Piyavadana

Mental activity is like a deadly venomous cobra. If we don’t interfere with a cobra, it simply goes its own way. Even though it may be extremely poisonous, we are not affected by it. We don’t go near it or take hold of it, and so it doesn’t bite us. The cobra does what’s natural for a cobra to do. That’s the way it is. If you are wise, you’ll leave it alone. Likewise, you let be that which is not good – you let it be according to it’s own nature. You also let be that which is good. Don’t grab on to liking and disliking, just as you wouldn’t interfere with a cobra.

One who is wise will have this kind of attitude towards the various moods that arise in the mind. When goodness arises, we let it be good. We understand its nature. In the same way, we let be the not – good. We let it be according to its nature. We don’t take hold of it because we don’t want anything. We don’t want evil. We don’t want good. We don’t want heaviness nor lightness, happiness nor suffering. When our wanting is at an end, peace is firmly established.

~ Ajahn Chah