Luangpu usually gave the same teachings to monks, novices, nuns and lay residents at the temple. He emphasized the importance of generosity, morality, mental cultivation, and the purity of body, speech and mind. There are some topics, however, that he directed especially to monks, novices, and nuns, such as the following:
Protect the integrity of our religion
"A monk's behavior is a reflection of his temple and the religion. Buddhism will either prosper or decline because of monks' conduct."
Novice monks and fully ordained monks look identical. They both shave their heads and wear the same robes. The public can't tell one from another. Buddhist monks are expected to set good examples for all Buddhists. Although novices observe only ten precepts as compared to two hundred and twenty-seven precepts observed by monks, Luangpu taught them to have the restraint of the body and mind like a fully ordained monk.
Live up to the Teachings of the Buddha
Lead a life of purity. Reflect on the Teachings of the Buddha at all times. Excel in your study and practice of Dhamma. Follow the Monastic Disciplines rigorously. It is a waste of time to be ordained and not benefit from the Teachings of the Buddha.
Don't be reckless in Dhamma
Be aware of your own impermanence. Everything that exists must expire. You, too, will one day expire. Every moment your body is undergoing a process of decay and decline. You don't know when your last day may come. So, stop being reckless and strive to do good deeds. Free yourselves from worldly attachments. Don't be susceptible to sense pleasure. Practice meditation until you are able to attain Dhammakaya.
Cultivate wisdom
Buddhism values wisdom more than anything else. Wisdom is the force behind every success. Study Dhamma to gain wisdom. Practice it. Surround yourself with wise companions. If you are a monk, seek monks who are wise to be your companions. If you are a novice, seek novices who are wise to be your companions; if you are a nun, seek nuns who are wise to be your companions; and if you are a layperson, seek laypeople who are wise to be your companions. The more wise people you surround yourself with, the more wisdom you will acquire.
Keep up with Dhamma practice
Dhamma brings happiness to those who practice it. Listen to Dhamma regularly. Dhamma gives you protection and prevents you from falling into unfortunate realms. Give up bad habits and anything that hinders you from your practice. Strive to attain Dhammakaya.
Observe your precepts strictly
Those who live a holy life must observe the precepts according to their status. Monks must adhere to the Two Hundred and Twenty-Seven Precepts; novices to the Ten Precepts; and nuns to the Eight Precepts. Laypeople who give up a householder lifestyle must observe the Eight Precepts. Keep your precepts pure, never deviating from them.
Embrace loving-kindness
Cultivate the Sublime States of Mind (Brahmavihara). Love all people equally like a mother loves her children. Treat everyone with loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. One who embraces universal love and compassion is free of enemies.
Be content
Contentment implies acceptance of conditions and situations with equanimity and without complaint. Contentment is the same as satisfaction. One who is content is one who stops wanting more. Learn to live with what you have. Live in accordance with your means. Make the best of your situation, not to be a burden to others.
Stay on course
A monk must be pure in body, speech and mind, never to be devious or cunning. Practice Dhamma earnestly. Follow the Path (of liberation) sincerely and with determination. Stay on course. Never allow anything to distract you or cause you to diverge from your Path.
Don't engage in irrelevant activities
The main occupation of a monk is to study the Scriptures, practice the Disciplines, and to meditate. Don't occupy yourself with affairs that take you away from your main occupation. Involving in too many outside activities is not the reason why you become a monk.
Cultivate patience
Patience is a vehicle that takes you to Nibbana. Without the virtue of patience you cannot reach your goal of liberation. Greed, anger, hatred, vengefulness, ignorance, wrong views, temptations, and other destructive emotions, can all be overcome by patience. A true monk must be peaceful and be of no danger to anyone. Peace is not possible without patience.
Respect unity
Unity is the virtue that brings harmony and happiness to the community. Perform tasks in unison, whether it is daily chanting, listening to sermons, sitting in meditation, or shaving of heads. Unity fosters orderliness and prevents conflict. A community that is not united will never prosper.
Be gentle and courteous
Be easy to get along with. Unlike a hard-nosed, arrogant person, a nice and gentle person is easy to teach and easy to develop. People feel at ease around him and want to give help. Cooperation and support will come to him in abundance. Teachers and trainers favor this kind of person.
Be peaceful in composure
Be mindful of your bodily movements. A monk must be elegant and peaceful in the way he carries himself, not to appear restless, jittery, nervous, or inquisitive. Avoid being a chatter-box, talking non-stop. Some people can't control their fidgety personality. The way to overcome this is to be constantly conscious of the monastic disciplines and practice them.
Be courageous in doing good deeds
Have the courage to do good deeds without fear. Speak with kindness. Think with wisdom. Act in a way that does not cause distress to others and yourself. Fulfill your monastic disciplines without compromise.
Don't be arrogant or big-headed
Monks must not have egos. No one wants to be near egotistical people. Pompous and arrogant people are despised by their teachers. They don't accept advice and guidance from others and are stubborn to change. They take things personally and are easily upset. This type of person will never do well in life.
Be easy to teach
Respect the Teachings. Follow the rules. Stay within the framework of monastic disciplines. Don't be hardheaded or stubborn. Those who are disobedient or resist advice from others are burdens to their community. They will not make it in monkhood. Those who are easy to teach are the intelligent ones. They will flourish in whatever they pursue.
Be easy to maintain
Don't be picky about food. Eat to live, not live to eat. Be like a horse or an elephant, not to be fussy about their food. If given straw they eat straw; given fresh grass they eat fresh grass; given oats they eat oats. Eat whatever you are given. Eat with respect and appreciation. Make yourself easy to feed, easy to maintain, easy to live. Lighten the burden of your benefactors.
Avoid extravagance
Monks and novices should be easy to support. Laypeople should have a standard of living befitting their status. Make the best use of what you have. Anyone who fails to realize the benefit of thrift will never manage to set himself up in life.
Practice restraint of the senses
A monk is one who is peaceful in body, speech and mind, not vulnerable to unwholesome emotions. Practice restraint of the senses. Learn how to overcome temptations brought about by the six sense doors: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and thought. Develop self-discipline to overcome laziness. Monks who lack restraint of the senses will not survive monkhood.
Don't get attached to benefactors
A monk should treat all benefactors impartially, not to be overly intimate or attached to specific laypeople, or it may bring about gossip, jealousy, and conflict.
Avoid going to inappropriate places
Any place or situation that brings a bad name to monks should be avoided. Examples of such places or situations are bars, clubs, entertainment places, places that sell liquor, political gatherings, visiting with the opposite sex (unless invited for religious activities), or engaging in buddy-to-buddy conversation with laypeople.
Don't behave like parasites
Don't be like parasites that live off a tree, sucking up all the nutrients and not contrib uting anything to the tree. The parasites keep growing, but the tree dies. Or don't be like a boat calling on port, picking up all the food and supplies, and departing without giving something back. Show gratitude to the place that gives you shelter or food. Make yourself deserving. Perform useful tasks. Give something back in return. Be helpful in any way you can.
Help others full-heartedly
Having attained the Dhammakaya is like having woken up from a deep slumber. But if you become lax in your practice you will be going back to your pitiful sleep. Keep up with your practice. Give up everything that is not relevant to your practice. For the nuns who have attained the Dhammakaya, use your gift of Dhammakaya to help relieve the suffering of others. Help others without expecting anything in return.
