About This Teaching
During his third rains retreat at Samnak Vipassana Chuan Puang Put in Lopburi, Ajahn Dtun felt his heart imbued with mettā for all beings. Before the rains ended his younger brother visited, bringing books from their father, who worried his son would lack understanding of Dhamma. Ajahn Dtun felt instead that his practice had given him some understanding he wished to offer his father in return, and gives this among his reasons for writing a record he had once resolved never to write.
He reflects that knowledge from books never reaches completion, even if one read every book in the world; without delving into one's own body and mind there is no end to it. Study can serve as a guideline and can inspire faith and good perspectives, but it can also become a vain display of defilement. One must know how to read and not hold tightly to what is read, since the Buddha taught not to rely merely on texts but to reflect by cause and effect. He hopes the writing may help his father, family and younger brother.