Buddhism and Ghosts

0:00 One of the things which I contemplate in order to give talks which are relevant and which are hopefully you haven't heard before, because we have these Friday night talks once a week, but more than that, we have them all recorded. So sometimes people listening to these talks Again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again. I've been doing this job over here about 43 years over here in Noramara. Report an error in the passage at 0:00 Highlight the passage at 0:00

0:46 I've given a talk about many, many things. Even like some of the talks on Buddhism and coffins. Have you ever, do any of you remember my talk on Buddhism and Coffins is a very, very good subject if you understand what a coffin is. Do you get afraid of coffins? Even tonight? Report an error in the passage at 0:46 Highlight the passage at 0:46

1:21 Halloween. Report an error in the passage at 1:21 Highlight the passage at 1:21

1:25 You don't have to be afraid. Instead, I always say just to think outside the box. Oh, come on. But Report an error in the passage at 1:25 Highlight the passage at 1:25

1:41 that's true stories. Because I'm a Buddhist monk, I do spend a lot of time talking with funeral directors, going to the cemeteries, doing the ceremonies for the people who pass away. And one of those experiences I had there in the funerals was sometimes if it's a burial, you actually walk in front of the hearse. Report an error in the passage at 1:41 Highlight the passage at 1:41

2:17 You know, and with usually the funeral director. And I don't know why it is, but the Buddhist funerals, they're always usually in the furthest part of the cemetery. Report an error in the passage at 2:17 Highlight the passage at 2:17

2:32 So it's usually a long distance, right? Because of that, I do recall one of those funeral directors, of course, you take the opportunities to have a chat and ask them, you know. What's it like spending your career as a person who manages funerals for people? And she told me she was interested, and I even asked, as most people are afraid. Report an error in the passage at 2:32 Highlight the passage at 2:32

3:04 She said she spent all her life in that industry, and she was about to retire soon. And this is a true story. I know I've got many jokes about coffins and funerals, but this is a true story. And she said that sometimes because she's senior in that industry, she has to stay and do the paperwork in the office, in the funeral home, sometimes late into the night. Report an error in the passage at 3:04 Highlight the passage at 3:04

3:34 And I did ask her, do you see any ghosts? She said, oh yes. She's not afraid of them at all. And that's one message I always repeat for you. Please, no need ever to feel afraid. Report an error in the passage at 3:34 Highlight the passage at 3:34

3:48 They've never ever done any harm to anybody and this is the history of scientists. I was a member of the Psychic Research Society over in UK and so was one of my best friends. I keep mentioning his name. He came to one of our conferences. He came to a couple of conferences over in Singapore. Report an error in the passage at 3:48 Highlight the passage at 3:48

4:14 His name was... Bernard Carr, Professor B.J. Carr, who was one of the closest associates, one of the three or four of the inner circle of Professor Stephen Hawkins. Report an error in the passage at 4:14 Highlight the passage at 4:14

4:29 He was a professor as well. He had a huge intellect and a close friend of mine, literally. And so we all knew the research over 120 years, I think now. I made, that's when I was young, maybe 140 years now, the London Society of Psychic Research. There has never, ever been even one case of a human being being physically harmed by a ghost. Report an error in the passage at 4:29 Highlight the passage at 4:29

5:02 They are totally safe. So if you see any ghost tonight, just go, boo, at them, and they will kind of run away. For this particular story, When she was working in the office late at night, sometimes she would see the people who were stored in cold storage in their coffins in the funeral home until the time came for the cremation or burial. Report an error in the passage at 5:02 Highlight the passage at 5:02

5:34 She would see them walking past her office. The ghosts had just, no one was around, so they thought they could go and have a walk around. And she would always say, this is a funny part of the story. But totally true. She would say to them, get back in your box. Report an error in the passage at 5:34 Highlight the passage at 5:34

5:57 And all the time they would have to do that. That's one of the things which I know. I don't mind just saying it out here. They can never harm you. Scare you, yes, but not harm you. A lot of times they do beautiful things for you. Help you. Are kind to you. There are other beings in this world like so many other beings. Report an error in the passage at 5:57 Highlight the passage at 5:57

6:23 We share this planet with. And if you treat them with not just respect, I'll say more than that, with understanding that you are always more powerful than they are. So treat them with respect, and if they are misbehaving, back in your books. But I just mentioned that story, I don't know why, but nevertheless, I know that any research which is done in science, Any meditation which is done, any practices which we teach here, any reason why we have so many people come here, or so many monks and nuns in our monasteries. Report an error in the passage at 6:23 Highlight the passage at 6:23

7:07 Have you ever thought why? One of the reasons is this is. BSWA, well done all of you who have been on our committees or helped out in whichever which way. and I will be asked Report an error in the passage at 7:07 Highlight the passage at 7:07

7:23 It's one of the biggest Buddhist societies, sort of, in the world. I would say that even. And we're a western country. Where do we get all this infrastructure from? And there is one reason, which I'm going to point out this evening. If it's whatever we do here, for example, chanting. Report an error in the passage at 7:23 Highlight the passage at 7:23

7:49 If we do any chanting, I make sure it's fun. You put joy into it. That's why very often I've told you that whenever I have done a marriage blessing a couple of times, it's just because I was tired. I did the funeral chant. Report an error in the passage at 7:49 Highlight the passage at 7:49

8:15 They're still happily married. And I mention that because it makes it interesting. If I make a mistake, I will never hide it. I will let everybody know. Report an error in the passage at 8:15 Highlight the passage at 8:15

8:36 We're not looking for perfection. We're looking for something which is underlying perfection. A perfection which most people don't recognize. Where you give something your heart and you're always truthful. You're trying your best. I know when I was doing some of the chanting in Jana Grove recently during the retreat, sometimes I suffer from hay fever. Report an error in the passage at 8:36 Highlight the passage at 8:36

9:03 So make sure... Your throat a bit sort of harsh. And I was explaining to all the people listening to me in our retreat center that when I was doing that chant which was a bit out of key, that chant which is out of key is incredibly powerful to get rid of ghosts. They can't stand it. It's so unmusical without any sonorous quality in it at all. Report an error in the passage at 9:03 Highlight the passage at 9:03

9:33 That's a great way to get rid of ghosts. Chant out of key. And if you can't do it yourself, ask me. But it's also the beautiful chanting as well. Please excuse me. I'm just going off target a bit on the talk. But this was with one of my friends who, I was a young monk over in Thailand. And this monk, he was a Vietnam veteran, fought in the war. He was American. A really good, I liked him a lot. Especially, he was a US Marine. He volunteered to join the Marines and fight in Vietnam. Report an error in the passage at 9:33 Highlight the passage at 9:33

10:23 At that time, no one could respect him. But when he was in Vietnam, he got shot in the back of the head. And as he was being carried to the helicopter to be evacuated, Some shrapnel also pierced his body and he thought that was it, he was going to end. He wouldn't survive this. He was very lucky that he did survive. There's a couple of interesting things happened to him. After he recovered, he became a Buddhist monk under Ajahn Chah. Report an error in the passage at 10:23 Highlight the passage at 10:23

11:00 And one of the things he could describe to me is what it means to have a blind spot. He thought he would lose all of his sight, but once they took the bandages off, he could actually see. And he was on a big pension. So he thought he'd have a wonderful life, pensioned out of the army, and healthy enough. It was only one day, he didn't need to go to work with his army pension. Report an error in the passage at 11:00 Highlight the passage at 11:00

11:32 He was playing baseball, and somebody hit the ball in his direction. It was quite an easy catch. He put his hands up and watched the ball come towards him and then the ball vanished. It disappeared. And then it came back again. And that is how he understood what a blind spot is. A blind spot in your field of vision is not a place which is black. Report an error in the passage at 11:32 Highlight the passage at 11:32

12:02 It's just the brain fills in what it expects to see in that blind spot. For him, it was the ball disappearing. And then suddenly appearing again. That's how he found out that. But eventually, that's a great way for any one of you who are worrying about understanding. What is correct understanding of things like Buddhism, of things like meditation, of things like rebirth, of things like meditation? Report an error in the passage at 12:02 Highlight the passage at 12:02

12:38 Have you really penetrated it yet? The point is we all have blind spots. Which over many years of living and practice we can fill in. But anyway, in particular this monk, who was a good friend, that he was doing some chanting and he decided to make it sonorous. Report an error in the passage at 12:38 Highlight the passage at 12:38

13:05 I'm just going to do a little bit of the chanting now. It's usually banned in the forest traditions. Puritava Samhita Samhita Padantaa It was musical. And I thought it was very beautiful. I think a couple of you may remember this monk, this venerable Ananda, an American. Because of the wound in the back of his head, he had like a depression in the back of his head. Some of his brain had to be taken out. But he looked okay. Report an error in the passage at 13:05 Highlight the passage at 13:05

13:41 Anyway, that... The other monks in Wat Ba Na Na chart, where I spent my first year, complained. They said, forest monks are not supposed to chant musically. We're supposed to be like, no beauty, no happiness, chant it, same tone, don't mess around like that ever again. Report an error in the passage at 13:41 Highlight the passage at 13:41

14:12 And this poor monk, I remember him walking out of that hall, Kind of depressed. He put so much energy and effort into learning that beautiful chant. And the meaning of the chant was supposed to invite heavenly beings to come and listen. Report an error in the passage at 14:12 Highlight the passage at 14:12

14:30 And everyone was telling him off. And when I went past him, I am a rebel, and I said, if I was a heavenly being, I would have come. Report an error in the passage at 14:30 Highlight the passage at 14:30

14:44 And just those kind words, just that much, if I was a heavenly being, I would have come. Made him a friend for life. He always was a friend from that time on. And because he was a friend, you can discuss stories like what he went through and why he went through it. Report an error in the passage at 14:44 Highlight the passage at 14:44

15:04 It's so easy to make friends when you praise someone and everyone else is, please just speak Australian, pissing them off. Report an error in the passage at 15:04 Highlight the passage at 15:04

15:18 So be kind to them. It really works. These are the kind of things which you learned. But anyhow, those sort of experiences show me the joy you have if you're doing even Buddhist chanting, put some happiness into it, no matter what you're doing. Report an error in the passage at 15:18 Highlight the passage at 15:18

15:40 That's one of the reasons also. I think it was, oh, it was at last Christmas time. I always try and do something different at Christmas time. Christmas is not a Buddhist holiday. What we did do last time, we got some Christmas carol tunes, Western ones, and started chanting Buddhist chants to the Christmas carols. Report an error in the passage at 15:40 Highlight the passage at 15:40

16:09 So the words were Buddhist, the tunes were well known as, you know, what people do in the West for Christmas. I was very happy with that because it was making those chants, which were so meaningful, enjoyable. Report an error in the passage at 16:09 Highlight the passage at 16:09

16:26 And that's been the whole important essence of Buddhist practice. If it's enjoyable, people would love to do them again. One of the things which I was talking with the monks about recently was why we even keep precepts. Report an error in the passage at 16:26 Highlight the passage at 16:26

16:46 If you become a full member of this place, you have to take the five precepts. And often, as I did this evening, when somebody said, yeah, they're keeping the five precepts, Then I challenge him, how many of you here keep the five precepts? None of you? Put your hands up. So okay, great. What's the third precept? Report an error in the passage at 16:46 Highlight the passage at 16:46

17:15 What's the second precept? And they go black. I scare them. That's not the reason why we keep precepts. There are five precepts, not deliberately killing another human being, another being, not human beings. Report an error in the passage at 17:15 Highlight the passage at 17:15

17:34 Swatting mosquitoes. Oh, sorry. No, I never did. There's no mosquito there. Not stealing, not committing adultery, not lying, and not taking alcohol or drugs. Why? What's wrong with a bit of alcohol and drugs? What's wrong with a bit of lying? Report an error in the passage at 17:34 Highlight the passage at 17:34

17:58 Many times people ask me that question. And so, you know what I say? Honestly, I say, well, you know, come on. Being strict, you know, is really not a good path. So I say, well, okay. They say, well, you know, just a little bit of, please excuse me, a little bit of sexual indulgence. Report an error in the passage at 17:58 Highlight the passage at 17:58

18:28 Is that wrong? Report an error in the passage at 18:28 Highlight the passage at 18:28

18:32 They always ask for that one. A little bit. My experience in life. They always say, Okay. Report an error in the passage at 18:32 Highlight the passage at 18:32

18:41 I'll figure out the other ones, but can I just have a little bit of that? And still keep my precepts. And so I said, well, okay, you've got to be kind. I'll allow you just a little bit of murder, a little bit of... They never ask about the other ones. So the answer is, why do you want to do that anyway? My own upbringing. When, you know, I didn't know why we should keep any... Report an error in the passage at 18:41 Highlight the passage at 18:41

19:16 precepts or have any virtue, I discovered it myself. If I could get on a bus or an underground in London without paying, fine, I thought. But then after a while, I just couldn't complete the journey if I didn't have a ticket. You kind of felt it wasn't right. I don't know how else to describe it. I just wanted to actually pay the small amount of money. Report an error in the passage at 19:16 Highlight the passage at 19:16

19:48 To get on the bus, I just couldn't steal. When I was young, I became a vegetarian. I'm not now because as a monk we have different rules to keep. I can argue about that later. But at that time, I just, even though my poor mother had to put up with me, just after she'd made a meal for others, I had to get the frying pan and scrub it three or four times before I could fry any... Report an error in the passage at 19:48 Highlight the passage at 19:48

20:19 I didn't want my meal to be desecrated by what she'd cooked in the frying pan beforehand. That's how stupid I was. But I certainly would not kill any animals. You know, once, when I was 11 years of age, I still remember this, my father asked me, what would you like for your birthday? And I said, one thing I would really like was a fishing rod. Report an error in the passage at 20:19 Highlight the passage at 20:19

20:51 I see all my friends had fishing rods. And then he said, they're really expensive. So my whole family got together, and this was my birthday and Christmas present, a fishing rod. Report an error in the passage at 20:51 Highlight the passage at 20:51

21:06 And I always loved my grandfather for what he did. I think they were expensive. He managed to give the biggest donation for my fishing rod. And they took me to this lake outside of London. You could not fish in the River Thames in those days. Report an error in the passage at 21:06 Highlight the passage at 21:06

21:24 There were no fish in that river. It was all polluted. So there's a lake outside and I went there with my fishing rod. Really excited. I was going to go fishing today. My grandfather had to teach me how to cast the rod. He had it all ready and he cast it. It got stuck in a tree. I'm not exaggerating. He pulled it to try and release it and it broke. Report an error in the passage at 21:24 Highlight the passage at 21:24

21:53 That was the end of my fishing. Report an error in the passage at 21:53 Highlight the passage at 21:53

21:58 I never had one go at it. I was really upset at my grandfather for that, but these days, thank you so much. Report an error in the passage at 21:58 Highlight the passage at 21:58

22:09 But after a while, when you saw how these little animals were suffering, there's no way you could do that anymore. I just couldn't. Even when I got to Thailand as a monk, that was really hard there because of mosquitoes. Report an error in the passage at 22:09 Highlight the passage at 22:09

22:31 The mosquitoes will come out in the evening. Now this was a Buddhist country, okay? Those mosquitoes in Thailand, the same with Sri Lanka, they see a bald head and a brown robe. They know they've been conditioned, brainwashed over so many lives, a couple of hundred years or a couple of thousand years in Sri Lanka. Report an error in the passage at 22:31 Highlight the passage at 22:31

22:55 They can recognize a monk as a place where they can have a safe dinner. Now just imagine, imagine what it must be like to be a mosquito. You've seen many of your friends go for some lunch or dinner and they never return. Report an error in the passage at 22:55 Highlight the passage at 22:55

23:16 They've been squashed to death. You've seen that, you understand. Just getting some dinner is a very scary and dangerous option for a mosquito. They see a monk, safe. They can go and suck out some blood. And they don't have to worry about being squashed. Imagine you went to dinner this evening to one of these restaurants and you never knew whether you're going to go home. Report an error in the passage at 23:16 Highlight the passage at 23:16

23:46 You may be squashed before you even finish your lunch. That's what it's like being a mosquito. So anyhow, over in Thailand, mosquitoes know. Monks save dinner. Not only that, have a look at your hair. How much hair do you have? How much hair do I have? There's more seats on the dinner table. And this is the way we sort of dress over in Thailand. Report an error in the passage at 23:46 Highlight the passage at 23:46

24:21 Just, you know, the robe, you know, half on our body and all this skin, all this juicy blood they can drink. Not only that, to make it even worse, this was the first time in northeast Thailand when I was there. The first time that those villagers saw Western monks, soon all of the mosquitoes got to know Western food. Report an error in the passage at 24:21 Highlight the passage at 24:21

24:54 They may not like Western food, they may prefer Thai food, but this was the first time in their history they'd ever had the opportunity to get Western food. So they told all three, you know, it's like the trend of fashion, go out for a Western meal. And that's what they did, hundreds of them. Report an error in the passage at 24:54 Highlight the passage at 24:54

25:14 I'm not joking, hundreds of them. Because with my friend, he was an American, and we sat next to each other for quite a while, and we would count the mosquitoes on our arms and head. Report an error in the passage at 25:14 Highlight the passage at 25:14

25:30 I'm not exaggerating. One thing you can rely upon with a monk, we also keep that fourth precept of not lying, not exaggerating, 60 or 70 at a time. Report an error in the passage at 25:30 Highlight the passage at 25:30

25:42 That was a lot of mozzies. Kind of unendurable. You know how I endured? I never squashed any. I realized that if you are out meditating, you may not understand this, but I have to say this, if you get into these deep states of meditation, your metabolism goes way down. You just don't need to breathe. If you're out breathing, you're breathing so slowly. And it was because of that, I never understood it at the time, that after the meditation was finished, I looked at my arm, there was no bumps, you know, little signs of mosquito bites. And I thought that was some sort of psychic power of meditation. Report an error in the passage at 25:42 Highlight the passage at 25:42

26:33 It's not a psychic power of meditation. All it is, when your metabolism goes down, the carbon dioxide which comes out of your pores reduces enormously and the mosquitoes can't find you. Report an error in the passage at 26:33 Highlight the passage at 26:33

26:49 That's why I hardly got any bites. I was invisible for them, simply because the metabolism had gone down. The more you worry about them, the more they know you're there. So these were some of the reasons why I never needed to harm any living beings. And never needed to steal, never needed... I have to say this, please excuse me for saying this, I was heterosexual. Report an error in the passage at 26:49 Highlight the passage at 26:49

27:24 So I had girlfriends when I was young. I have to say only one at a time. And the reason was because I could not afford to. They were really expensive. Apparently they still are. I remember one of the young Thai men. He was doing very well. He had a little job as well as studying and saving up a bit. Once he got a girlfriend from another school here. Report an error in the passage at 27:24 Highlight the passage at 27:24

27:57 He said all his savings went way, way down. I couldn't help but say, I told you so. Report an error in the passage at 27:57 Highlight the passage at 27:57

28:05 Anyhow, he did very well in the end. But all of these things which we learn from just keeping ordinary precepts, I noticed it made my life more fun, more joyful. I could trust myself. Other people could trust me. And especially when somebody drops something and you just, here's your wallet, you just dropped it. And all the cash was there. That impressed people. Report an error in the passage at 28:05 Highlight the passage at 28:05

28:41 And that honesty which I've seen from every one of you who come to these places. I see you just when you come to our monasteries. See your honesty, your kindness. That's virtue too. That's how that makes me happy. Report an error in the passage at 28:41 Highlight the passage at 28:41

29:00 It makes me smile. That's one of the reasons why when in the old days when I was teaching a retreat at a Catholic monastery, we were looking for places so we could hold retreats. This one was over in Safety Bay in Penguin Road. I'll never forget the name of that street, Penguin Road. And I think many of you went on those retreats. Report an error in the passage at 29:00 Highlight the passage at 29:00

29:26 I know you did, Dennis, many times. But I remember just on the interview time, being the teacher, I was asking people about their meditation, giving them some help. Between interviews, I just looked through the window, and it was a Sunday, and the church service had just finished, and it was just two members of their communion who were saying goodbye to each other. Report an error in the passage at 29:26 Highlight the passage at 29:26

29:52 And one said to the other, be good, and the other one said, no, that's no fun. And that really kind of hit me. I never forget that saying. That's totally wrong. If I could get outside quickly enough, I would run outside and say, no, you're wrong, sir. Report an error in the passage at 29:52 Highlight the passage at 29:52

30:14 Being good is immense fun. I've been doing this for so many years now. And am I a happy monk? I would say that. How many of you have seen me in all situations, all particular times? Dennis. You know me for a long time. I've already mentioned you. Am I a happy monk? Report an error in the passage at 30:14 Highlight the passage at 30:14

30:40 Thank you, Dennis. Report an error in the passage at 30:40 Highlight the passage at 30:40

30:46 I'd accept that. It does make you happy. Why? Worries, concerns kind of disappear. You have beautiful friends around to help you and serve you and look after you. You have great fun together, telling silly stories and jokes. Report an error in the passage at 30:46 Highlight the passage at 30:46

31:08 That's why I tell a lot of jokes. The happier I am, sorry, I can't help it, you tell funny stories and jokes. I did, I think I already, okay, I'm not going to behave. Can I? Yeah, okay. But it's one of the things which happens, the happier you are, the easier your life goes. So often, like stories, like when you go traveling, I'll do the traveling stories now. Report an error in the passage at 31:08 Highlight the passage at 31:08

31:41 How often, when you've gone through airports, like many of you do, some of you are going through airports this evening, how many of you ever get into trouble with the customs, security? Report an error in the passage at 31:41 Highlight the passage at 31:41

31:59 In the United States, when I was visiting there some years ago, someone looked at me, letting most people through, they stopped me and said, excuse me, sir. We don't let people through that easy if you're wearing a robe. And they asked me, sir, what have you got underneath your robe? Report an error in the passage at 31:59 Highlight the passage at 31:59

32:26 And they asked, is it a suicide belt? And I said, no, it's fat. Report an error in the passage at 32:26 Highlight the passage at 32:26

32:38 And the customs officer said, same thing. Report an error in the passage at 32:38 Highlight the passage at 32:38

32:49 Or in Perth airport, when I was going through the customs, they said, have you got any liquids in your bag? Any, like, toothpaste, any, looking at me, any hair gel? Report an error in the passage at 32:49 Highlight the passage at 32:49

33:11 I thank the customers. A few people behind me, they couldn't help but burst out laughing as well. Get through. I love it when, sort of, you get, you know, you're really sincere, not trying to demean anybody. Imagine what it must be like being a customs official. No one is ever kind to you or cracks jokes at you. If they crack jokes in the wrong way, then you get extra surveillance. But if you've got a good mood, you have a wonderful time wherever you are, going through all sorts of customs clearances or whatever. Report an error in the passage at 33:11 Highlight the passage at 33:11

33:46 One of those times, this is a long time ago now, that was when coming back from all places from Sri Lanka, coming into Perth airport and This time they had the dogs sniffing everybody. Did I tell this story last week or two weeks ago? I told it somewhere anyway. They had the sniffer dogs and they came to me. I was standing in line and the dog stopped, put its muzzle right under my robe and wagged its tail really hard. Report an error in the passage at 33:46 Highlight the passage at 33:46

34:26 I knew I was in trouble because the lady standing in front of me Walked a step further away from me and a guy behind me walked a step further back. They didn't want to be associated with this drug dealer. Report an error in the passage at 34:26 Highlight the passage at 34:26

34:46 So anyway, I relax. What else can you do? And they were very slow checking everybody. So then the dog came around for a second trip. Down the lines it went, back up the line, down the line, to my line. When it came to me, Stopped again. Put its head right under my robe. Wagged its tail. And the guy leading it had to really pull it hard to get it off me. Report an error in the passage at 34:46 Highlight the passage at 34:46

35:18 So when I got to the counter, well, they asked me, Sir, where are the drugs? I didn't even doubt. I didn't say, are you carrying any drugs? Or what have you got in your bag? Where are they? And so, of course, I said, I'm a monk. I don't carry drugs. Report an error in the passage at 35:18 Highlight the passage at 35:18

35:42 He said, we don't believe you. I think so. I showed him my bag. You've all seen the story of how I travel. I just, that's right, where is it? This and this, that's it. Even if I go long distances, that's all I carry. It's very easy. Have a look inside. It's very easy to see. There's nothing in there. A few papers. They put their hands in there if they wish. I said, what about under your robe? I won't do it here, but it's quite easy to open it up. That's what I did. Report an error in the passage at 35:42 Highlight the passage at 35:42

36:13 And so they said. Okay, why was it, they asked, why was it that a drug sniffer dog trained to be able to smell narcotics, why did he sniff, stop at you and wag his tail so hard, twice? And so I started to talk to the customs officer about loving kindness, mettā. If you practice mettā and share mettā, To the little dog, of course it doesn't want to leave you. It liked me. Report an error in the passage at 36:13 Highlight the passage at 36:13

36:58 That really upset the customs officer. Report an error in the passage at 36:58 Highlight the passage at 36:58

37:04 Apparently now they have these things on TV. Is that correct? I wish that wasn't so long ago when they didn't have the TV. It'd be great to get a copy of that so I could play. But anyway, get out of here. I don't know how many times those... Our officers in the airport say, get out of here, Ajahn Brahm. It's one of the reasons I know them all. Often these days when I go to Perth airport or coming back again, first of all, if I'm going, they say, you're going off again. Report an error in the passage at 37:04 Highlight the passage at 37:04

37:40 And when I come back, they say, are you going to give the talk on Friday night? They know this place. They come here. Anyway, so that I have a lot of fun having no fear because this, Nothing wrong with my luggage, nothing to worry about. That makes life very peaceful and happy. That's one of the reasons why you do keep precepts. Report an error in the passage at 37:40 Highlight the passage at 37:40

38:09 Not because of going some heaven realm after you die. You go to heaven realm now, in this life. You enjoy yourself. And that's the same, not just with precepts, with the meditation you do. I'm being honest now. Of course I talk about meditation. Every week, because I'm a monk and that's what I do. That's what I enjoy the most. Why is it that I've been meditating for how many years now? Report an error in the passage at 38:09 Highlight the passage at 38:09

38:39 51 years as a monk. That's about five years beforehand. 56 years. It's a long time to meditate. I do do other things like going to the toilet and having a shower and things, but that's one of my main occupations. Report an error in the passage at 38:39 Highlight the passage at 38:39

38:54 And sometimes people ask, don't you get bored? Is that all you do, just sitting on your backside watching your breath go in, go out, go in, go out, for 56 years? Report an error in the passage at 38:54 Highlight the passage at 38:54

39:10 And the point is, it's even more fun than keeping precepts or doing bad chanting. That's something which is hard for me to actually to prove to you, even though it should be unobvious. For such a long time, why? It's the most joyful thing you ever do. I have mentioned that to you in the meditation which I taught today, such as even the beginning of it, just relaxing the body. Report an error in the passage at 39:10 Highlight the passage at 39:10

39:51 It's one part of that guided meditation I didn't do last week, or no, not last, yeah, it was last, a couple of weeks ago, which I should have done. That is why when you start relaxing your body, when everything has been relaxed one after the other, and your head has been relaxed, and the whole body is just so at ease, that is joyful. Report an error in the passage at 39:51 Highlight the passage at 39:51

40:19 That by itself is a wonderful feeling. That's why as a monk I thought you shouldn't have happiness when I was a young monk. No way. Indulge in it. I usually give myself a couple of minutes at least. Once the whole body is relaxed, it feels good. Honestly, it does feel really pleasurable. And when I just notice that pleasure of just relaxing the body part of meditation, the relaxation goes deeper. Report an error in the passage at 40:19 Highlight the passage at 40:19

40:53 You're more relaxed. That feels really good. Not just feeling good. This is my 75th year now. I should be getting sick. I should have more diseases. For all of you doctors and nurses who would love to make the merit of looking after me, I'm sorry. Report an error in the passage at 40:53 Highlight the passage at 40:53

41:23 You haven't had that opportunity. I've been way too healthy. When was the last time I was sick? I remember the last time I went into hospital. Report an error in the passage at 41:23 Highlight the passage at 41:23

41:38 That was, how long ago was that? 40 years ago or something? Over in Rockingham Hospital, it was a small hospital then, and we have one of our supporters here, Sri Lankan, his doctor, was it Mervyn Mendes? Yeah, Dr. Mendes anyway. Dr. Mendes, he looked at me and said, look, I'm a specialist, I work in... Report an error in the passage at 41:38 Highlight the passage at 41:38

42:14 Rockingham, was it Safety Bay Hospital? I forget which. Anyway, one of those small hospitals there. I work in the hospital. I can get you admitted and just do some tests on you for six days. See if there's anything wrong with you. So he got me into the hospital. My first fun and games going into an Australian hospital was when they asked me, said, sir, now you're going to be staying in hospital for a few days. Report an error in the passage at 42:14 Highlight the passage at 42:14

42:38 Have you got your pyjamas? Report an error in the passage at 42:38 Highlight the passage at 42:38

42:43 Honestly, I don't have any pyjamas. Even these days, I don't have any pyjamas. So I told the nurse doing the registration to admit me into hospital. I said, it's either these robes or naked. Take your choice. Honestly, I said that. I'm not exaggerating or making it up. I said that. And I think she may have thought they got me into the wrong hospital. Report an error in the passage at 42:43 Highlight the passage at 42:43

43:14 But anyway, she's okay. So I went in my robes, and when I went into the bed, and the nurses came just to do all the checking, whatever, they noticed there was a ward, like four beds, male ward, and my doctor, Dr. Mendis, he said he was a gynecologist. So the nurses had great fun trying to understand what's a Buddhist monk, a male, doing being treated by a gynecologist. Report an error in the passage at 43:14 Highlight the passage at 43:14

43:53 Honestly, I love that when it makes people laugh and be happy in hospital. How many people go to hospital and get happy when they see a Buddhist monk still wearing his robes, bald head, under a gynecologist? It makes them think. Anyhow, I couldn't find anything wrong with me, so I went back to monastery after about six days. Report an error in the passage at 43:53 Highlight the passage at 43:53

44:15 Nevertheless, I enjoyed that experience, the laughter, the joy, the happiness. Honestly, I think that was one of the best ingredients for the cure, whatever I had, even if it was something, I had really no energy. The joy and the happiness is really important. And it's the same when you meditate. I mentioned this during this meditation today, peace. Report an error in the passage at 44:15 Highlight the passage at 44:15

44:47 What is peace? When you get to know it, what peace is? Report an error in the passage at 44:47 Highlight the passage at 44:47

44:56 It's one of the most beautiful mental objects you can ever focus on. Peace. You don't want anything, you don't need anything, you don't need to get rid of anything. You find these great moments of peace. You don't have to prove anything, do anything, change anything. You're like perfect as you are in this moment. Report an error in the passage at 44:56 Highlight the passage at 44:56

45:19 I mean that. This moment is just, how can you ever improve it? It's peaceful. And then from the peace, that's pretty amazing to enjoy that and allow the joy to come up as you're enjoying the meditation. Then the silence. Report an error in the passage at 45:19 Highlight the passage at 45:19

45:40 We have one visitor who's been here for a month from Sri Lanka and she's on the aircraft now I believe. Is that correct Prem? Another two days. Is she here today? Are you here Gita? Oh sorry, she's in the back. Sorry, I didn't want to say what you told me this morning. But anyway, do you mind if I say? Okay. She was saying just what she loved about this place so much was how peaceful and still it was. Report an error in the passage at 45:40 Highlight the passage at 45:40

46:20 About Jharnam Grove Retreat Center. Report an error in the passage at 46:20 Highlight the passage at 46:20

46:27 That's a happy place. It's a meditation retreat center, but when people go there, they can taste the stillness and the peace. Report an error in the passage at 46:27 Highlight the passage at 46:27

46:39 What more do you want in life? Sometimes people work hard to get enough money to get a place where you can enjoy stillness and peace. Or they just want to get rid of all the problems in their life, get healthy and just enjoy the peace and stillness. It's right there, right now. I shouldn't really say too much about that, otherwise you'll all be booking in to go there. Report an error in the passage at 46:39 Highlight the passage at 46:39

47:04 But it is true. You go there and it's just so peaceful, so still. You don't want anything else in the whole world. Why would you? You're content, satisfied, don't want anything else. You really get into it. It doesn't matter what's going on in your life. That peace and stillness is really joyful. And sometimes you see people on these retreats having silly smiles on their face. Even more silly than Ajahn Brahm's smile. Report an error in the passage at 47:04 Highlight the passage at 47:04

47:41 You got used to mine. It wasn't born like this. This is what grows on you. That joy and that happiness shows you why we meditate. Report an error in the passage at 47:41 Highlight the passage at 47:41

47:54 Why we keep precepts. Why we even chant. Out of joy. Why you do anything. You do that because it gives you that happiness, that joy. Report an error in the passage at 47:54 Highlight the passage at 47:54

48:07 When I was in Thailand, I see one or two Thais in the back there. The village used to tell us, if it's not sanuk, madong tam. Jingmei? Report an error in the passage at 48:07 Highlight the passage at 48:07

48:27 She's nodding her head. If it's not fun, it's not worth doing. They'd always do that. And I couldn't sort of... I love the philosophy there. When you do stuff at home or at work, do you still do it even though it's not fun? Report an error in the passage at 48:27 Highlight the passage at 48:27

48:48 No way. If you're working at the Buddhist Society of Western Australia as a volunteer, make it fun. If it's not fun, don't do it. Report an error in the passage at 48:48 Highlight the passage at 48:48

49:02 Is that good advice? You do that and after a while you just want to meditate, you want to wash your tissues and mess around. That's my philosophy. Do I practice like that, Mrs. President? Report an error in the passage at 49:02 Highlight the passage at 49:02

49:19 So you've got a nice smile on your face, so you must be getting there. Learning how to enjoy whatever you have to do here. Sometimes it's impossible. What are you having fun for? Having all that responsibility. What about everybody else who does all these responsible things? Report an error in the passage at 49:19 Highlight the passage at 49:19

49:38 Are you enjoying it? Are you enjoying this talk here? If it's not, just get out of here. That's what I would do. And that kind of that word, sanuk. It's a northeast Thai sanuk. Fun. Joyful. If it's not sanuk. Not worth doing. It's amazing how much work you do that way. And you have a lot of wonderful memories doing it. Report an error in the passage at 49:38 Highlight the passage at 49:38

50:09 So anyway, as again, I always talk way too long. But none of you went out. Amazing. You must have felt that the talk was sanuk. Report an error in the passage at 50:09 Highlight the passage at 50:09

50:22 Thank you for listening. Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu. Report an error in the passage at 50:22 Highlight the passage at 50:22

50:29 That's a Thai Laotian word. Okay. Any questions? Yes, Mr. Prem. Report an error in the passage at 50:29 Highlight the passage at 50:29

50:40 Yeah. Thank Report an error in the passage at 50:40 Highlight the passage at 50:40

50:45 you. Is there any understanding of the mechanism involved in the ghosts understanding what, when you are doing some chanting or meditating, they come to know, they get to know and then go away or do something. What do you think is the mechanism? Okay, the chanting and the ghosts. Look, because I was scientist, still am, and because The background, the way I was taught, you never just go and assume anything, even if it's said so in some sūtra or some Buddhist book. Report an error in the passage at 50:45 Highlight the passage at 50:45

51:24 Go and find out for yourself. And I've told this story to you before, true story. My meditation was really good at the beginning because I wasn't scared, it really helped. Report an error in the passage at 51:24 Highlight the passage at 51:24

51:37 So one evening I went looking for ghosts. Report an error in the passage at 51:37 Highlight the passage at 51:37

51:43 Please excuse me, leaving your body. I'm going to see if you can find some. So I can see them, you know, with my own mental eyes. I always wanted to know, do they exist? This was in Wat Ba Na Na Cha, which was a cremation ground. So I remember just walking through the forest, seeing one. There's many more just past him. I was walking towards him. And this ghost told me, this is a true story, this ghost told me, you can see us. Report an error in the passage at 51:43 Highlight the passage at 51:43

52:20 I said, yeah. And the ghost started running away. I said, no, stop. I'm not going to harm you. So that's when I had a little chat with the ghost. Even though my local language skill was not that good, he found out that if you do kind of communicate with the ghost, you don't communicate within the language. Report an error in the passage at 52:20 Highlight the passage at 52:20

52:48 It's like mind to mind. And one thing I remember, that's such a long time ago. That ghost, I asked the ghost, is there anything I can get for you? I wasn't trying to get rid of them or harm them. You don't want to harm other beings. So what they wanted was some jow, Thai fruit. Report an error in the passage at 52:48 Highlight the passage at 52:48

53:15 So I said, I'll try and get some for you tomorrow and leave some out for you. Jow. So that's kind of what happens. Yeah, it's a mind-to-mind connection. Mind-to-mind, but just... They wanted something, just give them it, even if they can't eat it. This is showing them kindness. Thank you, Ajahn. Thank you. Report an error in the passage at 53:15 Highlight the passage at 53:15

53:40 No need to feel afraid. Report an error in the passage at 53:40 Highlight the passage at 53:40

53:44 Okay, we've got some questions here. Buddha told, this is from Emina, Buddha told, end of this life is beginning of the next life. Did he mean we are moving to the next life? Are not solved problems, mental illnesses, emotional issues, disabilities, etc., or is it applied only for the emotional during moment of death? Report an error in the passage at 53:44 Highlight the passage at 53:44

54:09 Thank you very much, dear Ajahn Brahm, for your kindness and sharing your wisdom. It's your tendencies, you know, what you kind of, how the Buddha called it, how you lean. See, if a tree is leaning to the west and it gets cut down, it will fall to the west. Report an error in the passage at 54:09 Highlight the passage at 54:09

54:30 So if you're leaning as a, say as a Buddhist, you know, you like Buddhism, you like meditating, when you die, that's where you'll go to. It's kind of obvious. If you like, you like gambling, say, and you know, you would like to do the horse racing or something, then that's what you will lean towards in your next life. Report an error in the passage at 54:30 Highlight the passage at 54:30

54:52 And there was this one person, and, I don't know, come on Ajahn Brahm, it's... It's this English comic. I did look up his name last time, and I keep forgetting it. But anyway, he was a comic, a TV personality. And when he died, sorry, I'm running ahead of myself. One day when he got lost in London, went down a road he'd never been down before, and then he recognized one of the houses. Report an error in the passage at 54:52 Highlight the passage at 54:52

55:30 And where he lived in his previous life. Because of that, he knocked on the door and they opened. They weren't scared because they recognized him from the TV. He was a well-known personality. He said to them, excuse me, but I used to live here. It's impossible, they said. We lived here since the Second World War. No, before the Second World War, he said. You're not old enough for that. And he said his name was Dan Lino before. Report an error in the passage at 55:30 Highlight the passage at 55:30

56:00 He was a music hall comedian and he had a little blue plaque on the wall. He took them in the house and showed them all the renovations they'd done since he lived there. Spontaneous memory of past lives. That's what that was. So sometimes there was a good example of somebody who was a comedian in his previous life. Report an error in the passage at 56:00 Highlight the passage at 56:00

56:28 A famous one. And he was a comedian in his next life as well. So who do you think I was in my previous life? Report an error in the passage at 56:28 Highlight the passage at 56:28

56:42 Some of those tendencies, they don't disappear. Report an error in the passage at 56:42 Highlight the passage at 56:42

56:50 Okay. Oh, okay. iCloud backup. This pad hasn't been backed up in 14 weeks. Okay. See what happens. Dear Ajahn Brahm, I have a question about importance of harmony in unavoidable situation. Should we sacrifice our ideals for the sake of harmony? For example, in workplace or in family, let's say with friends, when out to drink, what is harmony? Report an error in the passage at 56:50 Highlight the passage at 56:50

57:18 Does that mean I need to participate? Yes, you do need to participate. But have some orange juice. I always say that, I think I said this last week or two ago. If you have your friends ask you, let's go out fishing. Is fishing against the precepts in Buddhism? Don't answer. I always give trick questions. I say, yeah, sure, you can go out and fish with your friends, but make sure you don't put a hook on the end of the line. Report an error in the passage at 57:18 Highlight the passage at 57:18

57:53 It's much more peaceful, you have much more fun when you keep your precepts. And if you go out drinking, my friends at university, I gave up drinking when I was at university, and I still went to all the parties with my friends. Report an error in the passage at 57:53 Highlight the passage at 57:53

58:11 They wanted someone sober to drive them home. I got invited to more parties than ever before. I enjoyed them much more. And why do you need drink? Alcohol. It's totally unnecessary. You enjoy life much more without it. So that's why I invite you out, yeah. But I just don't have anything alcoholic. Report an error in the passage at 58:11 Highlight the passage at 58:11

58:38 So that's how you can keep harmony, by being smart about it. Make sense? Okay. I don't think I convinced you. Maybe I'm answering too many questions or answering too slowly. The third question. Can you reflect on how contemplating our own death can bring us happiness and freedom in this life? Report an error in the passage at 58:38 Highlight the passage at 58:38

59:05 Contemplating your own death. Haven't you got other things to contemplate? Report an error in the passage at 59:05 Highlight the passage at 59:05

59:12 Sometimes you contemplate your own death. Look, there's one of our monks in Bodhinyana Monastery who's supposed to have died at the beginning of the rains retreat. That's about three or four months ago. And he was making me promises. He said, I think I'm going to die tonight. He never did. I'm not going to believe his promises anymore. Report an error in the passage at 59:12 Highlight the passage at 59:12

59:36 Is that a good idea? In other words, you can contemplate death, but what you really want to contemplate is like letting go of things. Don't call it death. Contemplate just transitioning. Some of you go to other countries, some of you other lives, some of you other universities or whatever. Don't worry about where you're going. Just know that this happens. Report an error in the passage at 59:36 Highlight the passage at 59:36

1:00:03 We move from place to place. Report an error in the passage at 1:00:03 Highlight the passage at 1:00:03

1:00:09 Last one. Not being a Buddhist, I love to meditate and don't believe in jhānas. Never saw one. You may never have seen one. I've never seen the Eiffel Tower. I've never been to France, honestly. But I believe there is an Eiffel Tower. I've never seen one. Report an error in the passage at 1:00:09 Highlight the passage at 1:00:09

1:00:29 And as for the jhānas, goodness gracious, they certainly do exist in one of the most gorgeous parts of Buddhism. You get into some of these jhānas and really bliss out. I don't want you to miss out on that one. But anyway, if it was really good, you need all the theoretical stuff to get deep in meditation, no. Report an error in the passage at 1:00:29 Highlight the passage at 1:00:29

1:00:52 All that theoretical stuff, sometimes that's a hindrance. In the time of the Buddha, just people had hardly any understanding at all. Thank you for Report an error in the passage at 1:00:52 Highlight the passage at 1:00:52

1:01:29 listening. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:29 Highlight the passage at 1:01:29

1:01:33 It is a bit late. Was there any other questions? other questions? Report an error in the passage at 1:01:33 Highlight the passage at 1:01:33

1:01:41 Can I say something Ajahn Brahm? Go on. Ajahn Brahm, you talk about ghosts, you know, ghosts. Ghosts again. Are they real things, Ajahn Brahm? Oh yeah. They're real beings. Some of the beings don't know they've died. Some of them have died recently but they haven't left this realm yet. They are real. And can they interact with men, with people? And women too. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:41 Highlight the passage at 1:01:41

1:02:09 Yeah. And dogs and other animals. Can I share my experience with a ghost, Ajahn Brahm, you want? Okay, if we're going to tell a ghost story, can we turn all the lights off, please? Report an error in the passage at 1:02:09 Highlight the passage at 1:02:09

1:02:22 Give some atmosphere. Go on. This happened a long time ago in Perth, you know, in Perth. Drew, behave. This happened in Perth, you know. When I first came to Perth, one night, you know, when I was sleeping, you know, In my subconscious mind, you know, a ghost came to make love to me. Yeah. Okay. I know I've heard in Catholicism, they have a name for that. I think they call it an incubus. Report an error in the passage at 1:02:22 Highlight the passage at 1:02:22

1:02:59 I was wondering just where that whole idea came from. But yeah. But anyway, send him away. Yeah. To me, it's a real thing. way. Report an error in the passage at 1:02:59 Highlight the passage at 1:02:59

1:03:14 Yeah. But that's not really a useful thing. The useful thing is when you can give it some kindness back, some happiness. But they are real beings, they are real, you know? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. That's all I'm saying. Because I'm a monk, I've got no experience on that. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:14 Highlight the passage at 1:03:14

1:03:36 You've got the lights back on. Okay, true. Excellent. Okay, so... One lady's left a bag outside the reception. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:36 Highlight the passage at 1:03:36

1:03:48 Okay, great, yeah. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:48 Highlight the passage at 1:03:48

1:03:53 Excellent. Okay. So now we can finish off by paying respects to the Buddha, Dhamma and Saṅgha and afterwards those who want to, as usual, form a line here to ask personal questions. I'll still be here for a few more minutes. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:53 Highlight the passage at 1:03:53

1:04:13 All right, so, fans. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:13 Highlight the passage at 1:04:13

1:04:40 one time, I'll be watching. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:40 Highlight the passage at 1:04:40

1:04:46 Suvah kato bhagavata dhammo Report an error in the passage at 1:04:46 Highlight the passage at 1:04:46

1:04:58 Supatipanno bhagavato savag... Thank you. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:58 Highlight the passage at 1:04:58