Mahasi Sayadaw > Quotes

“Treba uvek imati na umu da Budin put može omogućiti oslobođenje od
patnje samo onima koji ga zaista i praktikuju.”
― Mahasi Sayadaw

“Carefully restraining the senses”
― Mahasi Sayadaw, Manual of Insight

“One should keep oneself occupied all the time with wholesome deeds such as: learning, teaching, memorizing, reading, scrutinizing, and chanting the Buddhist scriptures; discharging the daily duties of a monk; discussing the Dhamma, only speaking about the Dhamma; giving or listening to Dhamma talks; and practicing asceticism (dhutaṅga).”
― Mahasi Sayadaw, Manual of Insight

“As ultimate reality emerges, concepts submerge. As concepts emerge, ultimate reality submerges.”
― Mahasi Sayadaw, Manual of Insight

“Patience leads to Nibbana,” as the saying goes. This saying is most relevant in meditational effort. One must be patient in meditation. If one shifts or changes one’s posture too often because one cannot be patient with the sensation of stiffness or heat that arises, samadhi (good concentration) cannot develop. If samadhi cannot develop, insight cannot result and there can be no attainment of magga (the path that leads to Nibbana), phala (the fruit of that path) and Nibbana. That is why patience is needed in meditation. It is patience mostly with unpleasant sensations in the body like stiffness, sensations of heat and pain, and other sensations that are hard to bear. One should not immediately give up one’s meditation on the appearance of such sensations and change one’s meditational posture. One should go on patiently, just noting as “stiffness, stiffness” or “hot, hot.” Moderate sensations of these kinds will disappear if one goes on noting them patiently. [...] One then reverts to noting the rising and falling of the abdomen.”
― Mahasi Sayadaw, Fundamentals of Vipassana Meditation

“We are very fortunate to be alive at this point in history when we have access to the teachings of the Buddha. It is a tremendous opportunity for all of us. We have the chance to profit by realizing the path, fruition, and nibbāna that are the most valuable Dhammas. But this opportunity will pass. Unfortunately this great opportunity does not last forever. The span of our lives ends before long. Even if our lifespans are not yet over, we can die at any time. And even while we are still alive, we may lose the ability to practice if we become weak or sick due to old age, if conditions are too dangerous, or if other problems or difficulties arise.”
― Mahasi Sayadaw, Manual of Insight

“Striving hard to gain happiness and well-being feels so miserable.”
― Mahasi Sayadaw, Manual of Insight