..續本文上一頁urself means to practice for yourself. You can depend on a teacher only fifty percent of the way. Even the teaching I have given you is completely useless in itself, even if it is worth hearing. But if you were to believe it all just because I said so, you wouldn”t be using the teaching properly. If you believed me completely, then you”d be foolish. To hear the teaching, see its benefits, put it into practice for yourself, see it within yourself … this is much more useful.

　　193

　　Sometimes when doing walking meditation, a soft rain would start to fall and I”d want to quit and go inside, but then I”d think of the times I used to work in the rice paddies. My pants would be wet from the day before but I”d have to get up before dawn and put them on again. Then I”d have to go down below the house to get the buffalo out of its pen. It was so muddy in there. I”d grab its rope and it would be covered in buffalo dung. Then the buffalo”s tail would swish around and spatter me with dung on top of that. My feet would be sore with athlete”s foot and I”d walk along thinking, "Why is life so miserable

　　" And now here I wanted to stop my walking meditation…what was a little bit of rain to me

　　 Thinking like that I encouraged myself in the practice.

　　194

　　I don”t know how to talk about it. We talk about things to be developed and things to give up, but there”s really nothing to develop, nothing to give up.

　　All that I have said up to now has merely been words. When people come to see me, I have to say something. But it is best not to speak about these matters too much. Better to begin practice without delay. I am like a good friend inviting you to go somewhere. Do not hesitate, just get going. You won”t regret it.

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　　Glossary

　　Unless indicated otherwise, the words below are in the Pali language.

　　Ajahn: (Thai)teacher

　　Anagami: "Non-returner", the third stage in the realization of Nibbana.

　　Arahant: "Holy One", an enlightened being free from all delusion through the realization of Nibbana in the fourth and final stage and who is free from rebirth.

　　Bodhisatta: In the Theravadin School, this refers to a being destined for enlightenment.

　　Dhamma: the Buddha”s Teaching; Ultimate Truth

　　Four Noble Truths: Buddha”s first teaching in which he pointed out the truths of suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the path leading to its cessation.

　　Sakadagami: "Once-returner", the second stage in the realization of Nibbana.

　　Samsara: cycle of rebirth

　　Sotapanna: "Stream-entrant", the first stage in the realization of Nibbana.

　　Wat: (Thai) monastery; temple

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