A Taste of Freedom

Acknowledgments — Notes the contributions of the translator, proofreaders, supporters, cover artist, and DharmaNet production team. Introduction — Explains that the talks were translated from old cassette recordings and edited from spoken language into readable English. About this mind… — Presents the mind as intrinsically peaceful, while agitation arises from following moods and sense impressions. On Meditation — Teaches breath meditation, mindfulness, samādhi, the role of sati, and the relationship between morality, concentration, and wisdom. The Path in Harmony — Explains the Eightfold Path as morality, concentration, and wisdom working together in practice. On Dangers of Samādhi — Warns against attachment to peaceful absorption and distinguishes right samādhi from wrong samādhi. The Middle Way Within — Explains the Middle Way as freedom from indulgence in pleasure and indulgence in pain. The Peace Beyond — Discusses suffering, the Four Noble Truths, body contemplation, feeling, and separation of mind from happiness and unhappiness. Opening the Dhamma Eye — Explains seeing nature, impermanence, the five khandhas, and the arising of insight. Convention and Liberation — Distinguishes conventional reality from liberation and shows how clinging to conventions produces suffering. No Abiding — Teaches non-clinging, emptiness, practice without seeking gain, and freedom from fixed positions. Right View — The Place of Coolness — Presents right view as the true place of peace, correcting the tendency to blame external conditions. Epilogue — Emphasizes that study must be joined with practice; otherwise, one cannot know “the taste of Freedom.” Notes on selected talks — Gives background information on several talks included in the volume. About the Author — Provides a biographical sketch of Ajahn Chah, his monastic training, forest practice, teaching style, Western disciples, and branch monasteries.