Portland Friends of the Dhamma PfODcast

Portland Friends of the Dhamma PfODcast


Jessica Swanson | Do the Thing, Remove the Self | 06/30/24 | eps 251

July 08, 2024

In this video, Jessica reads from the introduction to a collection of Ajahn Chah teachings and talks about getting work done despite the inclination to insert one's thoughts, opinions, and self-view.


*Here is Ajahn Amaro's telling of the conversation between Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho. It's clearer than mine:


Many years ago Luang Por Chah said to the newly ordained Bhikkhu Sumedho, “Sumedho, you must find it confusing because Dhamma is all about letting go, and Vinaya (the monastic discipline) is about holding on.” And, he said, “Yes, actually I do.” The Dhamma side of practice is all about relinquishing, abandoning, letting go, non-attachment. The Vinaya side of the monastic training is the 10,000 do’s and don’ts of looking after your robes, how to eat and how to relate to people and property. When Luang Por said that, Ajahn Sumedho thought: “Okay, now he is going to explain how that happens.” But all Luang Por Chah said was “When you figure out how those two work together you will be just fine.”