I have been introduced to teachings of Ajahn Chah and that’s when my motivation to know more about Forest Sangha, a tradition within Theravada Buddhism, grew.

Here I offer my favourite quotes from Ajahn Chah similes that were found by me in his book “A tree in a forest”. Hope you enjoy!

Log

If we cut a log of wood and throw it into a river, it floats downstream. If that log doesn’t rot or get stuck on one of the banks of the river, it will finally reach the ocean. Likewise the mind that practices the Middle Way and doesn’t attach to either extreme of sensual indulgence or self-mortification will inevitably attain true peace. The log represents the mind. The banks of the river – love and hate. Or happiness or unhappiness.  

To follow a Middle Way is to see love, hate, happiness and unhappiness for what they really are – only feelings. Once this understanding has been achieved, the mind will not easily drift towards them and get caught. It is the practice of the understanding mind not to nurture any feelings that rise nor cling to them. The mind then freely flows down the river unhampered and eventually flows into the “ocean” of Nibbana.

Orphan

In the end, people become neurotic. Why? Because they don’t know. They just follow their moods and don’t know how to look after their own minds. When the mind has no one to look after it, it is like a child without a mother or a father to take care of him. An orphan has no refuge and, without a refuge, he is very insecure. Likewise, if the mind is not looked after, if there is no training or maturation of character with right understanding, it is really troublesome. 

Housewife

Don’t be like a housewife washing the dishes with a scowl on her face. She is so intent on cleaning the dishes that she doesn’t realise her own mind is dirty! Have you ever seen this? She only sees the dishes. She is looking too far away from herself isn’t she? Some of you have probably experienced this. This is where you have to look. People concentrate on cleaning the dishes, but they let their minds go dirty. This is not good. They are forgetting themselves. 

Pool

Be mindful and let things take their natural course, then your mind will become quiet in any surroundings. It will become still like a clear forest pool and all kinds of wonderful and rare animals will come to drink from it. Then you will clearly see the nature of all things in the world. You will see many wonderful and strange things come and go. But you will be still. This is the happiness of the Buddha. 

Turtle

Looking for peace is like looking for a turtle with a moustache. You won’t be able to find it. But when your heart is ready, it will come and look for you. 

Cooking

At first, we train the body and speech to be free of unwholesomeness which is a virtue. All you have to do is make your body and speech blameless, and that’s virtue! It’s like cooking food – put in a little bit of this and a little bit of that till it’s just right and its delicious. Once it is delicious, you don’t have to add anything else to it. The right ingredients have already been added. In the same way, taking care that our actions and speech are proper will give us delicious virtue, virtue that is just right.

Garbage can

Sometimes teaching is a hard work. A teacher is like a garbage can that people throw their frustrations and problems into. The more people you teach, the bigger the garbage disposal problem. Don’t worry. Teaching is a wonderful way to practice Dhamma. The Dhamma can help all those who genuinely apply it in their lives. Those who teach grow in patience and in understanding. 

Sweet dessert

Practice is a matter of directly looking at the mind. This is wisdom. When you have examined and understood the mind, then you have the wisdom to know the limitations of concentration or books. If you have practised and understood not-clinging, you can then return to the books. They will be like a sweet dessert. They can help you to teach others. Or you can go back to practising absorption, because now you have the wisdom to know not to hold onto anything. 

Well and orchard

You’ll have to work to find peacefulness in the world. It’s like reaching water for a well – it is there but you have to dig for it. Or like an orchard that’s already planted – the fruit are there, but you have to pick them, they won’t just fall into your mouth.    

~ Sum up: ~ no words are really necessary. Yet if you want to discuss anything, please do so. I am equally happy to discuss ethical digital marketing and Buddhism.