Being Dharma, Anjahn Chah

This one is a bit difficult to read in the first 70 pages, so I’d encourage readers to skip ahead a bit or just scan the first 70 pages. The first 70 pages don’t add that much and take a lot of time to go through. I almost gave up on this book, but I am glad I didn’t.

 

 

Introduction

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Anjahn died in 1993. Jack Kornfield studied with him in the 1970s. 

 

To examine yourself you have to quiet the mind. From stillness we can see how things truly are.

 

You don’t really own anything. Each of us can discover the freedom and peace of the Buddha.

 

Anjahn Chah pushed people past their limits.  He was there to consult with but didn’t keep track of what people did. You had to ask him for help.

 

Dharma is a way of life.  

 

A few cool quotes from his 5-hour daily Dharma talks:

“I only teach two things: suffering and ending suffering”  

“Don’t suffer but be a blank slate”  

“See peace and joy”

 

He was in a remote, unheard of corner of Thailand.

 

Healing Dharma: “The one who sees emptiness of death cannot follow.”

 

Sotopanno; stream enterers who do not leave. You must be Dharma to enter the stream, not just understand it.  

 

We are all birds in cages and want to be set free. If you want to do the path, fruit and Niraam, you need to practice strenuously.

 

Form, feelings, thoughts, consciousness are imperfect.

 

Practice Dharma now. When you are older you will have less energy.

 

Don’t get drunk with happiness. Unhappiness is a state too.

 

Having a teacher is the best, but it is possible to be a solitary person who finds enlightenment, but then you will struggle to teach it.   

 

Dharma is not just about words, but it’s a path.

 

You need to see reality. Reality is always changing. Do not try to adjust to it. Just see it.

 

Dharma is all there is. Don’t try to resolve things that are due, but focus on undone things. See the good and the bad. Just see.

 

Understanding Dharma: Dharma is noble wealth or inner wealth that cannot be stolen.

 

Holding onto things causes suffering.

 

Must have the right understanding. Buddha teaches us how to escape from Samara.  

 

Dharma is all of existence.

 

We are like trees of different heights, young and old.

 

Hone being dispassionate and detached. Look inside, not outside.

 

Pay attention to knowing.

 

Study death, which is detachment. Death takes you to dharma and you don’t gain anything this life.  

 

Giving up wrongdoing is Samadhi, and then you get to wisdom.

 

Dharma is distant of theoretical.

 

Happiness and suffering are great teachers.

 

Put love and hatred aside. There are no causes. Make the mind pliable, then they will soften and become at peace.

 

 

 

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Practicing Dharma

 

 

Remove desire, aversion, and delusion. It is not just the mind but the body and spirit.

 

Pacifying and purifying the mind is not easy. The mind looks upon the self and shows continuous restraint.

 

At first new attachments are too “good” or “wholesome”, which a judgment is.  

 

Look inward to the original mind. There is a middle path between happiness and suffering.

 

Try to calm the mind but not to judge things.

 

Mortality brings happiness.

 

Buddha’s teachings do not change.

 

Look at the self and don’t be too eager to explain yourself to others. Trust yourself. Never mind of others’ wrongdoings. We are all people of the same heart, same mind, sharing the Dharma of “loving kindness.”  

 

Metta is love for all not just for yourself or your friends. Society is the issue because metta is not all inclusive.

 

Mortality is happiness.

 

Don’t been keen to help others. Solve your own issues first.

 

Disengage from meaningless action and practice goodness.  

 

The breath is the focal point of awareness. Awareness comes for 1. The mind 2. The breath. 3. Mental objects.

 

The merger of sila, samdhi, and wisdom are freedom.

 

Nimitta are visionary meditations. Don’t try to interpret.

 

Meditation without any breathing is the deepest type of meditation. You feel like you are floating.

 

Samadhi calms the mind.

 

Two types of peace: 1. Samadhi. 2. Via wisdom.

 

In Samadhi contemplate in terms of impermanent suffering, and the lack of self. Samadhi is above oneness and keeps meditation going at all times. Without practice you lose the benefits of meditation.

 

Meditate on hair, teeth, body hair, skin, and nails. Just watch things in meditation. It all changes. Don’t be too forceful. Be aware of perceptions and feelings, past and future, but don’t get involved with them. Just be aware.

 

Don’t ask too many questions, just meditate. Let thoughts go and just be. Witness what is real. Understanding will come. Happiness will come.

 

Without attachment we decrease suffering.

 

Don’t be heedless, things are uncertain. Just keep practicing without desire. Follow a process but don’t be linked to an outcome.

 

Tanha is a carving or desire that cannot be satisfied. Wisdom is knowing they are and letting them be.

 

Realize your limits. Clean your mind like you clean your house.  

 

Turn inward to clear the way.  

 

People end up miserable because they do not look at themselves.

 

There is no real self, just things that are momentarily lumped together.  

 

When we get older, be easy to speak to, easy to teach, not the opposite.

 

Give away gifts. It feels good to give things away.

 

 

 

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Seeing Dharma

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Buddha is always there.

 

Enlightenment is understanding things are as they are. All things are born, change, and die.

 

Afflictions are like water. The mind is like a lotus.

 

When good comes be aware of it as temporary. When bad comes remain aware of it as temporary.

 

Practice equanimity, keep the mind calm.  

 

Vipassana is purifying to see the pain but can separate from it.

 

Destroy the concept of self and you will realize selflessness which is true happiness.  

 

The streamer has no doubts. If you eliminate doubt, then you do not need to grasp.

 

Our body is not ours. We want quick attainment, but we are lazy. Let go.  

 

Mindfulness is water in the bowl to see the reflection. Realize the impermanent nature of everything. Memory is impermanent.

 

Sweep when needed but don’t do it all mindlessly.

 

Surrendering quells suffering. You can go mad in suffering, rather than accept what is.

 

 

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Being Dharma

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Dharma is higher than just the theory of cause and effect. 

 

No suffering, no happiness. Let go. You cannot explain it. End your doubts.  

 

Mortality is to refrain from harm.

 

We are the diamond.

 

Whatever we gain on earth we lose.

 

Know the limits of anxiety and regret.

 

Nirvana is no self, no object, no emotions. Nibbana Paccaya hotu “Just aim for nirvana.”

 

Death and birth are the cycle of things. Are we sad when the fall leaves fall?  

 

Freedom is to leave things and not be swayed by others.

 

“Die before you die.” Just be finished then you can be at ease.

 

Change of perceptions yields Dharma.  

 

 

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Teaching Dharma

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You cannot give Dharma to others. You can only give upaya (skillful means).  

 

Listening is easy. Doing is difficult.

 

Can you learn about anger from a text or is just experience?  

 

How can you show colors to the blind?

 

Practice is the key to success. Pada Parama is the idiot. Don’t argue. I practice this way, you can try it if you like.

 

Do not need to ask questions, just do it.

 

Plant a tree today but realize it will not be fully grown tomorrow.

 

Don’t eat or act from anha (craving). Two oxen pulling a cart are not one.  

 

Work less and work with others.

 

You cannot do the work for others. Let go. Do what you can. Just conquer within and don’t have lofty thoughts.  

 

Don’t harm others.