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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 11

whoever has this supreme refuge, this highest refuge,
by this refuge, one will make an end of all Dukkha,
suffering. It is that which reduces the renewed births
and deaths, cycling around in Samsara. And it also
makes suffering cease in the present as well. That is why
the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha is the supreme and
highest refuge.

And the Triple Gem isn’t something to be taken playfully.
The one who truly enters into it must be someone
who understands clearly. They have wisdom and can Disciples pay respects to Ajahn Anan on his birthday.
see into Aniccam, Dukkham, Anatta, impermanence,
unsatisfactoriness and not-self. One who has faith like
this, is someone who is determined to listen to Dhamma
or discussing Dhamma. We recite the verses of chanting
and Dhamma, and investigate into Dhamma. And we
practise Samatha, tranquillity, and Vipassana, insight
meditation, like you do here. This is called making the
mind peaceful. We have mindfulness with the in- and
out-breath, according to time and opportunity. But
those who have faith may do it more continually. They
are able to make their minds peaceful and this leads to The monastery's Bodhi Tree can be traced back to a clipping of the
original from Bodh Gaya, India.
the arising of wisdom, which can overcome the mental
defilements. But if our place isn’t appropriate, this may
make us disrupted and agitated. If we may be able to
find one quiet spot in the house, and then we may be
able to have peace and calm come up. So when we have
this supreme refuge like this, then this is the building up
of our wisdom.

If there may be fear of wild or other animals, fear of
spirits or for some people, they are of the level of having
homage for other things ‘greater’ than the Triple Gem.
There may be many who worship tree spirits or deities Long-time supporters of the monastery share a moment with Ajahn
Anan before the meal.
as their refuge. But when venerable Ajahn Chah first
built Wat Nong Pah Pong, the villagers mainly worshiped
spirits as their refuge. But after listening to Ajahn Chah’s things that happened, like stones falling, hitting this lay
teachings, they gained faith, and so they determined to person’s roof. And it made a loud racket. But this one
practise the five precepts and they took refuge in the layman decided right there and then to take firm refuge
Triple Gem. They had made the certain decision that if in the Triple Gem, and there was nothing that could
they had to die, then so be it. But let me die with faith harm or endanger him. And he was someone who kept
in the Triple Gem. There were many experiences, many the five precepts from that day onwards.