Why Must We Practice? | Online Retreat Feb 2024

Ajahn Anan emphasizes the importance of Dhamma practice to overcome suffering caused by delusion and attachment to self. He explains that although everything is inherently not self, our minds still cling to self-identity due to ignorance. To counter this, one must develop wisdom through the practice of morality (Sīla), concentration (Samādhi), and wisdom (Paññā), leading to insight into non-self (Anattā) and liberation from suffering.

Ajahn Anan uses metaphors like hunger and decaying buildings to illustrate the necessity of practice for achieving inner peace and understanding the transient nature of reality. He stresses the need for mindfulness and contemplation to see through the illusion of self and recognize the emptiness of all phenomena, drawing parallels with Mahayana teachings on form and emptiness. This path of practice, rooted in Buddhist ethics and meditation, guides practitioners toward awakening and the end of suffering.