The teachings of Ajahn Suchart
“Your problem is you don’t know how to stop your wanting.”
Layperson: “Do you sometimes still get frustrated?”
Than Ajahn: “Hardly, because there is nothing that I want. You only get frustrated when you want something and you cannot get it. So, if you can stop your wanting, then there is no frustration.”
Layperson: “What about the wanting for enlightenment?”
Than Ajahn: “If you want it and if you cannot get it, then you become frustrated. If you know you cannot get it, then you have to not wanting it. Then, you won’t become frustrated.
Your problem is you don’t know how to stop your wanting. Once you can stop your wanting, you become enlightened. Enlightenment is to see that the problem is your wanting, your desire, your cravings. Once you know that your frustration comes from your desire, then stop your desire. Once you stop your desire, you have no frustration. You become enlightened.”
Layperson: “Some people said that one has to have the desire for enlightenment, otherwise how would one practices?”
Than Ajahn: “Yes, the desire to become enlightened is the first step you have to have. Once you have this desire, then you go seek someone who is enlightened to tell you how to do it. And when you find an enlightened person, he will tell you to stop your desire. So, stop your desire. Even the desire for enlightenment. When you stop your desire for enlightenment, you’ll become enlightened. You don’t know this.”
Layperson: “Do you think that today in Thailand, Burma or Sri Lanka, there are still enlightened monks?”
Than Ajahn: “At least in Thailand, I know there are for sure. These monks in these pictures were all enlightened monks. After their deaths, their bones turned into relics.”
Layperson: “So, is that the yardstick to measure whether they are enlightened or not?”
Than Ajahn: “Yes, it is one of the yardsticks. The other yardstick, if they are still alive is: for you to learn from them. If you study with them and apply their teachings in your practice, and you yourself become enlightened, then you know that your teacher is also enlightened. Like people found out that the Buddha was enlightened when they studied with him and followed his teachings. These noble disciples know that the Buddha must have been enlightened.
So, there are two ways: one is after their deaths, when some fragments of their bones become relics; the second way is when you study with them and practice their teachings, and you yourself become enlightened.”
From: "Dhamma in English to Layperson from India, Dec 7, 2017."
By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
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