Don’t Stop

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

In our Dhamma practice, consistency and continuity are vital. They are what are required to create the momentum we need to push past the defilements. Otherwise, we can easily become like the foolish man rubbing two sticks together to make fire.

He stops whenever he feels weary or bored. Each time he picks up the sticks to continue, the wood has cooled and he starts from zero. Before long, he becomes frustrated. He begins to doubt whether this method of making fire actually works. Eventually, he concludes that the practice of rubbing two sticks together does not, in fact, produce fire. He believes that he has proved it to be mere superstition. He persuades himself that his surrender to defilement is some kind of victory.

Don’t be like him. Don’t stop. If you can’t walk so well right now, then crawl for a while. It’s okay. Just don’t stop. You’ll get there.

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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.