..續本文上一頁 had few illnesses and was always in a good mood, never excited about events or affected by praise or blame.
Once, in the midst of a gathering of elder meditation monks who were conversing about how to characterize the normal state of mind of those who live above suffering, Luang Pu said,
"Not worrying, not being attached: That”s the mental dwelling of those who practice."
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44. Looking for new teachers
People practicing the Dhamma at present are of two sorts. The first are those who, when they learn the principles of the practice or receive advice from a teacher and get on the path, are intent on trying to follow that path to the utmost of their ability. The other sort are those who — even though they”ve received good advice from their teacher and have learned the correct principles of the practice — aren”t sincerely intent. Their efforts are lax. At the same time, they like to go out looking for other teachers at other centers. Wherever they hear there”s a good center, there they go. Meditators of this sort are many.
Luang Pu once advised his students,
"When you go to a lot of centers and study with a lot of teachers, your practice won”t get results, for when you go to a lot of centers, it”s as if you go back to the beginning over and over again. You don”t gain any sure principles in your practice. Sometimes you get uncertain and bewildered. Your mind isn”t solid. Your practice degenerates and doesn”t progress."
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45. Holding on vs. putting aside
Students and practitioners of the Dhamma are of two sorts. The first sort are those who genuinely study and practice to gain release from suffering. The second are those who study and practice to brag about their accomplishments and to pass their days in arguments, believing that memorizing a lot of texts or being able to quote a lot of teachers is a sign of their importance. Many times, when people of this second sort came to see Luang Pu, instead of asking his advice on how to practice, they would spray out their knowledge and ideas for him to hear in great detail. Still, he was always able to sit and listen to them. In fact, when they had finished, he would add one more comment to theirs:
"Those who are obsessed with scriptures and teachers won”t be able to gain release from suffering. But still, those who want to gain release from suffering do have to depend on scriptures and teachers."
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46. When the mind resists growing still
In practicing concentration, there”s no way everyone will get results at the same speed. Some people get fast results, others get slow results. There are even those who never seem to gain a taste of stillness at all. Still, they shouldn”t get discouraged. The act of making an effort in the area of the heart is, in itself, a higher form of merit and skill than the act of giving gifts or observing the precepts. A large number of Luang Pu”s students would ask him, "I”ve been trying to practice concentration for a long time, but my mind has never been still. It keeps wandering off outside. Is there another way I might be able to practice
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Luang Pu would sometimes recommend this other method:
"When the mind isn”t still, you can at least make sure it doesn”t wander off far. Use your mindfulness to stay mindful solely of the body. Look to see it as inconstant, stressful, and not-self. Develop the perception of its being unattractive, with nothing of any substance to it at all. When the mind sees clearly in this way, it will give rise to a sense of dismay, disenchantment, and dispassion. This, too, can cut through …
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