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Saturday 15 February 2020

What is the value of going to wake practices?

The Teaching of Ajahn Suchart.

20 August 2023

Monk:  What is the value of going to wake practices?

(Like the recent commemoration of a hundred year of Ajahn Chah’s passing away. So many people find it so inspiring to go and do the circumambulation, or when Buddha talked about visiting the holy places).

Than Ajahn:  These are catalysts. Did you study the chemical reactions in chemistry?

MonkYes, I’ve heard of it.

Than Ajahn:  Sometimes you need catalyst to start some reactions. These events are like catalysts. They will sort of light up the fire in people’s minds to start practicing or to paying attention to the Dhamma. That’s why there is Visakha puja Day where people stop all other activities and go to temple. So, people need these events as catalysts to start the fire inside them, so that they can start practicing Dhamma. But they are only act as catalysts and it’s only briefly. That’s all. If the fire doesn’t start, then it doesn’t help. It’s good for people who need catalysts to kick start their practice or their interest in Dhamma.

Like the people who go to the 4 places in India. After they went there, somehow they generated the desire to follow the teachings of the Buddha. They are convinced that the Buddha actually exists and his teachings must be good. This might generate the interest to study the teachings and to follow his teachings. 

So, these events are for this purpose.

When you go to the 100 years’ commemoration, there’re many monks attending, many teachers are going there at the same time. It’s a good chance for you to run into some enlightened monks that you might not be able to meet during any ordinary time. 

These are the reasons for these events. But sometimes people don’t understand why they go to these events. They just go. Therefore, they don’t get anything because they don’t know what is the reason they go for, anyway.


“Dhamma in English, Jan 29, 2018.”

By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
www.phrasuchart.com

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