Venerable Ajahn Chah

Once fully cultivated, the four noble truths reside in our hearts.

In whatever form suffering takes, it always exists due to a cause.

That's the second noble truth.

And what is the cause?

Weak virtue, weak samadhi, weak wisdom.

The conditions which give rise to the path are virtue, samadhi and wisdom.

When they have attained full strength, the path of Dharma is unstoppable, advancing unceasingly to overcome the attachment and clinging that brings us so much anguish.

Suffering can't arise because the path

is destroying the defilements.

It's at this point that the cessation of suffering occurs.

Why is the path able to bring about the cessation of suffering?

Because virtue, samadhi and wisdom are attaining their peak of perfection.

and the path has gathered an unstoppable momentum.

It all comes together right here.

I would say to anyone who practices like this, theoretical ideas about the mind don't come into the picture.

If the mind has transcended conceptual knowledge, it will be very confident and certain in the practice, having gone beyond all doubt.

Even if it starts to wander off, you won't have to chase it very far to bring it back onto the path.

Virtue, samadhi and wisdom constitute the path of the Buddha.

But the way is not the essence of the Dharma.

The path isn't an end in itself.