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BuddhaNet Magazine: Questions and Answers with Ajahn Chah

Questions&AnswerswithAjahnChah

Question:I'mtryingveryhardinmypracticebutdon'tseemtobegettinganywhere. Answer:Thisisveryimportant.Don'ttrytogetanywhereinthepractice.Theverydesiretobe freeortobeenlightenedwillbethedesirethatpreventsyourfreedom.Youcantryashardasyou wish,practiseardentlynightandday,butifitisstillwiththedesiretoachieveinmind,youwill neverfindpeace.Theenergyfromthisdesirewillbeacausefordoubtandrestlessness.No matterhowlongorhowhardyoupractise,wisdomwillnotarisefromdesire.So,simplyletgo. Watchthemindandbodymindfullybutdon'ttrytoachieveanything.Don'tclingeventothe practiceofenlightenment. Question:Whataboutsleep?HowmuchshouldIsleep? Answer:Don'taskme,Ican'ttellyou.Agoodaverageforsomeisfourhoursanight.Whatis important,though,isthatyouwatchandknowyourself.Ifyoutrytogowithtoolittlesleep,the bodywillfeeluncomfortableandmindfulnesswillbedifficulttosustain.Toomuchsleepleadstoa dullorarestlessmind.Findthenaturalbalanceforyourself.Carefullywatchthemindandbody andkeeptrackofsleepneedsuntilyoufindtheoptimum.Ifyouwakeupandthenrolloverfora snooze,thisisdefilement.Establishmindfulnessassoonasyoureyesopen. Q:Howabouteating?HowmuchshouldIeat? Answer:Lookatyourfoodasmedicine.Areyoueatingsomuchthatyouonlyfeelsleepyafter themealandareyougettingfattereveryday?Stop!Examineyourownbodyandmind.Thereis noneedtofast.Instead,experimentwiththeamountoffoodyoutake.Findthenaturalbalance foryourbody.Putallyourfoodtogetherinyourbowlfollowingtheasceticpractice.Thenyoucan easilyjudgetheamountyoutake.Watchyourselfcarefullyasyoueat.Knowyourself.The essenceofourpracticeisjustthis.Thereisnothingspecialyoumustdo.Onlywatch.Examine yourself.Watchthemind.Thenyouwillknowwhatisthenaturalbalanceforyourownpractice. Q:AremindsofAsiansandWesternersdifferent?

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BuddhaNet Magazine: Questions and Answers with Ajahn Chah

Answer:Basicallythereisnodifference.Outercustomsandlanguagemayappeardifferent,but thehumanmindhasnaturalcharacteristicswhicharethesameforallpeople.Greedandhatred arethesameinanEasternoraWesternmind.Sufferingandthecessationofsufferingarethe sameforallpeople. Q:Isitadvisabletoreadalotorstudythescripturesasapartofpractice? Answer:TheDhammaoftheBuddhaisnotfoundinbooks.Ifyouwanttoreallyseeforyourself whattheBuddhawastalkingabout,youdon'tneedtobotherwithbooks.Watchyourownmind. Examinetoseehowfeelingscomeandgo,howthoughtscomeandgo.don'tbeattachedto anything.Justbemindfulofwhateverthereistosee.ThisisthewaytothetruthsoftheBuddha. Benatural.Everythingyoudoinyourlifehereisachancetopractise.ItisallDhamma.When youdoyourchores,trytobemindful.Ifyouareemptyingaspittoonorcleaningatoilet,don'tfeel youaredoingitasafavourforanyoneelse.ThereisDhammainemptyingspittoons.Don'tfeel youarepractisingonlywhensittingstill,crosslegged.Someofyouhavecomplainedthatthereis notenoughtimetomeditate.Isthereenoughtimetobreathe?Thisisyourmeditation: mindfulness,naturalnessinwhateveryoudo. Q:Whydon'twehavedailyinterviewswiththeteacher? Answer:Ifyouhaveanyquestions,youarewelcometocomeandaskthemanytime.Butwe don'tneeddailyinterviewshere.IfIansweryoureverylittlequestion,youwillneverunderstand theprocessofdoubtinyourownmind.Itisessentialthatyoulearntoexamineyourself,to interviewyourself.Listencarefullytothelectureeveryfewdays,thenusethisteachingto comparewithyourownpractice.Isitstillthesame?Isitdifferent?Whydoyouhavedoubts? Whoisitthatdoubts?Onlythroughselfexaminationcanyouunderstand. Q:SometimesIworryaboutthemonks'discipline.IfIkillinsectsaccidentally,isthisbad? Answer:Silaordisciplineandmoralityareessentialtoourpractice,butyoumustnotclingtothe rulesblindly.Inkillinganimalsorinbreakingotherrules,theimportantthingisintention.Know yourownmind.Youshouldnotbeexcessivelyconcernedaboutthemonks'discipline.Ifitisused properly,itsupportsthepractice,butsomemonksaresoworriedaboutthepettyrulesthatthey can'tsleepwell.Disciplineisnottobecarriedasaburden.Inourpracticeherethefoundationis discipline,gooddisciplineplustheasceticrulesandpractices.Beingmindfulandcarefulofeven themanysupportingrulesaswellasthebasic227preceptshasgreatbenefit.Itmakeslifevery simple.Thereneedbenowonderingabouthowtoact,soyoucanavoidthinkingandinsteadjust besimplymindful.Thedisciplineenablesustolivetogetherharmoniouslythecommunityruns smoothly.Outwardlyeveryonelooksandactsthesame.Disciplineandmoralityarethestepping stonesforfurtherconcentrationandwisdom.Byproperuseofthemonks'disciplineandthe asceticprecepts,weareforcedtolivesimply,tolimitourpossessions.Soherewehavethe completepracticeoftheBuddha:refrainfromevilanddogood,livesimplykeepingtobasic needs,purifythemind.Thatis,bewatchfulofourmindandbodyinallpostures:sitting,standing, walkingorlying,knowyourself. Q:WhatcanIdoaboutdoubts?SomedaysI'mplaguedwithdoubtsaboutthepracticeor myownprogress,ortheteacher. Answer:Doubtingisnatural.Everyonestartsoutwithdoubts.Youcanlearnagreatdealfrom them.Whatisimportantisthatyoudon'tidentifywithyourdoubts:thatis,don'tgetcaughtupin them.Thiswillspinyourmindinendlesscircles.Instead,watchthewholeprocessofdoubting,of wondering.Seewhoitisthatdoubts.Seehowdoubtscomeandgo.Thenyouwillnolongerbe victimizedbyyourdoubts.Youwillstepoutsideofthemandyourmindwillbequiet.Youcansee howallthingscomeandgo.Justletgoofwhatyouareattachedto.Letgoofyourdoubtsand simplywatch.Thisishowtoenddoubting.

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BuddhaNet Magazine: Questions and Answers with Ajahn Chah

Q:Whataboutothermethodsofpractice?Thesedaysthereseemtobesomanyteachers andsomanydifferentsystemsofmeditationthatitisconfusing. Answer:Itislikegoingintotown.Onecanapproachfromthenorth,fromthesoutheast,from manyroads.Oftenthesesystemsjustdifferoutwardly.Whetheryouwalkonewayoranother, fastorslow,ifyouaremindful,itisallthesame.Thereisoneessentialpointthatallgood practicemusteventuallycometonotclinging.Intheend,allmeditationsystemsmustbeletgo of.Neithercanoneclingtotheteacher.Ifasystemleadstorelinquishment,tonotclinging,then itiscorrectpractice.Youmaywishtotravel,tovisitotherteachersandtryothersystems.Some ofyouhavealreadydoneso.Thisisanaturaldesire.Youwillfindoutthatathousandquestions askedandknowledgeofmanysystemswillnotbringyoutothetruth.Eventuallyyouwillget bored.Youwillseethatonlybystoppingandexaminingyourownmindcanyoufindourwhatthe Buddhatalkedabout.Noneedtogosearchingoutsideyourself.Eventuallyyoumustreturnto faceyourowntruenature.HereiswhereyoucanunderstandtheDhamma. Q:Alotoftimesitseemsthatmanymonksherearenotpractising.Theylooksloppyor unmindful.Thisdisturbsme. Answer:Itisnotpropertowatchotherpeople.Thiswillnothelpyourpractice.Ifyouare annoyed,watchtheannoyanceinyourownmind.Ifothers'disciplineisbadortheyarenotgood monks,thisisnotforyoutojudge.Youwillnotdiscoverwisdomwatchingothers.Monks' disciplineisatooltouseforyourownmeditation.Itisnotaweapontousetocriticizeorfind fault.Noonecandoyourpracticeforyou,norcanyoudopracticeforanyoneelse.Justbe mindfulofyourowndoings.Thisisthewaytopractice. Q:Ihavebeenextremelycarefultopractisesenserestraint.Ialwayskeepmyeyeslowered andammindfulofeverylittleactionIdo.Wheneating,forexample,Itakealongtimeand trytoseeeachtouch:chewing,tasting,swallowing,etc.Itakeeachstepverydeliberately andcarefully.AmIpractisingproperly? Answer:Senserestraintisproperpractice.Weshouldbemindfulofitthroughouttheday.But don'toverdoit!Walkandeatandactnaturally.Andthendevelopnaturalmindfulnessofwhatis goingonwithinyourself.Don'tforceyourmeditationnorforceyourselfintoawkwardpatterns.This isanotherformofcraving.Bepatient.Patienceandendurancearenecessary.Ifyouactnaturally andaremindful,wisdomwillcomenaturallytoo. Q:Isitnecessarytositforverylongstretches? Answer:No,sittingforhoursonendisnotnecessary.Somepeoplethinkthatthelongeryoucan sit,thewiseryoumustbe.Ihaveseenchickenssitontheirnestsfordaysonend!Wisdom comesfrombeingmindfulinallpostures.Yourpracticeshouldbeginasyouawakeninthe morning.Itshouldcontinueuntilyoufallasleep.Don'tbeconcernedabouthowlongyoucansit. Whatisimportantisonlythatyoukeepwatchfulwhetheryouareworkingorsittingorgoingtothe bathroom.Eachpersonhashisownnaturalpace.Someofyouwilldieatagefifty,someatage sixtyfive,andsomeatageninety.So,too,yourpracticewillnotbeallidentical.Don'tthinkor worryaboutthis.Trytobemindfulandletthingstaketheirnaturalcourse.Thenyourmindwill becomequieterandquieterinanysurroundings.Itwillbecomestilllikeaclearforestpool.Then allkindsofwonderfulandrareanimalswillcometodrinkatthepool.Youwillseeclearlythe natureofallthings(sankharas)intheworld.Youwillseemanywonderfulandstrangethingscome andgo.Butyouwillbestill.Problemswillariseandyouwillseethroughthemimmediately.This isthehappinessoftheBuddha. Q:Istillhaveverymanythoughts.MymindwandersaloteventhoughIamtryingtobe mindful.

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BuddhaNet Magazine: Questions and Answers with Ajahn Chah

Answer:Don'tworryaboutthis.Trytokeepyourmindinthepresent.Whateverthereisthat arisesinthemind,justwatchit.Letgoofit.Don'tevenwishtoberidofthoughts.Thenthemind willreachitsnaturalstate.Nodiscriminatingbetweengoodandbad,hotandcold,fastandslow. Nomeandnoyou,noselfatall.Justwhatthereis.Whenyouwalkonalmsround,noneedtodo anythingspecial.Simplywalkandseewhatthereis.Noneedtoclingtoisolationorseclusion. Whereveryouare,knowyourselfbybeingnaturalandwatching.Ifdoubtsarise,watchthemcome andgo.It'sverysimple.Holdontonothing.Itisasthoughyouarewalkingdownaroad. Periodicallyyouwillrunintoobstacles.Whenyoumeetdefilements,justseethemandjust overcomethembylettinggoofthem.don'tthinkabouttheobstaclesyouhavepassedalready. Don'tworryaboutthoseyouhavenotyetseen.Sticktothepresent.Don'tbeconcernedaboutthe lengthoftheroadoraboutthedestination.Everythingischanging.Whateveryoupass,donot clingtoit.Eventuallythemindwillreachitsnaturalbalancewherepracticeisautomatic.Allthings willcomeandgoofthemselves. Q:HaveyoueverlookedattheAltarSutraofthe6thPatriarch,HuiNeng? Answer:HuiNeng'swisdomisverykeen.Itisveryprofoundteaching,noteasyforbeginnersto understand.Butifyoupractisewithourdisciplineandwithpatience,ifyoupractisenotclinging, youwilleventuallyunderstand.OnceIhadadisciplewhostayedinagrassroofedhut.Itrained oftenthatrainyseasonandonedayastrongwindblewoffhalftheroof.Hedidnotbothertofixit, justletitrainin.SeveraldayspassedandIaskedhimabouthishut.Hesaidhewaspractising notclinging.Thisisnotclingingwithoutwisdom.Itisaboutthesameastheequanimityofawater buffalo.Ifyouliveagoodlifeandlivesimply,ifyouarepatientandunselfish,youwillunderstand thewisdomofHuiNeng. Q:Youhavesaidthatsamathaandvipassanaorconcentrationandinsightarethesame. Couldyouexplainthisfurther? Answer:Itisquitesimple.Concentration(samatha)andwisdom(vipassana)worktogether.First themindbecomesstillbyholdingontoameditationobject.Itisquietonlywhileyouaresitting withyoureyesclosed.Thisissamathaandeventuallythissamadhibaseisthecauseforwisdom orvipassanatoarise.Thenthemindisstillwhetheryousitwithyoureyesclosedorwalkaround inabusycity.It'slikethis.Onceyouwereachild.Nowyouareanadult.Arethechildandthe adultthesameperson?Youcansaythattheyare,orlookingatitanotherway,youcansaythat theyaredifferent.Inthiswaysamathaandvipassanacouldalsobelookedatasseparate.Oritis likefoodandfeces.Foodandfecescouldbecalledthesameandtheycanbecalleddifferent. Don'tjustbelievewhatIsay,doyourpracticeandseeforyourself.Nothingspecialisneeded.If youexaminehowconcentrationandwisdomarise,youwillknowthetruthforyourself.These daysmanypeopleclingtothewords.Theycalltheirpracticevipassana.Samathaislookeddown on.Ortheycalltheirpracticesamatha.Itisessentialtodosamathabeforevipassana,theysay. Allthisissilly.Don'tbothertothinkaboutitinthisway.Simplydothepracticeandyou'llseefor yourself. Q:Isitnecessarytobeabletoenterabsorptioninourpractice? Answer:No,absorptionisnotnecessary.Youmustestablishamodicumoftranquillityandone pointednessofmind.Thenyouusethistoexamineyourself.Nothingspecialisneeded.If absorptioncomesinyourpractice,thisisOKtoo.Justdon'tholdontoit.Somepeoplegethung upwithabsorption.Itcanbegreatfuntoplaywith.Youmustknowproperlimits.Ifyouarewise, thenyouwillknowtheusesandlimitationsofabsorption,justasyouknowthelimitationsof childrenversesgrownmen. Q:Whydowefollowtheasceticrulessuchasonlyeatingoutofourbowls? Answer:Theasceticpreceptsaretohelpuscutdefilement.Byfollowingtheonessuchaseating

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outofourbowlswecanbemoremindfulofourfoodasmedicine.Ifwehavenodefilements,then itdoesnotmatterhowweeat.Buthereweusetheformtomakeourpracticesimple.TheBuddha didnotmaketheasceticpreceptsnecessaryforallmonks,butheallowedthemforthosewho wishedtopractisestrictly.Theyaddtoouroutwarddisciplineandtherebyhelpincreaseour mentalresolveandstrength.Theserulesaretobekeptforyourself.Don'twatchhowothers practise.Watchyourownmindandseewhatisbeneficialforyou.Therulethatwemusttake whatevermeditationcottageassignedtousisasimilarlyhelpfuldiscipline.Itkeepsmonksfrom beingattachedtotheirdwellingplace.Iftheygoawayandreturn,theymusttakeanewdwelling. Thisisourpracticenottoclingtoanything. Q:Ifputtingeverythingtogetherinourbowlsisimportant,whydon'tyouasateacherdoit yourself?Don'tyoufeelitisimportantfortheteachertosetanexample? Answer:Yes,itistrue,ateachershouldsetanexampleforhisdisciples.Idon'tmindthatyou criticizeme.Askwhateveryouwish.Butitisimportantthatyoudonotclingtotheteacher.IfI wereabsolutelyperfectinoutwardform,itwouldbeterrible.Youwouldallbetooattachedtome. EventheBuddhawouldsometimestellhisdisciplestodoonethingandthendoanotherhimself. Yourdoubtsinyourteachercanhelpyou.Youshouldwatchyourownreactions.Doyouthinkitis possiblethatIkeepsomefoodoutofmybowlindishestofeedthelaymenwhoworkaroundthe temple?Wisdomisforyourselftowatchanddevelop.Takefromtheteacherwhatisgood.Be awareofyourownpractice.IfIamrestingwhileyoumustallsitup,doesthismakeyouangry?If Icallthecolorblueredorsaythatmaleisfemale,don'tfollowmeblindly.Oneofmyteachersate veryfast.Hemadenoisesasheate.Yethetoldustoeatslowlyandmindfully.Iusedtowatch himandgetveryupset.Isuffered,buthedidn't!Iwatchedtheoutside.LaterIlearned.Some peopledriveveryfastbutcarefully.Othersdriveslowlyandhavemanyaccidents.Don'tclingto rules,toouterform.Ifyouwatchothersatmosttenpercentofthetimeandwatchyourselfninety percent,thisistheproperpractice.AtfirstIusedtowatchmyteacherAjahnTongRahtandhad manydoubts.Peopleeventhoughthewasmad.Hewoulddostrangethingsorgetveryfierce withhisdisciples.Outsidehewasangry,butinsidetherewasnothing.Nobodythere.Hewas remarkable.Hestayedclearandmindfuluntilthemomenthedied.Lookingoutsidetheselfis comparing,discriminating.Youwillnotfindhappinessthatway.Norwillyoufindpeaceifyou spendyourtimelookingfortheperfectmanortheperfectteacher.TheBuddhataughtustolook attheDhamma,thetruth,nottolookatotherpeople. Q:Howcanweovercomelustinourpractice?SometimesIfeelasifIamaslavetomy sexualdesire. Answer:Lustshouldbebalancedbycontemplationofloathesomeness.Attachmenttobodily formisoneextremeandoneshouldkeepinmindtheopposite.Examinethebodyasacorpse andseetheprocessofdecayorthinkofthepartsofthebodysuchasthelungs,spleen,fat, feces,andsoforth.Remembertheseandvisualizethisloathesomeaspectofthebodywhenlust arises.Thiswillfreeyoufromlust. Q:Howaboutanger?WhatshouldIdowhenIfeelangerarising? Answer:Youmustuselovingkindness.Whenangrystatesofmindariseinmeditation,balance thembydevelopingfeelingsoflovingkindness.Ifsomeonedoessomethingbadorgetsangry, don'tgetangryyourself.Ifyoudo,youarebeingmoreignorantthanthey.Bewise.Keepinmind compassion,forthatpersonissuffering.Fillyourmindwithlovingkindnessasifhewereadear brother.Concentrateonthefeelingoflovingkindnessasameditationsubject.Spreadittoall beingsintheworld.Onlythroughlovingkindnessishatredovercome.Sometimesyoumaysee othermonksbehavingbadly.Youmaygetannoyed.Thisissufferingunnecessarily.Itisnotyet ourDhamma.Youmaythinklikethis:"HeisnotasstrictasIam.Theyarenotserious meditatorslikeus.Thosemonksarenotgoodmonks."Thisisagreatdefilementonyourpart. Donotmakecomparisons.Donotdiscriminate.Letgoofyouropinionaswatchyouropinionsand

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watchyourself.ThisisourDhamma.Youcan'tpossiblymakeeveryoneactasyouwishorbelike you.Thiswishwillonlymakeyousuffer.Itisacommonmistakeformeditatorstomake,but watchingotherpeoplewon'tdevelopwisdom.Simplyexamineyourself,yourfeelings.Thisishow youwillunderstand. Q:Ifeelsleepyagreatdeal.Itmakesithardtomeditate. Answer:Therearemanywaystoovercomesleepiness.Ifyouaresittinginthedark,movetoa lightedplace.Openyoureyes.Getupandwashyourfaceortakeabath.Ifyouaresleepy, changepostures.Walkalot.Walkbackwards.Thefearofrunningintothingswillkeepyou awake.Ifthisfails,standstill,clearthemindandimagineitisfulldaylight.Orsitontheedgeofa highcliffordeepwell.Youwon'tdaresleep!Ifnothingworks,thenjustgotosleep.Laydown carefullyandtrytobeawareuntilthemomentyoufallasleep.Thenasyouawaken,getrightup. Don'tlookattheclockorrollover.Startmindfulnessfromthemomentyouawaken.Ifyoufind yourselfsleepyeveryday,trytoeatless.Examineyourself.Assoonasfivemorespoonfulswill makeyoufull,stop.Thentakewateruntiljustproperlyfull.Goandsit.Watchyoursleepinessand hunger.Youmustlearntobalanceyoureating.Asyourpracticegoesonyouwillfeelnaturally moreenergeticandeatless.Butyoumustadjustyourself. Q:Whymustwedosomuchprostratinghere? Answer:Prostratingisveryimportant.Itisanoutwardformthatispartofpractice.Thisform shouldbedonecorrectly.Bringtheforeheadallthewaytothefloor.Havetheelbowsnearthe kneesandthepalmsofthehandsontheflooraboutthreeinchesapart.Prostrateslowly,be mindfulofyourbody.Itisagoodremedyforourconceit.Weshouldprostrateoften.Whenyou prostratethreetimesyoucankeepinmindthequalitiesoftheBuddha,theDhammaandthe Sangha,thatis,thequalitiesofmindofpurity,radianceandpeace.Soweusetheoutwardform totrainourselves.Bodyandmindbecomeharmonious.don'tmakethemistakeofwatchinghow othersprostrate.Ifyoungnovicesaresloppyortheagedmonksappearunmindful,thisisnotfor youtojudge.Peoplecanbedifficulttotrain.Somelearnfastbutotherslearnslowly.Judging otherswillonlyincreaseyourpride.Watchyourselfinstead.Prostrateoften,getridofyourpride. ThosewhohavereallybecomeharmoniouswiththeDhammagetfarbeyondtheoutwardform. Everythingtheydoisawayofprostrating.Walking,theyprostrateeating,theyprostrate defecating,theyprostrate.Thisisbecausetheyhavegotbeyondselfishness. Q:Whatisthebiggestproblemofyournewdisciples? Answer:Opinions.viewsandideasaboutallthings.Aboutthemselves,aboutpractice,aboutthe teachingsoftheBuddha.Manyofthosewhocomeherehaveahighrankinthecommunity.There arewealthymerchantsorcollegegraduates,teachersandgovernmentofficials.Theirmindsare filledwithopinionsaboutthings.Theyaretooclevertolistentoothers.Itislikewaterinacup.If acupisfilledwithdirty,stalewater,itisuseless.Onlyaftertheoldwateristhrownoutcanthe cupbecomeuseful.Youmustemptyyourmindsofopinions,thenyouwillsee.Ourpracticegoes beyondclevernessandbeyondstupidity.Ifyouthink"Iamclever,Iamwealthy,Iamimportant,I understandallaboutBuddhism."Youcoverupthetruthofanattaornoself.Allyouwillseeis self,I,mine.ButBuddhismislettinggoofself.Voidness,Emptiness,Nibbana. Q:Aredefilementssuchasgreedorangermerelyillusoryoraretheyreal? Answer:Theyareboth.Thedefilementswecalllustorgreed,orangerordelusion,thesearejust outwardnames,appearances.Justaswecallabowllarge,small,pretty,orwhatever.Thisisnot reality.Itistheconceptwecreatefromcraving.Ifwewantabigbowl,wecallthisonesmall. Cravingcausesustodiscriminate.Thetruth,though,ismerelywhatis.Lookatitthisway.Are youaman?Youcansay'yes'.Thisistheappearanceofthings.Butreallyyouareonlya combinationofelementsoragroupofchangingaggregates.Ifthemindisfree,itdoesnot

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discriminate.Nobigandsmall,noyouandme.Thereisnothing:Anatta,wesay,ornonself. Really,intheendthereisneitherattanoranatta. Q:Couldyouexplainalittlemoreaboutkarma? Answer:Karmaisaction.Karmaisclinging.Body,speech,andmindallmakekarmawhenwe cling.Wemakehabits.Thesecanmakeussufferinthefuture.Thisisthefruitofourclinging,of ourpastdefilement.Allattachmentleadstomakingkarma.Supposeyouwereathiefbeforeyou becameamonk.Youstole,madeothersunhappy,madeyourparentsunhappy.Nowyouarea monk,butwhenyourememberhowyoumadeothersunhappy,youfeelbadandsufferyourself eventoday.Remember,notonlybody,butspeechandmentalactioncanmakeconditionsfor futureresults.Ifyoudidsomeactofkindnessinthepastandrememberittoday,youwillbe happy.Thishappystateofmindistheresultofpastkarma.Allthingsareconditionedbycause bothlongtermand,whenexamined,momenttomoment.Butyouneednotbothertothinkabout past,orpresent,orfuture.Merelywatchthebodyandmind.Youmustfigurekarmaoutfor yourself.Watchyourmind.Practiseandyouwillseeclearly.Makesure,however,thatyouleave thekarmaofotherstothem.Don'tclingtoanddon'twatchothers.IfItakeapoison,Isuffer.No needforyoutoshareitwithme!Takewhatisgoodthatyourteacheroffers.Thenyoucan becomepeaceful,yourmindwillbecomelikethatofyourteacher.Ifyouwillexamineit,youwill see.Evenifnowyoudon'tunderstand,whenyoupractise,itwillbecomeclear.Youwillknowby yourself.ThisiscalledpractisingtheDhamma.Whenwewereyoung,ourparentsusedto disciplineusandgetangry.Reallytheywantedtohelpus.Youmustseeitoverthelongterm. Parentsandteacherscriticizeusandwegetupset.Lateronweseewhy.Afterlongpractiseyou willknow.Thosewhoaretoocleverleaveafterashorttime.Theyneverlearn.Youmustgetridof yourcleverness.Ifyouthinkyourselfbetterthanothers,youwillonlysuffer.Whatapity.Noneed togetupset.Justwatch. Q:SometimesitseemsthatsincebecomingamonkIhaveincreasedmyhardshipsand suffering. Answer:Iknowthatsomeofyouhavehadabackgroundofmaterialcomfortandoutward freedom.Bycomparison,nowyouliveanaustereexistence.Theninthepractice,Ioftenmake yousitandwaitforlonghours.Foodandclimatearedifferentfromyourhome.Buteveryonemust gothroughsomeofthis.Thisisthesufferingthatleadstotheendofsuffering.Thisishowyou learn.Whenyougetangryandfeelsorryforyourself,itisagreatopportunitytounderstandthe mind.TheBuddhacalleddefilementsourteachers.Allmydisciplesarelikemychildren.Ihave onlylovingkindnessandtheirwelfareinmind.IfIappeartomakeyousuffer,itisforyourown good.Iknowsomeofyouarewelleducatedandveryknowledgeable.Peoplewithlittleeducation andworldlyknowledgecanpractiseeasily.ButitisasifyouWesternershaveaverylargehouse toclean.Whenyouhavecleanedthehouse,youwillhaveabiglivingspace.Youcanusethe kitchen,thelibrary,thelivingroom.Youmustbepatient.Patienceandenduranceareessentialto ourpractice.WhenIwasayoungmonkIdidnothaveitashardasyou.Iknewthelanguageand waseatingmynativefood.Evenso,somedaysIdespaired.Iwantedtodisrobeorevencommit suicide.Thiskindofsufferingcomesfromwrongviews.Whenyouhaveseenthetruth,though, youarefreefromviewsandopinions.Everythingbecomespeaceful. Q:Ihavebeendevelopingverypeacefulstatesofmindfrommeditation.WhatshouldIdo now? Answer:Thisisgood.Makethemindpeaceful,concentrated.Usethisconcentrationtoexamine themindandbody.Whenthemindisnotpeaceful,youshouldalsowatch.Thenyouwillknow truepeace.Why?Becauseyouwillseeimpermanence.Evenpeacemustbeseenas impermanent.Ifyouareattachedtopeacefulstatesofmindyouwillsufferwhenyoudonothave them.Giveupeverything,evenpeace.

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BuddhaNet Magazine: Questions and Answers with Ajahn Chah

Q:DidIhearyousaythatyouareafraidofverydiligentdisciples? Answer:Yes,that'sright.Iamafraid.Iamafraidthattheyaretooserious.Theytrytoohard,but withoutwisdom.Theypushthemselvesintounnecessarysuffering.Someofyouaredetermined tobecomeenlightened.Yougrityourteethandstruggleallthetime.Thisistryingtoohard. Peopleareallthesame.Theydon'tknowthenatureofthings (sankhara).Allformations,mindand body,areimpermanent.Simplywatchanddon'tcling.Othersthinktheyknow.Theycriticize,they watch,theyjudge.That'sOK.Leavetheiropinionstothe.Thisdiscriminationisdangerous.Itis likearoadwithaverysharpcurve.Ifwethinkothersareworseorbetterorthesameasus,we gooffthecurve.Ifwediscriminate,wewillonlysuffer. Q:Ihavebeenmeditatingmanyyearsnow.Mymindisopenandpeacefulinalmostall circumstances.NowIwouldliketotrytobacktrackandpractisehighstatesof concentrationormindabsorption. Answer:Thisisfine.Itisbeneficialmentalexercise.Ifyouhavewisdom,youwillnotgethungup onconcentratedstatesofmind.Itisthesameaswantingtositforlongperiods.Thisisfinefor training,butreally,practiceisseparatefromanyposture.Itisamatterofdirectlylookingatthe mind.Thisiswisdom.Whenyouhaveexaminedandunderstoodthemind,thenyouhavethe wisdomtoknowthelimitationsofconcentration,orofbooks.Ifyouhavepractisedand understandnotclinging,youcanthenreturntothebooks.Theywillbelikeasweetdessert.They canhelpyoutoteachothers.Oryoucangobacktopractiseabsorption.Youhavethewisdomto knownottoholdontoanything. Q:Wouldyoureviewsomeofthemainpointsofourdiscussion? Answer:Youmustexamineyourself.Knowwhoyouare.Knowyourbodyandmindbysimply watching.Insitting,insleeping,ineating,knowyourlimits.Usewisdom.Thepractiseisnottotry toachieveanything.Justbemindfulofwhatis.Ourwholemeditationislookingdirectlyatthe mind.Youwillseesuffering,itscauseanditsend.Butyoumusthavepatiencemuchpatience andendurance.Graduallyyouwilllearn.TheBuddhataughthisdisciplestostaywiththeir teachersforatleastfiveyears.Youmustlearnthevaluesofgiving,ofpatienceandofdevotion. Don'tpractisetoostrictly.Don'tgetcaughtupwithoutwardform.Watchingothersisbadpractice. Simplybenaturalandwatchthat.Ourmonks'disciplineandmonasticrulesareveryimportant. Theycreateasimpleandharmoniousenvironment.Usethemwell.Butremember,theessenceof themonks'disciplineiswatchingintention,examiningthemind.Youmusthavewisdom.don't discriminate.Wouldyougetupsetatasmalltreeintheforestfornotbeingtallandstraightlike someoftheothers?Thisissilly.Don'tjudgeotherpeople.Thereareallvarieties.Noneedto carrytheburdenofwishingtochangethemall.So,bepatient.Practicemorality.Livesimplyand benatural.Watchthemind.Thisisourpractice.Itwillleadyoutounselfishness.Topeace. WatPahPong,UbonRajathanaProvince, N.E.ThailandCOPYRIGHT1982byTheSangha, BungWaiForestMonastery Allcommercialrightsreserved. Anyreproduction,inwholeorpart,inanyform,forsale,profitormaterialgain,isprohibited. However,permissiontoreprintforfreedistributionmaybeobtaineduponnotification TheAbbot,WatPahNanachat,AmpherWarin,UbonRajathani, Thailand PRINTEDFORFREEDISTRIBUTIONthroughthegenerosityofthe devotedBuddhistsofThailand.

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BuddhaNet Magazine: Questions and Answers with Ajahn Chah

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