Wise words from a British monk (video)

Ajahn Jayasaro via Culture Exchange Blog; Pat Macpherson, Ashley Wells, Wisdom Quarterly

A stupa in the mist, Amaravati (Jake Barnes)

Ajahn Jayasaro (born Shaun Michael Chiverton) is a British monk who trained with the famous Thai forest tradition Meditation Master Ajahn Chah.

Ven. Jayasaro was at Amaravati, a Theravada Buddhist monastic center in England, when he delivered this talk: "Your Ultimate Classroom is Here and Now."

Stillness Flowing (Jayasaro)

It is slow, calming, and remarkable for its depth of wisdom and the usefulness of its advice. It's easy for us to start meditating in a way that is ineffective. Then a little advice from the heart puts us back on track.

The talk begins with a quote from Chekov who once ended a message, "I'm sorry this is such a long letter; I didn't have time to write a shorter one." Brevity and editing are the heart of wisdom.

He then quotes Ajahn Chah: "You have to bring your heart to the Dhamma (Dharma). You don't bring the Dhamma to your heart." You don't pick and choose. There is a subtle difference of great significance.

• READ FREE: Stillness Flowing (abhayagiri.org)

Give time sitting as an offering to the Buddha

We gave the Buddha many things. What he wanted was for us to practice what he taught.