The Silent Legacy of Quiet Lives

Ajahn Amaro

Reflecting on the impact of the silent legacy of quiet lives they pass on, through the way that they speak, the way that they relate to others, their insignificant acts of kindness, and unselfishness. They bring attention to what we do, how we do it, the way we work in the world, and the way we communicate. It’s from a non-personal point of view, a Dhamma point of view. So whether things go well or things go badly, we can learn from both of those. Not being selfish, not seeing things from a self-centered perspective is one of the most important kinds of acts of generosity that we can practice. Training the mind using meditation uses the capacity to wisely reflect upon our attitudes to not see things in personal, self-centered terms.

The Objectification Conundrum

Ajahn Kaccana

Ajahn Kaccāna spells out the necessity of living in a world that consists of objects, but explains how this objectification can be held in a detached and skillful manner. He recounts an experience in his own past in which he held on tightly and suffered as a result, and relates two humorous examples in the life of Luang Por Liem, when Luang Por manifested a wise and skillful equanimity.

The Endlessness of Suffering

Ajahn Karunadhammo

Ajahn Karunadhammo recalls the First and Second Watches of the night of the Buddha’s enlightenment, in which the Buddha saw his own endless wanderings through samsara, and other beings’ arising and passing through various states of woe. He then describes the Buddha’s enlightenment in the Third Watch, in which the Buddha realized The Four Noble Truths, and the practice of mindfulness immersed in the body as a way to liberation.