การเรียนรู้ในยุคดิจิทัล : หน้า 38/163

resolved that he ought to be called a wastrel, if he didn't continue to try his utmost. His almround completed, he finished his daily duties before going to the main shrine hall to meditate. He resolved that if he didn’t hear the midday drum which signalled lunchtime, he wouldn’t break off from his meditation. Not only this, he resolved not to waver in this practice of sitting meditation, whatever suffering might disturb his single-mindedness. He resolved not to swerve from his purpose until he recognised some portion of the real Truth taught by the Buddha. He fully realised that taking such a vow might cost him his life, but acknowledged that he could not continue to be considered a worthy monk unless he could fulfil this act. It was about eight in the morning when he started to meditate with the mantra ‘Samma-arahaṁ’. The intense pain in his legs made him feel that the time passed extraordinary slowly. The pain increased in his body so much that he felt as if every bone was going to tear apart. The pain increased his agitation until suddenly he realised: “I have never felt such pain before. Why, now that I have sworn not to change my position in meditation, is the pain so much more intense than ever before? My mind has never been as agitated as this. How much longer must I endure this suffering before I hear the sound of the eleven o’clock drum?” The more he thought, the more agitated he became. He nearly gave up many times — but because of the strength of his fighting-spirit after making such a resolution, he felt it was essential to carry on to the end, even if it cost