PATIPADA – CONCLUSIONS
This book of practice will probably seem difficult to most people, but it was also difficult for those whose stories are related here. They had to put up with many hardships, both in doing the practice and afterwards. For this is the kind of work, which once done is never likely to be forgotten, for the reason that it comes truly from the heart of each one who does it, and it involves a complete commitment of every bit of strength and power that one has got, in every way without any concern for whether one will survive or die while doing the work. One’s only concern and intention is to achieve the results that one aims for and therefore there is nothing else which can come in and overrule this concern for Dhamma while one is doing it. There is just this one aim, to attain the results which one hopes for and which one has set one’s mind on, and that’s all. Therefore there is nothing else that can overpower and take control away from this “hope in Dhamma”. When the results come they are appropriate to the causes that have brought them about. In other words they are most satisfying and give no cause for complaint. This is true, regardless of who does it, for whoever is able to get down to it and put the full strength of body and mind down into it until they reach the causes, reach the results, and truly reach the point of life and death will gain these results, and all who have done so have been able to say with one voice that “It’s really worth it!” However, we should keep in mind that all the difficulties that have been faced by those who have done this, still do not compare with the hardships and the striving of the Great Teacher (Sasada — the Buddha).
For at most, we may say that they practised in the manner of a pupil who followed his Teacher. In particular I, who have written this book, have got nothing in the way of causes or results which I should put down on paper and display in public, which you who read might admire. So I just ask that you should read the stories of those Acariyas and associates who also practised the way which I have written about, for these stories are enough to show up their good characteristic tendencies. Therefore I implore all of you who read this to both read it and practise it until you get results which are fully satisfying to your hearts. For this would be a fulfilment of my intention and purpose in writing it, which has been to bring value and happiness to everybody.
If anybody out of faith should wish to reprint this book for free distribution as a gift of Dhamma (Dhamma–dana), they may do so provided these conditions are complied with. In which case there is no need to ask permission to do so. But printing this book for sale is not permitted and to do so is an infringement of copyright. This accords with what I have done with other books that I have written, because my aim has been to bring what is of value to the world with purity of heart without becoming involved in worldly entanglements. So I ask you to be considerate and to conform to this request.
May blessings come to all you who read and listen to it, and to all those who practise accordingly.
