Food for the Heart: The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah by Jack Kornfield

Food for the Heart: The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah Reviews

• 
  ☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣

  I can't really agree with most of this stuff, yet I can respect this way of thought without adhering to it:
  Q:
  Actually, in our practice, when you do walking meditation, you should really resolve to walk; when sitting in meditation, you should concentrate on doing just that. Whether you are standing, walking, sitting, or lying down, you should strive to be composed. But when people do a lot of study, their minds are full of words; they get high on the books and forget themselves. This is so only for those who don’t have wisdom, who are unrestrained, and whose sati is unsteady. Their minds become more and more distracted. Aimless chatter and socializing become the order of the day. It’s not because of the study in itself, but because they don’t make the effort, they forget themselves. (c)
  Q:
  At Wat Pah Pong we have a body which seems neither male nor female. It’s a skeleton, the one hanging in the main hall. Looking at it, you don’t get the feeling that it’s a man or a woman. People ask each other whether it’s a man or a woman, and all they can do is look blankly at each other. It’s only a skeleton; all the skin and flesh are gone.
  People are ignorant of these things. Some go to Wat Pah Pong, into the main hall, see the skeleton, and then come running right out again! They can’t bear to look. They’re afraid of skeletons. I figure these people have never seen themselves before. They ought to reflect on the great value of a skeleton. To get to the monastery they had to ride in a car or walk. If they didn’t have bones, how would they get around? Would they be able to walk? But they ride their cars to Wat Pah Pong, walk into the main hall, see the skeleton, and run straight out again! They’ve never seen such a thing before. They’re born with one and yet they’ve never seen it. It’s very fortunate that they have a chance to see it now. Even older people see the skeleton and get scared. What’s all the fuss about? This shows that they’re not at all in touch with themselves; they don’t really know themselves. Maybe they go home and can’t sleep for three or four days…and yet they’re sleeping with a skeleton! They get dressed with it, eat food with it, do everything with it, and yet they’re scared of it.(c)
• 
  Josh

  This is an amazing book. Having immersed myself in books on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness over the years, I sometimes wonder why I bother to read any more, but each one offers different perspectives and sometimes — for the very best of them, at least — I feel that reading them yields a few nuggets of wisdom... even if that wisdom comes in the form of instructions to stop reading so much and practice more (a common theme of Ajahn Chah's teachings). This book, Food for the Heart, is a gold mine. It is full of relevant, practical advice and simple, straight-forward discussions about love, loss, fear, death, peace, and happiness — you know, real life.
  
  While it started off on a hollow note, focusing on talks about the vinaya, the Theravada monastic code of conduct -- an arguably outdated and not-so-relevant topic to most modern readers -- it quickly turned into one of the most insightful series of talks I have ever encountered on both meditation and Buddhism.
  
  Ajahn Chah was surely a gifted teacher, and he really cuts right to the core of things, choosing to discard much of the "fluffy" talk that so often gets in the way nowadays. Many works on these topics are filled with overly-sentimental, superstition-laden platitudes. After all, people want happiness, they want peace, but they want it on their own terms, and most of all, they want to shore up their self-esteem rather than take a hard look at themselves. Ajahn Chah knows this well and he has much to say about it.
  
  If you're interested in understanding human suffering -- why we suffer and what we can do about it -- then you are going to get something from this book. It doesn't matter if you're coming at this from the perspective of a an atheist meditator, a committed Buddhist, a spiritual seeker, or a positive psychologist working in research, you will benefit from this collection.
  
  That said, if you aren't already familiar with a few basic topics in Buddhism, you might find yourself a little lost as he often refers back to the suttas of the Pali Canon (early Buddhist scriptures), but don't let this discourage you — just ignore the Pali terminology and focus on the meat of what is being discussed. Everything you need to know is right here.
• 
  Jo

  Some of the most sublime and useful Buddhist literature I have ever read, from one of the most respected meditation masters of his age. Ajahn (the Thai term for "teacher") Chah was a monk in the Forest Tradition, who's vivid and powerfully simple style of teaching made him a favorite among Western students including Jack Kornfield. The clarity is so appealing! I have enjoyed reading it in small bits before daily meditation, and really letting it soak in like rain to the field.
• 
  Steve Woods

  This is a wonderful collection of Dharma talks by one of the most prominent teachers of the 20th Century. Archan Chaa is a monk who entered the sangha at a very early age, with little formal education, his deep understanding of Buddha's teachings has come from practice and not the intellect. This collection is a great companion for anyone on this path. He explains and expounds with clarity and compassion in a very down to earth way. Easily understood by anyone he manages to illuminate the basic teachings of Buddhism in such that they can be eased into everyday life. This book reminded me of the purpose and efficacy of a shoe horn in fitting a just right pair of tailor made shoes.
  
  I found this book very satisfying and it will become a reread that I can refer to often. In my own practice I often feel overwhelmed and daunted by the task. This book offers both guidance and reassurance, reducing what seems so complex into a simplicity easily accepted and absorbed though as we all lnow not so easily put into practice. This book is a life changer, while some basic knowledge of the Buddha's teachings is helpful and some background in practice useful in providing gnarled nuts that can be addressed and dissolved by the words of this wonderful man, there is universal wisdom here that applies to everyone.
• 
  Jeff

  Ajahn Chah was a rigorous and highly influential Dhamma teacher in the forests of northern Thailand, where he attracted and grew a considerable number of Western monks. Subsequently the Thai and Western monks have dispersed and developed a remarkable number of monasteries around the world.
  My humble understanding is that he restored a focus on clear-eyed living, supported by practice, especially highly effective meditation.
  
  They say that he was compassionate, skillful and humorous. He also comes across as ferocious.
  
  I've absorbed a lot of Ajahn Chah lore through the diligent efforts of our local Abbot, Ajahn Brahm, (
  http://www.ajahnbrahm.org/) so was ready for this book, which has taken on the role of my current resident mentor.
  
  Along with neat little works (on my smart phone) by Pema Chodron and Ayya Khema, he has pretty much got me cornered.
  
  PS: I am going around, again, and again. Probably Ajahn Chah would beat me and tell me to toss it ... :-)
• 
  Teo 2050

  2020.09.22–2020.09.29
  
  Contents
  
  Ajahn Chah (2002) (15:21) Food for the Heart - The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah
  
  Foreword by Jack Kornfield
  
  Introduction by Amaro Bhikkhu
  • The Forest Tradition
  • Ajahn Chah
  • Ajahn Chah’s Teaching of Westerners
  • The Essentials: View, Teaching, and Practice
  • • The Four Noble Truths
  • • The Law of Kamma
  • • Everything Is Uncertain
  • • Choice of Expression: “Yes” or “No”
  • • Emphasis on Right View and Virtue
  • Methods of Training
  • • Teaching the Laity and Teaching Monastics
  • • Counteracting Superstition
  • • Humor
  • • Last Years
  
  01. About This Mind
  
  02. Fragments of a Teaching
  • One Who Wishes to Reach the Buddhadhamma
  • Walking the Path of Buddhadhamma
  • How to Purify One’s Morality
  • The Practice of Concentration
  • The Arising of Wisdom
  • The Benefits of Practice
  
  Part I: Conduct—Virtue and the World of the Senses
  
  03. Living in the World with Dhamma
  04. Making the Heart Good
  05. Sense Contact—the Fount of Wisdom
  06. Understanding Vinaya
  07. Maintaining the Standard
  08. Why Are We Here?
  09. The Flood of Sensuality
  
  10. The Two Faces of Reality
  • The Trap of the Senses
  • The Worldly Way and Liberation
  • Constant Practice
  • The Empty Flag
  • The Forest of the Senses
  • Coming to the Center
  • Escape
  
  Part II: Meditation
  
  11. A Gift of Dhamma
  12. Inner Balance
  
  13. The Path in Harmony
  • On the Dangers of Samādhi
  
  14. The Training of the Heart
  
  15. Reading the Natural Mind
  • The Wisdom of Everyday Experience
  • Constant Effort
  • Knowing Oneself and Knowing Others
  • Theory and Practice
  • Insight Meditation (Vipassanā)
  • Samatha Meditation
  • Untying the Knot
  • Disenchantment
  • The Four Noble Truths
  
  16. The Key to Liberation
  • Theory and Reality
  • Sīla, Samādhi, and Paññā
  • The Dangers of Attachment
  • “Spontaneous Combustion”
  • The Power of Samādhi
  • Working in Accord with Nature
  • Changing Our Vision
  • Following the Middle Path
  • Dedication to the Practice
  • Do It!
  • Establishing the Basis of Meditation
  • Contemplation
  
  17. Meditation (Samādhi Bhāvāna)
  18. Dhamma Fighting
  19. Just Do It!
  20. Right Practice—Steady Practice
  21. Sammā Samādhi—Detachment within Activity
  22. In the Dead of Night
  
  Part III: Wisdom
  
  23. What Is Contemplation?
  24. Dhamma Nature
  25. Living with the Cobra
  26. The Middle Way Within
  27. The Peace Beyond
  28. Convention and Liberation
  29. No Abiding
  30. Right View—the Place of Coolness
  31. Our Real Home
  32. The Four Noble Truths
  33. “Tuccho Poṭhila”—Venerable Empty Scripture
  34. “Not Sure!”—The Standard of the Noble Ones
  35. Still, Flowing Water
  36. Transcendence
  37. Toward the Unconditioned
  38. Epilogue
  
  Glossary
  Notes
  Sources of the Text
• 
  Andrew Vought

  I love this book because it's not a book that was written by an author, but
  a capturing of spoken wisdom via dharma talks. We are privileged to hear the inside
  scoop of the workings of the dharma without it being watered down in any way.
  What I find helpful is that Ajahn Chah doesn't distinguish between
  monks or laypeople. Practice is practice, and yes it's difficult, but
  not impossible for anyone. This is a book I will be returning to for inspiration
  and wisdom in my practice.
• 
  Hendro Chen

  This book is amazing. It is like ajahn chah talking in front of you. his understanding on dharma is superb, even some deeper concepts can be explained in a very easy and simple manners. I have benefited a lot from this book. Thanks ajahn Chah.
• 
  Linda Vituma

  Mrs. Empy Pages ir izlasījusi kārtējo grāmatu. Jā, jā - to es par sevi. Nenosodu. Konstatēju faktu. Un aizdomājos, vai tik' ar mani nav līdzīgi kā ar to mūku, kurš turēja vistas, bet nekad nesavāca olas, vien vistu sūdus. Tā var gadīties, ja visu laiku tikai lasa, bet aizmirst izlasīto likt dzīvē. Redzēs, redzēs, kā mana prakse ritēs. Rit.
• 
  Felipe Martins

  Material muito bom, mas não recomendo pra quem ainda está iniciando com estudos e prática no Budismo.
• 
  Chetan

  A collection of straightforward no-nonsense dhamma seminars by the venerable Ajahn Chah.
  
  Ajahn Chah is very orthodox, traditional to a point, teacher of the Dhamma. Whose teaching style differs from many of his contemporary satipatthana meditation masters. Chah is very blunt, this can come off as arrogance and it takes time to see beyond that. When you finally grasp the dhamma taught in this style. The dhamma will ring true in you.
  
• 
  Brian Wilcox

  I rated a three, and possibly that is not about the quality of the book, but what is connecting with me presently. I read Chah's Being Dharma some 10 years ago, in a silent retreat alone, and it resonated much. I rated it a 5. It left a vivid impression. I found Ajahn Chah to be the most impressive Buddhist teacher I had read. I simply did not find the same connection with this work, possibly, again, having nothing to do with the book and certainly not with Ajahn Chah. Still, if I had to recommend between the two works, I would Being Dharma, if one is seeking one read to become acquainted with the Teacher and his dhamma sharing.
• 
  Sachin Gopal

  I have not yet finished this book but this is such an awesome read. If you look at the core of life, there is no state in life. There is no happiness, suffering, good or a bad day. The state of accepting impermanence and uncertainty in your mind with equality is what this book wants to teach. You will find Pali used while referring to sutras. If you are inquisitive, Google it or just go with flow.
  
  This is one of the best books I have read over a long time. Recommend highly.
• 
  Chad Kohalyk

  As this is a collection of dhamma talks, given throughout Ajahn Chah's career, you probably shouldn't read this book cover to cover since some of the themes begin to seem quite repetitive. Pace yourself, maybe read a chapter a week. That is what I will do when I read this again. And I will: there is a lot of wisdom in these pages, and the audio narrator is great too!
• 
  Phuoc Truong

  Rất hay.
  Sách là tập hợp những bài giảng của thiền sư thời tại thế. Nói chung là rất trực chỉ, ngôn từ dễ hiểu, rất hay và đáng đọc.
• 
  Johnathan Kochis

  Favorite Book of All Time
  
  As of June 2021, this my favorite book of all time. It changed my life, and gave me my practice
• 
  Marco

  Here's the deal with Ajahn Chah: in each of these lectures he's either speaking to laymen or to monks. When he's speaking to people like you and me he's all fun and games; a bit too harsh, surely, but still relatable and wise. I'd highlight almost entire chapters.
  
  Now when uncle Chah is speaking to monks - good God almighty. I'll just say he tells them to throw their food away when they're not sure if it's past midday or not; or to practice sitting by a charnel ground alone at night meditating on your own rotting carcass - among other fun exercises.
  
  So the chapters were almost hit or miss depending on how severe he was being. There were times when I was sure I'd rate this book 2 or 3 stars, but then whole chapters of distilled wisdom would soak me to the brim with insights and I'd feel very grateful for his sharing.
• 
  Anthony Mazzorana

  Good: This is an awesome read. An absolute treasure trove of Buddhist wisdom.
  
  Bad: Depending on your interest level in Buddhism, some of the chapters could end up feeling a little repetitive.
  
  Ugly: Nothing ugly here. This is one of those rare books that I might go out and purchase AFTER having read a copy from the library. It's worth owning.
• 
  Harry Green

  The teachings of Ajahn Chah will transform your life. Reading this book I was wondering how wonderful it would have been to be in his presence while he was alive. So many modern teachers were directly impacted by him. This book has done a great job in condensing his teachings for us on the path. I am inspired to read more of his books.
• 
  Artem

  The text is somewhat chaotic, lacking logic, order and form. Tons of repetitions and as most of such books, severely lacking the use of proper and appealing to westerners vocabulary.
• 
  Les Moore

  4.85
• 
  Stanley Shen

  What a great man. But he would neither want to be or want not to be a great one. Thank you for the teachings. Wisdom is already there in the heart but we are too blind to see.
• 
  Nick Maverick

  Flawless teachings from a supremely enlightened master.
• 
  LemontreeLime

  Loved it, especially when he gets testy. Nothing zings dharma like an irritated Buddhist monk. (& I mean that in the kindest best way)