The Teaching of Ajahn Suchart.
22 April 2023
“Latent tendencies.”
⋆ ⋆ ⋆Question (F2): “What are latent tendencies?”
Than Ajahn: “Latent tendencies are the things that you used to do. They are karmic force.
What you used to do, you would want to do it again. If you used to drink coffee, you want to drink coffee again. If you used to watch TV, you want to keep on watching TV.
You can get rid of latent tendencies by resisting your desire. Every time when you want to have a cup of coffee, you should say, ‘No.’ If the body needs liquid, then just drink plain water. The body doesn’t need coffee. The body needs water. This way you can then get rid of your latent tendencies.
Whatever tendencies you used to do, you can get rid of them by using common sense.
You can get rid of latent tendencies by resisting your desire. Every time when you want to have a cup of coffee, you should say, ‘No.’ If the body needs liquid, then just drink plain water. The body doesn’t need coffee. The body needs water. This way you can then get rid of your latent tendencies.
Whatever tendencies you used to do, you can get rid of them by using common sense.
However, if you do something for the body’s needs, it is not latent tendency, it’s a requisite, it’s a necessity like the body has to drink water, the body has to breathe the air. You do these without having any desire. Other activities that you do with desire are latent tendencies. You want to get rid of them because they are the ones that push you to be reborn again and again.”
Youtube video: “Dhamma in English, Aug 15, 2018.”
By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
www.phrasuchart.com
Latest Dhamma talks on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_BnRZmNgECsJGS31F495g
*Whatever defilements desire, such as craving for food or drinks, we will have to give in.*
We have to go on an offense by setting limits and a timetable regarding how much to eat or to drink.
For example, if we limit our food intake to once a day, whatever we wish to eat, we will have to eat during that time.
Whatever we wish to drink, we will only drink at that time. Beyond that time we will only drink water.
This is how it has to be managed.
Watching television is off limits.
Sell the TV set.
Remove anything that is connected with entertainment.
Donate all entertainment gadgets.
That is what we call being aggressive and going on the offensive.
If we sit and wait, defilements will entice us to watch this and that, eat this and that.
When this kind of craving occurs, we might not be able to win the fight.
Without the props of the defilements, when the craving occurs but we do not have anything to chew or to watch, we will not have a problem.
Ajahn Suchart
Youtube video: “Dhamma in English, Aug 15, 2018.”
By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
www.phrasuchart.com
Latest Dhamma talks on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_BnRZmNgECsJGS31F495g
*Whatever defilements desire, such as craving for food or drinks, we will have to give in.*
We have to go on an offense by setting limits and a timetable regarding how much to eat or to drink.
For example, if we limit our food intake to once a day, whatever we wish to eat, we will have to eat during that time.
Whatever we wish to drink, we will only drink at that time. Beyond that time we will only drink water.
This is how it has to be managed.
Watching television is off limits.
Sell the TV set.
Remove anything that is connected with entertainment.
Donate all entertainment gadgets.
That is what we call being aggressive and going on the offensive.
If we sit and wait, defilements will entice us to watch this and that, eat this and that.
When this kind of craving occurs, we might not be able to win the fight.
Without the props of the defilements, when the craving occurs but we do not have anything to chew or to watch, we will not have a problem.
Ajahn Suchart
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