A great dharma talk on opening to fear and anxiety and how to work with it in meditation practice.
You can remind yourself of the noble persons who have walked this path before you. This path is no dusty byway. Buddhas from time immemorial, the silent Buddhas, the great disciples, the arahants, all the rest of the noble ones, all have walked here. If you want to share this distinguished path, fortify yourself with dignity and be diligent. No room for cowards or the lazy; this is a road for heroes and heroines.
You might say to yourself: "People of distinction have walked this path, and I must try to live up to their company. I can't be sloppy here. I shall walk with as much care as possible, fearlessly. I have this chance to belong to a great family, the group of distinguished people who walk on this noble path. I should congratulate myself for having the opportunity to do this. People like me have walked on this path and attained the various stages of enlightenment. So I, too, will be able to reach the same attainment"
Through such reflection, effort can arise and lead you to the goal of nibbana (freedom).
~Sayadaw U Pandita
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Bear in mind that this practice is difficult. The mind is the important thing, but training it is hard. Everything within this body-mind system comes together at the mind. The eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and body all receive sensations and send them to the mind, which is the supervisor of all the other sense organs. If the mind is well trained, all problems come to an end. If there are still problems its because the mind still has doubts; it doesn't know things in accordance with the truth.
Understand that you have come fully prepared for practicing Dhamma. Whether standing, walking, sitting or reclining, the tools you need with which to practice are well provided, wherever you are. They are there, just like the Dhamma. The Dhamma is something that abounds everywhere. Right here, on land or in water, wherever, the Dhamma is always present. The Dhamma is perfect and complete, but its our practice that's not yet complete.
~Ajahn Chah
The Dhamma is the most precious thing in the entire world,
Practicing it leads to freedom and the end of psychological suffering and stress.
Remembering this, I practice with my whole heart,
And skillfully transform and train this mind.
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