The means to get the Dhamma really understood, get craving, suffering, defilements, understood, see the first Noble truth rightly, is to steady associate with Dhamma, eg. dukkha. If not building up a firm border, fence, at first place, so that one does not steady “escape” wrongly from dukkha, there is no change to get it seen rightly. This face for purificasion is Sila, virtue, right conduct.
As long as building fake fences out of merely philosophical ideas, there is no way to come and stay in proper association, no way to develop Saddha and by it the path.
Venerable Bhante,
I fully understand your point, based on sīla → samādhi → paññā. I would like to share from my own experience.
From childhood, I was encouraged to keep sīla. I tried my best to protect the pañca-sīla, even keeping a journal to track myself. But without knowing the true Dhamma, it was very difficult — often it felt like just forcing myself.
Now, as I gradually realise the nature of anicca, dukkha, anatta, I find that sīla and samādhi arise naturally. I no longer have to force them. For example, I cannot imagine killing, stealing, or lying — not because I am holding external rules, but because before I even act, my citta itself shows me the ādīnava. With wise attention I stop. If I slip due to assāda, guilt immediately arises, which again reminds me of the truth.
So I feel: when true understanding is present, one does not need to cling to sīla and samādhi by force — they happen on their own.
As you beautifully said: “At first, beginners protect sīla with effort (fence). But when one sees anicca clearly, greed, hatred, and delusion weaken — and sīla begins to hold on its own.”
This is what I am beginning to see in my own life.
With gratitude for your guidance.
Theruwan Saranayi. 🙏