The Only Middle Way

to be permanently
liberated
from all stress, misunderstanding
and unsatisfactoriness(dukkha)

As Taught By
Tsunami Sayadaw U Ottamasara
Thanlyin Pagoda Hill Natural Meditation Centre
Yangon, Myanmar(Burma).

Arranged By SoeWinHtut

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We are always relying the power of something or
someone (either internal or external), focusing on
formations or created truth, all of which have a
limited existence in time and space. What we do
not understand, however, is that the power of all
formations is limited, and what is limited is not free.
That’s why our actions are not free and our knowing
is not free, because in acting and knowing, we rely on the power of our
body and mind, which in itself is limited and subject to change.
-Meditation does not consist of changing labels or names, nor does it
consist of changing our body and mind, but is rather just the changing
of the power behind our actions.
-Instead of using the limited power obtained from relying on formations,
we can learn to act with limitless power by overcoming our attachment
to formaitions. Uptil now, we have always believed/misunderstood that
something or someone has always been controlling the actions of our
body and mind – this is ignorance. With this practise, we learn how to
replace ignorance with wisdom. When we succeed with this practice,
wisdom, and not ignorance, will control our body and mind.
- This is called “changing the controller.” To change controllers, it is
not necessary to change our actions or to change our mind. That’s
why, in this practise, our body is not so important and our mind is not
so important. In human society, body and mind are considered
important, but human society is far from perfect. In fact, nothing is
perfect, so long as we continue to focus on only our body and mind.
-That’s why this practise is different – who we are is not important,
what we are doing is not important,1 where we live is not important.
To change the power behind our actions is what is important.

1
Of course, this does not give us the right to harm others by breaking the five
precepts, which are the essential foundation for human society. By changing our
perspective, however, we can develop wisdom and eliminate the defilements
that cause us to break the precepts in the first place.

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-By paying attention to the original truth, we must need to believe that
something or someone is not real , but only the ever-new impermanent
energies. This is the law of impermanence (anicca), the first of the
three characteristics, as taught by the Buddha.
-We should try to understand this ever-new(ever-changing)
impermanent nature is real, .... but not something or someone’s
impermanence ....because something or someone is unreal in original/
ultimate reality but .....just the created/relative truth.
Because of unknowing the Original truth, only ever-new impermanent
nature(dukkha sacca), the misunderstanding of something or someone’s
impermanence(samudaya sacca) appear.
Buddha said in original reality, something such as pain, pleasure, soul,
self, entity etc; someone such as I, you, individual, being etc; existing
for a certain time we can perceive, is unreal but .......just the created
truth.
In Dhatukatha, the “Discourse on Elements/Energies,” Buddha
said” The Elements/Energies Are Void of Beings” . The elements/
energies do not possess the characteristic functions of living beings.
They arise and cease within an exceedingly short period of time. In the
wink of an eye or a flash of lightning, which lasts for a microsecond
(10-6 second), the mental elements arise and cease a trillion (1012) times.
(1,000,000,000,000 times). This is just an estimate. The subcommentary
takes the higher figure of 1015. Thus the mental elements/energies arise
and cease 1015 x 106 = 1021 times per second. Their extremely short
duration is also mentioned in the Anguttara Nikaya.
As regards the material elements, since they endure for 17 thought-
moments. they arise and cease 1021/17
(app= 58,823,530,000,000,000,000) times per second.
But because the functions of the elements give rise to the concepts of
continuity, collection and form the ideas arise of (1) the initial effort
that has to be exerted when a deed is about to be performed and (2) the
care that has to be taken while the deed is being performed to its
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completion. And this leads to the subsequent ideas (3) “I can perform”
and (4) “I can feel”, Thus these 4 imaginary characteristic functions of
being have brought about a deep-rooted belief in their existence. But
the elements have not the time or span of duration to carry out such
functions. (From Dhatukatha, PTS)
In original reality, there is nothing but only ever-new impermanent
mental & physical energies in flux in very high speed which is beyond
of our six sense doors’ perceptions (eye,ear,nose,tongue,body & mind).
So, being unable to know that there is nothing but just ever-new
impermanent energies in flux in very high rate as above mentioned,
we are being deceived something such as feeling, thought, pain,
pleasue, rising, falling -etc; as real, ....someone such as I, you, an
individual -etc; as real, ....someone’s impermanence as real,
....something’s impermanance as real.
By not-forgetting on only this original truth, ever-new impermanent
nature (dukkha sacca) as much time as you can, we will be able to
accept only the ever-new impermanent nature as real sooner or
later, and the impermanence of something such as feeling, sensation,
rising, falling, pain or pleasure -etc; as unreal and impermanence of
someone such as I, you, an individual, a being -etc; as unreal.
In original truth, something, someone, sometime, somewhere -etc; is
unreal so how can we say that the impermanence of something,
someone, sometime, somewhere-etc, that we can perceive, is real?
But they & their impermanences seem to be real ..................because
of the misunderstanding of the original truth, ever-new impermanent
nature(dukkha sacca).
Meanwhile, you can also pay attention to something such as feeling,
sensation, rising, falling, pain or pleasure -etc; as unreal ......and
someone such as I, you, an individual, a being -etc; as unreal.....
but
only the nature of misunderstanding/assuming that
something or someone is existing for a certain period as real,
is real.

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 -Original Truth has limitless
power. The more we can
accept/understand this truth,
the more we will be able to
detach to our mind and body
such as rising, falling,
sensation, feeling, pain and
pleasure -etc; automatically.
- We can remember or believe this original truth anytime, any where
or any posture, any health condition.
In this way, we can practise freely, without obsessing about what to
do, how to do it, how long to do it, or where to do it. Still, we cannot
the goal of practice without making an effort, but this effort must be
without ‘I’, without relying on anyone or anything.
We also need to accept that Even this Right Effort, however,
is only the impermanent flux of ever-changing energies.
- We can avoid attachment by just paying attention to this ever-
changing impermanent nature. Even paying attention is also
impermanent, so how can we say that someone is paying attention?
Nobody is practising; there is just practising.
To know this truth is to know only impermanent nature.
“Not the Impermanence of something or someone.”
Just meditate and cease to think that we are doing something.
- By accepting this truth, we can free ourselves from the prison of
wrong-view, the belief ...... in a ‘something’, ‘an entity’, ‘a soul’, ‘a
thought’, ’a feeling’, ‘a sensation’, ‘pain’, ‘pleasure’, ‘rising’, ‘falling’,
‘inhaling’, ‘exhalation’, ‘someone’, ’an individual’, ‘I’, ‘me’, ‘my way’ and
‘mine’ as real or existence for a certain time such as one second,
one minute, one hour, one year or one hundred year -etc.
We can still do what we must do for our body. We can still use our
body in its own way, so long as we accept or are mindful of only the
original truth of ever-new impermanence (dukkha sacca) .....or .......
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only misunderstanding about someone or something as
real(samudaya sacca) – then we will not accept the body as something
or someone, but ......only the ever-changing flux of impermanent
energies in very high rate which is beyond of our perceptions
(eye,ear,nose,tongue,body & mind).
- When we practice meditation, how can there be a practitioner?
Meditation is just meditation. Just meditate. Don’t think of something
or someone or time or place as real.
-The purpose of this practise is to remove the belief in something or
someone as real. The original reality is just misunderstanding about
something or someone as real .......... because of being unable to
understand only the Ever-new Impermanent Nature which is happening
in very high rate repeatedly & endlessly.
-When we accept any occurrence in this way, we are able to stop to
the mental habit of always being busy with something and everything,
someone and everyone, time and place. If we don’t put a stop to it, it
will never end.
-If we accept that there is something, then there must be a something
that created it, and a something that created that, ad infinitum.
If we accept seconds, minutes, hours, etc as a reality, then there there
must be infinite time before our present action and infinte time
following it.
That is why we should abandon the idea of anything or anyone, time
or place as real; rather, we should just accept only the impermanent
nature of misunderstandings about something, someone, sometime,
somewhere as real.
Sooner or later, in this way, you can also understand that .....the
impermanence of something or someone or sometime is unreal...
but .....
Only Misunderstanding that the impermanence of something or
someone or sometime as real, is Real.

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That in itself will destroy attachment or grief of impermanence of
someone or something or sometime or somewhere. Then we can use
our mind and body freely, without grasping or misunderstanding.
At the beginning, although you should meditate closing your eyes, later,
you can open or close your eyes but you must need to understand
opening or closing your eyes is not important and only remembering
the original truth is important.
You can do something, can concentrate on breathing or abdomen
according to your previous meditative habits ..... but you must need to
understand whatever you wants to do or concentrate because of your
previous habits, is not fully important, .......but ......Only remembering
or being mindful of -
1) the truth of Ever-New Impermanent nature (dukkha sacca) or
2) the truth of the nature of Misunderstanding of something,
someone, sometime, somewhere, as real(samudaya sacca), is fully
important.
- Once we start thinking in terms of body such as rising, falling,
sensation, pain, pleasure and mind as real, it will never end. Once we
start thinking about ourselves and our life, it will never end.
To stop this endless work, we must realize or not forget -
only the original truth of impermanence (dukkha sacca) or
only original truth of misunderstanding (samudaya sacca) that
someone, something such as 'a pain', 'a pleasure', 'a feeling', 'a
sensation', 'thoughts', 'rising', 'falling', 'breathing in', 'breathing out',
'occurrences in our six sense organs' -etc; as real or
existence for a certain period.
This truth will give us unlimited power. It will free us from attaching to
the something or someone that limits our power.
-Do not think that this is a special method. Doing is just doing only.
Practice is just practice only, it is not someone’s practising. Body is
just body. Mind is just mind. Wisdom is just wisdom only. No one owns
our doing, our body and mind, and no one owns wisdom. Unlike body

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and mind, however, orginal wisdom (real enlightenment) is permanent.
It is forever.
-The body and mind are not forever, they are impermanent. What we
are doing is not important, it is impermanent or unreal. What happens
to our mind and body is not important, it is impermanent or unreal.
The body may be hot or cold, experiencing pain or pleasure. The mind
may be also calm or agitated, experience pain or pleasure.
This is the created habitual nature of body and mind. Let the created
nature of mind and body be as they are. Don’t disturb their nature
because whatever you can understand about body & mind such as
good or bad, likeable or unlikeable -etc; is unreal and incomplete.
- To practice properly, we must use body and mind as they are; however,
they are not to be grasped or to be thought of as something real.
- The subject I am explaining is not about existence of
something or someone, time or place and
not about impermanence of
something or someone, time or place.
It only conerns only the ever-new impermanent nature or only the
impermanent nature of misunderstanding of all formations/ all
phenomena(sankhara) as real.
-Because of this practice, original wisdom will arise, which knows
only the real impermanent nature (neither someone’s
impermanence nor something’s impermance).
To continuously develop and cultivate this wisdom will lead to the
perfection of wisdom, which knows the permanent nature of Nibbâna.
This is truth, which is permanent, unlimited and transcendent.

(This Dhamma notes is based on the Guided Insight Meditation talk of

Tsunami Sayadaw U Ottamasara & was written by the Bhikkhu Moneyya,
American monk and it is edited & amended by SoeWinHtut.)
------------------------------------

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 Four Noble Original Truths
ST
1 Truth-Dukkha sacca = Ever new Impermanent Nature. (NOT something’s
impermanence) (Truth of unsatisfactoriness).
2ND Truth-Samudaya sacca = Misunderstanding of something, someone,
sometime as reality. (Truth of Origin of unsatisfactoriness).
3RD Truth-Nirodha sacca = Permanent Nature. (Truth of Cessation of Im-
permanent nature or unsatisfactoriness).
4TH Truth-Magga sacca = Right concentration, Right mindfulness, Right ef-
forts, Right understanding, & Right thinking or remberance or reflection
upon Only First or Second Original Truth. (Truth of the Only Middle Way
Leading to the Permanent Nature)

Tsunami Sayadaw U Ottamasara’s Explanation

- Doing something or changing the action of our body and mind is not
real meditation yet. The aim of meditation is to find out or discover
the original wisdom which is hidden behind the actions of our body
and mind.
By successfully practising this method, original wisdom with
limitless power will be behind all our actions
and it will protect and guide us.
- This practice is quite opposite with our tradition. It is ..changing the
power behind our action. That is why ....who we are or,what we are
doing or where we are is not important.For human society, body and
mind is important but human society is not perfect, ....no body is perfect,
nothing is perfect because we are focusing on our limited body and
mind only. All our actions and knowings are not free and have limits.
-Just try to believe and not to forget the only truth all the time which
is not something, not someone , just ever-new impermanent nature or
energy only.By believing that truth more and more, we are paying
attention to our mind and body less and less.
-Our body and mind is just to use only. This practice is also to practise
only. Just practise freely in anytime, any place and, any situation. Don’t
think about what to do, how to do, how long to do. Just try only without
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I, not to forget the truth of ever new impermanent nature which is not
something, not someone.This trying without the force of someone or
something is also ever new impermanent nature only.
-Don’t think about something or someone or time or place.
Just pay attention to
the ever new impermanent nature only.
This action is also just impermanent nature only.
-This action is not something. Nobody is practising but just practising
only. Knowing about that truth is also just knowing only which is not
something, not someone just impermanent nature. Just meditate only.
Stop the idea of doing something.
- Be free by accepting the truth which is just ever-new impermanent
energies only ,but which is not something, not someone.
- We can do what we must do for our body. We can use our body in its
style ...but try not to forget the truth which is not something, not
someone, just ever new impermanent energies only.
- That practising must be without ’I’ , without something. Meditation
is just meditation only. Just meditate. Don’t think of something or
someone or time or place.
- This practise intends to solve misunderstanding of something or
someone as real.
Believe in... not something, not someone...
but just ever new impermanent nature.
In this way, we are stopping our traditional mind’s work.
- Our mind is always busy with something and everything, .....someone
and everyone,.....time and place. It will never end.
- If we accept something, there will be a lot of endless something
behind each one. If we accept the time,... second, minute,hour..etc,
there will also be endless time behind each second. That’s why ,to
stop our traditional mind habit, it is essential to believe the original
truth which is not something, not someone, not the time, not the place,
...but just ever new impermanent nature only,
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- This practise will stop attachment to something or someone. Because
of this practise, the ability which can use our mind and body freely,
without grasping, or without misunderstanding as something will
appear.
- If we think about life, it will never end. To stop our endless work,
believe the truth which is just ever-new impermanent nature only, ...but
not something, not someone.
- Our believing must be without I,... without someone, ...without
something. It must be free practising ,practising only, doing only.
- Doing by someone is using the limited power. Doing only is using
limitless power.
Meditation is trying to go beyond all limits.
Just accept ever new impermanent nature only, it will stop
thinking or paying attention to something or someone.
- Middle way is just way only, not this or not that way . Practising is
just practising only nobody is practising. Wisdom is also not something,
not someone, it is permanent original wisdom. Because of right
practising, connection between our mind and original wisdom will
appear. No one owns that original wisdom.
- Our body and mind is just temporary only, not forever, that is why,
not to forget the impermanent nature is important. What we are doing
is not important.
- What happens to our mind and body is also not important. Our body
will be hot or cold, pain or release. Our body and mind is working its
own nature. Don’t disturb its nature.
-Just believe ever new impermanent nature only ...but not something ,
...not someone. If we pay attention to our body and mind, we can
understand only about our body and mind.This body and mind is just to
use only. Not to grasp. Not to occupy. Not to think as real.
The subject I am explaining is about not something, ...not
someone,...not the time, ...not the place ...but just ever new
impermanent nature only. Because of this practise, wisdom which

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 is not something, will appear, which knows about impermanent
nature.
- Continuous wisdom for a few minute will lead to perfect original
wisdom which knows about permanent nature.
Note: What we are doing or what is happening to our body
and mind is not important, not to forget the truth which is not
something, not someone just ever new impernament nature is
important.

Four Noble Original Truths

Impermanent Nature Permanent Nature

1)dukkha sacca
3)Nirodha sacca
2)samudaya sacca
4)Magga sacca

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