11. On the ultimate level there’s no desire

Before the Rains retreat in 1953, Luang Phaw Thaw, a relative of Luang Pu’s who had ordained late in life, returned from many years of wandering with Ajaan Thate and Ajaan Saam in Phang-nga province to pay his respects to Luang Pu and to learn more about meditation practice. He spoke with Luang Pu on familiar terms, saying, “Now that you’ve built an ordination hall and this large, beautiful meeting hall, you’ve probably reaped a really huge amount of merit.”

Luang Pu replied,

“What I built was built for the general good, the good of the world, of the monastery, and of the religion, that’s all. As for reaping the merit, what would I want with merit like this?”