The Power of Familiarity

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

One of the great underrated powers in the world is the power of familiarity. Human beings can feel indifferent in the presence of great beauty or great horror, merely because they have seen it many times before. People completely unmoved by cruel violence are not monsters. They are simply used to what they see and do.

By allowing ourselves to get used to things, life may become a little more peaceful. But it is a false peace, one gained by giving up part of what makes us truly human.

Fools seek to escape the tyranny of the familiar by constantly searching for new experiences, and are thus forever restless and dissatisfied. The wise keep re-establishing awareness in the present moment. By doing so they retain an ever-fresh appreciation of experience. The peace that they realise is not the result of a dulling of the faculties, but a deep understanding of the way things are.

- - ❖ - -

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

- - ❖ - -

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