Ajahn Chah: How to Raise Your Duck (video)

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

Aflac Jataka: Take Care of Yourself and Get Extra Insurance*

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Our practice [for awakening] is like raising a duck. Our duty is to feed it and give it water.

Whether it grows quickly or slowly is the duck's business, not ours.

Let it go, and let's just do our own work.

 

Our business is to practice.

Start the Path now. Clear up any doubts later.

Whether it's fast or slow, just know it [with full awareness that remains dispassionate].

Don't try; don't force it. This kind of practice has a good foundation.

• Patipada: What is the "path" to success?
• Paccaya: What are supporting conditions? (palikanon.com)
• What is phala, the fruition, fruiting, or ripening of karma?
• Pati-moksha: What's the Path to Liberation (Monastic Code)?
• What's "liberation" (vimokkha) in Buddhism?
• What's "Doctrine and Discipline" (Dhamma-Vinaya)?
• *Is there really an "Aflac  Jataka"? What do you mean? Are you
• asking if there's really a "Supplemental Insurance Birth Tail")?

Keep your duck clean at all times, especially under the wings where B.O. forms (Aflac).