The Dharma Path is to keep walking forward. But the true Dharma has no going forward, no going backward, and no standing still.
AJAHN CHAH
AJAHN CHAH
Ajahn Chah on backward
Ajahn Chah164 quotes“The Dharma Path is to keep walking forward. But the true Dharma has no going forward, no going backward, and no standing still.”
More from Ajahn Chah
Holding on to anger as a personal possession will cause suffering. If anger really belonged to us, it would have to obey us. If it doesn’t obey us, that means it’s only a deception.
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah 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.
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah 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?
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah To know existence as this flow, empty of lasting pleasure, void of self, is to find that which is stable and free of suffering, to find true peace in the world.
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah The master held up a glass and said: Someone gave me this glass; It holds my water admirably and it glistens in the sunlight.
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah When we sit in meditation and hear a sound, we think, ‘Oh, that sound’s bothering me.’ If we see it like this, we suffer. But if we investigate a little deeper,
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah Time is our present breath.
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah When the heart truly understands, it lets go of everything.
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah When we conquer ourselves, then everything will be conquered: oneself, others, and all the sense objects as well, coming in by way of the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and body — it will all get conquered like this.
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah Wherever we start to think that things are certain, uncertainty is lurking right there. Heedlessness is just holding things as certain. It is grasping at certainty where there is no certainty and looking for truth in things that are not true. Be careful! They are likely to bite you sometime in the future!
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah 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.
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah Regarding this Dhamma, it is not something that we can simply talk about or take another’s word for it.
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah You are your own teacher. Looking for teachers can’t solve your own doubts.
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah The mind of one who practises doesn’t run away anywhere, it stays right there. Good, evil, happiness and unhappiness, right and wrong arise, and he knows them all.
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah We practice to learn how to let go, not how to increase our holding on to things. Enlightenment appears when you stop wanting anything.
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah Breathing is something vital to peoples lives. If you see that Dhamma practice is vital to your life, then you will feel that breathing and practising the Dhamma are equally important.
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah
Original quotes
From our community writers
And in the end when the money is gone – will you still stay it was worth it.
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Emily BockEmily Bock Stop taking care of everyone else before you take care of yourself.
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More on backward
The people here have been marvelous. The bowl committee has bent over backwards to make sure that our stay is an excellent one. The players have something to do if they choose every day. You couldn’t find a better place.
Barry AlvarezBarry Alvarez There is a rhythm to the ending of a marriage just like the rhythm of a courtship, only backward.
Erica JongErica Jong A good soldier, whether he leads a platoon or an army, is expected to look backward as well as forward; but he must think only forward.
Douglas MacArthurDouglas MacArthur Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards.
Aldous HuxleyAldous Huxley The world is a funny paper read backwards. And that way it isn’t so funny.
Tennessee WilliamsTennessee Williams Neither look forward where there is doubt nor backward where there is regret.
Quentin CrispQuentin Crisp When you’ve seen a nude infant doing a backward somersault you know why clothing exists.
Stephen FryStephen Fry They are walking on their pants with their cap on backward, listening to the Enema Man and Snoopy, Snoopy Poop Dog.
Alan Kooi SimpsonAlan Kooi Simpson