A Dhammatalk by Ajahn Chah

Take a look at the example of the Buddha. Both in his own practice and in his methods for teaching the disciples he was exemplary. The Buddha taught the standards of practice as skillful means for getting rid of conceit, he couldn’t do the practice for us. Having heard that teaching we must further teach ourselves, practice for ourselves. The results will arise here, not at the teaching.

The Buddha’s teaching can only enable us to get an initial understanding of the Dhamma, but the Dhamma is not yet within our hearts. Why not? Because we haven’t yet practiced, we haven’t yet taught ourselves. The Dhamma arises at the practice. If you know it, you know it through the practice. If you doubt it, you doubt it at the practice. Teachings from the Masters may be true, but simply listening to Dhamma is not yet enough to enable us to realize it. The teaching simply points out the way to realize. To realize the Dhamma we must take that teaching and bring it into our hearts. That part which is for the body we apply to the body, that part which is for the speech we apply to the speech, and that part which is for the mind we apply to the mind. This means that after hearing the teaching we must further teach ourselves to know that Dhamma, to be that Dhamma.

The Buddha said that those who simply believe others are not truly wise. A wise person practices until he is one with the Dhamma, until he can have confidence in himself, independent of others.

On one occasion, while Venerable Sāriputta was sitting, listening respectfully at his feet as the Buddha expounded the Dhamma, the Buddha turned to him and asked,

”Sāriputta, do you believe this teaching?”

Venerable Sāriputta replied, ”No, I don’t yet believe it.”

Now this is a good illustration. Venerable Sāriputta listened, and he took note. When he said he didn’t yet believe he wasn’t being careless, he was speaking the truth. He simply took note of that teaching, because he had not yet developed his own understanding of it, so he told the Buddha that he didn’t yet believe – because he really didn’t believe. These words almost sound as if VenerableSāriputta was being rude, but actually he wasn’t. He spoke the truth, and the Buddha praised him for it.

”Good, good, Sāriputta. A wise person doesn’t readily believe, he should consider first before believing.”

Conviction in a belief can take various forms. One form reasons according to Dhamma, while another form is contrary to the Dhamma. This second way is heedless, it is a foolhardy understanding, micchā-ditthi, wrong view. One doesn’t listen to anybody else.

Take the example of Dīghanakha the Brahman. This Brahman only believed himself, he wouldn’t believe others. At one time when the Buddha was resting at Rājagaha, Dīghanakha went to listen to his teaching. Or you might say that Dīghanakha went to teach the Buddha because he was intent on expounding his own views…

”I am of the view that nothing suits me.”

This was his view. The Buddha listened to Dīghanakha’s view and then answered,

”Brahman, this view of yours doesn’t suit you either.”

When the Buddha had answered in this way, Dīghanakha was stumped. He didn’t know what to say. The Buddha explained in many ways, till the Brahman understood. He stopped to reflect and saw….

”Hmm, this view of mine isn’t right.” Continue reading →

Conquer the angry one by not getting angry; conquer the wicked by goodness;
conquer the stingy by generosity, and the liar by speaking the truth.

~Gautama Buddha, The Dhammapada

Photo credit: Randy Neufeldt

The non-doing of any evil,
the performance of what’s skillful,
the cleansing of one’s own mind:
this is the teaching of the Awakened.

~ Gautama Buddha, The Dhammapada

Photo credit: Randy Neufeldt

Don’t pick a kitten or a cat up by the scruff of its neck;  only mother cats can do this safely, and only with their kittens. Cats knead with their paws when they’re happy. Your cat loves you and can “read” your moods.  If you’re sad or under stress, you may also notice a difference in your cat’s behavior. Source: FPTR

My wish for you this morning is that may all your sweet dreams
of last night come true today. ~Unknown

This is what has always been the essence of life –
disappointment comes before hope, hurt comes before love
and dark comes before brightness to make us realize
how important their presence is. ~Unknown

After a day so exhausting and life so rewarding let us take
a break from all the business and have a sweet, sound yet tight sleep.
Good Night and have sweet dreams. ~Unknown

“The most precious gifts are those that can’t be touched by hands,
but those that are being felt by the soul.” ~Ces Peta

A beautiful face in youth is the result of fortune; a beautiful face in old age
is earned by kindness and wisdom. ~Unknown

Flowers don’t bloom where no seeds have been planted. If you want kindness, be kind. If you want acceptance, be accepting. If you want encouragement, be encouraging. If you want forgiveness, be forgiving. If you want love, be loving. If you want respect, be respectful. We should not expect from others what we fail to give to them. ~Tom Krause

Digitalis purpurea – Foxglove. Photo credit: Randy Neufeldt

Most of the time, a cat will land on his feet when he falls. His body reflexively corrects its course so that by the time he arrives on the ground, his feet are in position to hit first. The height of a cat’s fall determines how well, or how poorly, his legs can absorb the shock of landing. A cat’s ability to land on his feet isn’t a trick taught by his mother or life experience, but is a gift of nature. By the time kittens are about 6 weeks old and able to run and jump in a coordinated way, their bodies can successfully correct their balance during a fall. However, your cat still needs to be protected from the risk of falling. If you have some open windows in your high-rise apartment or upstairs in your house, be sure they are properly screened. Source: AnimalPlanet