The teachings of Ajahn Suchart.
24 August 2024
“You have to tackle the real problem and the real problem is you, not other things or other people.”
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Layperson (M): When I meditate and feel that the body disappears or feel like falling into a deep place, I don’t know what I should do next.
Than Ajahn: If you can sit still and your mind becomes calm and peaceful, then this is the result of your meditation. Try to let it stay calm as long as possible. If you can stay there for hours, let it stay there. Let it stay there as long as you don’t fall asleep.
You must be fully aware that you’re sitting there. You are aware that your mind is still. You feel a sense of relief and you feel good. Then, try to do as much as possible. This state can be your refuge – a place away from stress and problems. When you are not in meditation, sometimes you can run into problems or stress.
Then, you can use this place to relax and to get away from your problems temporarily.
However, your problems won’t go away until you develop the next level which we call ‘wisdom’ or ‘common sense.’ You have to tackle the real problem and the real problem is you, not other things or other people. Other things or other people are only the instigators of your problems.
The real problem is your mind. The real problem arises from your craving or desire for things or people to behave in a certain way.
When you don’t get it, you’ll feel that you have a problem. But if you know that the problem is your desire or your craving for other people or things, then you should cut off your craving or desire. Leave people alone. Leave things alone. Let them be whatever they want to be or whatever they’re going to be.
Then, your mind will be free from stress. You will not feel any sense of having problems in you.
You’ll see things as they are. You’ll let things be. You’ll know that things are impermanent. You'll know that they are anattā – you cannot control them, you cannot manage them all the time. Sometimes, you might be able to control them, but sometimes, you might not.
When you cannot control things, just let them be.
So, this is the next step you should do. When you come out of meditation, you should teach your mind to look at everything as the Three Characteristics – everything is anicca, dukkha, anattā. Everything in this world that your mind comes into contact with is anicca, dukkha, anattā. You should not have any desire or craving for it.
You’d rather stay away from it. Leave it alone if you don’t want to be hurt.
Youtube: “Dhamma in English, Dec 9, 2018.”
By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
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