Friday, July 19, 2019

Ajahn Chah's simple teaching: change

Ajahn Chah (ajahnchah.org) via Ven. Sujato, Ellie Askew, Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly
Whatever arises in the present moment is impermanent. I say this often, but most people don’t pay much attention. They’re reluctant to make use of this simple little teaching.

All that is subject to arising is impermanent. It’s uncertain. This really is the easiest, least complicated way to reflect on the truth. If one doesn’t meditate on this teaching, when things actually start to show themselves as uncertain and changeable, one will not know how to wisely respond. We'll will tend to get agitated and stirred up.

Investigation of impermanence in this way brings one insight and understanding of what is permanent. By contemplating what is uncertain, we see what is certain. This is the way we have to explain it to make people understand the truth.

But they tend not to understand and instead spend the whole time lost, rushing here or there. Really, if we want to experience true peace, we must bring the mind to that point where it is fully mindful in the present moment.

Whatever happiness or suffering arises there, teach let's learn that it’s transient. The part of the mind that recollects that happiness and suffering are impermanent is the wisdom of the Buddha within each of us. The one who recognizes the uncertainty of phenomena is the Dharma within us.

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