To look for total satisfaction in oneself is a futile endeavor. Since everything changes from moment to moment, where can self and where can satisfaction be found? Everybody is unhappy simply because of unfilled desire. Everybody is looking for something… — Ayya Khema Copy Share Image
Mindfulness is not just a word or a discourse by the Buddha, but a meaningful state of mind. It means we have to be here now, in this very moment, and we have to know what is happening internally and… — Ayya Khema Copy Share Image
It is often thought that the Buddha's doctrine teaches us that suffering will disappear if one has meditated long enough, or if one sees… — Ayya Khema Copy Share Image
Half the spiritual life consists of remembering what we are up against and where we are going. — Ayya Khema Copy Share Image
“In meditation, we have to give ourselves totally, with no holding back. Whatever meditation subject we have chosen, we must become immersed in it;” — Ayya Khema Copy Share Image
“The teaching of the Buddha is called the Dhamma. He did not teach Buddhism, any more than Jesus taught Christianity.” — Ayya Khema Copy Share Image
“when the words we speak or write come from inner experience and are heartfelt, they are always imbued with “trembling for the welfare of… — Ayya Khema Copy Share Image
“Wisdom comes only from the understood experience and from nothing else.” — Ayya Khema Copy Share Image
We could become quite satisfied with ourselves because we are sitting in meditation and are endeavoring to practice the spiritual path. Such satisfaction with ourselves is not the same as contentment. Contentment is necessary, self-satisfaction is detrimental. To be content has to include knowing we are in the right place at the right time to facilitate our own growth. But… — Ayya Khema Copy Share
Unless we practice loving feelings toward everyone we meet, day in, day out, we're missing out on the most joyous part of life. If… — Ayya Khema Copy Share Image
the more we abandon ill-will and hatred, the easier it will be to meditate. — Ayya Khema Copy Share Image
Eventually we will find (mostly in retrospect, of course) that we can be very grateful to those people who have made life most difficult… — Ayya Khema Copy Share Image
