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.
AJAHN CHAHWhen 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.
More Ajahn Chah Quotes
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We will come to understand that everything in the world is our teacher.
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One day some people came to the master and asked: How can you be happy in a world of such impermanence, where you cannot protect your loved ones from harm, illness or death?
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Time is our present breath.
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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.
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Difficult or easy, the Buddha said not to be heedless. Just that–don’t be heedless. Why? Because life is not certain.
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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 reflect in this way, you will have peace. Wherever you are, you will have this attitude of practice with you constantly.
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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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When suffering arises, where does it arise from? The cause is wrong view, the fruit of that being suffering. If it was right view it wouldn’t cause suffering.
AJAHN CHAH -
If you want a chicken to be a duck, and a duck to be a chicken, you will suffer.
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I touch it and it rings! One day the wind may blow it off the shelf, or my elbow may knock it from the table.
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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.
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Where does peace arise? Peace arises whenever we let something go.
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Looking for peace is like looking for a turtle with a mustache: You won’t be able to find it. But when your heart is ready, peace will come looking for you.
AJAHN CHAH -
To define Buddhism without a lot of words and phrases, we can simply say, ‘Don’t cling or hold on to anything. Harmonize with actuality, with things as they are.’
AJAHN CHAH






