Wisdom

About Wisdom

Paññā, wisdom, in the Buddha’s sense is not cleverness or learning but seeing things as they are: that conditioned things are impermanent (anicca) and unsatisfactory (dukkha), and all phenomena are not-self (anattā). This seeing is what finally frees the heart, and it grows out of virtue and a settled mind rather than out of argument.

Ajahn Chah insisted that wisdom has to be found in one’s own heart. In Stop Overthinking Dhamma — Put It into Practice he advises packing theory away in a chest, since the word anger on a blackboard is nothing like anger in the heart. Sīla, Samādhi and Paññā: The Direct Training Toward Freedom shows how the three grow from one root, like a coconut palm turning plain ground water sweet.

Ajahn Dtun presents wisdom as the fruit of the complete training. In Ajahn Dtun on the Sacred Equation: Sīla, Samādhi & Paññā he explains how virtue steadies life, concentration strengthens the mind, and wisdom recognises greed, anger and delusion so that they can be abandoned. Many of his question-and-answer sessions apply this to particular doubts and stages along the path.

The teachings collected here range from brief practical pointers to extended talks on how insight matures.

Ajahn Dtun

Trust the Buddha’s Wisdom — The Five Precepts

Selected Section

Venerable Ajahn Dtun – The Wisdom of Keeping the Five Precepts Venerable Ajahn Dtun offers a clear and practical reflection on the Five Precepts—simple guidelines that help us live with greater wisdom, mindfulness, and care for ourselves and others. The Five Precepts are: * To refrain from taking life and harming other beings. * To refrain from taking what has not been given. * To refrain from sexual misconduct. * To refrain from false speech and lying. * To refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs. Ajahn Dtun explains that although these precepts may appear simple, their value becomes clearer when we carefully consider the harm that can arise when they are broken. In particular, he reflects on the consequences of alcohol. Drinking can harm our health, waste money, and weaken mindfulness. When a person becomes intoxicated, they may also become more likely to break the other precepts, including becoming involved in arguments or harmful behaviour toward others. Rather than simply following the precepts because we are told to, Ajahn Dtun encourages us to **understand the harm that comes from breaking them**. When we clearly see the consequences, we can naturally begin to understand the benefits of keeping them. He also offers a practical reflection: money that might otherwise be spent on alcohol could instead be saved and used for more meaningful purposes, such as providing food, gifts, or support for our children and family. Ajahn Dtun explains that keeping some of the precepts is still beneficial, but to truly live according to the Buddha's guidance, we should strive to maintain all five. For those who are not dependent on alcohol, giving it up can be approached as a clear and meaningful resolution. Instead of seeing abstinence as a restriction, we can recognise the opportunity to protect our health, preserve our resources, maintain mindfulness, and use our money for more beneficial purposes. Ajahn Dtun also reminds us that the Buddha taught his followers to abstain from alcohol and regarded the selling of alcohol as a wrong form of livelihood. At the heart of this teaching is **trust in the Buddha's wisdom**. The Buddha understood what is harmful to living beings and what is beneficial. His teachings on the Five Precepts are therefore not arbitrary rules, but guidance intended to protect us from actions that create harm and suffering. In a society where people can easily seek happiness through sensory pleasures and material possessions, mindfulness and wisdom can become easily neglected. Ajahn Dtun encourages us to look more deeply at where we seek happiness and to recognise the limitations of relying on sensory experiences and material things for lasting contentment. The Five Precepts provide a foundation for a life guided by mindfulness, restraint, compassion, and wisdom. By understanding their purpose and seeing their benefits for ourselves, we can gradually develop greater confidence in living according to the Dhamma. May this teaching by Venerable Ajahn Dtun encourage us to reflect carefully on the Five Precepts, understand the consequences of our actions, protect ourselves and others from harm, and develop greater trust in the wisdom of the Buddha's teachings. 🍃 **The Still Path** 🍃 🔔 Subscribe for more authentic Dhamma teachings #AjahnDtun #Dhamma #Buddhism #FivePrecepts #PancaSila #BuddhistTeachings #DhammaTalk #Meditation #Mindfulness #Wisdom #ThaiForestTradition #AjahnChah #MindTraining #InnerPeace #SpiritualPractice #BuddhistPractice