Page 40 - Because I know, I can let go

or cling to, something as being female, or purisaññā, as being male: just listen to a sound,
or look at a picture which is shadowy, or indistinct, and there will be this regarding of it as
being something or other, even a touch on the skin which goes unnoticed by the physical
eyes will involve this form of perception.

First there’s remembering, or recognition, which isn’t a danger, but when there’s the
regarding of something as being this or that there’ll be dukkha too.

The perception of ‘self’ is attasaññā, the perception of something being a possession is
attaniyasaññā: regarding this as being ‘me,’ is attasaññā, regarding a house, for instance,
as being ‘mine’ is attaniyasaññā, following which there’s dukkha. The regarding of ‘me’
as being like this or like that, and of something as being a possession, of being ‘mine,’ this

represents the deeper level of saññā.

The four kinds of saññā are:
1) Regarding something as being a loss,

2)regarding something as breaking even,
3)regarding something as being a gain.

These three are the province of someone who has the ‘me’ and ‘mine’ delusion. The

ignorant are caught up in feelings of losing, breaking even, and of gaining. They have
this ignorance throughout their lives and never know the fourth kind of saññā, that is,
nippetikapākiyasaññā, the perception of breaking through, of penetration. These words
‘breaking through’ refer to the breaking up of ignorance. So, get to know ‘loss’ as one form

of madness, ‘breaking even’ as another, and ‘gain’ as yet another.

One caught up in the craziness of getting, losing, or breaking even, most especially those
living in the towns where they do their business, will only be sensitive to those three

concepts, will see life in those ways. Even those of us who live in a temple should beware
because the feelings of losing, of breaking even, or of making gains will still be in evidence.
As with the making of merit, we’ll want to gain, get something back for our generosity.
Donate one baht and we’ll want a castle in the air, or whatever, depending on what we

consider to be a good gain.

40 Because I Know...