The Teaching of Luangta Maha Boowa

The Teaching of Luangta Maha Boowa

Buddhism is derived from practice, because the Buddha himself practiced until he himself knew and saw and was able to do it for himself, and only then did he begin to teach others. 

Buddhists therefore understand the importance of practicing and training themselves according to the teachings. Learning for the purpose of gaining knowledge and understanding, but without putting it into regular practice, will not bring results as it ought to. One should therefore study and practice moral precepts until it becomes higher morality, study all the different levels of wisdom until one reaches the level of higher wisdom), and study freedom. 

One must then practice until one truly reaches freedom, until one has truly escaped (from Saṁsāra). Practice is therefore the most important part of Buddhism.

When someone who practices has reached any particular state of development, he will know this for himself. For example, if he practices the development of mindfulness of breathing, he will know what the state of his breath is, and he will know to what extent the mind is quiet, still and peaceful. But he must have mindfulness and he must not let the mind wander outside. For someone who is beginning to practice, the most important thing is the mind and mindfulness. 

The mind will improve if mindfulness is there to control it, and it will then be peaceful, cheerful, bright, and happiness will come by itself. But if the mind is not controlled by mindfulness, and if it is allowed free rein so that any and all thoughts can insert themselves, the mind will not be peaceful and happiness will not arise. Therefore, the most important rule is to not let the imagination give rise to emotionally charged thoughts. Train the mind to be truly peaceful, then happiness will follow in the wake of the calm which gradually develops. A high degree of calm means a high degree of happiness—until it reaches an extraordinary happiness which comes from the more subtle levels of concentration.

~ Luangta Maha Boowa