The practice of worms | Ajahn Nyanarato

Venerable Ajahn Chah, one of the best-known teachers of Thai Forest Tradition Buddhism, used to say: “Our practice is like the worm”. What does this mean?

In the modern world we want to see results as quickly as possible, making judgments about how efficient things are, how well-done, how attractive, etc. There is constant pressure to be up to date with the latest advances and fear being left behind. But do we have real strength and confidence in ourselves? Are we not losing our trust and integrity even if we believe that we are controlling 'our world'?

While so-called material-level development is so invasive and widespread everywhere, what has been happening to us, the most important being in the midst of all this?

We have to race to get results and reach the same place as everyone else, as quickly as possible; This is a perception that everyone has. Can we thus maintain our inner space to perceive the beauty, pain and possibilities of others?

These issues should be taken into consideration when we sincerely seek peace, living peacefully in the midst of diversity, and within this context I think patience is one of the key qualities that we need to recognize most consciously. No Pāṭimokkha Ovāda, the set of verses summarizing the Buddha's teachings, Khanti (Patience) is the quintessential quality of religious practice. We often see patience as old-fashioned and it seems to be the opposite of being up-to-date with the development of the world.

In my view, the quality or virtue of patience is essential to allow us to live together peacefully. We know that being impatient often blocks or even destroys this precious process, both in our individual life and in society. Khanti leads us to realize wisdom and compassion, preventing us from falling into egocentric patterns.

What are we like when we're sick? What is the state of our body and mind? Is it simply negative or passive? Isn't this really the time to nurture ourselves and regain our own strength?

Last November I had the opportunity to travel to Bhutan for sixteen days. From the beginning there was a strong sense of calm, a certain “at will” – this expression resonated particularly in me. While other countries may have more spectacular scenery and fantastic views that catch the eye, Bhutan stands out for offering this unique feeling of “at will”.

The traditional mode of construction and clothing, large areas of virgin forest and temples with a clear and peaceful dignity … all this simplicity but firmness gave me a touch of filling. Self-sufficient integrity and trust are present naturally, effortlessly. When I came into contact with this taste of wonderful lifestyle contentment, I felt as if I were welcome in the atmosphere of “at will”.

After I returned to Great Britain “a friend asked me “What was poverty like?”. I paused briefly and replied ‘Yes it is a poor country’. Then I wondered why I had paused and realized that the issue of poverty and wealth is not as relevant there as in other countries. The question, which we are so accustomed to asking, is itself a reflection of the perspective through which we tend to see the world.

It is necessary that this material point of view is not the main experience of our life. If we do not limit the way of savoring and evaluating life, the forgotten aspects of life will reveal themselves. In Bhutan I felt a deep sense of contentment that we do not easily experience in modern society. When we are wrapped in these thoughts we realize that the way we relate to the world could be much broader and richer than in the limited sphere of material well-being. In Bhutan, wealth comes from contentment and trust in one's life. We don't have to spend time battling to prove to ourselves that we are someone and to infinitely obtain goods. For the simple fact that I could touch this possible perspective, I felt a relief.

“Forgotten”, I wrote. This perspective is not something to create, but something to stop, recognize and appreciate.

In Bhutan, life must be physically demanding. Often we can see steep terraces with rice grown in water, from the lowest level of the narrow valleys to almost the top of the hills. It certainly requires a huge amount of patience. But here our perception of patience may be limited in a negative way. When we look at life in Bhutan, this patience actually brings with it the blessing. The rhythm of life is one of patience and every moment and every encounter offers the opportunity to be totally. Questions, arguments and thoughts about the idea of patience stop and everything is simply what is happening. Qualities like confidence, strength, and contentment are then seen along with patience. They are inseparable. I think this shows the wonderful quality and benefit of patience. This experience in Bhutan was like a reminder of the clear contrast between what we call “development” and the strength that Bhutan demonstrates in a way without any kind of insistence.

Venerable Ajahn Chah’s words “our practice is like the worm” were addressed to the monks who lived with him in the monastery. People tend to imagine life in the forest as something full of peace and perhaps wonderful experiences, but in reality it is often in this place that our most latent tendencies may manifest themselves to exhaustion. Irritation, pain, boredom and so on – the inner struggles – are present.

When one has lived in a monastery for some time, one begins to appreciate the value of the words of Venerable Ajahn Chah. It's not a question of how smart we are or how promising the idea we had at first was. Trying to be like earthworms is not offensive or discouraging, but it is a way for us to recognize our (so strongly rooted) tendencies to seek out any visible and immediate results and rewards. Earthworms have to live life patiently, totally focused on the moment and on their own effort and movement.

This challenges the seemingly fascinating idea of personal achievement, which is the force behind development, particularly in this modern era.

Can we become worms?

Imagine the resistance, all kinds of reasons or excuses that can arise when we try to be different. It is as if the importance of the person is denied. Experience the process, humbly surrender to it. Patience is not something to be thought of or spoken of but to be.

Being a beggar means that one depends on the generosity of others to have the four requirements, namely shelter, food, clothing and medicines. At first we may find that the fact that we cannot have and choose the things we like is too difficult and restrictive, but then we learn to familiarize ourselves with these conditions and joy will eventually appear. The feeling of gratitude is deep. Being satisfied is not a passive state but a state that gives us stability, confidence, and happiness. This is also the opposite of the way we normally are in the world. I think these qualities of contentment and gratitude are impossible to realize if we are not patient.

When we are patient we gain inner strength and, even more importantly, we are led to realize that this very moment is, by itself, full. He lacks nothing. We have not lost our commitment to the immediacy of the present moment, nor are we expecting the true meaning of life to become available somewhere in the future. When we want to change our attitude from the demand for acceptance, this becomes not only relevant in the monastic context but also in the world at large.

We would like the world to live in a more harmonious way and the crucial turning point for this is: We simply continue with the attitude of getting what satisfies our desires, getting rid of what does not fit our tastes and opinions, without fully appreciating what is available around us, or each one of us being able to receive within himself the variety and wholeness of the world as it is, through gracefully and humbly relearn the virtue of patience. I need to add that, on an individual level, this means receiving different kinds of emotions such as fear, hatred, hurt, desire, etc.

Our practice, or indeed I would say, our life, is like the worm. Focused on the present moment and unambitious for what comes next, all we can do is continue to practice and fully accept what we have around us. Seeing how these words affect us – this is the starting point.

Translation of Bhikkhu Appamado

Ajahn Nyanarato is a native of Japan and was ordained as a monk in the Forest Tradition in Thailand in 1987. He moved to England in 2000 and since 2001 is one of the resident senior monks of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. He has become loved and respected by all in his calm and silent way, with which he helps lead the community.