Ajahn Chah Quotes:

Ajahn Chah was a Buddhist monk, and meditation teacher from N.E. Thailand.

Ajahn Chah Quotes Page 2

27:
"When we see beyond self, we no longer cling to happiness. And when we stop clinging, we can begin to be happy." ~ Ajahn Chah

28:
"Meditation is like a single log of wood. Insight and investigation are one end of the log; calm and concentration are the other end. If you lift up the whole log, both sides come up at once. Which is concentration and which is insight? Just this mind." ~ Ajahn Chah

29:
"When we sit in meditation and hear a sound, we think, Oh, that sound's bothering me. If we see it like this, we will suffer. But if we investigate a little deeper, we see that the sound is simply sound.

If we understand it like this, then there's nothing more to it. We leave it be. The sound is just sound, why should you go and grab it? You will see that actually it was you who went out and disturbed the sound." ~ Ajahn Chah

30:
"If you haven't wept deeply, you haven't begun to meditate." ~ Ajahn Chah

31:
"Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is meditation practice. If you do think this way, then quickly change your thinking. Steady practice is keeping mindful in every posture, whether sitting, walking, standing or lying down.

When coming out of sitting, don't think that you're coming out of meditation, but that you are only changing postures. If you reflect in 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." ~ Ajahn Chah

32:
"When sitting in meditation, say, "That's not my business!" with every thought that comes by." ~ Ajahn Chah

33:
"You say that you are too busy to meditate. Do you have time to breathe? Meditation is your breath. Why do you have time to breathe but not to meditate? Breathing is something vital to people’s lives. If you see that Dhamma practice is vital to your life, then you will feel that breathing and practicing the Dhamma are equally important." ~ Ajahn Chah

34:
“Mindfulness is life. Whenever we don’t have mindfulness, when we are heedless, it’s as if we are dead.” ~ Ajahn Chah

35:
"Of course there are dozens of meditation techniques, but it all comes down to this - just let it all be. Step over here where it is cool, out of the battle. Why not give it a try?" ~ Ajahn Chah

36:
"Try to be mindful, and let things take their natural course. Then your mind will become still in any surroundings, like a clear forest pool. All kinds of wonderful, rare animals will come to drink at the pool, and you will clearly see the nature of all things.

You will see many strange and wonderful things come and go, but you will be still. This is the happiness of the Buddha." ~ Ajahn Chah

37:
"Remember you don’t meditate to get anything, but to get rid of things. We do it, not with desire, but with letting go. If you desire anything, you won’t find it." ~ Ajahn Chah

38:
“Even though some of you may experience some peace when you sit in meditation, don’t be in a hurry to congratulate yourselves. Likewise, if there is some confusion, don’t blame yourselves.

If things seem to be good, don’t delight in them, and if they’re not good don’t be averse to them. Just look at it all, look at what you have. Just look, don’t bother judging. If it’s good, don’t hold fast to it. If it’s bad, don’t cling to it. Good and bad can both bite, so don’t hold fast to them.” ~ Ajahn Chah

39:
"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." ~ Ajahn Chah

40:
"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." ~ Ajahn Chah

41:
"Do everything with a mind that lets go. Don’t accept praise or gain or anything else. Letting go a little brings a little peace. Letting go a lot brings a lot of peace. Letting go completely brings complete peace." ~ Ajahn Chah

42:
"Mental activity is like a deadly venomous cobra. If we don't interfere with a cobra, how venomous it may be, it simply goes its own away." ~ Ajahn Chah

43:
"Once you understand non-self, then the burden of life is gone. You'll be at peace with the world. When we see beyond self, we no longer cling to happiness and we can truly be happy. Learn to let go without struggle, simply let go, to be just as you are. No holding on, no attachment, free." ~ Ajahn Chah

44:
"With even a little intuitive wisdom we will be able to see clearly the ways of the world. We will come to understand that everything in the world is our teacher." ~ Ajahn Chah

45:
"Don’t be attached to visions or lights in meditation, don’t rise or fall with them. What’s so great about brightness? My flashlight has it. It can’t help us rid ourselves of our suffering." ~ Ajahn Chah

46:
"Do not be in a hurry or try to push your practice. If you become peaceful, then accept it. If you don’t become peaceful, then accept that also. This is the nature of the mind. We must find our own practice and persevere." ~ Ajahn Chah

47:
"Dharma is in your mind, not in the forest. Don't believe others, just listen to your mind. You don't have to go anywhere else. Wisdom is in yourself, just like a sweet ripe mango is already in a young green one." ~ Ajahn Chah

48:
“These days people don't search for the Truth. People study simply in order to find knowledge necessary to make a living, raise their families and look after themselves, that's all. To them, being smart is more important than being wise!” ~ Ajahn Chah

49:
“You are your own teacher. Looking for teachers can’t solve your own doubts. Investigate yourself to find the truth inside of yourself, not outside. Knowing yourself is most important.” ~ Ajahn Chah

Ajahn Chah quotes 27-49 Page Two.
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Ajahn Chah Quotes:

Ajahn Chah was a Buddhist monk, and meditation teacher from N.E. Thailand.

Ajahn Chah Quotes Page 2

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