Letting Go

About Letting Go

Letting go is closely related to cāga, relinquishment, and to the abandoning of upādāna, clinging. It is not giving up on life or pushing things away. It is the natural result of seeing that what we hold cannot stay, and that holding it hurts. The Buddha taught that release comes through understanding, not force.

Ajahn Chah drew this distinction sharply. The Middle Way: Let Go with Wisdom, Not Indifference explains that letting go without awareness is no different from the letting go of cows and buffaloes, and that one should first hold firmly to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. His own life gives vivid examples: in The Unfinished Bowl Lid That Taught Ajahn Chah to Let Go, Ajahn Chah, scalded by torch drippings while weaving a lid through the night out of craving, learns to do a little, put it down, and watch whether the mind keeps circling. Generosity as Training in Letting Go shows giving as a daily way of loosening possessiveness.

Ajahn Dtun’s talks follow letting go into its finer stages, from cutting attachment to the body to not clinging even to the peace of meditation, as greed, anger and delusion are gradually worn away.

Life stories, practical advice and longer talks are gathered together for anyone learning to loosen their grip.

Ajahn Dtun

Learning to Stop Comparing and Find Peace Within

Selected Section

Venerable Ajahn Dtun – Beyond Superiority and Inferiority Venerable Ajahn Dtun offers a profound reflection on Māna—the subtle tendency of the mind to compare itself with others: “I am better than them,” “I am equal to them,” or “I am not as good as them.” Although these comparisons may appear ordinary and natural, Ajahn Dtun explains that this self-referencing tendency is deeply rooted in the mind. It can quietly influence how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we experience our own place in the world. For some people, the mind constantly feels inferior. We look at the lives, abilities, achievements, or spiritual progress of others and feel that we are falling behind. At other times, the mind moves in the opposite direction, creating a sense of superiority—believing that we are better, more capable, or more developed than others. Both are forms of comparison. Ajahn Dtun explains that these tendencies are connected with Māna, and that fully letting go of this subtle conceit is a very deep stage of spiritual development. It is not simply a matter of telling ourselves to “stop comparing.” Rather, it requires gradually understanding the nature of the self that is constantly measuring, judging, and positioning itself in relation to others. One practical approach is to learn how to bring the mind back to a more balanced perspective. When we feel that we are not as good as others, Ajahn Dtun suggests recognising that there are always people who may be facing much greater difficulties and hardships. Seeing this can help us understand that our own situation may not be as bad as the mind has imagined. This does not mean comparing ourselves with those who have less in order to feel better. Rather, it is an opportunity to correct an exaggerated perception and return the mind to a more balanced and realistic attitude. Ajahn Dtun also reminds us that every person is different. There is no need to measure our journey against someone else's. Instead of continually looking outward and asking, “Where do I stand compared with them?”, we can turn our attention inward and ask: “What is happening within my own heart?” This is where genuine spiritual practice begins. Ajahn Dtun encourages us not to become overly interested in whether others are better or worse than ourselves. Our responsibility is to work with our own mind—to recognise our own defilements, cultivate goodness, and gradually develop the heart. Yet this does not mean becoming indifferent to the goodness of others. If someone is able to come to the monastery frequently, practise more often, give generously, or develop qualities that we ourselves have not yet developed, we can choose a completely different response. Instead of jealousy, comparison, or feelings of inadequacy, we can offer our anumodana—rejoicing in their goodness. This quality is known as Muditā, the ability to rejoice in the goodness and happiness of others. When another person does something wholesome, we do not have to see their goodness as a threat to our own worth. Their goodness can become a reason for our own heart to rejoice. This is a beautiful transformation of the mind. Instead of thinking: “They are doing more than me.” we can learn to think: “How wonderful that they are able to cultivate goodness. May they continue to grow in the Dhamma.” When the mind can genuinely rejoice in another person's goodness, comparison begins to lose its power. The heart becomes lighter. There is less need to prove ourselves, less need to compete, and less suffering created by constantly measuring our lives against the lives of others. Ajahn Dtun's teaching therefore points us toward a very practical form of inner freedom: stop measuring your worth through other people. Everyone is walking according to their own conditions, their own kamma, their own capabilities, and their own stage of development. Our task is not to become someone else. Our task is to understand and cultivate our own heart. And when we can rejoice sincerely in the goodness of others, their progress no longer becomes a source of comparison. It becomes an opportunity to cultivate goodness within ourselves. This is the beauty of Muditā—a heart that can be happy because another person is doing well. May this teaching by Venerable Ajahn Dtun help us recognise the subtle ways in which comparison operates within the mind, release the need to feel superior or inferior, develop a more balanced attitude toward ourselves and others, and learn to rejoice sincerely in the goodness of those around us. 🍃 The Still Path 🍃 🔔 Subscribe for more authentic Dhamma teachings #AjahnDtun #Dhamma #Buddhism #Māna #Mudita #Meditation #ThaiForestTradition #AjahnChah #BuddhistTeachings #DhammaTalk #MindTraining #InnerPeace #SelfAwareness #SpiritualPractice #Muditā