Fruit Of The Path

0:00 So we'll start with a 30-minute meditation. And tonight's topic, I thought I want to talk about impermanence, anicca, and the good ways to think about it and unbeneficial ways to think about it. And we need to see reality as it is. meditation. Report an error in the passage at 0:00 Highlight the passage at 0:00

0:32 And not be distracted by the illusion of permanence that we have all around us. So I'm going to have a gentle flavor of impermanence over the meditation. And I like to start with a body scan because the point of meditation, especially a nice short meditation like we're going to do together, is to really relax and to leave the world behind, to calm our body down. Report an error in the passage at 0:32 Highlight the passage at 0:32

1:02 Calm our minds down. Feel some tranquility and peace. And get some distance. Just get some distance. Step off of that treadmill that we've been on all day. Going around just to get a little bit of space. Report an error in the passage at 1:02 Highlight the passage at 1:02

1:22 So I always like to start with the body myself. And then go on to the mind. And it's sort of like the partnership. It's the nama and the rūpa. So first we'll go through the body scan, tranquilize the body, then move up to the head and the mind and the senses and let go of those and just enjoy some peace and calm for 30 minutes. Report an error in the passage at 1:22 Highlight the passage at 1:22

1:50 So please just seat in a comfortable position. However you like, you can shut your eyes and we'll just take a few deep breaths to start with. Report an error in the passage at 1:50 Highlight the passage at 1:50

2:18 Sorry, I have to set my timer or I'll never know when the 30 minutes is up. Report an error in the passage at 2:18 Highlight the passage at 2:18

2:30 So close your eyes and just take a few deep breaths and Report an error in the passage at 2:30 Highlight the passage at 2:30

2:41 just settle into your position. Feel your body as a whole. Wriggle around. And Report an error in the passage at 2:41 Highlight the passage at 2:41

2:55 then we're gently going to put our attention down towards our feet. And Report an error in the passage at 2:55 Highlight the passage at 2:55

3:07 we're slowly going to zoom our attention, to really zoom our attention in onto our toes. And Report an error in the passage at 3:07 Highlight the passage at 3:07

3:22 then onto the left toenail. Just feel it there. Report an error in the passage at 3:22 Highlight the passage at 3:22

3:33 Take your time and really go down to that toenail. And then move Report an error in the passage at 3:33 Highlight the passage at 3:33

3:51 on to the next toe, leaving Report an error in the passage at 3:51 Highlight the passage at 3:51

4:00 everything behind, just focusing on that toenail. Report an error in the passage at 4:00 Highlight the passage at 4:00

4:13 And then we'll move to the next toe, and Report an error in the passage at 4:13 Highlight the passage at 4:13

4:27 the next toe along, Report an error in the passage at 4:27 Highlight the passage at 4:27

4:35 feeling all around the edges, the cuticle, focusing in, and Report an error in the passage at 4:35 Highlight the passage at 4:35

4:47 then on to the big toe of the left foot. Hello, big toe. And Report an error in the passage at 4:47 Highlight the passage at 4:47

5:05 then to the big toe on the right foot, Report an error in the passage at 5:05 Highlight the passage at 5:05

5:14 taking time, going deep into it, feeling all the details. Report an error in the passage at 5:14 Highlight the passage at 5:14

5:29 And to the next toe along, Report an error in the passage at 5:29 Highlight the passage at 5:29

5:37 gently, carefully, attentively. And Report an error in the passage at 5:37 Highlight the passage at 5:37

5:48 then to the next one, Report an error in the passage at 5:48 Highlight the passage at 5:48

5:59 and the next one, and Report an error in the passage at 5:59 Highlight the passage at 5:59

6:08 the little toe on the right foot, little toe. Report an error in the passage at 6:08 Highlight the passage at 6:08

6:23 You can wriggle them around if you want to. Report an error in the passage at 6:23 Highlight the passage at 6:23

6:29 And then expand your attention to take in both feet. Report an error in the passage at 6:29 Highlight the passage at 6:29

6:42 We often take our feet for granted. They serve us so well. So I like to have an attitude of gratitude when I do this body scan. Report an error in the passage at 6:42 Highlight the passage at 6:42

6:56 Thank you, feet. Report an error in the passage at 6:56 Highlight the passage at 6:56

7:01 And I'm getting a bit old now and my body has had a hard life and there's lots of wear and tear. So I'm very thankful to you, feet. Report an error in the passage at 7:01 Highlight the passage at 7:01

7:15 How many hundreds of thousands of steps you've taken. Thank you. And in this time, let me take care of you. This body, these feet, and Report an error in the passage at 7:15 Highlight the passage at 7:15

7:42 to the ankles, the Report an error in the passage at 7:42 Highlight the passage at 7:42

7:50 ankles. We're born and we age and ultimately the body will fade away. But in this life, we journey together. And we appreciate our body and look after it, all the more knowing that it's impermanent. Report an error in the passage at 7:50 Highlight the passage at 7:50

8:18 Thank you, ankles. Report an error in the passage at 8:18 Highlight the passage at 8:18

8:23 And relax. There's no work to be done now. This is a space for calm and peace and mettā, relaxation, moving Report an error in the passage at 8:23 Highlight the passage at 8:23

8:55 up the calves. Time to relax now. Report an error in the passage at 8:55 Highlight the passage at 8:55

9:19 up towards the knees. Report an error in the passage at 9:19 Highlight the passage at 9:19

9:23 and feeling all the little muscles and the ligaments that attach from the knees to the calves Report an error in the passage at 9:23 Highlight the passage at 9:23

9:43 Nothing to do but relax and rest. Thank you, knee. And Report an error in the passage at 9:43 Highlight the passage at 9:43

10:02 focus on all the muscles and ligaments. Attached from the knees going into the thighs and relax. Let go. You've Report an error in the passage at 10:02 Highlight the passage at 10:02

10:20 been working so hard. It's time to relax now. Beautiful, peaceful reward. Report an error in the passage at 10:20 Highlight the passage at 10:20

10:35 Relaxing the thighs. Report an error in the passage at 10:35 Highlight the passage at 10:35

10:44 Legs becoming so light now. Report an error in the passage at 10:44 Highlight the passage at 10:44

10:53 Going up into the groin and pelvis. Report an error in the passage at 10:53 Highlight the passage at 10:53

10:59 Relax. Thank Report an error in the passage at 10:59 Highlight the passage at 10:59

· · · silence, 1 minute

11:31 you so much. Relax now. Report an error in the passage at 11:31 Highlight the passage at 11:31

11:41 And going into the abdomen with all the organs. Don't think about the organs much. They just work away, keeping us alive, Report an error in the passage at 11:41 Highlight the passage at 11:41

12:07 calm, peaceful, and Report an error in the passage at 12:07 Highlight the passage at 12:07

12:24 working our way upwards, up to the diaphragm, at the bottom of our lungs. Such a big muscle. Works non-stop since the moment we were born. Report an error in the passage at 12:24 Highlight the passage at 12:24

12:44 We'll keep going till the moment this body passes. Thank you so much for this life. Report an error in the passage at 12:44 Highlight the passage at 12:44

13:00 But relax now. The Report an error in the passage at 13:00 Highlight the passage at 13:00

13:06 breathing will take care of itself. Report an error in the passage at 13:06 Highlight the passage at 13:06

13:12 Just relax. Putting Report an error in the passage at 13:12 Highlight the passage at 13:12

13:24 attention on the lower spine, on the lower back, and all the vertebra, all Report an error in the passage at 13:24 Highlight the passage at 13:24

13:37 those vertebra that keep us upright and active. Report an error in the passage at 13:37 Highlight the passage at 13:37

13:49 Relaxing each one. As you progress up the spine, the middle back, the upper back, the Report an error in the passage at 13:49 Highlight the passage at 13:49

14:05 shoulders, they often hold so much pressure. Relax now. The work is done. Time for peace. Nothing more to do. Report an error in the passage at 14:05 Highlight the passage at 14:05

14:31 Beautiful peace. Into Report an error in the passage at 14:31 Highlight the passage at 14:31

14:39 the front of the shoulders, the armpits, and Report an error in the passage at 14:39 Highlight the passage at 14:39

14:48 down the biceps. Report an error in the passage at 14:48 Highlight the passage at 14:48

14:55 So let your attention flow down, and as it flows down, let the relaxation flow along. All the tension just slough off, down through the elbows, down through the forearms, the wrists, the hands, and let the tension just drip out of the tips of your fingers. Report an error in the passage at 14:55 Highlight the passage at 14:55

15:31 Oh God, oh Report an error in the passage at 15:31 Highlight the passage at 15:31

15:36 God. Report an error in the passage at 15:36 Highlight the passage at 15:36

15:39 So lovely, so light. Report an error in the passage at 15:39 Highlight the passage at 15:39

15:50 Thank you, body. This is what I can do for you. Report an error in the passage at 15:50 Highlight the passage at 15:50

16:05 Moving back up the arms to the neck, Report an error in the passage at 16:05 Highlight the passage at 16:05

16:12 and up the neck, up each vertebra, and those strong tendons and sinews that hold our head up. Report an error in the passage at 16:12 Highlight the passage at 16:12

16:27 Just relax, Report an error in the passage at 16:27 Highlight the passage at 16:27

16:33 just relax. Report an error in the passage at 16:33 Highlight the passage at 16:33

16:38 And into the base of the skull, where the spine joins the skull. Report an error in the passage at 16:38 Highlight the passage at 16:38

16:48 Going up the scalp, behind the ears, around the top of the head. The tension can just go out the top of the head, float away like mist. And Report an error in the passage at 16:48 Highlight the passage at 16:48

17:12 the face, all relaxing the muscles around the eyes, and the nose, and the front of the ears, and around the mouth, the chin. Report an error in the passage at 17:12 Highlight the passage at 17:12

17:31 No need to hold any expressions. Just relax. And Report an error in the passage at 17:31 Highlight the passage at 17:31

17:48 as our body calms down, we can leave it behind. We can leave our senses behind. No tasting of the mouth. No smelling of the nose. No sights bombarding the eyes. Report an error in the passage at 17:48 Highlight the passage at 17:48

18:12 Only still some hearing. But that too soon will be gone. And Report an error in the passage at 18:12 Highlight the passage at 18:12

18:23 there's just the mind. Report an error in the passage at 18:23 Highlight the passage at 18:23

18:27 And it can feel so light, just Report an error in the passage at 18:27 Highlight the passage at 18:27

18:33 floating along, nothing to do. Beautiful rest and peace. Report an error in the passage at 18:33 Highlight the passage at 18:33

18:49 So I'm going to stop speaking for the rest of the meditation. Report an error in the passage at 18:49 Highlight the passage at 18:49

18:56 Enjoy the lightness, having let go of all those things. Just feel the lightness and the joy that comes from the letting go. And Report an error in the passage at 18:56 Highlight the passage at 18:56

· · · silence, 12 minutes

31:42 we're coming close to the end of the meditation. Report an error in the passage at 31:42 Highlight the passage at 31:42

31:54 We can give thanks for this period of rest and calm. We know we can always come back here. It's Report an error in the passage at 31:54 Highlight the passage at 31:54

32:08 an inner refuge. Take Report an error in the passage at 32:08 Highlight the passage at 32:08

32:23 a few deep breaths and ground yourself back and Report an error in the passage at 32:23 Highlight the passage at 32:23

32:38 open your eyes when you're ready. Welcome Report an error in the passage at 32:38 Highlight the passage at 32:38

32:57 back. I hope you all feel a little more peaceful. Doesn't matter, there's no bad meditations. It's just... Giving a bit of space and luxury for your body and mind. Nice to see you all. Report an error in the passage at 32:57 Highlight the passage at 32:57

33:24 So today, I thought we'd talk about impermanence. And some people find this a bit of a scary or confronting topic. I actually think it's one of the greatest gifts the Buddha has given us. Because... Report an error in the passage at 33:24 Highlight the passage at 33:24

33:50 It's one of the roads to freedom. It's one of the three characteristics he asks us to contemplate all the time. So there's Dukkha, Anicca and Anattā. And so the impermanence is something that seems really simple on the surface, but it's very deep. And the realization of impermanence is an absolute and utter blessing. Report an error in the passage at 33:50 Highlight the passage at 33:50

34:17 It's really... A powerhouse, an engine that can fire our practice to take us to good destinations. It gives us the energy to practice because often in our daily lives, we're so caught up in the treadmill, just running around from one thing to the next. We are always thinking about tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. Report an error in the passage at 34:17 Highlight the passage at 34:17

34:47 The present moment and the idea of impermanence that this may be our last moment becomes invisible and that's to our detriment because it means that we prioritize the wrong things often. We prioritize doing all of the tasks and getting things done and all of those things rather than thinking Truly about the weight of our decisions and where we put our priorities, where we want to focus. And so it's to see reality as it is and not to be distracted by the illusion of permanence, the illusion that there's always going to be tomorrow or the next moment. Report an error in the passage at 34:47 Highlight the passage at 34:47

35:34 And what's caused me to think about this now is the Nepal disaster. disaster. I assume everyone is aware of the terrible, incredible, catastrophic floods in Nepal. Is there anyone who hasn't heard of it? No? Okay. Well, I don't know if you've seen any of the footage, but one of the images that came through was of that incredible, incredible wall of water that just engulfed the entire Report an error in the passage at 35:34 Highlight the passage at 35:34

36:13 Border crossing. And what it did for me immediately, it drew to mind one of the Buddha's suttas called the simile of the mountain. Report an error in the passage at 36:13 Highlight the passage at 36:13

36:26 Just that image, you know, what the Buddha was talking about with the simile of the mountain. I thought it was just so remarkably similar. This image of this mountain of water coming and just sweeping everybody away. With no warning. This is impermanence. This is nature. And there's good ways to think about this, beneficial ways that help us move along the path that bring us peace and happiness and lessen our fear. Report an error in the passage at 36:26 Highlight the passage at 36:26

36:59 And there's less beneficial ways of thinking about it that increases our fear and aversion and denial. So I just want to talk about these a little bit because I absolutely... Report an error in the passage at 36:59 Highlight the passage at 36:59

37:13 I was going to say totally convinced, but it's more than being convinced. I know that it's actually an incredible blessing to understand impermanence and to take it seriously and to let that guide the choices in our lives. So what I thought I'd do is I'd read the sutta, the simile of the mountain. That's from the Samyutta Nikaya, chapter 3.25. Report an error in the passage at 37:13 Highlight the passage at 37:13

37:44 And we'll just discuss some points from that. And I'll just raise a few different points and then I'll open up for discussion and questions and have a bit of an interactive time so that we can go from there. Does that sound all right? Okay. So the simile of the mountain. And, you know, this is a very well-known sutta, but it gets extra poignancy. Report an error in the passage at 37:44 Highlight the passage at 37:44

38:13 Because sometimes when we read the suttas, it sort of sounds a bit theoretical or like a story. But when we actually combine it with the images and the experience of what has happened just a few days ago, that is literally the simile of the mountain that we have witnessed coming. Report an error in the passage at 38:13 Highlight the passage at 38:13

38:33 So I think we need to make it more real. You know, it's by making it real that we actually can get closer to having these realizations for ourselves. And that is the path of the practice so that we can actually realize impermanence. It's one of the doors to liberation. So here we go. At Savati, King Pasenadi of Kosala sat to one side and the Buddha said to him, so great king, where are you coming from in the middle of the day? Report an error in the passage at 38:33 Highlight the passage at 38:33

39:08 Sir, there are anointed aristocratic kings who are infatuated with authority and obsessed with greed for sensual pleasures. They have attained stability in the country, occupying a vast conquered territory. Today, I've been busy fulfilling the duties of such kings. And this is so mundane and you have to sort of take your hat off to king personality. Report an error in the passage at 39:08 Highlight the passage at 39:08

39:33 Because he's saying, yes, he's obsessed with power and sensuality and enjoying worldly things, and he's just come from running around doing all of these important things all day. He's been busy fulfilling the duties of such kings. But the Buddha replies, okay, to sort of cut into his running on the treadmill. Report an error in the passage at 39:33 Highlight the passage at 39:33

39:56 He says, what do you think, great king? Suppose a trustworthy and dependable man were to come from the east. He'd approach you and say, please, great king, you should know this. I come from the east. There I saw a big mountain that reached the clouds and it was coming this way, crushing all creatures before it. Report an error in the passage at 39:56 Highlight the passage at 39:56

40:21 So then, great king, do what you must. So this is a trustworthy and dependable man, right? We can say it's the Buddha. The Buddha is actually giving us this warning. He's saying, hey, you're running around doing all of your daily things, but there's these mountains coming, crushing all creatures in front of them. Report an error in the passage at 40:21 Highlight the passage at 40:21

40:44 And the Buddha goes on. Then a second trustworthy and dependable man were to come from the west, a third from the north, and a fourth from the south. He'd approach you and say, please, great king, you should know this. I come from the south. There I saw a big mountain that reached the clouds and it was coming this way, crushing all creatures. Report an error in the passage at 40:44 Highlight the passage at 40:44

41:09 So then great king, do what you must. And so these are the messengers. The mountains here are literally the messengers. And the king and we, we are all being told that these things are coming. And the Buddha then asks, should such a dire threat arise? A grim loss of human life. When human birth is so rare, what would you do? Report an error in the passage at 41:09 Highlight the passage at 41:09

41:40 So these aren't just words. This is reality. It's a dire threat. Impermanence. And King Pisanity replies, Sir, what could I do but practice the teachings, practice morality, doing skillful and good actions? Report an error in the passage at 41:40 Highlight the passage at 41:40

42:05 And again, you know, we often say these words and they sort of just gloss over us. But this is really talking about purifying conduct, our conduct, and how it benefits us here and now and into the future. And we all know what to do, but the sense of urgency isn't there. It's just not there because impermanence is not understood. Report an error in the passage at 42:05 Highlight the passage at 42:05

42:33 We always think there's going to be another chance, another minute, another tomorrow, next year. But these things are not guaranteed. These things are coming. But it's not sad. This is what the Buddha is telling us. He's telling us in order to overcome these things, we practice morality and doing skillful and good actions. Report an error in the passage at 42:33 Highlight the passage at 42:33

43:00 And I'll go into that a bit more later. So the Buddha says, I tell you, great king, I announce to you, old age and death are advancing upon you. Report an error in the passage at 43:00 Highlight the passage at 43:00

43:16 So they're like the mountains, crushing all before them. So since old age and death are advancing upon you, what would you do? Report an error in the passage at 43:16 Highlight the passage at 43:16

43:27 And because most people don't truly understand impermanence, there's no urgency. And so the illusion of tomorrow reorders what's important. So we actually prioritize things that, you know, if we really thought this is our last minute, that wouldn't be the thing we choose, right? If we really thought this is our last moment, we make different choices. Report an error in the passage at 43:27 Highlight the passage at 43:27

43:58 And this is the beauty of knowing this and really appreciating it and making it real in your life. It means every choice is made from the perspective of this is my last moment and I want to do the best. Report an error in the passage at 43:58 Highlight the passage at 43:58

44:14 I want to do the best for myself and others, which leads to no remorse and no regrets and blamelessness, which leads to good states here and good states in rebirth. Report an error in the passage at 44:14 Highlight the passage at 44:14

44:30 That's what's really important. And it changes the entire way that we relate with things in our lives. And it's just so easy to get sidetracked on the treadmill of all of the things that are vying for our attention. But these types of events, if you really know it and you really see it, it reorders what's important. Report an error in the passage at 44:30 Highlight the passage at 44:30

44:56 It gives priorities different things. So I'm really urging you to take this seriously. And while the tragedy in Nepal is truly awesomely shocking, it is a real reminder of this. It's not theory. This is exactly what can happen. None of us know. None of us know. Report an error in the passage at 44:56 Highlight the passage at 44:56

45:23 So I'll just finish off, finish the sutta. So there are anointed aristocratic kings who are infatuated with authority and obsessed with greed for sensual pleasures. They have attained stability in the country, occupying a vast conquered territory. Such kings engage in battles of elephants and cavalry chariots or infantry, but there is no place, no domain for such battles when old age and death are advancing. Report an error in the passage at 45:23 Highlight the passage at 45:23

45:58 impermanence sweeps everything before it it's the nature of existence and the things that we think are powerful that we can depend on aren't really All right. All right. Report an error in the passage at 45:58 Highlight the passage at 45:58

46:23 In this royal court, there are ministers of wise counsel who are capable of dividing an approaching enemy by wise counsel. But there's no place, no domain for such diplomatic battles when old age and death are advancing. You can't talk your way out of it. No clever words, no bargaining, none of this stuff will work. It's just the way it is. Report an error in the passage at 46:23 Highlight the passage at 46:23

46:47 So that's not a skillful means for dealing with it, thinking that, oh, you know, you'll be able to talk your way out of it or something. Again, it's the spiritual qualities, it's the development of these things that provides the protection. It goes on. In this royal court, there is abundant gold, both coined and uncoined, stored above and below ground. Using this wealth, we can bribe an approaching enemy. Report an error in the passage at 46:47 Highlight the passage at 46:47

47:19 But there is no place, no domain for such monetary battles when old age and death are advancing. Again, the wealth is powerless to do anything about this. It's the force of nature. And this is the great gift of the Buddha. He cuts through the delusion and the illusion to get us to actually see reality as it is. Report an error in the passage at 47:19 Highlight the passage at 47:19

47:44 To see... Report an error in the passage at 47:44 Highlight the passage at 47:44

47:50 To see where the priorities are. He continues here. When old age and death are advancing, what can I do but practice the teachings, practice morality, doing skillful and good actions? Report an error in the passage at 47:50 Highlight the passage at 47:50

48:09 And the Buddha says, that's so true, great king. That's so true. When old age and death are advancing, what can you do but practice the teachings, practice morality, doing skillful and good actions? That is what the Buddha said. Then the holy one, the teacher, went on to say, and this is in verse and I'll just read the whole thing. Report an error in the passage at 48:09 Highlight the passage at 48:09

48:35 Suppose there were vast mountains of solid rock pressing against the sky, drawing in from all sides and crushing the four quarters. So too old age and death advance upon all living creatures. Aristocrats, Brahmins, peasants, menials, corpse workers, scavengers, they spare nothing. They crush all beneath them. Report an error in the passage at 48:35 Highlight the passage at 48:35

49:01 There's nowhere for elephants to take a stand, nor chariots, nor infantry. They can't be defeated by diplomatic battles or by wealth. Report an error in the passage at 49:01 Highlight the passage at 49:01

49:13 That's why an astute person, seeing what's good for themselves, being wise. eyes would place faith in the Buddha the teaching and the saṅgha whoever lives by the teaching in body speech and mind is praised in this life And this is Report an error in the passage at 49:13 Highlight the passage at 49:13

49:40 the great gift. This is the solution the Buddha gives to us on a platter. He exhorts us to not waste our time, to really look at these things and to... Report an error in the passage at 49:40 Highlight the passage at 49:40

49:54 To secure our good future through karma, through good karma, knowing that all things are impermanent and conditioned, dependently arisen, we know that as our bodies will cease at some stage, unless we're fully enlightened, we will fare on, but we will set the scene for a good rebirth and a good life to continue progressing on the path. Report an error in the passage at 49:54 Highlight the passage at 49:54

50:24 To have less dukkha, be more skillful, have better abiding, more wisdom, less defilements, be a better influence in the world. And all of these things are the great gifts. These are actually the protections. These are the things that protect us because there's no regrets, right? Report an error in the passage at 50:24 Highlight the passage at 50:24

50:57 The delusion of permanence is easy and it's the default in lay life, I have to say. And I'll emphasize lay life here because in lay life, we're all engaged very fully and our attention is continually engaged in the worldly things. We don't have the amount of time to really distance ourselves and contemplate these things. Report an error in the passage at 50:57 Highlight the passage at 50:57

51:23 But these are all illusions. They lead to greater illusions of permanence and control. That's in that sutta. He was talking about the illusion of control through wealth or force or cleverness. They're all illusions of control. When nature comes, nature comes. So where we focus our effort, right, with clear seeing, we focus our effort on the things that will bring us Peace, blamelessness, the ability to face anything at all with a beautiful, clear conscience and no fear, right? Report an error in the passage at 51:23 Highlight the passage at 51:23

52:08 This fearlessness and unshakable peace is a fruit of the path. You know, this is a high attainment of the path where you can have no fear in the face of whatever nature throws at you. And this is all done through the practice of sīla. Report an error in the passage at 52:08 Highlight the passage at 52:08

52:33 And it's available to everybody, this practice of sīla. It's the absolute bedrock and default that will ensure you keep moving in a good direction. Report an error in the passage at 52:33 Highlight the passage at 52:33

52:46 Now, one of the things that I mentioned in lay life, so I've been living in nature for a very long time, 25 years, and I've just spent, you know, the last nine months back. Report an error in the passage at 52:46 Highlight the passage at 52:46

53:02 Actually, looking after my father and out of nature. And I just see how living this tame and civilized life, it protects you from seeing nature. If you're living in nature, in amongst creatures, it's very hard to avoid these things because you see it every day. You know, you see the food chain. You see life and death every day and it's a natural thing, you know, and so you appreciate and your relationship to it is different. Report an error in the passage at 53:02 Highlight the passage at 53:02

53:41 So I think it helps all of us to have these reminders so that we're not so distant from that reality because that distance is actually a barrier to our practice. I hope you get what I mean. Report an error in the passage at 53:41 Highlight the passage at 53:41

53:59 It is a bit funny just talking at a screen without the interaction, but I hope this is landing in the way that I would like it to. So these times of disasters, and I'm not taking away from that at all, but they're very good to remind us to summon energy and I think it's a very good use of it because it's real. Report an error in the passage at 53:59 Highlight the passage at 53:59

54:29 Many of us do maranasati and contemplation of old age and these things, but when it's in your face, when you experience it viscerally, it changes you. And this is part of the transformation that is required. This is part of the transformation that is required to realize impermanence, which is a high goal of the path. Report an error in the passage at 54:29 Highlight the passage at 54:29

54:58 Well, maybe I'll just... Leave it just here and open it up for discussion and questions and things like that. I hope that it hasn't been a downer, that you actually do feel some hopefulness and uplift because I want you to leave this tonight feeling hopeful and energized and happy and knowing that this power and fearlessness is in your grasp. It just requires the noble eightfold path. You know, the steps are laid out in front of us and it's the best gift and it's there for everybody. Report an error in the passage at 54:58 Highlight the passage at 54:58

55:43 So there you go. Report an error in the passage at 55:43 Highlight the passage at 55:43