Cat & Defilements

by Ajahn Chah

Defilements are like a cat.

If you give it as much food as it wants, it will constantly be coming around to look for more.

But if one day it scratches you and you decide not to feed it any more, it will finally not come around. Oh, yes, it will still come around meowing at first, but if you remain firm it will finally stop doing so.

It’s the same with the different defilements of your mind. If you do not feed them, they will not come around to disturb you again and again, and your mind will be at peace.

Dhamma by Ajahn Chah
A Collection of Ajahn Chah's Similes