Hello Cittasanto, all
I recently misquoted Ajahn Chah, afirming that he broke a vinaya rule. I remembered it wrong. On Ajahn Chah's facebook page today, was the description of what realy happened:
Once a layman pleaded with Ajahn Chah to read his future (which he never did). Finally Ajahn Chah gave in and looked at his palms. He said: "I will reveal your future, and I never make a mistake in this." The layman was very excited to know his future. Ajahn Chah said: "Your future ... is uncertain."
I apologise for slandering Ajahn Chah and eventualy inducing people in error.
A misquote of Ajahn Chah
- Modus.Ponens
- Posts: 3853
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:38 am
- Location: Gallifrey
A misquote of Ajahn Chah
'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' - Jhana Sutta
- DNS
- Site Admin
- Posts: 17188
- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
- Contact:
Re: A misquote of Ajahn Chah
That's right! I remember Ajahn Brahm telling that joke/story when he was here in Las Vegas.Modus.Ponens wrote: Once a layman pleaded with Ajahn Chah to read his future (which he never did). Finally Ajahn Chah gave in and looked at his palms. He said: "I will reveal your future, and I never make a mistake in this." The layman was very excited to know his future. Ajahn Chah said: "Your future ... is uncertain."
- Polar Bear
- Posts: 1348
- Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:39 am
Re: A misquote of Ajahn Chah
What a good way to transform what would be wrong livelihood for a bhikkhu into a teaching of dhamma. I always found this story humorous.
"I don't envision a single thing that, when developed & cultivated, leads to such great benefit as the mind. The mind, when developed & cultivated, leads to great benefit."
"I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress."
"I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress."
Re: A misquote of Ajahn Chah
Isn't aging, sickness and death the only certainties in life?
And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, & from idle chatter: This is called right speech.
Re: A misquote of Ajahn Chah
You forgot taxes and a mother in law (for the married)...Isn't aging, sickness and death the only certainties in life?
- Cittasanto
- Posts: 6646
- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:31 pm
- Location: Ellan Vannin
- Contact:
Re: A misquote of Ajahn Chah
Thanks MP for reminding us of that story.
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.
He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
Re: A misquote of Ajahn Chah
Classic ChahModus.Ponens wrote:Hello Cittasanto, all
I recently misquoted Ajahn Chah, afirming that he broke a vinaya rule. I remembered it wrong. On Ajahn Chah's facebook page today, was the description of what realy happened:
Once a layman pleaded with Ajahn Chah to read his future (which he never did). Finally Ajahn Chah gave in and looked at his palms. He said: "I will reveal your future, and I never make a mistake in this." The layman was very excited to know his future. Ajahn Chah said: "Your future ... is uncertain."
I apologise for slandering Ajahn Chah and eventualy inducing people in error.
Sotthī hontu nirantaraṃ - May you forever be well.
Re: A misquote of Ajahn Chah
Inescapable, not certainties. Are you certain to get sick ?pegembara wrote:Isn't aging, sickness and death the only certainties in life?
_/\_
Knowing about dhamma, does not imply knowing dhamma
Re: A misquote of Ajahn Chah
This is yet another reason why I like Ajahn Chah so much (although not having personally met him, of course). I'm imagining the audience hushed with anticipation...then he comes out with that 'pronouncement'. lolModus.Ponens wrote: Once a layman pleaded with Ajahn Chah to read his future (which he never did). Finally Ajahn Chah gave in and looked at his palms. He said: "I will reveal your future, and I never make a mistake in this." The layman was very excited to know his future. Ajahn Chah said: "Your future ... is uncertain."
To the Buddha-refuge i go; to the Dhamma-refuge i go; to the Sangha-refuge i go.