A Few Thoughts on Obstacles

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

A few thoughts on obstacles.

Be flexible in your approach. Ajahn Chah once said: ‘If obstacles come low, jump over them. If they come high, duck under them.

Don’t try to get rid of thoughts during meditation; it gives them too much importance. Simply shine the light of awareness on thoughts and they will disappear by themselves.

It is not the problem that is the problem. The problem is not wanting to have the problem.

If you make peace the goal of meditation you will find the five hindrances depressing. If you make moment-by-moment clarity of mind your goal, the five hindrances will appear as challenges and teachers.

Develop the skill of being fully awake to experience. If you do this the blind grasping onto pleasant feeling and the instinctive rejection of unpleasant feeling will fade. The true nature of things will manifest.

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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.