The teachings of Ajahn Suchart.

The teachings of Ajahn Suchart.

11 November 2024

Question:  I need to find happiness and peace, how do I begin?

Than Ajahn:  Well, there are two kinds of happiness and peace:

(1) the happiness you get from vacationing where you get some happiness and peace—a temporary and expensive happiness which costs a lot of money;

(2) the happiness that is cheap where you don’t need to spend money and all you need is time and a quiet environment. You go find a place where it’s quiet, where nothing can disturb your concentration and then try to concentrate your mind on one object such as your breath.

You sit down, close your eyes and keep concentrating on your breath. Don’t let your mind think of other things and eventually your mind will become peaceful, calm and happy. But this is easier said than done because normally you won’t have the ability to focus or concentrate on your breath for a long time.

So, when you cannot do it yet, you must first develop mindfulness by focusing on what you’re doing with your body all the time, from the time you get up to the time you go to sleep. Don’t let your mind think of something else at the same time. When you can do this, you’ll be able to control your mind from wandering around, from thinking aimlessly, and when you sit and meditate and focus your attention on your breath, it will stay focus on the breath.

It won’t go thinking about other things. If this happens for just a few minutes, your mind can become calm, peaceful and happy. This is the better way to find happiness because you can always do it anytime, anywhere, and it doesn’t cost you any money.

“Dhamma in English, Jan 12, 2019.”

By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
www.phrasuchart.com

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