“Only wisdom can lead us to perform wholesome, virtuous actions.
It begins by listening to the Truth, the Dhamma*, throughout the days, nights, months, and years, of every lifetime. Each reality is merely a distinct element, or dhamma, there is absolutely no 'self;' dhammas arise, then fall away in quick succession, never to return. This realization cannot be reached by thinking with a sense of ‘self’, but only through
the understanding gained by listening and reflecting on the Dhamma that was heard. Ultimately, ‘we’ can know only, by ourselves, whether we understand that there are only dhammas; there is no one, no ‘self’ at all.”

*Dhamma, capital D, indicates the teachings of the Buddha as explained in the Tipiṭaka, the Buddhist scriptures, whereas dhamma, small d, means the various realities of citta, cetasika and rūpa that comprise all reality.