The Art of Inner Peace

Phra Ajahn Jayasaro is one of the most respected voices in contemporary Buddhism today, renowned for delivering his profound teachings with exceptional clarity, warmth, and intellectual depth – something you will discover for yourself upon watching The Mindful Journey, a program featured in THAI’s in-flight entertainment. Rooted in the Kammatthana Thai Forest Tradition, his reflections bridge ancient Buddhist wisdom and the emotional realities of modern life.

In this conversation with SAWASDEE, Phra Ajahn Jayasaro discusses meditation not simply as a technique, but as a way of living with awareness, balance, and compassion. Spanning from happiness to anxiety, social media to anger, his insights offer a thoughtful and practical guide to cultivating inner stability and living with greater purpose – an inspiring companion during your journey with THAI.

Q: In today’s fast-paced world, what role does meditation play in helping people remain grounded and resilient?

Meditation is often misunderstood as simply sitting quietly and applying a technique. In Buddhism, it is really a way of living – a way of being awake, aware, and learning from experience. Meditation strengthens our ability to respond wisely rather than react impulsively, creating inner stability amid constant change.

Q: What guidance would you offer beginners who want to bring meditation naturally into daily life?

Do not make meditation intimidating. It should not feel like bitter medicine. Meditation is simply training awareness under supportive conditions, which is why we sit somewhere quiet and free from distraction.

Posture matters because body and mind influence one another. The aim is not perfection but continuity – gradually learning to stay present and aware. Meditation is not about escaping from life, but about systematically cultivating the inner qualities that allow us to live life well.

Q: What are some common misconceptions about meditation?

One misconception is that meditation is mainly about relaxation. Relaxation is a byproduct, but not the ultimate goal. If relaxation becomes the goal, the mind easily becomes dull or sleepy. Buddhist meditation is about balancing effort and ease. The mind learns to be calm and energized at the same time. Another misconception is separating mindfulness from ethics and wisdom. Mental clarity alone is not enough. In Buddhism, mindfulness must be grounded in compassion, morality, and wisdom. The ultimate purpose is insight, not simply stress reduction.

Q: How do you deal with anger in a skillful way?

Buddhism approaches anger on three levels: behavior, emotional training, and wisdom. First, we establish clear boundaries in speech and action. No matter how angry we feel, we avoid harming others physically or verbally. This doesn’t mean repression. It is learning wise governance of our conduct.

Second, we cultivate patience, mindfulness, and loving-kindness. These gradually reshape emotional habits. The qualities that oppose anger are nurtured and become natural to us.

Third, we investigate anger itself. Often anger is connected less to the event and more to our interpretation of it – our expectations about how people ‘should’ behave, things ‘should’ be, and so on. We see how things occur as the result of a web of causes and conditions, and move away from blame into understanding contribution. Wisdom allows us to respond firmly when necessary, but without hatred.

If you are developing meditation practices, your mind becomes purer and cleaner, and you become more sensitive to anything that sullies it. When your mind becomes cleaner, you just find anger so disgusting that you do not want it in your mind anymore. When you begin to see that anger does not belong to you and that it is a conditioned phenomenon that arises and passes, that is when you really learn how to let go of the root of it.

Q: How can people cultivate mindfulness and better manage distractions from social media?

Observe your mind and body. Observe cause and effect. Notice how you feel after excessive social media use. If you feel agitated or mentally scattered, recognize the connection.

A simple experiment is enough. Reduce screen exposure and see whether the mind becomes calmer. At the very least, avoid devices for half an hour before sleep and after waking. Small changes can have a surprisingly positive effect.

Q: Many people seek happiness through success or recognition. From a Buddhist perspective, what creates lasting happiness?

Temporary pleasures are not wrong, but Buddhism emphasizes moral boundaries. Otherwise, the pursuit of happiness can create more suffering than joy.

What matters is investigating happiness for ourself rather than simply following social conditioning. At the end of life, few people regret not earning more money or gaining more status. Many regret neglecting relationships, inner peace, or meaningful living.

Often, happiness comes from simple things – nature, realization of what we have been given, or moments of calm. Ultimately, lasting happiness depends on the quality of the mind. If the mind is dominated by greed, fear, resentment, or anxiety, external success never feels complete.

Q: Can you elaborate on the meaning of the phrase “frog in boiling water” and explain its potential relevance to the state of Buddhism in Thailand?

The analogy describes how gradual change often goes unnoticed. A frog in cool water may not realize the water is slowly heating until it’s too late. This is a story that explains how some unwanted things go unrecognized because the changes are incremental and very slow. I think there are signs of this happening to Buddhism in Thailand. Many think Buddhism is monasteries and monks, but it’s the underlying values that define Buddhism. Understanding of these values and how cultural forms can enshrine them is being lost. This is a time for Buddhists to reconnect with the teachings.

Q: After more than four decades as a monk, what continues to motivate you?

I love the Dhamma. As long as the highest goal of the Buddhist path has not been fully realized, there is always more work to do. I am also motivated by preserving and sharing Buddhist values, particularly within Thai society and across Asia. Buddhism offers values such as compassion, tolerance, personal responsibility, and respect for diversity that are deeply important today. I feel honored to play a small part in upholding and propagating these values.