About This Teaching
What results does a method give? That, rather than any fixed system, was Ajahn Chah's test of a meditation technique. He accepted any approach that cultivated mindfulness, alertness and right effort, moved beyond the hindrances and led to samādhi as a basis for insight; whatever leads to letting go is correct. Meditators should use a technique compatible with their character, likened to an affinity for a food, which makes practice workable rather than easy, and should not switch methods too readily.
In his own words, the various methods are like different kinds of fish traps: different forms, one purpose. He usually taught a focus on the word Buddho or on the breath.
He called mindfulness of breathing the crown jewel of techniques: simple, always available in every posture, suited to all characters, and used by the Buddha and his disciples. Through it, the reading says, the whole threefold training is fulfilled: holding the mind to the breath is sīla, unbroken lucid focus is samādhi, and seeing the breath as impermanent and selfless is paññā.