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There are those who come to see Sayadaw and talk of supernatural powers from Pâli verses and Parittas. After listening to what they have to say, Sayadaw usually replies, "Satipatthana mindfulness is much greater than reciting Pâli verses or Parittas. Try meditating!" He elucidates in ways such as, "There were indeed instances of people miraculously protected against danger and enemies through reciting Parittas in the time of the Buddha, as well as today. The Buddha, however, did not teach the Dhamma with the intention of protecting people against such external harm. Neither was it to give people mere success in their career, fame or fortune. Those types of benefits are hardly worth mentioning. As far as enemies are concerned, the internal ones are much more dangerous than the external ones. External dangers torment one for only a single lifetime; the internal foes can torment one for not only one, but many lifetimes. Thus, internal dangers are more dangerous. It is more important to be free of the more dangerous dangers. That's why we must do the work of Satipatthana meditation, which can give us protection from the inner dangers, the kilesâs (defilements)."
In the words of Sayadaw U Vimala, famous as the Mogok Sayadaw, "the gristle and tendons are not as good as meat", meaning recitation of the Dhamma is not as good as practicing it. The Mogok Sayadaw could really speak so that common people could understand. Another of his sayings goes, "For diseases which can only be cured by taking medicine orally, ointments and salves are useless. They just relieve it." He was really good at coming up with easy-to-remember phrases.
Thus, the Sayadaws say, "If you want to recite Pâli verses and Paritta, fine, recite. But don't be contented to just stop at that little bit of wholesome action, with those sundry benefits. Those are hardly worth mentioning. Being satisfied with that, thinking one has got the essence, is like going into the woods with intention of getting the pith of a tree trunk and bringing back only some branches and twigs, thinking one is has got the heartwood. Only if you experience the essence of the Sâsana will meeting the Buddha's teachings have been worthwhile. If you are satisfied with just some branches and twigs, it won't have been worth your while.
There is a saying of the Buddha which the Shwe Taung Gon Sâsana Yeiktha Sayadaw has explicated. It is one which states that those who read and recite are not yet truly ones who 'live in the Dhamma'. Thus, to be 'one who lives in the Dhamma', it is not enough to read and recite. One must gain practical experience.
There is another saying of the Buddha that goes,
Don't be satisfied just with the practice of sîla (morality).
Don't be satisfied with an intellectual understanding of the Buddha-Dhamma.
Don't be satisfied with mere concentration.
Don't be satisfied with peacefulness.
Don't be satisfied [even] with the happiness of Anâgami-Phâla (the fruition of the Non-Returner).
How great is this saying? Don't stop along the path before you have reached
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