Question:  When you believe that there is no self who can do anything, does

this not lead to fatalism?

Answer: When understanding develops you see more and more the value of

knowing things as they are. You gain more confidence in the teachings and

this conditions a sense of urgency to continue to develop understanding of all

realities. There will be less inclination for laziness or for fatalism.

Question:  Realities may not appear as they are in this life. Thus, one’s

confidence must be quite strong in order to continue to develop

understanding. One must be convinced that one is on the right Path.

Answer: We don't have to wait for realities to appear as they are; there can

still be confidence. There is confidence with each wholesome moment of

consciousness, for example, when we help someone else or when we study

the teachings and consider them. We can verify that confidence is a

wholesome reality. We should not immediately expect to know realities as

they are, but we can have confidence while we develop different kinds of

wholesomeness together with right understanding. We can verify that

absolute realities are not concepts. Realities such as seeing, feeling or

attachment have their own characteristics and their own functions. Their

characteristics cannot be changed; they are true for everyone. Seeing is

always seeing for everyone; we do not have to name it or label it in order to

experience it. When we have more understanding of what realities are, we

will be less deluded by concepts of people or self. We still cling to realities

and concepts, but we know that right understanding will lead to a lessening

of clinging