Eight Quotes from the Book ‘No Ajahn Chah’ on Meditation and Happiness

 

• “If your mind is happy, then you are happy anywhere you go. When wisdom awakens within you, you will see Truth wherever you look. Truth is all there is. It’s like when you’ve learned how to read – you can then read anywhere you go.”

• “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?”

• “An ’empty’ heart doesn’t mean it’s empty as if there was nothing in it. It’s empty of evil, but it’s full of wisdom.”

• “Where does rain come from? It comes from all the dirty water that evaporates from the earth, like urine and the water you throw out after washing your feet. Isn’t it wonderful how the sky can take that dirty water and change it into pure, clean water? Your mind can do the same with your defilements if you let it.”

• “A good practice is to ask yourself very sincerely, ‘Why was I born?’ Ask yourself this question in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night…every day.”

• “Strengthening the mind is not done by making it move around as is done to strengthen the body, but by bringing the mind to a halt, bringing it to rest.”

• It was Christmas and the foreign monks had decided to celebrate it… The laypeople were generally upset and skeptical… Ajahn Chah then gave a talk on religion in which he said, “As far as I understand, Christianity teaches people to do good and avoid evil, just as Buddhism does, so what is the problem? … Anything that inspires us to see what is true and do what is good is proper practice. You may call it any name you like.”

• “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.”

– Ajahn Chah (1918 – 1992)