Dāma. Sīla, Banana

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

My lay supporter this morning related a reply given by Ajahn Chah to one of his disciples, who asked why it was necessary to perform alms-giving, paying homage, and other meritorious deeds — why not just practice meditation?

Ajahn Chah asked him if he bought bananas when he went to the market, he replied that he did.

The Ajahn then asked him if he bought them with the skins on, or without the skins. He replied that he bought them with the skins on.

He asked if he brought them back from the market with the skins on, or discarded the skins at the market and just brought home the flesh. He replied that he brought the bananas home with their skins on.

Ajahn Chah then asked whether he ate the bananas and their skins, or just ate the flesh. He replied that he ate the flesh, and discarded the skins.

[Buckwheat]

wow

Thank you, bhante.

Scott

[reflection]

Guess I like banana skins..

[purple planet]

i dont like the banana skin but no doubt that eating banana flesh is very hard

i wish there was a way to reach enlightenment by only eating banana skins

[Sadge]

Ow I don't get it

[purple planet]

I dont think i fully get it also lol but as far as i get

it means that acting good is good and important to keep the "way" but you need also meditation and that meditation is the core - i guess it means that acting morally is "protecting" the meditation like the skin protects the flesh - you cant act bad and do meditation and expect to reach nirvana and you cant just act morally and reach nirvana without meditation

[Dennenappelmoes]

My take is that in the first stages that formal conduct has a role, and eventually (upon enlightenment) these would no longer be needed and can be abandoned, but not before that time. What do you think?

[Rasko]

Taṇhā and coconuts:

Suppose we went to buy some coconuts in the market, and while
we were carrying them back someone asked:
“What did you buy those coconuts for?”
“I bought them to eat.”
“Are you going to eat the shells as well?”
“No.”
“I don’t believe you. If you’re not going to eat the shells then why
did you buy them also?”
Well what do you say? How are you going to answer their question?

We practice with desire. If we didn’t have desire we wouldn’t practice.
Practicing with desire is taṇhā. Contemplating in this way can give rise
to wisdom, you know. For example, those coconuts: Are you going to
eat the shells as well? Of course not. Then why do you take them?
Because the time hasn’t yet come for you to throw them away. They’re
useful for wrapping up the coconut in. If, after eating the coconut, you
throw the shells away, there is no problem.

Our practice is like this. The Buddha said, “Don’t act on desire,
don’t speak from desire, don’t eat with desire.” Standing, walking, sit-
ting or reclining... whatever... don’t do it with desire. This means to
do it with detachment. It’s just like buying the coconuts from the mar-
ket. We’re not going to eat the shells but it’s not yet time to throw
them away. We keep them first. This is how the practice is. Concept
and transcendence are co-existent, just like a coconut. The flesh, the
husk and the shell are all together. When we buy it we buy the whole
lot. If somebody wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells that’s their
business, we know what we’re doing.

Ajahn Chah, Food for the Heart: Right Practice - Steady Practice

[Sadge]

Got it. Love it. I mean, just noticing the desire surrounding it