Determination to Follow the Buddha’s Path to Liberation

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

“Monks, even if bandits were to sever you savagely limb by limb with a two-handed saw, if you were to give rise to a mind of hate towards them, you would not be carrying out my teachings” This is surely one of the most startling and intimidating of the sayings of the Buddha.

So how should we hold it in our hearts? Some people might think that the Buddha has set us an impossibly high standard to live up to. They may well feel despair: ‘I will never be a true disciple of the Buddha. It’s just too hard.’

Myself, I believe that with these words the Buddha was giving us a new perspective on our feelings, a skilful reflection to make use of at times when anger and ill-will threaten to engulf our minds. We can think, “The Buddha said that if I were practising his teachings well, I could let go of hate even if bandits were to be sawing my limbs off.” Compared with that, this provocation is nothing. I may not be able to guarantee my feelings if someone were to lop my arms off, but in this small matter, at least, I can show my determination to follow the Buddha’s path to liberation.

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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.