“If your mind is constantly thinking about the Dhamma, you are very close to the Buddha.”

“If your mind is constantly thinking about the Dhamma, you are very close to the Buddha.”

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(Lay devotees are inviting Than Ajahn to visit Singapore).

Than Ajahn: You are used to physical contact, so when you cannot get this physical contact, you feel that you are far apart. You should look at the essence of our contacts. It is Dhamma that we are concerned with. The Buddha said even if you sit next to him, but if your mind never thinks of Dhamma, you are still so far away from him. However, if you are very far away from him, but your mind always thinks of Dhamma, you are close to him.

So whether one is close or far is not determined by the physical distance but your thoughts towards the Dhamma. If your mind is constantly thinking about the Dhamma, then you are very close to the Buddha. At any time you are not thinking of the Dhamma, you are very far away from the Buddha.

Lay devotee: How do we go about with the Dhamma practice?

Than Ajahn: The study and the practice. First you have to study to know the proper way of practice. Once you know the proper way then you can practise correctly. If you practise correctly, then you will achieve the result very easily. This is the three step structure of Buddhism. First you study; second, you practise; and third you achieve the result (attainment).

Lay devotee: The toughest is number three.

Than Ajahn: The toughest is number one and two, because the third one comes after one and two. The hardest is probably the second, but the second needs the first to provide the right direction.

If you want to travel to a new place, you must first study the map. Once you know the direction, then you can take off and travel to the destination you have in mind and you will get there without losing any time. You won’t be lost because you know exactly where to go, how to go. If you don’t study first, you might not get to where you want to go because you might go in the opposite direction.

“Dhamma in English, Jun 14, 2015.”

By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
www.phrasuchart.com

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