I am like a tree in the forest. Birds come to the tree, they sit on its branches, and eat its fruits. To the birds, the fruits may be sweet or sour or whatever. But the tree doesn't know anything about it. The birds say sweet, or they say sour, but from the tree's point of view, this is just the chattering of birds.Some ordained Westerners think it was not right that Buddhist monks and nunsshould just sit in the forest while other religious organizations were so actively participating in alleviating the plight of the refugees. So they approached Ajahn Chah to express their concern, and the latter said:
Helping in refugee camps is good. It is indeed our natural human duty to each other. But going through our own madness, so that we can lead others through, that's the only cure. Anyone can go out and distribute clothes and pitch tents, but how many can come into the forest and sit to know their minds? As long as we don't know how to "clothe" and "feed" people's minds, there will always be a refugee problem somewhere in the world.Virtue
Virtue is the basis for a harmonious world in which people can live truly as humans and not as animals. Developing virtue is at the heart of our practice. Keep the precepts. Cultivate compassion and respect for all life. Be mindful in your actions and speech. Use virtue to make your life simple and pure. With virtue as a basis for everything you do, your mind will become kind, clear, and quiet. Meditation will grow easily in this environment.
Virtue and morality are the mother and father of the Dhamma growing within us. They provide us with the proper nourishment and guidance.
Two Levels of Practice
There are two levels of practice. The first level forms the foundation, which is the development of virtue, the precepts, in order to bring happiness and harmony among people. The second level is the practice of Dhamma with the sole goal of liberating the heart. This liberation is the source of wisdom and compassion, and is the true reason for the Buddha's teaching. Understanding these two levels is the basis of true practice.Meditation
Meditation is your breath, your present breath.
Have a steady awareness within yourself.
Steady practice is keeping mindful in every posture. When coming out of sitting, don't think that you are coming out of meditation, but that you are only changing postures. If you reflect this way, you will have peace. Wherever you are, you will have this attitude of practice with you constantly. You will have a steady awareness within yourself.Wisdom
Even when the worst kinds of defilement come up, such as greed and anger, with clear insight and enough wisdom, you'll see their impermanent nature, and allow them to just fade away. If you react to them, however, by liking or disliking, that isn't wisdom. You are only creating more suffering for yourself.
A lot of thinking without wisdom is extreme suffering.
Just watch yourself...If you watch others 10% of the time, and watch yourself 90% of the time, your practice is ok.
You are your own teacher. Looking for teachers can't solve your own doubts. Investigate yourself to find the truth, inside, not outside. Knowing yourself is most important.Happiness and Suffering
In truth, happiness is suffering in disguise. They are inseparable. The Buddha taught us to see suffering as the inherent harm in happiness, and to see them as equal. So be careful! When happiness arises, don't be overjoyed, or get carried away. When suffering comes, don't despair, don't lose yourself in it. See that they have the same equal value.Liberation
Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering.
If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you will have complete peace.
If we go beyond appearances and see the truth, we will see that there isn't anything there, but the universal characteristics --birth in the beginning, change in the middle, and cessation in the end. This is all there is. If we see that all things are like this, then no problem arises. If we understand this, we have contentment and peace.Time
Time is your present breath.Birth and Death
Our birth and death are just one thing. If there were no birth, there would be no death.
Death is as close as our breath.
We must die in order to live.An Invitation
All that I have said up to now has merely been words. When people come to see me, I have to say something. But it is best not to speak about these matters so much. Better to begin practice without delay. I am like a good friend inviting you to go somewhere. Do not hesitate, just get going. You won't regret it.Source:
No Ajahn Chan (Compiled and edited by Dhamma Garden, printed for free distribution by The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation. Taiwan,1994)
