‘The Eightfold Path is really just awareness. Awareness is the path, and the eight parts are more or less positions for reflection.’
Ajahn Sumedho
Ajahn Sumedho
Morning meditation — The way of virtue is respecting the world.
‘The way of virtue is respecting the world — respecting our own bodies, respecting the rights of other beings, living in a way that is not cruel, not harmful, not divisive, not insensitive, not brutal.’
Ajahn Sumedho
Morning meditation — There are various ways to help others.
‘There are various ways to help others, but one way you can really help is by not creating a problem, by trusting the presence of awareness.’
Ajahn Sumedho
Morning meditation — Being born itself implies that we are going to be subject to different forces.
‘Being born itself implies that we are going to be subject to different forces beyond our control.’
Ajahn Sumedho
Morning meditation — The significance of the Buddhist teaching.
‘The significance of the Buddhist teaching lies in the fact that it isn’t doctrinal. It’s not an attempt to tell us how things should be, it’s more a way of bringing our attention to the way things are.’
Ajahn Sumedho
Morning meditation — Our society is based on becoming.
‘Our society is based on becoming. I was brought up to become something. We were always looking ahead into the future, always thinking there was something we must do. ‘You’re not good enough the way you are.’
Ajahn Sumedho
Morning meditation: One accepts — does not necessarily approve.
‘One accepts — does not necessarily approve — but accepts the way one is feeling. And in that perspective, the spiritual path is developed.’
Ajahn Sumedho
Morning meditation — Reflecting on the way it is brings into consciousness.
‘Reflecting on the way it is brings into consciousness what a lifespan as a human being involves, the possibilities.’
Ajahn Sumedho
Buddhism now 