> 00:12:47,292 So he swept 367 00:12:47,763 --> 00:12:48,873 Do you know what this is called 368 00:12:49,364 --> 00:12:50,932 This is samatha within samatha and vipassana 369 00:12:51,244 --> 00:12:54,412 Samatha is not forcing thoughts to stop 370 00:12:54,484 --> 00:12:56,292 It is having few thoughts to begin with 371 00:12:56,563 --> 00:12:57,672 Culapanthakas samatha 372 00:12:58,004 --> 00:12:59,363 Was not cultivated 373 00:12:59,364 --> 00:13:00,853 It was his natural ground 374 00:13:01,084 --> 00:13:03,082 Others need decades of practice 375 00:13:03,084 --> 00:13:05,733 To approach that state of mental purity 376 00:13:05,763 --> 00:13:07,533 He was born there 377 00:13:07,643 --> 00:13:08,753 What he lacked was not samatha 378 00:13:09,043 --> 00:13:10,292 He lacked vipassana 379 00:13:10,604 --> 00:13:12,962 So the Buddha gave him the words remove dust 380 00:13:12,964 --> 00:13:14,533 They were the seed of vipassana 381 00:13:14,683 --> 00:13:16,853 When the soil of samatha is deep enough 382 00:13:16,923 --> 00:13:20,133 One seed of vipassana can grow into a towering tree 383 00:13:20,283 --> 00:13:21,643 This is spiritual capacity 384 00:13:21,994 --> 00:13:22,542 Strong spiritual capacity 385 00:13:22,834 --> 00:13:24,843 Does not mean being born knowing the Dharma 386 00:13:25,033 --> 00:13:28,003 It means the soil of your mind is exceptionally clean 387 00:13:28,114 --> 00:13:29,672 Once a seed falls there 388 00:13:29,673 --> 00:13:32,363 It grows faster than anyone expects 389 00:13:32,594 --> 00:13:34,233 But exceptionally intelligent people 390 00:13:34,234 --> 00:13:37,322 Already have every kind of plant filling their soil 391 00:13:37,393 --> 00:13:38,593 Some are knowledge 392 00:13:38,594 --> 00:13:39,463 Some are prejudice 393 00:13:39,793 --> 00:13:41,682 Some are self assured interpretations 394 00:13:41,954 --> 00:13:43,062 When a new seed falls 395 00:13:43,314 --> 00:13:45,363 It must first compete with the old plants for space 396 00:13:45,714 --> 00:13:47,883 The Buddhas sangha had no shortage of geniuses 397 00:13:48,114 --> 00:13:49,763 Sariputra was foremost in wisdom 398 00:13:49,793 --> 00:13:51,513 Maudgalyayana was foremost in spiritual powers 399 00:13:51,513 --> 00:13:53,083 Ananda was foremost in learning 400 00:13:53,234 --> 00:13:56,402 But Culapanthaka used one broom to show everyone 401 00:13:56,434 --> 00:13:58,763 There is more than one road to awakening 402 00:13:59,434 --> 00:14:00,743 Geniuses follow the path of geniuses 403 00:14:00,994 --> 00:14:02,483 Simple people follow the path of simple people 404 00:14:02,594 --> 00:14:03,103 But in the end 405 00:14:03,474 --> 00:14:05,369 The summit is the same summit 406 00:14:05,639 --> 00:14:07,908 What does this story mean for you and me 407 00:14:08,399 --> 00:14:11,609 Most of us are neither geniuses like Sariputra 408 00:14:11,680 --> 00:14:13,928 Nor simpletons like Culapanthaka 409 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:15,048 We are in the middle 410 00:14:15,680 --> 00:14:18,448 And the middle is precisely the hardest place 411 00:14:18,879 --> 00:14:21,329 You are smart enough to understand many things 412 00:14:21,519 --> 00:14:23,849 But not smart enough to break straight through 413 00:14:24,159 --> 00:14:26,489 You are simple enough to pause sometimes 414 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,489 But not simple enough to remain there 415 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:31,158 You have a great many tools 416 00:14:31,159 --> 00:14:33,996 But use each one with only a third of your strength 417 00:14:34,227 --> 00:14:37,356 Culapanthakas story does not urge you to become less intelligent 418 00:14:37,587 --> 00:14:39,236 It reminds you of one thing 419 00:14:39,508 --> 00:14:41,506 Among the hundred tools in your hands 420 00:14:41,508 --> 00:14:43,437 Choosing just one may be enough 421 00:14:43,628 --> 00:14:45,346 Then use it as he used his broom 422 00:14:45,347 --> 00:14:48,157 Until it penetrates you completely 423 00:14:48,548 --> 00:14:51,356 Whether that tool is meditation or Buddha recitation 424 00:14:51,388 --> 00:14:54,187 Writing running or sweeping 425 00:14:54,187 --> 00:14:55,157 Does not matter 426 00:14:55,347 --> 00:14:56,856 What matters is that once you choose 427 00:14:57,187 --> 00:14:58,356 You stop switching 428 00:14:58,467 --> 00:15:00,277 Not because this tool is the best 429 00:15:00,307 --> 00:15:02,596 But because when you follow it all the way 430 00:15:02,748 --> 00:15:05,892 Any tool can become a broom 431 00:15:06,243 --> 00:15:06,593 Finally 432 00:15:06,804 --> 00:15:08,292 Let me share a question of my own 433 00:15:08,763 --> 00:15:10,603 Culapanthakas story appears 434 00:15:10,603 --> 00:15:13,093 To be an inspiring tale of an underdog triumph 435 00:15:13,444 --> 00:15:15,012 But I keep wondering about one question 436 00:15:15,603 --> 00:15:17,612 He failed to learn anything for twenty four years 437 00:15:17,763 --> 00:15:19,652 Then attained realization through a broom 438 00:15:19,843 --> 00:15:22,652 Was it because that broom suited him perfectly 439 00:15:22,763 --> 00:15:25,372 Or because twenty four years of failure 440 00:15:25,444 --> 00:15:26,593 Were themselves part of his practice 441 00:15:27,284 --> 00:15:29,853 Perhaps on the day sweeping led him to awakening 442 00:15:30,044 --> 00:15:33,612 All the tears ridicule and defeat of those twenty four years 443 00:15:33,723 --> 00:15:36,282 Became the force that carried him through the final step 444 00:15:36,593 --> 00:15:37,872 If that is true 445 00:15:37,873 --> 00:15:39,672 Then the years you thought you wasted 446 00:15:39,672 --> 00:15:40,992 The roads you thought were wrong 447 00:15:40,993 --> 00:15:42,912 The days you thought brought no progress 448 00:15:42,912 --> 00:15:44,802 May not have been wasted at all 449 00:15:45,192 --> 00:15:47,002 The seed was always in the soil 450 00:15:47,312 --> 00:15:49,247 It simply had not sprouted yet 451 00:15:50,123 --> 00:15:51,425 Do you know anyone like this 452 00:15:51,953 --> 00:15:53,095 Someone who does not seem very clever 453 00:15:53,384 --> 00:15:54,427 Who works slowly 454 00:15:54,538 --> 00:15:55,639 But whose mind is deeply still 455 00:15:55,929 --> 00:15:56,872 And who sees life with remarkable clarity 456 00:15:57,400 --> 00:15:58,243 If you do 457 00:15:58,275 --> 00:16:00,252 What do you think gives them that clarity 458 00:16:00,979 --> 00:16:01,644 I am Leo Wang 459 00:16:02,013 --> 00:16:02,811 See you next time