Just prior to the departure of a visiting French woman, Ajahn Chah gives her this gift to take back home with her. As he explains, “Dharma is that which can cut through the problems and difficulties of mankind, gradually reducing them to nothing.”
During this Dhamma talk, Ajahn Anan teaches us on the wisdom of not letting our painful emotions spill out of our hearts, the foundations of mindfulness, and the nature of the empty mind.
Ajahn Anan gives a powerful teaching based on Ven. Ajahn Chah’s saying, “If it isn’t good, let it die. If it won’t die, make it good.”
Short teachings that bring us to let go of our attachments. Ajahn Anan tells us a simple yet profound story from his time with Ajahn Chah. He then goes on to describe how to become unmoved by the conditions in the world, thus discerning our inner Buddha. And lastly, emboldening encouragement to keep us going with our practice.
In this teaching after the evening chanting, Ajahn Anan lets us all know how incredibly fortunate we are to have been born at this time—in time to meet with and sincerely follow the liberating teachings of the Buddha that can take us beyond birth, death, and all pain and suffering.
In this talk, Ajahn Anan gives advice on how to lift our spirits when we’re feeling like this path is beyond our abilities.
To listen to most recent talks, you can visit our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/ajahnanan
To join Ajahn Anan and the Wat Marp Jan Community online for daily chanting, meditation, and a Dhamma talk, you can email wmjdhamma@gmail.com for the link. Every day 7-9 p.m. Indochina Time (Bangkok, GMT + 7).
In this second half of the Dhamma talk, Ajahn Anan explains how Ajahn Chah’s simple instructions to “not fall into liking and disliking” short-circuit the chain of dependent origination and help one avoid suffering.
In these seven short teachings we learn how to see in accordance with truth. By observing how everything we experience arises and passes away, we start to gain a direct and deep understanding of both the world, and our bodies and minds. This allows us to stop claiming possession over everything, to stop taking it all personally. It’s here that we can begin to truly let go.
The path to realizing the Dhamma is to be found in the heart that’s kept in the middle – not falling for either liking or disliking. This heart of equipoise isn’t bland, however, but is filled with great joy and peace.
Luang Por Anan tells us of the importance of forbearance and how much we’ve all gained from the great endurance of the Buddha.
Talk given on May 12th, 2020