Ajahn Chah Quotes
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If you want to understand suffering you must look into the situation at hand. The teachings say that wherever a problem arises it must be settled right there. Where suffering lies is right where non-suffering will arise, it ceases at the place where it arises. If suffering arises you must contemplate right there, you don't have to run away. You should settle the issue right there. One who runs away from suffering out of fear is the most foolish person of all. He will simply increases his stupidity endlessly.
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Proper effort is not the effort to make something particular happen. It is the effort to be aware and awake each moment, the effort to overcome laziness and merit, the effort to make each activity of our day meditation.
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If you let go completely you will have complete peace.
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If you see certainty in that which is uncertain, you are bound to suffer
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Time is our present breath.
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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.
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Practicing meditation is just like breathing. While working we breathe, while sleeping we breathe, while sitting down we breathe... Why do we have time to breathe? Because we see the importance of the breath, we can always find time to breathe. In the same way, if we see the importance of meditation practice we will find the time to practice.
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The heart is the only book worth reading.
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The heart is just the heart; thoughts and feelings are just thoughts and feelings. Let things be just as they are.
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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 too 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.
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If it isn't good, let it die. If it doesn't die, make it good.
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The Dharma Path is to keep walking forward. But the true Dharma has no going forward, no going backward, and no standing still.
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You should think about your own death 3 times per day at the very least.
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If you haven't cried deeply a number of times, your meditation hasn't really begun.
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When sitting in meditation, say, "That's not my business!" with every thought that comes by.
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These days people don't search for the Truth. People study simply in order to find knowledge necessary to make a living, raise families and look after themselves, that's all. To them, being smart is more important than being wise!
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We protect virtue so that virtue will protect us.
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When one does not understand death, life can be very confusing.
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If you are still following your likes and dislikes, you have not even begun to practise Dhamma.
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Happiness and suffering do not depend on being poor or rich, they depend on having the right or wrong understanding in our mind.
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The heart of the path is quite easy. There's no need to explain anything at length. Let go of love and hate and let things be. That's all that I do in my own practice.
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If you listen to the Dhamma teachings but don't practice you're like a ladle in a soup pot. The ladle is in the soup pot every day, but it doesn't know the taste of the soup. You must reflect and meditate.
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The Dhamma has to sink deeply into the mind so that whatever we do, the mind has always goodness within it. All the ways of making merit are aiming at this. Goodness lies in the right view that is established in the mind. Then we don't have to celebrate it or let anybody know about it, simply let the mind have firm confidence in the goodness and keep going like this.
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Remember you dont meditate to get anything, but to get rid of things. We do it, not with desire, but with letting go. If you want anything, you wont find it.