Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu speaks further about atammayatā so that we can understand it more clearly, more fully. He begins with a metaphor of oxygen, something we know well, and explains how atammayatā is the same as oxygen – we can’t live without it. We gain knowledge of atammayatā through practice of ānāpānasati, and will see that everything is just māyā (illusion). He explains the three fundamental functions of atammayatā: it will protect us against the arising of positive and negative, and if positive and negative should arise, there can be immunity against them so they don’t have any power over the mind, and then third, it can destroy the meaning and value of that positive and negative. In conclusion he encourages us to be successful in atammayatā and fulfill the potential and meaning of being a human being.

This Dhamma teaching was offered by Tan Ajahn on 6th February 1989.
Live English translation by Santikaro Bhikkhu; 72 minutes

Atammayatā series

8902 – [1 of 5] Atammayatā

8902 – [2 of 5] Understanding Atammayatā through Metaphors

8902 – [3 of 5] New Life

8902 – [4 of 5] The Path for Realizing New Life

8902 – [5 of 5] The Path That Leads to Atammayatā