Ajahn Chah was the iconic and leading figure of the 20th. Century that helped to formulate dhamma practice in the way that we teach today in Tovana. That is why it is important to get a feel of his approach to practice.
‘Do not be in a hurry or try to push your practice. If you become peaceful, then accept it,; if you don’t become peaceful, then accept that also. This is the nature of the mind. We must find our own practice and persevere.’
‘Be confident in the practice, confident enough to continue until you are fed up with both your likes and dislikes. You will then see according to the truth.’
‘Let things be according to their nature. If there is no movement in the mind, we abide in equanimity, and if something comes up we ask ourselves : does this cause suffering? Am I holding with attachment? Is there anything here? If we practice and get to this point I think all of us will realise genuine peace’
‘Peace comes from a one-pointed mind. This one-pointedness, however, can be troublesome since we don’t want other mental states to disturb us. If we reflect on these states, however, when they arise, this reflection becomes the one-pointed mind.’
‘If there is no problem there is nothing to solve. When there is a probloem that’s when we must act, right then! There is no need to search for anything special, just live normally. But know where your mind is.’
‘Consciousness is one, but when it functions at different places we give it different names. At the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body or mind it is just one awareness, which is this very mind.’
‘All of Dhamma practice comes to completion when nothing remains. It is the place of surrender, of emptiness, of laying down the burden. This is the end.’
‘If we accelerate our efforts, and practice in an even continuous way, mindfulness will be like a stream of water. Whatever posture we are in, awareness will be constant.’
‘If we establish the Buddha within our own mind then we see everything as identical to ourselves. We see the animals, trees, mountains and vines as no different from ourselves. One who understands this is content wherever they are. They listen to the Buddha’s teaching at all times.’