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We see that the sound is simply sound. If we understand like this, then there’s nothing more to it. We leave it be.

Ajahn Chah

We need to develop meditation so that the understanding arises clearly within oneself. It is not the case that merely by listening to another’s explanation our defilements will disappear.
AJAHN CHAH

Another Arise Defliment Develop Disappear Explain Listen Meditation Need Oneself Understanding
When the heart truly understands, it lets go of everything.
AJAHN CHAH

Everything Heart Let Go Truly Understand
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.
AJAHN CHAH

Burden Cling Go Gone Happiness Letting Life Struggle Understand
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.
AJAHN CHAH

All Friend Good Matter Merely Practice Regret Something Speak Word
If we practise like this and develop mindfulness continuously, wisdom arises quickly and this is a fast way of practice.
AJAHN CHAH

Arise Continous Develop Fast Mindfulness Practice Quick Way Wisdom
Therefore we have to train our mind. The meditation practice in Buddhism is all about training one’s own mind.
AJAHN CHAH

Buddhism Meditation Mind Own Practice Train
Steady practice is keeping mindful in every posture, whether sitting, walking, standing or lying down.
AJAHN CHAH

Down Every Keep Lying Mindful Posture Practice Sitting Stand Steady Walk
There are people who are born and die and never once are aware of their breath going in and out of their body. That’s how far away they live from themselves
AJAHN CHAH

Aware Body Born Breath Far Away Going Once Out People
When one does not understand death, life can be very confusing.
AJAHN CHAH

Confuse Doe Life Death Understand
Don’t be attached to visions or lights in meditation, don’t rise or fall with them.
AJAHN CHAH

Attach Fall Light Meditation Rise Vision
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

Calm Concentration End Insight Investigation Long Meditation Mind Other Single Wood
Where does peace arise? Peace arises whenever we let something go.
AJAHN CHAH

Arise Doe Peace Something
Just go into the room, sit in the centre of the room, open the doors and windows, and see who comes to visit.
AJAHN CHAH

Centre Come Door Into Job Room Visit Window
A woman wanted to know how to deal with anger. I asked when anger arose whose anger it was. She said it was hers.
AJAHN CHAH

Anger Ask Deal Fall Mean Mind Want Woman
We should conquer ourselves, rather than conquer others. Whether coming or going, standing, sitting or lying down, our mind should be focused in this way.
AJAHN CHAH

Coming Conquer Down Focus Going Laying Ourselves Sitting Standing Way
Just know what is happening in your mind – not happy or sad about it, not attached. If you suffer see it, know it, and be empty. It’s like a letter – you have to open it before you can know what’s in it.
AJAHN CHAH

Attach Happen Letter Mind Open Sad Suffer
Why do we have time to breathe? Because we see the importance of the breath.
AJAHN CHAH

Breathe Have Importance See Time
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 CHAH

Empty Existence Flow Lasting Peace Pleasure Self Stable True Vold World
Read yourself, not books. Truth isn’t outside, that’s only memory, not wisdom. Memory without wisdom is like an empty thermos bottle – if you don’t fill it, it’s useless.
AJAHN CHAH

Book Bottle Memory Outside Read Wisdom Yourself
Raise families and look after themselves, that’s all. To them, being smart is more important than being wise!
AJAHN CHAH

Family Important Look Raise Smart Themselves Wise
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 CHAH

Admire Gave Glass Glinten Hold Master Someone Sunlight Water
If you haven’t wept deeply, you haven’t begun to meditate.
AJAHN CHAH

Begun Buddhist Deeply Feeling Freedom Meditate
Know and watch your heart. It’s pure but emotions come to colour it.
AJAHN CHAH

Colour Emotion Heart Pure Watch
Do everything with a mind that lets go. Do not expect praise or reward.
AJAHN CHAH

Everything Expectation Generosity Go Letting Mind Praise Reward
The one who recognizes the uncertainty of phenomena is the Dharma within you.
AJAHN CHAH

Dharma Phenomena Practice Recognize Within
Sati is life. Whenever we don’t have sati, when we are heedless, it’s as if we are dead.
AJAHN CHAH

Dead Heedless Ifs Life Mindfulness Sail Sati
Trying to run away from suffering is actually to run toward it.
AJAHN CHAH

Actual Run Suffer Toward Try

We see that the sound is simply sound. If we understand like this, then there’s nothing more to it. We leave it be.

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We see that the sound is simply sound. If we understand like this, then there’s nothing more to it. We leave it be.

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