Dealing with the Pressure of Legitimate Expectations

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

One year, while I was leading the monastic community at Wat Pah Nanachat, a certain young monk would regularly miss the early morning chanting/meditation sessions and the afternoon work periods. When I spoke to him about it he told me that the source of his problems was the monastery bell. He said that when he heard the sound of the bell it seemed to him as if he was being ordered to go to group activities, and he was feeling a lot of resistance to that sense of being forced. He said that it wasn’t that he didn’t want to join in group activities, but that he couldn’t bear being told what to do in that way. He knew it wasn’t a very mature reaction, but he couldn’t help himself.

I gave the young monk the following advice: “The morning bell is rung at 3am and the afternoon bell at 3pm. Set your alarm clock for 2.45 and arrive at the Dhamma Hall before the bell is struck. If you do that, you will be able to fulfil your duties without feeling that you are being told what to do.” I said that a wiser way of dealing with the pressure of legitimate expectations is not to rebel or do less than is required, but to do slightly more.

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"Food for the Heart", a series of Dhamma teachings handwritten weekly is posted on the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives page with Ajahn's kind permission.

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For other teachings by Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro, please visit the Panyaprateep Foundation website.