Guided Meditation on Happiness

0:01 So, breathing in, breathe Report an error in the passage at 0:01 Highlight the passage at 0:01

0:08 out. Relax. Take Report an error in the passage at 0:08 Highlight the passage at 0:08

0:16 in another big breath. Report an error in the passage at 0:16 Highlight the passage at 0:16

0:23 Breathe out. Report an error in the passage at 0:23 Highlight the passage at 0:23

0:32 Breathing in, breathe Report an error in the passage at 0:32 Highlight the passage at 0:32

0:40 out. Report an error in the passage at 0:40 Highlight the passage at 0:40

0:53 Feel your body. Are you sitting on the comfort position? If Report an error in the passage at 0:53 Highlight the passage at 0:53

1:05 you need to move, you can move now. I Report an error in the passage at 1:05 Highlight the passage at 1:05

1:17 usually like to start with the furthest part of my body, which is the toe. Report an error in the passage at 1:17 Highlight the passage at 1:17

1:30 If you can't feel your toe, you can wiggle a little bit. You Report an error in the passage at 1:30 Highlight the passage at 1:30

1:41 can relax them. You can Report an error in the passage at 1:41 Highlight the passage at 1:41

1:51 feel how this toe touches just slightly on the ground. It Report an error in the passage at 1:51 Highlight the passage at 1:51

2:03 feels so nice. And Report an error in the passage at 2:03 Highlight the passage at 2:03

2:16 feel this softness of the ground just Report an error in the passage at 2:16 Highlight the passage at 2:16

2:24 touching it. You Report an error in the passage at 2:24 Highlight the passage at 2:24

2:31 can feel your sole of your feet. Move Report an error in the passage at 2:31 Highlight the passage at 2:31

2:59 further up. Feel your ankle. How Report an error in the passage at 2:59 Highlight the passage at 2:59

3:10 are you today? Report an error in the passage at 3:10 Highlight the passage at 3:10

3:32 Muscle around it. Report an error in the passage at 3:32 Highlight the passage at 3:32

3:51 your lower leg. Report an error in the passage at 3:51 Highlight the passage at 3:51

· · · silence, 1 minute

4:48 the tendons around it. Report an error in the passage at 4:48 Highlight the passage at 4:48

· · · silence, 1 minute

5:40 the words up, your pelvis. Report an error in the passage at 5:40 Highlight the passage at 5:40

5:48 the sensation around me. Report an error in the passage at 5:48 Highlight the passage at 5:48

5:55 and relax there Report an error in the passage at 5:55 Highlight the passage at 5:55

6:06 to sit on this firm ground. Report an error in the passage at 6:06 Highlight the passage at 6:06

6:14 He feels so secure. Report an error in the passage at 6:14 Highlight the passage at 6:14

6:20 Venerable Report an error in the passage at 6:20 Highlight the passage at 6:20

· · · silence, 1 minute

7:30 a good pad on your back. Report an error in the passage at 7:30 Highlight the passage at 7:30

7:35 Have done so well Report an error in the passage at 7:35 Highlight the passage at 7:35

· · · silence, 1 minute

8:17 towards your hand Report an error in the passage at 8:17 Highlight the passage at 8:17

8:33 any things anymore Report an error in the passage at 8:33 Highlight the passage at 8:33

8:48 there's no pushing or pulling Report an error in the passage at 8:48 Highlight the passage at 8:48

9:12 muscle around your neck Report an error in the passage at 9:12 Highlight the passage at 9:12

9:24 need to strive to be better. Report an error in the passage at 9:24 Highlight the passage at 9:24

9:40 further up towards your face. Venerable Report an error in the passage at 9:40 Highlight the passage at 9:40

9:59 Don't need to pretend to be anyone anymore. Not Report an error in the passage at 9:59 Highlight the passage at 9:59

10:07 even yourself. Don't Report an error in the passage at 10:07 Highlight the passage at 10:07

10:15 need to live up to anyone's expectation. Now Report an error in the passage at 10:15 Highlight the passage at 10:15

10:24 you're so safe here. Inside Report an error in the passage at 10:24 Highlight the passage at 10:24

10:53 your brain, just Report an error in the passage at 10:53 Highlight the passage at 10:53

10:59 feel all this entanglement. All this time Report an error in the passage at 10:59 Highlight the passage at 10:59

11:10 has been put down for a while. It'll Report an error in the passage at 11:10 Highlight the passage at 11:10

11:18 be there when you come back. Report an error in the passage at 11:18 Highlight the passage at 11:18

11:24 Put it down for a while. And Report an error in the passage at 11:24 Highlight the passage at 11:24

11:33 feel this burden. Report an error in the passage at 11:33 Highlight the passage at 11:33

11:38 just drop off from you full Report an error in the passage at 11:38 Highlight the passage at 11:38

· · · silence, 1 minute

12:15 body and Report an error in the passage at 12:15 Highlight the passage at 12:15

12:45 fluffy you Report an error in the passage at 12:45 Highlight the passage at 12:45

· · · silence, 10 minutes

22:52 just on the christmas day you Report an error in the passage at 22:52 Highlight the passage at 22:52

23:00 see it's cost Report an error in the passage at 23:00 Highlight the passage at 23:00

23:06 the owner it's Report an error in the passage at 23:06 Highlight the passage at 23:06

23:18 puppy some of your dinner it Report an error in the passage at 23:18 Highlight the passage at 23:18

23:29 is puppy just so happy wagging Report an error in the passage at 23:29 Highlight the passage at 23:29

23:37 the tail when it's eating your share meal you Report an error in the passage at 23:37 Highlight the passage at 23:37

23:48 see this joyful puppy and you feel in your heart too really Report an error in the passage at 23:48 Highlight the passage at 23:48

24:00 happy opening Report an error in the passage at 24:00 Highlight the passage at 24:00

24:11 your eye Report an error in the passage at 24:11 Highlight the passage at 24:11

24:16 just share this happiness with Report an error in the passage at 24:16 Highlight the passage at 24:16

24:22 your fellow friends just beside you even Report an error in the passage at 24:22 Highlight the passage at 24:22

24:31 though maybe you don't know that you Report an error in the passage at 24:31 Highlight the passage at 24:31

24:38 can still reach this happiness through Report an error in the passage at 24:38 Highlight the passage at 24:38

24:59 this happiness echo Report an error in the passage at 24:59 Highlight the passage at 24:59

25:04 happiness Report an error in the passage at 25:04 Highlight the passage at 25:04

25:22 in your heart Report an error in the passage at 25:22 Highlight the passage at 25:22

25:28 through this whole room pure Report an error in the passage at 25:28 Highlight the passage at 25:28

25:40 with Report an error in the passage at 25:40 Highlight the passage at 25:40

25:45 this joy and happiness into Report an error in the passage at 25:45 Highlight the passage at 25:45

26:00 this whole room let's Report an error in the passage at 26:00 Highlight the passage at 26:00

26:09 just burst out towards the world towards Report an error in the passage at 26:09 Highlight the passage at 26:09

26:17 all these the whole gods now these villagers and these people you Report an error in the passage at 26:17 Highlight the passage at 26:17

26:33 wish them enjoy this happiness on Report an error in the passage at 26:33 Highlight the passage at 26:33

26:47 this christmas day wish Report an error in the passage at 26:47 Highlight the passage at 26:47

26:52 them happy and Report an error in the passage at 26:52 Highlight the passage at 26:52

27:10 feel this happiness heading towards Amadeo slowly Report an error in the passage at 27:10 Highlight the passage at 27:10

27:24 upwards Report an error in the passage at 27:24 Highlight the passage at 27:24

27:29 by foot Report an error in the passage at 27:29 Highlight the passage at 27:29

27:36 In Serpent Time, also Report an error in the passage at 27:36 Highlight the passage at 27:36

27:43 towards the Pearl City, feel Report an error in the passage at 27:43 Highlight the passage at 27:43

27:53 this happiness towards Report an error in the passage at 27:53 Highlight the passage at 27:53

28:05 the whole Australia, all Report an error in the passage at 28:05 Highlight the passage at 28:05

28:14 beings Australia. Report an error in the passage at 28:14 Highlight the passage at 28:14

28:20 Find this happiness, feel Report an error in the passage at 28:20 Highlight the passage at 28:20

28:36 this happiness and kindness, heading Report an error in the passage at 28:36 Highlight the passage at 28:36

28:42 towards Sri Report an error in the passage at 28:42 Highlight the passage at 28:42

28:47 Lanka for the people most needed. May Report an error in the passage at 28:47 Highlight the passage at 28:47

28:59 this happiness find Report an error in the passage at 28:59 Highlight the passage at 28:59

29:05 them too. Let's Report an error in the passage at 29:05 Highlight the passage at 29:05

29:12 try to learn also. Report an error in the passage at 29:12 Highlight the passage at 29:12

29:41 On this winter day Report an error in the passage at 29:41 Highlight the passage at 29:41

29:50 Do a little brush here. Report an error in the passage at 29:50 Highlight the passage at 29:50

30:05 beings in this world Report an error in the passage at 30:05 Highlight the passage at 30:05

30:10 Share my needs, kindness and happiness. Report an error in the passage at 30:10 Highlight the passage at 30:10

30:20 and you left out one person Report an error in the passage at 30:20 Highlight the passage at 30:20

30:25 One person is so important. Report an error in the passage at 30:25 Highlight the passage at 30:25

30:30 Don't forget to share this happiness with your family and friends. Report an error in the passage at 30:30 Highlight the passage at 30:30

30:39 It's just you, yourself. Report an error in the passage at 30:39 Highlight the passage at 30:39

30:46 Feel that in your heart. just like a lotus opens up accept Report an error in the passage at 30:46 Highlight the passage at 30:46

30:59 this happiness you too deserve to have this kindness and Report an error in the passage at 30:59 Highlight the passage at 30:59

31:23 happiness into the center of this lotus flower and Report an error in the passage at 31:23 Highlight the passage at 31:23

31:36 these lotus flowers close it up and you know that when you need it it's always there for you unless Report an error in the passage at 31:36 Highlight the passage at 31:36

32:01 you enjoy this Report an error in the passage at 32:01 Highlight the passage at 32:01

32:05 kindness and happiness for Report an error in the passage at 32:05 Highlight the passage at 32:05

32:11 a few minutes before we end this meditation at Report an error in the passage at 32:11 Highlight the passage at 32:11

· · · silence, 1 minute

33:32 the Report an error in the passage at 33:32 Highlight the passage at 33:32

33:44 beginning of your meditation bring Report an error in the passage at 33:44 Highlight the passage at 33:44

33:55 you here in Report an error in the passage at 33:55 Highlight the passage at 33:55

34:10 the gong three times at the third gong you are welcome to exit the meditation you Report an error in the passage at 34:10 Highlight the passage at 34:10

· · · silence, 1 minute

35:32 can have question and answer And I will not restrict it just to Buddhists. You can ask any question, including personal. Not your personal, but my personal question. Any Report an error in the passage at 35:32 Highlight the passage at 35:32

35:57 questions? I'm Report an error in the passage at 35:57 Highlight the passage at 35:57

36:09 not sure I record this, if I say this. Report an error in the passage at 36:09 Highlight the passage at 36:09

36:15 Okay, I'll tell you. One of my really... When I'm really small, this one. Not really small, but just I'm... I've been always so rebellious, you can say, in my life. Report an error in the passage at 36:15 Highlight the passage at 36:15

36:30 I think this happens when I've been forced to go to, I don't know, here you have Sunday school. Last time when I'm small, my mom used to force me to Sunday school so they have a relaxed time on Sunday at home. I figure out when I'm getting older, basically. When I'm young, I never figure that out. And basically, it's usually in Malaysia where I stay, it's Penang. Report an error in the passage at 36:30 Highlight the passage at 36:30

36:57 And they have Mahāyāna Sunday School because the Mahāyāna Temple is the closest to my home. If I need to go to Sri Lankan Temple or Burmese Temple Sunday School, it need to be really far away, almost an hour drive to the city and where I stay is a village basically. Report an error in the passage at 36:57 Highlight the passage at 36:57

37:19 And I remember because Sunday last time, only Sunday in Malaysia, you have cartoon time in the TV program. and I always miss that I'm really not happy basically I always fight to stay at home so I can watch the cartoon but my mom never allowed me so I went there and my most memorable lesson given by the dharma school teacher is actually is for noble truth and the first noble truth suffering it says to be born is suffer Report an error in the passage at 37:19 Highlight the passage at 37:19

37:58 And then I sit there, I just thought that how selfish the grown-ups are. If to be born is suffering, why did they give birth to me then? Report an error in the passage at 37:58 Highlight the passage at 37:58

38:09 That is so funny anyway. And then I just have this imagine when I'm a kid, I said, it's very easy solution this one. We just make sure this generation, my generation, don't give birth to the next generation. Then I don't need to attend this class anymore. Why do we need to attend this class anyway? Report an error in the passage at 38:09 Highlight the passage at 38:09

38:34 That's how rebellious I am when I'm young. And then after that, when I'm entering high school, I'm not sure here how the education system is. But Malaysia, we need to study history. And the history we study, we never study world history. I'm always interested in world history, but sadly I don't know why Malaysia education system, my time, don't have that. Report an error in the passage at 38:34 Highlight the passage at 38:34

39:02 And if you all know, Malaysia has just been 50 years independent from British. Now maybe 70. Last time when I read it, it's 50. So you don't have much history to talk about throughout these five years. So they put in some Islamic history in there. And Islamic history, you know, there's God, there's religion. And then I just wonder why. When I started, I get bored. Report an error in the passage at 39:02 Highlight the passage at 39:02

39:30 I start to... My mind started to wander off. I said, why there's king and there's religion? And then they said, ah, I know. If I'm the king, I lay down the rule. Report an error in the passage at 39:30 Highlight the passage at 39:30

39:45 And then you tell the citizens to follow them. If the citizens don't like it, you have revolution. They'll come out and kill the king. So then they be the king and put the rules. But it's very interesting. I sidetracked a little bit from these stories. I really like what Ajahn Brahm says. He said, you kill the tyrant and you'll be the tyrant in his state. Report an error in the passage at 39:45 Highlight the passage at 39:45

40:11 It's not his saying from one of the poetry, but I heard this from Ajahn Brahm. And you can find out every time. It's like someone you don't like the leader, you go and kill the leader. And then at the end, you find out throughout the end of your life, you're like the previous leader also. Report an error in the passage at 40:11 Highlight the passage at 40:11

40:32 it really reminds me what we observe actually because i can see that a few times happen in my life also because i observed my enemy so much and then on some situation which happened to me under pressure and then i react totally out of my own behavior and then i start to reflect back what that behavior came from it's actually same as my enemy my enemy did that And I just mimic it. And then you observe what you do. I said, that's very dangerous. So, okay, back to the story again, what my imagination is. Report an error in the passage at 40:32 Highlight the passage at 40:32

41:15 So, which means the king will be concerned. If you lay down any rule, the citizen don't like, you have revolution. So I think there once came a this really wise king. I think of, so how do I not get my head involved in this game? So I create an imaginary being and say that this imaginary being lay down this rule. Report an error in the passage at 41:15 Highlight the passage at 41:15

41:43 I follow this imaginary being and you all might as well. And I call this imaginary being the God. That's it. You have a religion to control people. And I always feel that that's what religion is. And then I came across Buddhists. And then because from being brain was since child as Mahāyāna, you know that's karma. And then I say Buddhism is interesting. Report an error in the passage at 41:43 Highlight the passage at 41:43

42:14 They say that this karma that's good and bad and you can't destroy them. And then I can relate that very closely when I'm studying science. You can see that science also say that energy can't be destroyed. You just can convert them. And then very interesting. Buddhism introduced there's libana, that's the end of it. I said, how come? If you have good karma, bad karma, you can't destroy. Report an error in the passage at 42:14 Highlight the passage at 42:14

42:45 And that's the end of it. That doesn't make sense. And I still remember that time I'm older a little bit now. I think 15 or 15, maybe 15 years old at that time. Four or four, yeah, 15. And that time I'm as usual. every summer break my mom will send me away for two weeks so we have peaceful time so he sent me for a temporary ordination this time at the Burmese temple in Malaysia it's MBMC I still remember and that time I just because this pop out of my mind when I'm at the retreat at the temporary ordination for two weeks as novice I just go up to the abbot and discuss with the abbot and the abbot After this discussion, he told me, you do neutral karma to get to Nibbāna. And then I start to wonder what is neutral karma. Report an error in the passage at 42:45 Highlight the passage at 42:45

43:45 And then I feel that when I walk out, I say that he don't understand what he says. I found that it doesn't make sense at all. How do you do neutral karma to get to Nibbāna? It doesn't make sense at all. So I, as usual, I'm an atheist when I'm really young. And I say, oh yeah, religion is still religion. Report an error in the passage at 43:45 Highlight the passage at 43:45

44:09 And when I met the next year, yeah, 16 years old, because I tried to avoid, as you all know, pindeng have really good food usually, hawker foods are really good. But since small, I always been, can say pampered by my mom, always eat home cooked food. If I eat hawker's food, because they have so many food enhancer, I got headache from it. Report an error in the passage at 44:09 Highlight the passage at 44:09

44:35 Just after the meal, I just need to go and have a nap and have a, pay they can basically like i think you all should call it hang over here like the whole day just like i'm really blurred i don't know what i'm doing basically so my mom wanted to go on nine day retreat and he handed me some pocket money and said oh you can eat outside food should be enough for you for one week i said uh do they allow 16 years old to join the retreat and my mom said oh if they will call up the organizer and ask So they say, okay, then I just go because of home-cooked food. I said, there's home-cooked food at temple. Good enough. I will go there. I will survive for nine days. Report an error in the passage at 44:35 Highlight the passage at 44:35

45:20 And then I met this monk. And at the same time, nine-day retreat. And it's a little bit different if you know BSWA. It's a little bit different than here. Here you don't have night time. You don't have outsider coming in. But in Penang, the night time is like an open talk. It's like Friday night Nova Māra talk, basically. It's like open for public, the retreatants sit in front, and then the back is all the audience from outside. Report an error in the passage at 45:20 Highlight the passage at 45:20

45:51 And someone asked a question, what is Nibbāna? I said, aha, now that's interesting. What will this monk say? And then this monk just gave this five kids playing the wishing game. Whoever wish the best, get the wishes. Have you heard of that? oh yes you heard that but anyway it's a good old golden goalies as usual Ajahn Brahm say we should repeat that and for the first kid being the kid say I want one Report an error in the passage at 45:51 Highlight the passage at 45:51

46:27 ice cream say that's fair enough so you got the ice cream that's the second kid have more time to think about say I want an ice cream factory oh that's better the third kid say that how do I outbid Report an error in the passage at 46:27 Highlight the passage at 46:27

46:43 I want a billion dollar USD or even better pound so that I can buy the ice cream factory I can buy school because school sometimes they set rules cannot eat ice cream during class I can eat my ice cream during class if I own the school so you can't spend finish if you have a billion dollar Report an error in the passage at 46:43 Highlight the passage at 46:43

47:06 so the fourth kid think how can I outbid this third kid with 1 billion if I wish 2 billion doesn't make sense so this fourth kid say that yeah I will wish for two wishes the first wish I wish for this 1 billion pound and the second wish I wish for two more wishes endless wish so but the fifth kid wins the game and Ajahn Brahm actually That's Ajahn Brahm's retreat. I joined it. I'm very lucky you can say that. I never go to shop for any abbot throughout my life. I met the right person on the first time when I went to retreat. Report an error in the passage at 47:06 Highlight the passage at 47:06

47:50 So he paused and I really went blank. I said that how can you outbid an unlimited wish? And then he gave the answer. He said that the fifth kid wished that he don't have any more wishes. And that's the Buddha. And then that gave you a really good feeling what Nibbāna is. And this just really touched me. And then all of us just really strive for the fourth kit. Report an error in the passage at 47:50 Highlight the passage at 47:50

48:22 We want to be the fourth kit, unlimited wishes. But the fifth kit, you can feel that that contentment is even better than having any wishes at all. Report an error in the passage at 48:22 Highlight the passage at 48:22

48:35 And then that got me really into Buddhism from there on when I was 16. And then when you get deeper understanding about this karma and this non-self, if you really realize there's no one, why do you need to own back this old karma that you have, even though good or bad? It doesn't make sense anymore. So you can understand how you get out from this world. Report an error in the passage at 48:35 Highlight the passage at 48:35

49:04 Oh, overtime, sorry. I take away your eight minutes of your party time. Any questions before we really, really go? cool. Report an error in the passage at 49:04 Highlight the passage at 49:04

49:14 What do you all do before you go? Do you share the merits or we just go? Just go. I don't know what you all usually do. We just go. Okay. No chanting or anything. That's good. So we are done. Merry Christmas. Happy days. Report an error in the passage at 49:14 Highlight the passage at 49:14