The Five Recollections

0:00 So the five daily recollections. O monks, there are five realities which ought to be contemplated often by men and women, householder or monastic. What five? Report an error in the passage at 0:00 Highlight the passage at 0:00

0:20 1. I am of the nature to grow old. I cannot avoid aging. Report an error in the passage at 0:20 Highlight the passage at 0:20

0:33 I am of the nature to become ill. I cannot avoid illness. 3. Report an error in the passage at 0:33 Highlight the passage at 0:33

0:45 I am of the nature to die. I cannot avoid death. Report an error in the passage at 0:45 Highlight the passage at 0:45

0:57 4. All that is dear and beloved to me will change and be separated from me. Report an error in the passage at 0:57 Highlight the passage at 0:57

1:13 5. I am the owner of my kamma, heir to my kamma. Born of my kamma, abide supported by my kamma. Whatever kamma I shall do, whether good or bad, of these I shall become the heir. Report an error in the passage at 1:13 Highlight the passage at 1:13

1:41 So let me get the Buddha to elaborate a bit more. Report an error in the passage at 1:41 Highlight the passage at 1:41

1:50 By the way, this is Bhikkhu Bodhi's version, but I've sort of looked at other versions and sort of... Done bits of cutting and pasting and editing. So the Buddha says, For what good reason should a man or woman, householder or monastic, often contemplate the fact that they are sure to become old and cannot avoid aging? Report an error in the passage at 1:50 Highlight the passage at 1:50

2:22 Beings, while they are young, take pride in their youth. Infatuated by that pride, they engage in al - Unwholesome deeds, words or thoughts. But in one who often contemplates the certainty of old age, the pride of youth will either vanish entirely or be weakened. For that good reason, the fact of aging should be often contemplated. Report an error in the passage at 2:22 Highlight the passage at 2:22

3:02 For what good reason should a man or woman, householder or monastic, Often contemplate the fact that they are sure to become ill and cannot avoid illness. Report an error in the passage at 3:02 Highlight the passage at 3:02

3:19 Beings, while they're healthy, take pride in their health. Infatuated by that pride, they engage in unwholesome deeds, words or thoughts. Report an error in the passage at 3:19 Highlight the passage at 3:19

3:33 For one who often contemplates the certainty of illness, the pride in health, health will either vanish entirely or will be weakened. For that good reason, the effect of illness should be often common. For what Report an error in the passage at 3:33 Highlight the passage at 3:33

3:57 good reason should one often contemplate the fact that they are sure to die and cannot avoid death? Report an error in the passage at 3:57 Highlight the passage at 3:57

4:11 Beings, while alive, are infatuated with life. And they engage in unwholesome deeds, words or thought. With frequent contemplation of death, that pride will vanish entirely or be weakened for that good reason. The fact of death should be often contemplated. For Report an error in the passage at 4:11 Highlight the passage at 4:11

4:43 what good reason should one often contemplate? All that is dear and beloved will change Be separated from them. Beings have lustful desire and attachment to what is dear and beloved. Report an error in the passage at 4:43 Highlight the passage at 4:43

5:04 As a result, they engage in unwholesome deeds, words or thoughts. With frequent contemplation of separation, desire and attachment will vanish entirely or be weakened. For Report an error in the passage at 5:04 Highlight the passage at 5:04

5:25 what good reason? Should one often contemplate the fact that they are the owners of their kamma and that whatever kamma they do, good or bad, of these they will become the heirs. Report an error in the passage at 5:25 Highlight the passage at 5:25

5:43 In one who often contemplates one's responsibility for one's deeds, words or thoughts, unwholesome actions will either vanish entirely or be weakened. For that good reason, the fact of responsibility for one's actions should be often contemplated. Now here the Buddha goes on beyond the mundane reasons for doing this. Report an error in the passage at 5:43 Highlight the passage at 5:43

6:18 Now the noble disciple contemplates, I am not the only one sure to become old, fall ill, die, be separated from the beloved, and... All beings that come and go, pass away and undergo rebirth, are all subject to old age, illness, death, separation from their beloved, and are all heirs of their karma. So here we have recognition of universality of this problem, of this reality. And that gives rise to mettā. Report an error in the passage at 6:18 Highlight the passage at 6:18

7:03 So the Buddha goes on. In one who contemplates these facts deeply, including their universality, the path arises. He regularly develops and cultivates that path and so the fetters are abandoned and underlying tendencies eliminated. In other words, the supramundane path or awakening is the result. So here we have this Five apparently simple daily recollections which can actually lead all the way to enlightenment. Report an error in the passage at 7:03 Highlight the passage at 7:03

7:53 So if we look at how to apply this in our own life, in our practice, I'll make a few comments and then we can discuss and share some thoughts. Report an error in the passage at 7:53 Highlight the passage at 7:53

8:09 So the first thing is, it's so simple. That it's easy to remember and therefore you can recite it frequently. So it becomes part of your outlook. Report an error in the passage at 8:09 Highlight the passage at 8:09

8:26 And so then we come to accept impermanence as part of life, gradually. Helps to overcome attachments to body, youth, life, possessions and relationships. Report an error in the passage at 8:26 Highlight the passage at 8:26

8:53 It reduces fear when confronting these challenges. And we stop efforts to deny aging, death, etc. And we no longer think, why me? Because this is our nature. That's why. Report an error in the passage at 8:53 Highlight the passage at 8:53

9:14 The fifth recollection brings to attention the role of kamma, that is intentional actions resulting thoughts, speech, and actions. resulting thoughts, speech, and actions. So this leads to more conscious living and wholesome choices. Report an error in the passage at 9:14 Highlight the passage at 9:14

9:39 As I read this, it came to mind that recently as I was preparing this, someone within the extended family was admitted to palliative care. She's in her early 60s and in a terminal situation. And she said, you know, I don't know why this is happening because I have been a good person. I've looked after other people. I can't think of any serious things that I have done wrong. So why is, I don't know why this is happening to me. Report an error in the passage at 9:39 Highlight the passage at 9:39

10:16 This is not an uncommon way of people to regard the situation they're in when there is no sense of the impermanence that is inherent in life. Report an error in the passage at 10:16 Highlight the passage at 10:16

10:31 So it just, I'll come back to that one. We can come back to these things. So basically, these are wake-up calls. Report an error in the passage at 10:31 Highlight the passage at 10:31

10:45 And you know, in the life of the Buddha, the wake-up calls that led him to his renunciation as the Prince Siddhartha was those encounters with the old age, sickness and death. Report an error in the passage at 10:45 Highlight the passage at 10:45

11:04 So they are wake-up calls. And so they're referred to as divine messengers or recollections for awakening. Now, when these things happen, I don't usually think that they are divine messengers. However, that's what they are if we stop to think. Report an error in the passage at 11:04 Highlight the passage at 11:04

11:28 Now, there's a little warning that I think is worth adding, that for some people, these recollections are too confronting. And need to be approached gently because not many people go around thinking that this is our nature and this impermanence is built in and so on. And in fact, I have had responses of people saying, you know, isn't it a bit morbid thinking about I'm going to age, I'm going to get sick, I'm going to die and so on. Report an error in the passage at 11:28 Highlight the passage at 11:28

12:05 So it can be quite confronting. So it's just something. That has to be approached gently. And I've added here some references that I've used. This first one, Five Themes for Awakening, that's the YouTube code for that, it's based on Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation and read by Samaneri Jayasaro. And it's beautifully read. Report an error in the passage at 12:05 Highlight the passage at 12:05

12:41 And it goes back to almost the direct translation from the Pāli. So it is really beautiful and moving to listen to. Then this one, the Buddha's Five Daily Recollection by a lady called May Elliott. And she's done a series of five. So there's aging, sickness, death, separation, karma in the five. Report an error in the passage at 12:41 Highlight the passage at 12:41

13:08 And each one's got about half an hour of meditation followed by discussion of each of those recollections. And she does it in a very gentle, clear and practical way. Report an error in the passage at 13:08 Highlight the passage at 13:08

13:23 So I think that could reach more people. And this one, Yeshe Rabye, I have only, I've not heard of him before, but I listened to this talk. And it was very good. He's obviously from a Tibetan tradition. And he just integrates the whole thing. The separations are there, but obviously all these things are quite often happening together and the themes are overlapping. Report an error in the passage at 13:23 Highlight the passage at 13:23

14:00 And he just brings it all in accessible, plain English. So I thought that was really useful to share with everyone. Now, I guess most of you would have heard of these five recollections. So I'm happy to talk a bit now or share your thoughts now. Or we can just let it sink while we have a half hour meditation and then come back to it. Report an error in the passage at 14:00 Highlight the passage at 14:00

14:48 Here's the five. Report an error in the passage at 14:48 Highlight the passage at 14:48

14:57 Wonder what people think. Report an error in the passage at 14:57 Highlight the passage at 14:57

15:03 I'm good with meditation first. Good with meditation. Right. Okay. Yeah. I don't know what everyone else thinks. Report an error in the passage at 15:03 Highlight the passage at 15:03

15:15 Fine by me. Okay. Meditation next. Okay. I'll just put that off and stop sharing. Okay. Report an error in the passage at 15:15 Highlight the passage at 15:15

15:39 I think what I'll do is just a short amount of guiding and let people benefit from their own practices. And I'd like to end it with a very short mettā reflection, meditation. Report an error in the passage at 15:39 Highlight the passage at 15:39

16:03 Okay. A minute or so to stretch and stretch your, move your body however you want to move. Set Report an error in the passage at 16:03 Highlight the passage at 16:03

16:39 it for half an hour. Okay. Report an error in the passage at 16:39 Highlight the passage at 16:39

17:01 So just find a comfortable sitting or walking or standing posture, making Report an error in the passage at 17:01 Highlight the passage at 17:01

17:26 sure it allows the body to be relaxed as well as alert. So Report an error in the passage at 17:26 Highlight the passage at 17:26

· · · silence, 1 minute

18:06 settling into this posture and becoming aware in this case of where you're sitting, just to be aware of this ordinary posture, this sitting. Keeping Report an error in the passage at 18:06 Highlight the passage at 18:06

· · · silence, 1 minute

18:59 the upper back, neck and head straight but not rigid, shaking Report an error in the passage at 18:59 Highlight the passage at 18:59

19:14 that the forehead is relaxed and Report an error in the passage at 19:14 Highlight the passage at 19:14

19:24 the eyes gently closed. Let Report an error in the passage at 19:24 Highlight the passage at 19:24

19:39 the jaws relax and not clenched and Report an error in the passage at 19:39 Highlight the passage at 19:39

19:51 the tongue resting on the floor of your mouth and Report an error in the passage at 19:51 Highlight the passage at 19:51

20:04 lips gently closed. And you might feel the soft touch between the lips and Report an error in the passage at 20:04 Highlight the passage at 20:04

20:23 a slight smile if you like to relax your face. Report an error in the passage at 20:23 Highlight the passage at 20:23

· · · silence, 1 minute

20:58 Let the neck and shoulders relax and Report an error in the passage at 20:58 Highlight the passage at 20:58

21:16 let your hands rest on your lap or where it's comfortable. Report an error in the passage at 21:16 Highlight the passage at 21:16

21:45 Noticing the touch between your buttocks and the cushion firmly supporting your upper body. Report an error in the passage at 21:45 Highlight the passage at 21:45

22:05 Your thighs and legs relaxed and Report an error in the passage at 22:05 Highlight the passage at 22:05

22:18 feet touching the floor. As Report an error in the passage at 22:18 Highlight the passage at 22:18

· · · silence, 1 minute

23:31 you settle in, you will notice some breathing movements, maybe Report an error in the passage at 23:31 Highlight the passage at 23:31

23:46 the abdomen rising and falling, the Report an error in the passage at 23:46 Highlight the passage at 23:46

· · · silence, 1 minute

24:22 touch of the air at your nostrils, each Report an error in the passage at 24:22 Highlight the passage at 24:22

24:47 in-breath and Report an error in the passage at 24:47 Highlight the passage at 24:47

24:53 each out-breath. Report an error in the passage at 24:53 Highlight the passage at 24:53

25:18 You might wish to note it as in and Report an error in the passage at 25:18 Highlight the passage at 25:18

25:25 out. Keep Report an error in the passage at 25:25 Highlight the passage at 25:25

25:39 the whole meditation very simple so that it's joyful to experience each breath moving in and Report an error in the passage at 25:39 Highlight the passage at 25:39

26:00 out. Just Report an error in the passage at 26:00 Highlight the passage at 26:00

· · · silence, 2 minutes

28:13 appreciating each in breath and Report an error in the passage at 28:13 Highlight the passage at 28:13

28:22 each out breath as it happens. Using Report an error in the passage at 28:22 Highlight the passage at 28:22

· · · silence, 2 minutes

30:36 the breath as the anchor. May Report an error in the passage at 30:36 Highlight the passage at 30:36

· · · silence, 15 minutes

45:50 I Report an error in the passage at 45:50 Highlight the passage at 45:50

46:05 be safe, well and peaceful. May Report an error in the passage at 46:05 Highlight the passage at 46:05

46:14 all Report an error in the passage at 46:14 Highlight the passage at 46:14

46:38 beings near and far. well and peaceful. Report an error in the passage at 46:38 Highlight the passage at 46:38

46:43 Be safe, well and peaceful. May Report an error in the passage at 46:43 Highlight the passage at 46:43

46:54 all beings near and far be safe, well and peaceful. Report an error in the passage at 46:54 Highlight the passage at 46:54

47:11 May all beings everywhere be safe, well and peaceful. Report an error in the passage at 47:11 Highlight the passage at 47:11

· · · silence, 1 minute

48:18 Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu. Report an error in the passage at 48:18 Highlight the passage at 48:18