Letting Go Of Wanting

0:00 This is what should be done by one who is skilled in goodness and who knows the path of peace. Let them be able and upright, straightforward and gentle in speech, humble and not conceited, contented and easily satisfied. Report an error in the passage at 0:00 Highlight the passage at 0:00

0:28 Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways, peaceful and calm and wise and skillful, not proud and demanding in nature, let them not do the slightest thing that the wise would later reprove. Wishing in gladness and in safety may all beings be happy, whatever living beings there may be, whether they are weak or strong, omitting none, the great or the mighty, medium, short or small, the seen and the unseen. Report an error in the passage at 0:28 Highlight the passage at 0:28

1:23 Those living near and far away, those born and to be born, may all beings be happy. Let none deceive another or despise any being in any state. Let none through anger or ill will wish harm upon another. Even as a mother protects with her life her child, her only child, so with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings, radiating kindness over the entire world, Report an error in the passage at 1:23 Highlight the passage at 1:23

2:14 spreading upwards to the skies and downwards to the depths. Outward and unbounded, freed from hatred and ill will. Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down, free from drowsiness, one should sustain this recollection. This is said to be the sublime abiding, by not holding to false views. use the pure hearted one having clarity of vision being free from all sense desires is not born again into this world Report an error in the passage at 2:14 Highlight the passage at 2:14

3:05 Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu. All right, everybody. Nice to see you again. Report an error in the passage at 3:05 Highlight the passage at 3:05

3:20 Now I'm supposed to give some dharma talk, but we just listened to a dharma talk already during the chanting by the Buddha. And I can't really surpass the Buddha's dharma talk. But anyway, I will give my own humble version, my humble and hopefully not conceited version of a dharma talk. And maybe you can get something out of that as well. Report an error in the passage at 3:20 Highlight the passage at 3:20

3:46 Because the mettā sutta, you've heard it many times and many of you will know it by heart. And it's a very good sutta to listen to. And there's many different ideas in there, right? About being humble and contented and skillful and not proud and all these things. You've heard it many times before. And I hope each of you can pick out your own little things from that sutta. Report an error in the passage at 3:46 Highlight the passage at 3:46

4:14 Apply it in your own life, but also in your meditation as well. In meditation you also try to be not proud and be humble. What do I mean by that? It means if you be humble, if your meditation so-called doesn't work, then you're like, okay, it's all right, I'm good enough. I don't need to be the best meditator of the Armadale Meditation Group or even... Report an error in the passage at 4:14 Highlight the passage at 4:14

4:43 I don't need to be better the meditator than I was yesterday or whatever yeah in that way you can be humble and also you can be at peace as well if you mute your microphone like I'm gonna yeah that's it somebody was talking through it with the name piece actually anyway you can be humble then you can be at peace because you're not craving it so much and not proud as well You know, if you do attain a nice meditation, you're not like, yeah, I did it. I am better meditator. I'm probably better meditator than Sunyo, better meditator than Ajahn Brahm. Report an error in the passage at 4:43 Highlight the passage at 4:43

5:22 I really did it. I'm exaggerating, but it can be a bit like that. When meditation goes well, you're like, yeah, now I really know how to meditate. And then you try it again and it fails. Doesn't it? Because you're not humble. You're proud. Anyway. Report an error in the passage at 5:22 Highlight the passage at 5:22

5:44 It also talks about, the Mettā Sūtra talks about desire and peace. And these things are opposites of one another. If you have desire, then you don't have peace. If you have peace, then you don't have desire. So that's maybe something I want to talk about today, because that's how I've been meditating lately myself. Report an error in the passage at 5:44 Highlight the passage at 5:44

6:09 I hear a lot of teaching about meditation. Meditation. Yeah. The Buddha said as well, you can find peace, you can find happiness, and people teach you, you can find great insights in meditation, or you can be so mindful all day, can be so happy, so peaceful, and you can get all this happiness. And it's true, you can get a lot of happiness in meditation. And those teachings, when people say that, they're helpful to inspire you to start meditating, sit down on the cushion. Report an error in the passage at 6:09 Highlight the passage at 6:09

6:46 And close your eyes. But if you take those instructions in such a way that they create desire, then they sort of defeat the point. Because if you sit down and you're not happy where you are, you feel you're not at peace, but you want that peace. You want something else. You want to be... Have all these results of meditation that either you heard about or that maybe you've experienced before. You're gonna crave for it and go after it. Report an error in the passage at 6:46 Highlight the passage at 6:46

7:25 What is that? That is not the right way to meditate. Because in meditation, let go of craving. And there's a little part in the Dhammapada, which is some verses by the Buddha, where, I'll paraphrase, where the Buddha says, ordinary beings they delight in all sorts of experience of the senses and even if it would rain gold they still would not be able to buy enough pleasures to be satisfied but the wise people which is all of you you're all wise people they delight in something else they don't delight in sensual pleasures what do the wise people delight in what do you think the Buddha said Report an error in the passage at 7:25 Highlight the passage at 7:25

8:18 The wise people who have said, delight in ending craving. Delight in the ending of craving. Now, you can use that as a meditation instruction. You sit down, what am I going to find delight in? In the breath? Well, I could do. But in virtue? Could do. But can also find delight in just not wanting anything. Report an error in the passage at 8:18 Highlight the passage at 8:18

8:48 Being happy. And content, easily satisfied where you are. And that is such a helpful teaching for me because it simplifies the whole meditation in a way. You just have one instruction. Find happiness in not craving, in not desiring. And that removes so many of the hindrances in meditation. Because one of the hindrances I already talked about. You sit down and you... Report an error in the passage at 8:48 Highlight the passage at 8:48

9:23 Want to get that peace. It sounds very abstract when I talk about it, like you want to get that peace, but you know what I mean, right? You're just not happy to be where you are. Want to be somewhere else. That's the craving. And then you're not delighting in ending craving. You're creating more craving. Report an error in the passage at 9:23 Highlight the passage at 9:23

9:42 So you want to go to the future. You want, you crave. Go to the future. Report an error in the passage at 9:42 Highlight the passage at 9:42

9:51 So instead of desiring a certain future, finding some happiness here and now. With the past as well, you know. Sometimes we think these thoughts about the past because we have this subtle desire that we could have changed the past, that it would have been different. At least that's what I recognize in myself. You don't just think about the past out of no reason at all. Report an error in the passage at 9:51 Highlight the passage at 9:51

10:18 There's a reason for it. And often it's like you want to change the past. But it can also be remembering something. something delightful from the past and so then you're craving to recreate that experience you just let go of craving and a lot of thoughts about the past and the future will already be gone Report an error in the passage at 10:18 Highlight the passage at 10:18

10:46 Sunyo, I sit in meditation and I don't have any craving. I just have aversion. I just don't like being here. I don't like sitting here. But in a way, that's also craving. You're craving below that aversion, below that ill will, you're craving to not be here in this moment. Report an error in the passage at 10:46 Highlight the passage at 10:46

11:10 You're wanting to be somewhere else. So even if you have aversion to the present moment, in a way, that's also, you could say, also a kind of craving. Report an error in the passage at 11:10 Highlight the passage at 11:10

11:25 You have a painful body, for example, and you don't want to have a painful body, in a way, that's also craving. You're averse to your painful body, and then you create even more pain in your mind. And the Buddha compared it to being shot by two arrows instead of one, for those people who know that simile. So don't shoot yourself with the second arrow, the arrow of craving. Report an error in the passage at 11:25 Highlight the passage at 11:25

11:54 Then you can find peace in your mind, even if your body... Report an error in the passage at 11:54 Highlight the passage at 11:54

12:00 It's all very easily said, not so easily done, but it is a very good instruction if you want to simplify your approach to meditation. I've got all these instructions about watching the breath, maybe noting the thoughts, scanning the body, and recollecting the Buddha, Dhammasang, all these things, and they're helpful. Report an error in the passage at 12:00 Highlight the passage at 12:00

12:28 sometimes can create confusion as well having so many different ideas and you don't know what to do and that creates doubt in your mind right so in a way doubt is also can be resolved by this teaching of just letting go of craving very simple instruction I like it very much now Report an error in the passage at 12:28 Highlight the passage at 12:28

12:53 some some things we crave actually are Painful things or annoying things or unpleasant things. You might say, ah, that's stupid. We would crave unpleasant things. But it's true in some sense. I'm reminded of... This was so funny. It was here in Bodhinyana in the dining hall a few years ago. And we've got some lay people living in the monastery and they... Report an error in the passage at 12:53 Highlight the passage at 12:53

13:36 live here for a year before they ordain and then they help in the kitchen and some of them and they just were students or something so they don't know how to cook well some students know how to cook but some of them don't and sometimes we get cooks who don't know how to cook and this day I brought this huge pot of soup big pot I can still imagine it I think it was vegetable soup or something and Ajahn Brahm took Report an error in the passage at 13:36 Highlight the passage at 13:36

14:05 some soup put it in like a small bowl we don't usually put the soup in a big bowl because it doesn't work with all everything together but took some or in his cup in his cup probably in a cup and then he pushed the soups so the next monk could get it and he took a sip and it's like this is the saltiest soup i've ever had and then the next month was like ah i gotta try that so he put it in some soup in his cup Report an error in the passage at 14:05 Highlight the passage at 14:05

14:35 Ah, salty soup. And it went all down the line. And I saw all the monks taking soup. But I was like, if they're all like, why would I take it? I don't want that kind of soup. But all the other monks, they took the soup. It was probably the most popular soup ever in Bodhinyana. Report an error in the passage at 14:35 Highlight the passage at 14:35

14:59 And yeah, okay, that's just a little bit of a silly example, but... in a way you crave to have these unpleasant experiences as well in a way it is like a distraction it's something interesting now in meditation probably you won't be drinking soup at the same time but you might create nasty soup in your mind salty soup in your mind and you you're here right now and there is a possibility for peace but sometimes to find that peace you have to in a way Face a little bit of boredom and get through that boredom. And if you don't get through that boredom, what might happen? You desire something else but the present moment. Report an error in the passage at 14:59 Highlight the passage at 14:59

15:46 Doesn't matter what, as long as I'm not here, I'm going to think about this and that. And then all these stories, thoughts, all these fantasies about whatever, you know, all your fantasies and stories that go in your mind, and blah, blah, blah, and before you know it... you forgot about meditation altogether and you're like oh oh no i i've been bad or whatever that's what you might tell yourself you should meditate yeah so you create these experiences out of desire as well even the thoughts seem like they come out of nowhere yeah just random thoughts coming out of nowhere sometimes how your thought how people teach meditation that just rush the thought arise and pass away having nothing to do with you again it's a useful way of thinking about it but you might also if you look deeper you see that the thoughts actually have a reason and often the reason is desire you don't want the stillness you want to listen to your thoughts like sometimes people they you put them in a silent room before we started started i said Report an error in the passage at 15:46 Highlight the passage at 15:46

17:02 When Gloria asked me to unmute, I said, oh yeah, I was muted all day long in my hut, you know. And so I will unmute myself now. But some people, they can't be muted even for half an hour. They always have to listen to something or talk or anything. But it can be the same in your mind. Not physical talking, but mental talking. Creating this conversation because you're like not happy with the silence. Report an error in the passage at 17:02 Highlight the passage at 17:02

17:30 you find it maybe boring or not enticing enough and then it's again a kind of desire underneath that underneath those thoughts so again if you don't reflect if you see that and you reflect i'm gonna delight in the ending of craving it's very simple instruction and it can't stop even those kind of thoughts if you look deeply enough and Report an error in the passage at 17:30 Highlight the passage at 17:30

18:01 another thing is you're told about or you have maybe experienced Certain peaceful states of meditation. And even when I'm teaching you about just letting go of desire, then you might start desire to let go of desire. Because then I will be peaceful if I let go of desire. So you sit there and you get the instruction, let go of desire, and you go, yeah, I want to let go of desire. Report an error in the passage at 18:01 Highlight the passage at 18:01

18:29 And you're still desiring something. And you might tell yourself, Ah, Sunyo told me that it's better to not desire. So I will not desire those states of meditation or that peace that I've experienced or might experience. I don't care about it. Well, that's a good way to think, but you have to be truthful about it. Report an error in the passage at 18:29 Highlight the passage at 18:29

18:56 You can't treat those peaceful states of meditation as sour grapes. Have you heard that? The story of the fox and the sour grapes. This is like a story of, no? Story of Aesop's fables. A fox was walking through the forest and above him he saw some beautiful purple grapes. And the fox was quite thirsty and hungry so he thought, ah, I'm gonna get some of those grapes. And they were above him in the grape. Report an error in the passage at 18:56 Highlight the passage at 18:56

19:37 Vine. So the fox tried to get the grapes, but he couldn't reach them. He stood on his hind legs, even stood on his tail, just like the kangaroos here in Bodhinyana, but he still couldn't reach them. And then the fox thought, oh, those grapes are sour anyway. So he tried to convince himself that he didn't want them anymore, but secretly he still wanted them. Report an error in the passage at 19:37 Highlight the passage at 19:37

20:06 So he just told himself they were sour. But he wasn't convinced that they were. That is the same with peaceful meditations. When you tell yourself, oh, I don't want them. They are sour anyway, sour grape. But you still want them. And deep inside, it would be difficult to find peace. So you have to be a bit more clever than the fox. So what you can do is, first of all, what I said, well, let me say it later. Report an error in the passage at 20:06 Highlight the passage at 20:06

20:39 First of all, you can contemplate the impermanence of these experiences. You might find some peace. That's nice, but it will go away again. Nothing lasts forever. No experience lasts forever. So you can contemplate like that. You can also contemplate that if you have heard of the Buddhist teachings of non-self, that these experiences in a way have nothing to do with you. Report an error in the passage at 20:39 Highlight the passage at 20:39

21:10 They're just experiences, just things out there, like watching some kind of movie on a screen that you're not in control. So you stop desiring them because they're not really yours. Report an error in the passage at 21:10 Highlight the passage at 21:10

21:23 But finally, to get back to what I've said before, you can also look directly at the desire itself. If you have desire for certain experiences or desire to be somewhere else than the present moment, look directly at that feeling. feeling at that desire and see how unpleasant it is Report an error in the passage at 21:23 Highlight the passage at 21:23

22:12 Apply it to almost all kinds of mind states that create hindrances in meditation. So, you want to give that a go in some group meditation? Report an error in the passage at 22:12 Highlight the passage at 22:12

22:29 Sounds like a good idea? All right. Do you really want it? Do you desire or not? No, I'm joking. All right then. Then we can do some meditation together. Let me actually... Open a window here because it's really getting hot in here with all these lamps. I'll be back in a moment. Report an error in the passage at 22:29 Highlight the passage at 22:29

23:19 All right. Thanks for waiting. Report an error in the passage at 23:19 Highlight the passage at 23:19

23:27 So I'll do a guided meditation. I was told about half an hour and then afterwards we'll see. Before we start meditating to arrive in this present moment, please listen to the sound of this bell. I will ring it three times. Report an error in the passage at 23:27 Highlight the passage at 23:27

· · · silence, 1 minute

24:47 What? It's super loud. You cannot hear it. Report an error in the passage at 24:47 Highlight the passage at 24:47

24:55 Okay. Well, it made me very peaceful anyway. So, bing. Bing. Bing. Okay, I'm sorry about that. But I don't know what to do about it. We cannot hear the sound of the bell. Report an error in the passage at 24:55 Highlight the passage at 24:55

24:50 Yeah, I think, I think it's like the soon, soon. Report an error in the passage at 24:50 Highlight the passage at 24:50

25:14 Let's just then close our eyes and listen to the sound of this present moment. Report an error in the passage at 25:14 Highlight the passage at 25:14

25:36 Zoom may have some sort of filter to block certain sounds, but the present moment is unfiltered, and Report an error in the passage at 25:36 Highlight the passage at 25:36

25:52 it's just what it is. And Report an error in the passage at 25:52 Highlight the passage at 25:52

26:07 because the present moment is just what it is, there is no use in desiring for it to be different. Report an error in the passage at 26:07 Highlight the passage at 26:07

26:26 If you desire the present moment to be different. Report an error in the passage at 26:26 Highlight the passage at 26:26

26:31 a fool because present moment is already here and you can't change what's already here and Report an error in the passage at 26:31 Highlight the passage at 26:31

27:08 what use is desire anyway to Report an error in the passage at 27:08 Highlight the passage at 27:08

27:14 reduce your desire don't use willpower try and subdue it like those ascetics who burn their body to try and reduce their desire don't do that use your intelligence your wisdom Report an error in the passage at 27:14 Highlight the passage at 27:14

27:40 Your insight to reduce desire. You can ask yourself, what good is all this craving and this desire for me, especially during meditation? Report an error in the passage at 27:40 Highlight the passage at 27:40

28:11 Has it ever brought me the peace? Has it ever really removed suffering? You'll Report an error in the passage at 28:11 Highlight the passage at 28:11

28:25 find that the answer is no. Report an error in the passage at 28:25 Highlight the passage at 28:25

28:51 Then you can tell yourself throughout this meditation, Okay, I'm sure that some desire will arise, but I'm not going to believe it. I'm not going to follow up on it, Report an error in the passage at 28:51 Highlight the passage at 28:51

29:18 because I know it doesn't really bring me that peace. The Report an error in the passage at 29:18 Highlight the passage at 29:18

29:31 wanting, the craving is a bad advisor, you could say. Report an error in the passage at 29:31 Highlight the passage at 29:31

29:42 You're not going to listen to a bad advice. You Report an error in the passage at 29:42 Highlight the passage at 29:42

29:59 might look at your mind and ask yourself, is there any kind of desire there right now, without judgment? Report an error in the passage at 29:59 Highlight the passage at 29:59

30:15 If you do find some desire, don't be annoyed with it or think that you're bad or not a good meditator. No, just recognize it and look at it. Report an error in the passage at 30:15 Highlight the passage at 30:15

30:50 Maybe you have desire for your body to be more at ease, less painful. Report an error in the passage at 30:50 Highlight the passage at 30:50

31:00 We can make the body more at ease and less in pain. But first, we take care of that desire. Report an error in the passage at 31:00 Highlight the passage at 31:00

31:13 www Report an error in the passage at 31:13 Highlight the passage at 31:13

31:21 .VenerableSunyo Report an error in the passage at 31:21 Highlight the passage at 31:21

· · · silence, 1 minute

32:46 .com that desire and still relax the body Report an error in the passage at 32:46 Highlight the passage at 32:46

31:42 don't crave for a peaceful body. Report an error in the passage at 31:42 Highlight the passage at 31:42

· · · silence, 1 minute

32:42 And if you reduce that desire. Report an error in the passage at 32:42 Highlight the passage at 32:42

32:58 makes the body tense is exactly that one thing for your body to be different if you make peace with how the body is more Report an error in the passage at 32:58 Highlight the passage at 32:58

33:15 easy to relax and Report an error in the passage at 33:15 Highlight the passage at 33:15

· · · silence, 1 minute

33:58 as your body relaxes see if you can also find some joy in the fact that you're not desiring to be somewhere else is Report an error in the passage at 33:58 Highlight the passage at 33:58

34:19 that happiness of being content With the here and now. If Report an error in the passage at 34:19 Highlight the passage at 34:19

34:29 you can't find that happiness or joy yet or during this meditation at all, that's also fine. We don't desire it. Just let it come up when the time is right without putting our will on it or trying to make it happen. You Report an error in the passage at 34:29 Highlight the passage at 34:29

· · · silence, 1 minute

35:57 might also see your mind trying to get away from the present moment maybe thinking about what you want to do after meditation or Report an error in the passage at 35:57 Highlight the passage at 35:57

36:18 tomorrow or whatever if Report an error in the passage at 36:18 Highlight the passage at 36:18

36:24 you recognize that kind of a desire can turn into certain thoughts but don't try to force that desire away because that's just another desire instead we use wisdom again and realize that what we are desiring now. Report an error in the passage at 36:24 Highlight the passage at 36:24

36:56 meditation is going to happen anyway. Report an error in the passage at 36:56 Highlight the passage at 36:56

37:02 the desire right now only creates suffering here and now Report an error in the passage at 37:02 Highlight the passage at 37:02

37:09 without having any benefit what Report an error in the passage at 37:09 Highlight the passage at 37:09

37:35 of meditation but it's the same What happens inside a meditation is going to happen anyway. If you're desiring, you're just creating suffering. It serves no use at all. You Report an error in the passage at 37:35 Highlight the passage at 37:35

38:15 might also use some of those contemplations from earlier. What really is there to desire? If it's not mine, if it's all impermanent, all dukkha, then desire is really kind of stupid in a way. And then you just smile at your desire. Say, ah. That's not necessary. There is no use. And Report an error in the passage at 38:15 Highlight the passage at 38:15

38:54 then you see what happens. You Report an error in the passage at 38:54 Highlight the passage at 38:54

39:00 might find that the desire disappears through wisdom. And what comes in its place is peace. Report an error in the passage at 39:00 Highlight the passage at 39:00

39:15 But this peace happens by itself. If you desire the peace, it will never come. Instead, be happy. With peace, but also be happy with non-peace. Report an error in the passage at 39:15 Highlight the passage at 39:15

39:38 Being equanimous, in other words. Report an error in the passage at 39:38 Highlight the passage at 39:38

39:46 Treating all experiences in the same way. I'll Report an error in the passage at 39:46 Highlight the passage at 39:46

40:02 now be quiet for another 15 minutes. You can use any of these instructions or your own meditation methods. Whatever you feel is appropriate. Then I will guide you out of the meditation afterwards. Hey, Report an error in the passage at 40:02 Highlight the passage at 40:02

· · · silence, 13 minutes

53:44 dear friends. it's not the end of the meditation yet please keep your eyes closed for a little bit longer and Report an error in the passage at 53:44 Highlight the passage at 53:44

53:57 ask yourself what am i experiencing right now and Report an error in the passage at 53:57 Highlight the passage at 53:57

54:13 what have i experienced throughout meditation more Report an error in the passage at 54:13 Highlight the passage at 54:13

54:22 importantly how did i relate to my experience was Report an error in the passage at 54:22 Highlight the passage at 54:22

54:33 i craving the peace and happiness that i could not find or when i did find find some was i Wanting it to stay or desiring it to be even more peaceful or happy. And Report an error in the passage at 54:33 Highlight the passage at 54:33

54:57 I realize that it's the desire that's the problem. Never the experience itself. It's Report an error in the passage at 54:57 Highlight the passage at 54:57

55:10 what you add to the experience that creates the problem. Whatever Report an error in the passage at 55:10 Highlight the passage at 55:10

55:24 you've experienced throughout this meditation, however you're feeling right now, make sure you end meditation with a positive mindset. Report an error in the passage at 55:24 Highlight the passage at 55:24

55:36 Being content with whatever happened in meditation. Report an error in the passage at 55:36 Highlight the passage at 55:36

55:45 This was not just good enough. This was perfect. It was exactly what it was, what it needed to be. Report an error in the passage at 55:45 Highlight the passage at 55:45

56:02 And I am, tell yourself, I am wise enough. I don't crave for certain experiences. I instead delight in ending craving. Report an error in the passage at 56:02 Highlight the passage at 56:02

56:25 It's no use for me to ring the bell because you won't hear it apparently, so please now gently come out of your meditation, open Report an error in the passage at 56:25 Highlight the passage at 56:25

56:42 your eyes, come back to the world and take some of the attitude you had in meditation with you into the rest of your day. Report an error in the passage at 56:42 Highlight the passage at 56:42

57:00 Don't just make a rude jump from meditation to normal experience. Take a while, just settle in into your... ordinary experience see Report an error in the passage at 57:00 Highlight the passage at 57:00

57:13 if you can take some of that peace with you that's Report an error in the passage at 57:13 Highlight the passage at 57:13

57:20 the way to also be mindful of everyday experiences it's a question we often get how can i be mindful throughout the day it's not so much about restarting your mindfulness every time you lose it but more about taking the mindfulness from your meditation it's like Report an error in the passage at 57:20 Highlight the passage at 57:20

57:44 Like we have these electric cars nowadays, you charge the battery and then you can drive really far. It's like in meditation, you charge your mindfulness battery and then you use it throughout the day. There's no use to recharge it with very small little amounts, that doesn't really work. Instead you just boost it up and go. Report an error in the passage at 57:44 Highlight the passage at 57:44

58:08 Anyway, meditation is really a feely feely kind of thing. You can use some intellect, but... be careful not using it too much when it comes to desire and craving if you want to let that go thinking about it only goes so far you really have to feel what it's like to have craving and really know deep down from intuition that this is not helpful in any way then it just disappears by itself that is like the wisdom the emotional wisdom that you need to have and i meditate your mind Report an error in the passage at 58:08 Highlight the passage at 58:08

58:48 experience all sorts of phenomena yeah we talk about the five hindrances often have you heard before that probably like ill will doubt desire restlessness sleepiness all these things and sometimes it feels like there are thousands of hindrances in my mind i don't know about you not just five but anyway often they come and go very quickly sometimes but i also feel Report an error in the passage at 58:48 Highlight the passage at 58:48

59:19 If you're anything like me, then there's also throughout your life, throughout your meditation practice, there's certain kind of barriers, let's say, that kind of last longer, that you kind of take from one meditation into the next. And often they are there because you don't see them. They're subtle. And once you see them, then, oh, I've been doing that the whole time. Report an error in the passage at 59:19 Highlight the passage at 59:19

59:45 For example, you might be... trying to prove something to yourself like prove yourself to be a certain kind of meditator like you can do it or whatever or you might try and get some insights that you've heard about and attain these things and the subtle desire is there or maybe you're trying to be too much in control of your meditation always being the one who knows exactly what's going on trying to be a little bit too wise yeah trying to be wiser than you are always on top of it these kind of attitudes also very helpful to see if there is a desire underneath that and almost always there is yeah you want to be in control you want to have certain insights or you want certain peace or whatever and once you see that then these long-term barriers can disappear Report an error in the passage at 59:45 Highlight the passage at 59:45

1:00:48 Make these little breakthroughs in your meditation. It can be so helpful. So just to summarize, if you let go of desire, sorry, if you aim to delight in not craving, then that's a very useful meditation technique that solves a lot of problems, or can do anyway. So that's what I'd like to leave you with. If there's any questions, then... Report an error in the passage at 1:00:48 Highlight the passage at 1:00:48

1:01:19 I'm happy to give it a shot. Anybody got some questions? Report an error in the passage at 1:01:19 Highlight the passage at 1:01:19

1:01:31 to share one thing. When you say that, I forgot your wording, when you say that you're already perfect or something like that, it just reminds me of like I used to have a pet rabbit. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:31 Highlight the passage at 1:01:31

1:01:49 and then it's like no matter how i look at it like from what angle and then what time of the day it's just so perfect to me right yeah i don't know why i don't know i i never have that kind of feeling like towards like any i think for animals for most of the time it's like for me it's like when i look at animals like cats or dog or like rabbit or hamster any kind of like anymore it's just that they look they just look so perfect to me It's very easy to also have love and kindness for animals instead of human beings. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:49 Highlight the passage at 1:01:49

1:02:33 Human beings are so complicated. It's very easy to see their flaws, but animals in a way are much more easy. They just do their animal thing, their animal nature. complicated, you know, they always... Report an error in the passage at 1:02:33 Highlight the passage at 1:02:33

1:02:47 nature and they don't, you It's hard to judge them. Ultimately, it's the same with human beings, though. They just do their human being nature, right? Report an error in the passage at 1:02:47 Highlight the passage at 1:02:47

1:03:00 You've got people doing all sorts of stuff in the world. It's crazy, but it's just human being nature, you know? Just greed, hatred, and delusion. What can you say? It's just like you can look at them just as your little rabbit or whatever. In a way, it's fine the way they are. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:00 Highlight the passage at 1:03:00

1:03:18 In a way, you could say it's perfect. It's just a way of looking at it, but yeah, that's what I often do. And it helps also to realize that other beings are not, well, in a way, you could say they're perfect, but in another way, nobody is perfect, right? So you could also say, ah, nobody's perfect, including me, so why would I judge others? And why would I judge myself? You know, it's just nature. It's just the way things are. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:18 Highlight the passage at 1:03:18

1:03:51 And if I had better wisdom and better knowledge, better insight, more experience, then maybe I would be different. But I don't. I don't have that wisdom yet. So I'm happy with the way I am. And over time I'll learn. But for now I'm happy. I don't crave to have certain kind of wisdom. I'm just learning from the moment. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:51 Highlight the passage at 1:03:51

1:04:34 Alrighty. I suppose in the past weeks, all the monks and nuns have already answered all your questions perfectly, and nobody has any more things to ask, which is great. I'm going to look up who those monks and nuns were, and I say salu, salu. Thank you for answering everybody's questions. That saves me such a headache. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:34 Highlight the passage at 1:04:34

1:05:02 No, I'm joking. I'll be happy to answer your questions. But if there is nothing, then I want to thank you for being here and meditating with me tonight. And some of you already know, but I'm going to start a new monks residence in Margaret River. It is like south of Bodhinyana, about 250 kilometers. I can't keep coming here to do the talks of Armadale here, but maybe I can do it from there. Report an error in the passage at 1:05:02 Highlight the passage at 1:05:02

1:05:40 I don't know if that works for you or if it works for the people organizing it. But if you would like me to come, I would love it. Maybe you have to beg a little bit of the organizers. Say, oh, Sunyo should still come, although his internet connection might not be so good over there. because we're in the middle of the of the of the nowhere but uh yeah anyway i hope to see you again that's why i'm saying that this would not be the last time um yeah thank you again i wish you i think Marion has a question oh all right that's great i was about to say sadhu sadhu but no okay Marion go for it sorry um Thank you. I wanted to like take the opportunity to thank you. I always enjoy very much your talk and like they're very, the way you phrase them appear very clear on the moment. Report an error in the passage at 1:05:40 Highlight the passage at 1:05:40

1:06:46 I have one question. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:46 Highlight the passage at 1:06:46

1:06:51 How do you deal well with the, how can I put it, like I understand the idea of being equanimous and not desiring, but sometimes i feel that when i see something that is a bad action maybe i should say something to the person if if it's possible to um to try to have a beneficial impact like do something yeah and i don't know if it's better just to be equanimous and just accept the world as it is or sometimes say something when i see something bad and harmful in order to maybe have a Small beneficial result. Thank you. Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's a very good question, Marion. Thank you. So not having desire doesn't mean you don't do anything or tell people anything. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:51 Highlight the passage at 1:06:51

1:07:49 It just means that when you tell people maybe something, let's just say bad that they've done or something they could improve, you tell them not from desire, but from wisdom. And from compassion, instead of, let's say somebody does something to you, and instead of saying, don't do that out of desire for your own, say it out of compassion that they can learn, that they can grow. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:49 Highlight the passage at 1:07:49

1:08:20 And then you also can have equanimity to that person, while at the same time still hoping that they also grow, just like you hope for yourself to grow. Report an error in the passage at 1:08:20 Highlight the passage at 1:08:20

1:08:36 Yeah, it takes a bit of a change of mindset, but it can be done that way. You know, it's just like, what can I compare it to? Report an error in the passage at 1:08:36 Highlight the passage at 1:08:36

1:08:51 Well, actually, I cut my finger today. I was doing some chiseling and I put my chisel behind me on something and it was sticking out and I turned around and I cut my finger. And I can say, I can say, oh, I desire for the wound to go away, for the cut to go away. But, you know, you don't really desire that. Report an error in the passage at 1:08:51 Highlight the passage at 1:08:51

1:09:16 You just put a band-aid on anyway, even if you have no desire, right? Because that is what you do for a cut. You can be equanimous about cutting yourself. I was like, oh, it's just a small cut. Who cares? I didn't get upset or whatever. But still, you have the wisdom. To put a band-aid on, otherwise it's just going to bleed all over the place and everything can get messy. And it's the same with people. Report an error in the passage at 1:09:16 Highlight the passage at 1:09:16

1:09:43 They are like hurt inside and you put like your band-aid on in a way. Like you can help them out, but without craving. Report an error in the passage at 1:09:43 Highlight the passage at 1:09:43

1:09:55 Have you heard, this is one of my favorite stories some people know already. Have you heard the story of the angry crocodile, Marion? Report an error in the passage at 1:09:55 Highlight the passage at 1:09:55

1:10:05 No? No, I haven't. Oh, okay. All right. So who also hasn't heard it before? No, yeah, okay. Okay, quite a few people haven't heard before. Okay, like Ajahn Brahm has all these stories about two bad bricks in a wall, you know, and after a few years you've heard it so many times you can even tell it yourself better than that. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:05 Highlight the passage at 1:10:05

1:10:31 But I have my own story that you'll maybe get bored of because I have the story of the angry crocodile that I've... Tell every retreat. So what is the story? There was once in the rivers of India a big crocodile. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:31 Highlight the passage at 1:10:31

1:10:52 And this crocodile... Was always biting all the other animals because it was an angry crocodile. Remember? It was biting and always yelling at the other animals saying, get out of my river. This is my river. You don't belong in my river. You're all stupid animals and I gonna hate you and bite you. And always angry at all the animals. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:52 Highlight the passage at 1:10:52

1:11:18 We're so afraid to go to the river but of course they had to drink still so yeah they needed to go but they really hated this stupid angry crocodile and the angry crocodile they thought he should know better he should change he should be a good crocodile but it never worked and they even said to the crocodile don't be so angry be better But it never worked. The crocodile just got angrier and angrier and his tooth got sharper and sharper and his bite was more and more strong. Report an error in the passage at 1:11:18 Highlight the passage at 1:11:18

1:11:57 One day, though, the angry crocodile was fast asleep with his Report an error in the passage at 1:11:57 Highlight the passage at 1:11:57

1:12:14 big crocodile mouth snoring. And what happened? There was a little tiny mouse and the mouse Walked up to the crocodile. The mouse was never upset with the crocodile. It was one of the few animals that never, ever told the crocodile off. But all the other animals were like, oh no, little mouse, don't go to the crocodile. He'll eat you alive. And what did the mouse do? He didn't listen. Report an error in the passage at 1:12:14 Highlight the passage at 1:12:14

1:12:45 He walked into the crocodile's mouth. Walked in there. And all the animals were like, no, this is the end of little mouse. He's gonna be a goner. But what did the mouse do? He put his little mouse hand around the crocodile's tooth. Let's say that this pointy thing is the crocodile's tooth. And the mouse put his hand around it. And whack! He pulled out the crocodile's tooth. Report an error in the passage at 1:12:45 Highlight the passage at 1:12:45

1:13:18 Just like that. And the crocodile woke up. And now all the animals were really afraid. This was going to be the end of the mouse. But, of course, it would be a bad story if the mouse was now eaten alive. Because that didn't happen. Instead, the crocodile was like, Thank you, little mouse. That tooth has been hurting me for such a long time. Report an error in the passage at 1:13:18 Highlight the passage at 1:13:18

1:13:46 And because of that, I was always biting other animals and being angry. But now, I can finally... Be at peace. And from that day on, the angry crocodile was no longer an angry crocodile. He was a very kind crocodile, always taking care of all the other animals, never eating animals again, only eating salad and potatoes. Report an error in the passage at 1:13:46 Highlight the passage at 1:13:46

1:14:15 And the crocodile became a vegan. Yes, the first vegan crocodile in the world. It happened. It really, really happened in this story. And the moral of the story is, if other people act inappropriately, they might try to bite you in a figurative sense. They try and hurt you. They say nasty things to you. What are you going to do? Are you going to be like all the other animals and say, ah, you stupid, don't do that? Report an error in the passage at 1:14:15 Highlight the passage at 1:14:15

1:14:49 That's not going to help. Instead, maybe you can find out. That other people are hurting inside. They have like a toothache in a way, in their mind. They're not content with themselves, not happy, not easily satisfied, and therefore they take that up on others. Report an error in the passage at 1:14:49 Highlight the passage at 1:14:49

1:15:13 Sometimes you can be like that little mouse and pull out their little pain, but sometimes you cannot even do that, and that's also a time to be equanimous and say, okay. Maybe I cannot do anything. But sometimes you can do something. But then you do it, just like the little mouse, out of wisdom and compassion. Instead of just telling people, oh, this might be what's going on. Report an error in the passage at 1:15:13 Highlight the passage at 1:15:13

1:15:37 And then you use some clever psychology to get them to change a little bit. You give the good example, for example. Report an error in the passage at 1:15:37 Highlight the passage at 1:15:37

1:15:50 That's the way to get people to change without... Having desire and without cravings. You can be a quantumist and still change people. The Buddha helped people all the time and he was a quantumist. You can do the same, Marian. All Report an error in the passage at 1:15:50 Highlight the passage at 1:15:50

1:16:13 right. There's another question from Christelle. Thank you. First, I want to express my gratitude and appreciation of all your teachings and talk. Report an error in the passage at 1:16:13 Highlight the passage at 1:16:13

1:16:32 I always enjoy your talks very much. I listened to the podcast that you did with Piotr in Poland. Maybe that was many years ago, but that was really interesting. That was very long and very interesting, especially about not self and all that. I'm telling that in case the people listening here haven't heard. It's very interesting. Report an error in the passage at 1:16:32 Highlight the passage at 1:16:32

1:17:01 Anyway, I've got a very practical question. Is there any project of you to come to Europe and give some teachings and retreats? That would be really, really wonderful. Well, is that a good question or not? Report an error in the passage at 1:17:01 Highlight the passage at 1:17:01

1:17:22 Yeah. Well, I... I have a project of starting a monastery residence here in Australia, so that might keep me occupied for a while. But I can, of course, come to Europe as well. I'm not stuck here. But at the moment, nothing is planned specifically. So I'm open to it, but maybe someday in the future, maybe next year or something. Report an error in the passage at 1:17:22 Highlight the passage at 1:17:22

1:17:54 I do, I do, I do. Yeah, that podcast you talked about was pretty interesting. Me and Piotr, we get along pretty well. I've met him here and been in Poland with him. And we just had a friendly chat together about different Buddhist topics. And the main thing was that we both enjoyed it, right? And it was not like it was something we had to do, which is something we like to do. Report an error in the passage at 1:17:54 Highlight the passage at 1:17:54

1:18:19 We just talked as two friends. And it's the same to close this meeting. It's your meditation as well. If you treat your mind like a friend, then you'll enjoy it and you'll have a good time. Report an error in the passage at 1:18:19 Highlight the passage at 1:18:19

1:18:37 All right. Report an error in the passage at 1:18:37 Highlight the passage at 1:18:37

1:18:41 Is there any last questions or comments? Report an error in the passage at 1:18:41 Highlight the passage at 1:18:41

1:18:48 If no, I think we can... Eric, do you want to speak something? Please go ahead. Yeah, thank you for your guidance and talk this morning, Bhante, and wishing you all the best in the new hermitage where you're going. I'm sure it'll be of great benefit to everyone. Just wanted to offer that gratitude and respect. Thank you, Eric. Nice to see you as well again. It's good to see you. It's good to see all of you. Report an error in the passage at 1:18:48 Highlight the passage at 1:18:48

1:19:17 It's already evening here, though, in Australia, not morning, and it's getting a bit late, so I'm going to say goodbye to all of you, and I hope to see you again. Let's end together with the triple sadhu, Bodhinyana style. One, two, three. Sadhu. Report an error in the passage at 1:19:17 Highlight the passage at 1:19:17

1:19:39 Sadhu. Sadhu. Report an error in the passage at 1:19:39 Highlight the passage at 1:19:39

1:19:50 All right. Ajahn, Ajahn, I have one thing. 2, 1. Report an error in the passage at 1:19:50 Highlight the passage at 1:19:50