Keeping precepts gives you freedom from worry, anxiety and other negative qualities. In meditation, the more you try and control, the worse the meditation gets. The deeper you go in meditation, the more still and silent it becomes, until you find freedom from desires. Keep moral precepts in your life to feel freedom. Freedom is being where you want to be, not where someone else wants you to be.If you’re not happy in your life, it’s probably because you’re following the wrong path. When you’re sick, you’re given the advantage or the opportunity to other people to care for you. That’s why it’s nice to be sick sometimes. So that if you want to be sick, then you’re not imprisoned by your ill health. It doesn’t feel confining to you. It’s not a huge problem anymore. You can be sick and still feel free. When you have that feeling of freedom there with your sickness, you don’t mind it being there.

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This dhamma talk was originally recorded on cassette tape on 12th July 2002. It has now been remastered and published by the Everyday Dhamma Network, and will be of interest to his many fans.

These talks by Ajahn Brahm have been recorded and made available for free distribution by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia. You can support the Buddhist Society of Western Australia by pledging your support via their Patreon page.