Venerable Ajahn Chah

Not the ultimate aim of the Blessed One.

But it's the way leading inwards.

It's just like how you travelled from Bangkok to my monastery, Wat Nong Pa Pong.

It's not the road you were after.

What you wanted was to reach the monastery, but you needed the road for the journey.

The road you travelled on is not the monastery.

It's the same with virtue, samadhi and wisdom.

We could say they are not the essence of the Dharma, but they are the road to arrive there.

When virtue, samadhi and wisdom have been mastered, the result is profound peace of mind,

Once we've arrived at this peace, even if we hear a noise, the mind remains unruffled.

Once we've reached this peace, there's nothing remaining to do.

The Buddha taught to give it all up

Whatever happens, there's nothing to worry about.

Then we truly, unquestionably, know for ourselves.

We no longer simply believe what other people say.

The essential principle of Buddhism is empty of any phenomena.

It's not contingent upon miraculous displays of psychic powers, paranormal abilities, or anything else mystical or bizarre.

The Buddha did not emphasize the importance of these things.

Such powers, however, do exist and may be possible to develop.

But this facet of Dharma is deluding.