All that I have said up to now has merely been words._x000D_ When people come to see me, I have to say something._x000D_ But it is best not to speak about these matters too much._x000D_ Better to begin practice without delay. _x000D_ I am like a good friend inviting you to go somewhere._x000D_ Do not hesitate, just get going. You won't regret it.
Interpretation
Actions speak louder than words; it's better to practice than just talk.
In this quote, Ajahn Chah emphasizes the importance of taking action rather than merely discussing ideas or concepts. While words can convey intentions and thoughts, true understanding and growth come from practical engagement and practice. The metaphor of a good friend inviting someone to take action illustrates the encouragement to not overthink but to simply begin and trust that the journey will be worthwhile.
In practice
In a motivational speech to inspire a group to take action on their goals.
Once you understand non-self, then the burden of life is gone. You'll be at peace with the world. When we see beyond self, we no longer cling to happiness and we can truly be happy. Learn to let go without struggle, simply let go, to be just as you are - no holding on, no attachment, free.
When sitting in meditation, say, "That's not my business!" with every thought that comes by.
If you haven't wept deeply, you haven't begun to meditate.
To observe and watch one's own mind is something really interesting. The untrained mind will run and follow its old habit patterns. Because it has not been trained and taught, it will get lost in all kinds of stories and issues. Therefore we have to train our mind. The meditation practice in Buddhism is all about training one's own mind.
Meditation is like a single log of wood. Insight and investigation are one end of the log; calm and concentration are the other end. If you lift up the whole log, both sides come up at once. Which is concentration and which is insight? Just this mind.
The heart is just the heart; thoughts and feelings are just thoughts and feelings. Let things be just as they are.
It is great, and there is no other greatness-to make one nook of God's Creation more fruitful, better, more worthy of God; to make some human heart a little wiser, manlier, happier-more blessed.
None of us can know what we are capable of until we are tested.
When we hate our enemies, we are giving them power over us: power over our sleep, our appetites, our blood pressure, our health, and our happiness.
I have been in Sorrow's kitchen and licked out all the pots. Then I have stood on the peaky mountain wrapped in rainbows, with a harp and sword in my hands.
No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength
My advice to myself and to everyone else, particularly young people, is to turn on, tune in and drop out. By drop out, I mean to detach yourself from involvement in secular, external social games. But the dropping out has to occur internally before it can occur externally. I'm not telling kids just to quit school; I'm not telling people to quit their jobs. That is an inevitable development of the process of turning on and tuning in.
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