Going into the forest the ajaans learned over time that trying to develop the qualities of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha in their hearts, in their activities, was a much more solid protection that weapons.

"Think of the ajaans going into the forest. Before, when they were lay people, they would take their weapons with them. But then as monks they were going totally unarmed, and their protection was taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha: in other words, trying to develop the qualities of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, in their hearts, in their activities. And they learned over time that that really was a much more solid protection: the protection of being inoffensive, the protection of being unburdensome, the protection of having goodwill [mettā] for all."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Free Like a Wild Deer"

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