Going Beyond Theory (Ajahn Chah)

Ajahn Chah (ajahnchah.org) via Ven. Sujato, Ellie Askew, Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

"It's not on sale!" We're not plastic dolls with plastic cards. Bye-bye, money.

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Beyond Theory

"We love to shop!" - Consumer Dollies

From what I’ve heard there are a number of Buddhist scholar-monks who search and research in accordance with the texts.

There’s no reason why we shouldn’t experiment. When it’s time to open our books and study, we learn in that style.

But when it’s time to take up arms and engage in [spiritual] combat, we have to fight in a style that may not correspond with theory.

If a warrior enters battle and fights according to what’s been read, one will be no match for the opponent.

When the warrior is sincere and the fight is real, one has to battle in a style that goes beyond theory. That’s how it is.

The Buddha’s words in the texts are only guidelines and examples to follow, and studying can sometimes lead to carelessness.

Beyond good and evil

If we're not extremely careful, unrestrained harm will bite us like a baby gator (AP).

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The Buddha taught us to refrain from all that is bad, to do all that is good, and to purify the heart/mind.

Our practice, then, is to get rid of what is worthless and preserve and increase what is valuable.

Do we still have anything unskillful in our heart? Of course! So why not clean house? But true practice is not merely getting rid of what is bad and cultivating the good. This is only part of it.

In the end we must go beyond both good and bad. Finally, there is a freedom that includes all and a dispassion/desirelessness from which loving-kindness and wisdom naturally flow.

Beyond teaching

WTF?! I said it's not on sale!

Ajahn Fuang: "If I have to explain everything, you'll get used to having things handed to you on a platter.

"And then what will you do when problems come up in your meditation and you don't have any experience in figuring things out on your own?”

Today is the first day of school (in the massive Los Angeles School District system), so summer's over. And it couldn't come too soon. School-age kids will be the death of me! Where's all the serenity I gained in Thailand, where the forest tradition monastics touch nirvana?