Guided Meditation

0:00 It's working good. Okay, welcome to today's meditation class. Again, still two classes on today. Is there a beginner's class as well today? Report an error in the passage at 0:00 Highlight the passage at 0:00

0:14 Yeah, great, excellent. So welcome again. This is the ongoing class in meditation where we don't just talk to those who are beginning meditation. We keep the class a bit more wide and focused. On the deep meditations, I say the deep meditations because the deep meditations are like you move much further away from the world, even to the point where sounds and disturbances tend to get lesser, like feeling further away. Report an error in the passage at 0:14 Highlight the passage at 0:14

0:49 One of the examples of that, which I've been repeating for many years, is that when I was even doing walking meditation. I was walking meditation with my eyes open, but just staring at the floor, body length in front of me, and not looking to the left or looking to the right. And after a while, about half an hour, 40 minutes of meditation, that I heard a sound. And it was kind of a weird sound. Report an error in the passage at 0:49 Highlight the passage at 0:49

1:17 Because it was weird, I thought, my goodness, that must be something supernatural or something. It kind of scared me. But then, I realized... There was somebody saying my name. When it was because it was saying my name, I wasn't at all afraid. I was intrigued. So I started listening to it. When I was listening to it because it was saying my name, I found out, discovered there was actually another monk shouting my name and his mouth was right next to my ear hole. Report an error in the passage at 1:17 Highlight the passage at 1:17

1:54 He was trying to get my attention. What had happened? was that I got so into the walking meditation, so focused on the movement of my feet, that was what I was focusing on, that everything else kind of faded into the background. And even sound faded into the background. So even though there was noise there, which should have disturbed me so easily, I just could not hear it, or just could hardly hear it. Report an error in the passage at 1:54 Highlight the passage at 1:54

2:24 And that reminded me of what we mean by deep meditation. If it is away from walking meditation, it goes so deeply inside that when you are listening to, when you're focusing on a meditation object, it takes center stage and everything else is, you can't hardly notice it. And that was what told me about the focusing power of meditation. And if you're doing, say, the breathing meditation, which is one of the Not the meditations we teach here, but the meditation I describe here. I made that difference there because the meditation on the breath is natural. Report an error in the passage at 2:24 Highlight the passage at 2:24

3:08 It's not something you do. It's something which happens when you stop doing things. It's the nature of the mind. It's actually to turn off from other things. And one of the last sounds or feelings which disappears is the breath. And I'm sure that you all remember those stories which I told for my first year in Perth of being invited to go into a flotation chamber, otherwise known as a sensory deprivation chamber, where you're floating in warm water at body temperature. Report an error in the passage at 3:08 Highlight the passage at 3:08

3:43 The little compartment is closed so you had no light and no sound from outside. Because you're floating in it, you don't have any pain in the body from the pressure of the floor or the chair on your torso. And much of the things which you're aware of when you are doing meditation are removed from you. But we always found out that it's the sound of your breath which became dominant at that time. Report an error in the passage at 3:43 Highlight the passage at 3:43

4:17 The sound of the breath became dominant because you didn't stop breathing yet. And it also meant that that was appeared so much louder when everything else vanished. And from experiences like that, an experience like doing even walking meditation and sound disappearing, you saw the greater ability in meditation to let go of disturbances and to become really peaceful. Report an error in the passage at 4:17 Highlight the passage at 4:17

4:49 And even... I know that this may sound weird to you, but even pain, physical pain, after a while it feels strong pain, but then I've had those experiences where you're sitting there and it surprises you that the pain vanishes and you're really still and very peaceful. But it's not something you aspire to. If you try to do it, it's the trying, it's those five hindrances. Report an error in the passage at 4:49 Highlight the passage at 4:49

5:21 Which I keep talking about, keep reminding, that was one of the Buddha's major teachings on meditation. Those five hindrances are what stop you getting peaceful. The wanting, not wanting. The restlessness, not happy just to be here. And yeah, that's the fourth hindrance. And doubt. All those five hindrances, when you understand them totally, That is what is the problem. Not the body, but just the reaction we have to it. Report an error in the passage at 5:21 Highlight the passage at 5:21

6:02 And if we can somehow stop that reaction, let it go, renounce, abandon, control, don't sort of react, let it be. All of those words which we keep saying ad infinitum almost, those are the problems. Which is one of the reasons why over many years you learn how to sit and let it go. If you let it go, it's another way of saying let it be. Report an error in the passage at 6:02 Highlight the passage at 6:02

6:35 Let the disturbances go. The things which mess around the mind go. And then, I'm not talking about the things which you're trying to let go of, but the act of how you act to those things. When that is let go of, then the mind becomes Miraculously peaceful. And then you can go into these deep meditations even when there's no way you're supposed to be able to. And this is actually how the meditation works. Report an error in the passage at 6:35 Highlight the passage at 6:35

7:05 I say that because it makes it possible. But the thing is that we get frustrated too easily. When we get frustrated it's not just we endure. No one wants you to endure great pain. They want you to be free of it. And this is actually how it works. So many times the personal experiences of having great pain and then it suddenly disappears. That's the best way to say it, unexpectedly. Report an error in the passage at 7:05 Highlight the passage at 7:05

7:38 You don't do it, just the mind understands how it's done and you let it happen. And then when these experiences happen, let's just show you what's possible in the realm of the mind. It's a deeper form of meditation. It's kind of not supposed to happen, but it does. And you can be sitting here, really, really peaceful, not even hearing anything. If you did open your eyes, you couldn't see anything. Report an error in the passage at 7:38 Highlight the passage at 7:38

8:07 There's so many times, not just with sound, but just that Zen monastery story of having to sit with my eyes open. I'm sitting with my eyes open, and just the whole wall vanished in front of me. And then because of that, you realize that all of these five senses And the perceptions which we have, they can be manipulated. This is actually one of the statements the Buddha said, that the skill in meditation is the skill in perception. Report an error in the passage at 8:07 Highlight the passage at 8:07

8:43 How we can mess around with our perceptions and turn some off, let them be, and witness them disappear. And it gives us a sense, a much greater sense of freedom. From being imprisoned by our five senses and their perceptions. And that also means it gives us a way to understand the practice of meditation. Report an error in the passage at 8:43 Highlight the passage at 8:43

9:14 Sitting here, most of you just with an ordinary body, but still after a while it aches, it's hot. And it's not just the body, you've got your brain as well. Keep thinking of five sense stuff. I'm messing around with that. And you can carry on thinking for the whole 45 minutes of meditation. It's not that hard to do. You have your fantasies, your dreams, imaginations. You can even write stories if you're an author and write your bestseller in a meditation retreat. Report an error in the passage at 9:14 Highlight the passage at 9:14

9:53 That's not what we're here for. We're here not to increase. Our ability to describe the world or to invent scenes or casts, characters. Our job is to calm things down, to take activity and turn it into silence, to allow the world to stop. And you all know that story about stopping. I actually told it at the retreat recently. Report an error in the passage at 9:53 Highlight the passage at 9:53

10:30 about that little novice. The little novice sitting there listening to Ajahn Chah giving one of his boring talks. They weren't always amazing. Mostly they were. But then sometimes he was giving a talk late at night and the little novice got so negative towards the talk he started thinking, when is Ajahn Chah going to stop? Report an error in the passage at 10:30 Highlight the passage at 10:30

10:52 When's he going to stop? When's he going to stop? When's he going to stop? When's he going to stop? And then an insight happened. Report an error in the passage at 10:52 Highlight the passage at 10:52

11:00 Unexpected. The little novice, still young, started thinking, when am I going to stop? And then he stopped. Get the idea what stopping means. You stop fighting. You stop interpreting. You stop giving things a negative slant. Even though it seems impossible not to give it a negative slant, but you do that. And then the problem vanishes. Report an error in the passage at 11:00 Highlight the passage at 11:00

11:31 And for him it vanished so well, he went into Ajana. We know that because he came out hours later. And when he came out, he didn't know what the time was. He had not fallen asleep. He'd just been sitting there, perfect posture, enjoying himself, the bliss of a deep, peaceful meditation. He missed his lunch that day. But anyway, you can see what happens with the nature of the mind. That's what we're discovering here. Report an error in the passage at 11:31 Highlight the passage at 11:31

12:02 These incredible things which you can discover. So when we get into those deep meditations, how do you do those deep meditations? You don't aim for them. Again, that's one of the teachings which I hope has been drilled into you after all these years. Those have been coming a long time. This is something which happens, not what you do. It's when you stop doing things, when you renounce, you let go, give up, not interfere. Report an error in the passage at 12:02 Highlight the passage at 12:02

12:33 Then things get very peaceful. You're not reacting. And you get very, very still. I don't like concentration, because concentration is what you do. Stillness is what is happening when you're not doing things. The mind gets very peaceful, very still. And those who get restless, you're not being still enough. You're still active, you're still doing something. Report an error in the passage at 12:33 Highlight the passage at 12:33

13:03 But when you are still... There comes a time when you see stillness, even at a distance, you kind of feel it. And then it's so attractive. Report an error in the passage at 13:03 Highlight the passage at 13:03

13:17 It just comes in and stays with you. You are still, not because you want to, because you realize there's nothing else to do. And then that stillness becomes very, very strong and very, very beautiful. Please excuse me, last night I was trying to focus on the joy, the happiness of stillness. It's one of the reasons why it gets established, because it's wonderful to do. It's the happiness and joy. It's not to be snubbed and think, no, I'm not in this for joy. Report an error in the passage at 13:17 Highlight the passage at 13:17

13:49 I'm in this for wisdom. Joy is a way to wisdom, believe it or not. A special type of happiness and joy. The one which you can feel and taste, which lasts for much longer, which is way more delightful. So that type of path. Report an error in the passage at 13:49 Highlight the passage at 13:49

14:09 This is what we practice in deep meditation. How deep can it get? As deep as it wants. All the time, more and more enjoyable, more and more profound. When you're sitting here and you can't hear anything, you can't feel anything in your body, even if you were sick before. And if there is any fear of sitting too long, you do this little... Report an error in the passage at 14:09 Highlight the passage at 14:09

14:38 Resolutions I resolve during the meditation, just I won't make any plans. But I will come out at 45 minutes. That's at the end of the meditation class usually. Ajahn Brahm sometimes rings a gong, sometimes doesn't, forgets. But anyway, 45 minutes I'll come out of my meditation. Just even say it once. Report an error in the passage at 14:38 Highlight the passage at 14:38

15:00 And you always do. You don't have to be overlooking, controlling. Throughout the whole meditation, it is a letting go. And that's what happens in a deep meditation. You get to know the breath. You get to know the difference between the felt breath as a physical sensation and the experienced breath as a mental object. Report an error in the passage at 15:00 Highlight the passage at 15:00

15:26 You know it. And that's where it starts to feel beautiful. And that's when you start to be free. That's when you can actually let go of the body and experience the mind. This is what meditation is. In Ānāpānasati, satipaṭṭhāna, the whole works. Okay, so, how soon shall I talk too long? Oh, not that bad. So, if you want to make your body more comfortable, please do so. Move a little bit, scratch, stretch, make sure your body is as best you can possibly can. Report an error in the passage at 15:26 Highlight the passage at 15:26

16:04 In other words, be kind, be compassionate. compassionate to your poor body, and when you're being kind to your body, And if you do need to go out the door, for whatever reason, go to the toilet or whatever, please do so, be kind. Always think that your body is a friend, not to be trained, but to be sensitive to. Report an error in the passage at 16:04 Highlight the passage at 16:04

16:27 and then see what happens. So, sitting down here, close your eyes, I invite you, so Report an error in the passage at 16:27 Highlight the passage at 16:27

16:40 you don't have to be concerned about things and people. Report an error in the passage at 16:40 Highlight the passage at 16:40

16:49 It's beautiful. When you close your eyes, for me anyway, I'm supposed to be responsible for you all. I'm supposed to be a teacher. When I close my eyes, you vanish. Report an error in the passage at 16:49 Highlight the passage at 16:49

17:06 Some people say, no, Ajahn Brahm, you're still there. I assume that you vanish. So I have no burden to carry during the meditation. Report an error in the passage at 17:06 Highlight the passage at 17:06

17:21 That's just you. Then look at my own body sitting here. How can I get this to vanish? This body with my name stamped all over it. It's simple to allow it to vanish, to disappear. Report an error in the passage at 17:21 Highlight the passage at 17:21

17:40 I relax it. And I can relax it so much more deeply when I'm sitting cross-legged than I can when I'm laying down in sleep pose. Sleep pose is hard to sustain. And after a while I lose my mindfulness. I go to sleep. So now, I don't need sleep. Report an error in the passage at 17:40 Highlight the passage at 17:40

18:09 But I do need comfort. Report an error in the passage at 18:09 Highlight the passage at 18:09

18:14 If I was doing this by myself, I would check just the usual points where there's pain to be found. I don't know why I do this, but always the same old places. One of them is just a certain place in my right leg just above the ankle. Report an error in the passage at 18:14 Highlight the passage at 18:14

18:35 This is just for me because when I sit down, that place gets a bit of pressure on it. So I look, I just... I adjusted my posture a tiny bit. The effect is amazing. It was once a potential pain, a growing sort of discomfort. It's just relieved. And I know it's just going to... It actually has already disappeared. I know that whole tightness in my legs is now not there anymore. Report an error in the passage at 18:35 Highlight the passage at 18:35

19:13 I usually go through each foot today. Report an error in the passage at 19:13 Highlight the passage at 19:13

19:21 I go quite fast. I check everything. It's just like what I suspect an airline pilot does before they take off. Checking this, checking that, checking everything is ready to take off. I check my toes. Check the balls of my feet. Check the insteps. Check the heel. Check the uppers. I feel them. Report an error in the passage at 19:21 Highlight the passage at 19:21

19:58 It doesn't take that much skill to be mindful of the physical feelings here in my feet. Enough to see if there's any tightness there, anything which will grow into a pain. It never gets that close to growing into a pain. My whole feet are totally relaxed. And I have to be careful. I've seen this error in my practice many times. And that is that... Report an error in the passage at 19:58 Highlight the passage at 19:58

20:32 Just going and relaxing my feet is enough. And I just really kind of start blissing out. I'm being honest with you. And that's great for me, but I'm not doing my duty to you. So I just go even further through my body. Report an error in the passage at 20:32 Highlight the passage at 20:32

20:52 The feet are relaxed. The ankles. Report an error in the passage at 20:52 Highlight the passage at 20:52

20:57 And I relax the ankles. And for those of you sitting on a chair, you know, you can always push your feet further away from the bottom of the chair. or tuck them closer in, move them apart. There's many things you can do. After a while you find, really quickly, what is the best position to start with. Report an error in the passage at 20:57 Highlight the passage at 20:57

21:22 The type of comfort you can maintain for 40 minutes, 45 minutes. Later on when you sit for longer periods, those comforts which you can maintain for hours, which you can. Report an error in the passage at 21:22 Highlight the passage at 21:22

21:41 And then it's not just through moving. Sometimes just even being aware of the feelings in my lower legs. The best simile I can say, which is the most accurate, is to smile at my own legs and give them kindness and they relax. I feel like they're sinking in to a beautiful soft spot, a place where there's no tightness or tension on them, where they can really sort of be at ease. Report an error in the passage at 21:41 Highlight the passage at 21:41

22:24 If that's possible for you, that's beautiful. And Report an error in the passage at 22:24 Highlight the passage at 22:24

22:31 that's with my lower legs and my knees. I feel fortunate that I don't have many injuries to my knees. Should have. So my knees can sit there and almost vanish. But I let them also sink in that stillness and that tingling. It's just the words I use. I've got my thighs. My thighs to my buttocks. Report an error in the passage at 22:31 Highlight the passage at 22:31

23:14 All the time just being aware of them and seeing them get more relaxed. It's watching those sensations and watching how they change teaches you how to relax. Report an error in the passage at 23:14 Highlight the passage at 23:14

23:35 One way they get more tight. Next way they just let go and become free. And Report an error in the passage at 23:35 Highlight the passage at 23:35

23:50 then from the buttocks to the waist I've got my own. Best position for the waist, which is not letting it go. It actually just almost tightens it up. But that's a kind of way of letting go of once you get into that position, I get in that position, the waist really relaxes. Report an error in the passage at 23:50 Highlight the passage at 23:50

24:15 And it's my whole lower body is relaxed to the max. It's the best I can do it. And I know it's more than good enough to vanish. Report an error in the passage at 24:15 Highlight the passage at 24:15

24:28 And I go up my back. Sometimes I do my back first and just realize the position where everything is stable, strong, and no irritations. Report an error in the passage at 24:28 Highlight the passage at 24:28

24:44 And I go to the front and do the same. A lot of time I just go up my digestive tract. Don't need to do that today. My digestion is really good today. Report an error in the passage at 24:44 Highlight the passage at 24:44

24:57 As I go up that digestive tract towards the stomach, I always just go through everything I can. If I feel any aches or pains or not ordinary feelings, I will always pause there just for a minute or two and give kindness. Report an error in the passage at 24:57 Highlight the passage at 24:57

25:21 Behave there in the same sort of kindness I give to you if I do some chanting for you. Report an error in the passage at 25:21 Highlight the passage at 25:21

25:31 I feel my whole upper body relaxing. I Report an error in the passage at 25:31 Highlight the passage at 25:31

25:41 say this if any of you are afraid of things like breast cancer. Please look after that part of your body. Be kind to it. Kind is the key. Really kind is letting it be, caring for it, not telling it what to do. Report an error in the passage at 25:41 Highlight the passage at 25:41

26:06 I go up to my stomach, my lungs, and Report an error in the passage at 26:06 Highlight the passage at 26:06

26:14 even my heart. Just recently I kind of think afterwards, I'm giving kindness to my own heart. You bet. How Report an error in the passage at 26:14 Highlight the passage at 26:14

26:30 do you do that? You imagine it. You have all this beautiful love, softness, warmth, protection, friendship. Report an error in the passage at 26:30 Highlight the passage at 26:30

26:48 I don't... I'm not afraid of my attention at all. I welcome it, rejoice in it, and relax into it. Report an error in the passage at 26:48 Highlight the passage at 26:48

27:01 So even my heart softens and slows down even. I Report an error in the passage at 27:01 Highlight the passage at 27:01

27:10 go further up. I pause if it's needed. But I'm teaching you, so I go up to my shoulders. That's much better, Ajahn Brahm. Today they are relaxed. Actually, most times they ain't. But then I know how to relax them. Don't hold anything in any forced position. Report an error in the passage at 27:10 Highlight the passage at 27:10

27:37 I just let them all go. I can feel them, the shoulders, the shoulder blades, and those muscles on either side of my neck. And let them relax. Report an error in the passage at 27:37 Highlight the passage at 27:37

27:52 To the max. You learn how this is done by trial and error until you can feel it happening. My whole shoulders get loose. And I keep on saying this tingling. I don't know other ways to describe it. My language is not that great to describe pleasant, peaceful feelings. But I love that pleasant peacefulness. Report an error in the passage at 27:52 Highlight the passage at 27:52

28:27 So actually to flow down both arms, go past my elbows. I feel like it's like a cold wave going through my elbows, healing, relaxing, soothing. And going from the bottom of the elbow, down my forearms, and down my wrists, down into my hands. I know the position of every finger of my hand. Report an error in the passage at 28:27 Highlight the passage at 28:27

29:04 It's not the most common position, but it's working today. Often, what is the right posture? I ask my body, are you comfortable? And if like today my body says, yeah, it's the judge, it decides. Report an error in the passage at 29:04 Highlight the passage at 29:04

29:29 And I leave it alone. And there I've relaxed all my arms and my torso. Report an error in the passage at 29:29 Highlight the passage at 29:29

29:40 And I just go quickly up to my neck. Relax that. It's usually any aches or pain is only because I haven't positioned my head properly. I make sure the head is well balanced on top of the neck. Simple thing. And then, to relax further, I feel the muscles around my nose and my mouth and my eyes. I Report an error in the passage at 29:40 Highlight the passage at 29:40

30:15 learned how to relax those a long time ago. There's no tension around the eyes. The eyes remain closed. But not screwed down tightly. They're almost just the upper lid just resting on the lower lid, just under its own weight. Report an error in the passage at 30:15 Highlight the passage at 30:15

30:37 The lips slightly closed, enough to let air in and out if it needs. And the nose relaxed. And Report an error in the passage at 30:37 Highlight the passage at 30:37

30:49 then I have done my job, relaxed my whole body really deeply. Kind of, I often get surprised how deeply you can relax your own body. Report an error in the passage at 30:49 Highlight the passage at 30:49

31:09 And I do this special thing. I've never read anyone else do this. I share it with you because it works. Here it comes. I can feel the whole body sitting here, relaxed to the max. Report an error in the passage at 31:09 Highlight the passage at 31:09

31:29 And it comes along with a certain pleasure. It is a delight of relaxation. That delight of relaxation feels so nice. Report an error in the passage at 31:29 Highlight the passage at 31:29

31:49 I indulge in it, not with any form of guilt, because I've known over many years, if you relax and enjoy that relaxation, through enjoying it, the relaxation gets deeper, more Report an error in the passage at 31:49 Highlight the passage at 31:49

32:12 stable. I'm Report an error in the passage at 32:12 Highlight the passage at 32:12

32:17 sitting here, relaxed to the max, in a golden phase of meditation. Just this much is just beautiful. Report an error in the passage at 32:17 Highlight the passage at 32:17

32:38 And because it's enjoyable, it's easy to focus in there. I'm just aware of a very small portion of reality. And if someone else made a noise, I'd hardly be able to hear it. And Report an error in the passage at 32:38 Highlight the passage at 32:38

33:04 many times, I don't do anything. My mind knows what to do next, which is nothing. But for those who haven't done much of this before, just bring up the idea of peace. Report an error in the passage at 33:04 Highlight the passage at 33:04

33:22 Peace, what is it? And Report an error in the passage at 33:22 Highlight the passage at 33:22

33:27 feel it. Don't just think about it. Feel it. It's even more beautiful. And get into that beauty. That subtle, soft, calm experience of peace. And Report an error in the passage at 33:27 Highlight the passage at 33:27

33:53 keep going deeper in. Never go on to the next moment. Go deeper inside this moment. No Report an error in the passage at 33:53 Highlight the passage at 33:53

34:08 need to think. Let go. I will be quiet now. How Report an error in the passage at 34:08 Highlight the passage at 34:08

· · · silence, 20 minutes

54:11 do you feel? Report an error in the passage at 54:11 Highlight the passage at 54:11

54:17 What's it like in your body at the end of the meditation? How Report an error in the passage at 54:17 Highlight the passage at 54:17

54:29 is your mind? What does it feel like? I'm Report an error in the passage at 54:29 Highlight the passage at 54:29

54:48 shortly to signal the conclusion of the meditation, the Report an error in the passage at 54:48 Highlight the passage at 54:48

54:59 chiming of the bell. Thank Report an error in the passage at 54:59 Highlight the passage at 54:59

· · · silence, 1 minute

55:49 you. Are Report an error in the passage at 55:49 Highlight the passage at 55:49

56:00 there any questions from the machine, first of all? I Report an error in the passage at 56:00 Highlight the passage at 56:00

56:18 do prefer the questions some. The internet, first of all, because these are kind of prepared. I don't know how anyone could prepare a good question when you get very still. Report an error in the passage at 56:18 Highlight the passage at 56:18

56:37 First, two from Germany, one from New Zealand. Dear Ajahn, I'm severely ill, no healing. I could lay down all day to meditate, but my body stops me from getting deep. It always comes back to remind me. Please help. Report an error in the passage at 56:37 Highlight the passage at 56:37

57:00 It's always come back to remind you so far. And I just quoted that, because for those of you who know my own history, when I had scrub typhus once, I was really sick. I thought I was dying for many days, so many years ago. And I couldn't cross my legs, couldn't do anything. But I did ask my body to be comfortable, and it did. Report an error in the passage at 57:00 Highlight the passage at 57:00

57:32 And it vanished. I got into a deep meditation. Even though I was really, really sick with scrub typhus, symptoms pretty similar to typhoid, in a very basic hospital, it did disappear. Report an error in the passage at 57:32 Highlight the passage at 57:32

57:54 And that was kind of weird. And I always remember, as I mentioned to you before, looking at my posture. Just the way my body was configured, I've never ever seen anything like that in any form of meditation book. It was all over the place, but it worked. Report an error in the passage at 57:54 Highlight the passage at 57:54

58:14 And that was the end of that disease. But sometimes you're severely ill. I could lay down, my body stops me from getting deep. Tell yourself when you start meditation, I will not stop. If you're really that severely ill, then... Report an error in the passage at 58:14 Highlight the passage at 58:14

58:36 Kind of challenge that idea of your body won't stop you. Sometimes if you're that ill, it's worth giving it a go. It can be done. Second German from Germany. Beloved Ajahn, I'm meditating for some time already and about 80 % of the time I fall asleep. Instead, I try in many ways to avoid sleeping and nothing seems to work. Please advise. Report an error in the passage at 58:36 Highlight the passage at 58:36

59:09 Then if you've tried so many things to avoid sleeping, stop trying to avoid it. Enjoy the sleep. 20 % of the time you don't sleep. That 20 % of the time, how's that? How's that for you? Are you peaceful? Are you still? Because sometimes, as somebody pointed out to me years and years ago, okay, yes, you may fall asleep 80 % of the time. Report an error in the passage at 59:09 Highlight the passage at 59:09

59:40 But 20 % of the time when you're not falling asleep, wow, if that is one of those really wow, beautiful, amazing moments, it's worth it. Report an error in the passage at 59:40 Highlight the passage at 59:40

59:52 You can sacrifice 80 % of your time just for that 20 % of the time when you get really great insights, deep peace. Report an error in the passage at 59:52 Highlight the passage at 59:52

1:00:05 From New Zealand, hi Ajahn Brahm. I experience fear and anxiety resulting negative karma. It's staying in the present moment, having positivity and kindness. The way to create good karma, to counteract the bad karma, is one way. Report an error in the passage at 1:00:05 Highlight the passage at 1:00:05

1:00:25 And it's beautiful. Sometimes, what is the karma? What's the results of it? I often contemplate all those times when it's said that if you just do one beautiful act for someone, you get repaid billions of times over. Report an error in the passage at 1:00:25 Highlight the passage at 1:00:25

1:00:45 And I think, wow, what about all the bad karma I've done? In fact, I was mean or rude to an Ajahn Chah or something. I can never pay that back. I realize you've got such a huge amount of good karma, such a huge amount of bad karma too. Which one comes to fruition? Report an error in the passage at 1:00:45 Highlight the passage at 1:00:45

1:01:06 Keep that positive mind state. Just remember all the good things and let that come to fruition. When that comes to fruition, Report an error in the passage at 1:01:06 Highlight the passage at 1:01:06

1:01:20 It's usually in the present moment. Then what happens is you can get so deep into meditation, so much insight. There's that state which we call becoming an aria, not an arahat, but becoming a soul one, a stream one. And if that's what you experience, all the very, very large amount of bad karma you've done gets abandoned. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:20 Highlight the passage at 1:01:20

1:01:53 It has no power over you anymore. It's called a hosi karma, karma that was, but can't reach you anymore. Kind of a neat way. So, fear and anxiety, that's another question, how you overcome that. I've given many examples of how you can overcome anxiety by asking yourself, where do you feel it in your body? Get to understand the physical manifestation of anxiety. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:53 Highlight the passage at 1:01:53

1:02:27 I mean, really be mindful of it. Where is it? How does it develop? Does it stay in that place? Does it move around the body? Does it grow bigger, smaller? Get to know it so well. And then counteract it with kindness. As I said to that lady here in Perth, who was in Adelaide at the time, I said, just massage it with kindness. Report an error in the passage at 1:02:27 Highlight the passage at 1:02:27

1:02:50 And take your hand and just, it's in her tummy area. Really give it a beautiful massage. And then she could feel the kindness, the softness. And then I will never forget that moment when I asked her, what happened? You know, when you massaged it with real kindness, she said the physical manifestation of the anxiety vanished. Report an error in the passage at 1:02:50 Highlight the passage at 1:02:50

1:03:19 It got less and less and less until it went totally. What happened to the anxiety and the cause of it? And I always remember the... Einstein moment. She said, that disappeared. So she paused. She realized what I meant. It went. The anxiety was overcome, countered by kindness, simple. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:19 Highlight the passage at 1:03:19

1:03:49 And that was the end of that anxiety. She's now running a dentist something place over in, is it Florida? Report an error in the passage at 1:03:49 Highlight the passage at 1:03:49

1:04:02 Woodlands, okay, yeah. But anyway. There's overcome that. It can be done. So overcome the anxiety and the fear. The fear, I don't know why, sometimes we get into a habit of looking into the future with negativity. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:02 Highlight the passage at 1:04:02

1:04:25 We think of all the things which could go wrong. And it could go wrong, it's possible. But then, I always quote Winnie the Pooh, what would happen if it didn't? Go wrong. Which isn't as a possibility. You increase the likelihood of that possibility happening by thinking of the positive consequences. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:25 Highlight the passage at 1:04:25

1:04:54 Then when that happens, all fear tends to disappear. What happens if you get burnt? What happens if a car might crash? What happens all those times I go travelling? What if the flight crashes? Report an error in the passage at 1:04:54 Highlight the passage at 1:04:54

1:05:15 It's a possibility. It happens. And sooner or later, I think. What a wonderful way to die at 33,000 feet in the air. Number one, you get an instant cremation done by the airline. You don't have to arrange anything. Number two, the BSWA doesn't have to pay anything. They get insurance premium. Well, quite a lot, too. You make money out of my death. Report an error in the passage at 1:05:15 Highlight the passage at 1:05:15

1:05:46 And number three, about what to do with a loved one's ashes after they die. The ashes are sprinkled at the time the aircraft explodes. Report an error in the passage at 1:05:46 Highlight the passage at 1:05:46

1:06:02 So what an efficient way to pass away. I've got to pass away one day. It's going to be wonderful. It's all done on the spot. You don't have to arrange things. You don't have to come and take the afternoon off work to come to my funeral service. And yet the whole BSWA makes so much money out of my death. And everything is arranged on the spot. Pretty cool way of going. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:02 Highlight the passage at 1:06:02

1:06:28 When I think like that, all fear vanishes. It's amazing, it doesn't happen. There's so many flights and nothing's gone wrong. So that's how to overcome anxiety. You notice also, one of the other ways to overcome anxiety and fear is with humour. I know you've known all these stories for a long time. Some of you haven't. But even I laugh at my own jokes. I do because they have that positive attitude. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:28 Highlight the passage at 1:06:28

1:06:59 You understand their purpose. So you don't ever worry about bad things happening. Or bad things can happen to you. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:59 Highlight the passage at 1:06:59

1:07:13 Sometimes I think. Shouldn't think. But sometimes I think. If somebody accuses me of something I didn't do, then I go to jail. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:13 Highlight the passage at 1:07:13

1:07:27 That'd be pretty cool. You know why it'd be cool? Because I can really relax then. I don't need to go and give talks. I don't need to go and answer questions. I don't need to write books. I don't need to arrange all these tours overseas. I just go and then if I really feel I want to retreat, punch a prison officer and you get solitary. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:27 Highlight the passage at 1:07:27

1:07:57 Not a bad deal. It's what you're afraid of. But Ajahn Brahm, you lose your reputation. That's even better. If I lose my reputation, then when I come out of jail, no one comes to listen to my talks. So I'm peaceful. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:57 Highlight the passage at 1:07:57

1:08:16 As I see, you may not agree with the positive attitudes, but you can always put a twist in it which makes it feel good. Anyway, some questions from the floor. Report an error in the passage at 1:08:16 Highlight the passage at 1:08:16

1:08:29 Anyone here got any sensible questions, not the silly ones which I keep saying? Report an error in the passage at 1:08:29 Highlight the passage at 1:08:29

1:08:37 Oh, yes. Wow, you've got a book. Oh, my goodness, that's serious. Okay. My question was more about like yesterday, when you're talking about creativity and fun. Oh, great, yes. Yes. I was specifically going to ask, whenever you, with whether it be your writing or with your speaking, what is the sense that you go into those things with when you start to do your speaking or your writing and you're doing something that's creative and fun? Report an error in the passage at 1:08:37 Highlight the passage at 1:08:37

1:09:14 Yeah, it is just... Exploring with a sense of joy. Like sometimes you see kids play and they have like a garden. And they're exploring, seeing what's there. And they have a sense of joy and fun seeing weird things. Let's go and see weirdness. Report an error in the passage at 1:09:14 Highlight the passage at 1:09:14

1:09:39 Can I tell you one of my, it's not a secret, that often on the weekend that One of the Buddhas here, they offer a newspaper to me. And I don't look at the news, honestly. There's a little section of the newspaper with the comics and the Sudoku puzzle or whatever. Report an error in the passage at 1:09:39 Highlight the passage at 1:09:39

1:10:10 I'm encouraged to say, Ajahn Brahm, you're getting old. Keep your mind active. And the comics, there's only just... You saw the comics this morning, because if I laugh, sometimes you get an itchy throat, and I almost choke. Ajahn Brahm, you should know the difference between a choke and a joke. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:10 Highlight the passage at 1:10:10

1:10:40 So this morning I said, okay, I figured out my response to that. Good comment. I made him read the comics first of all. Are they any good? No, not really that much. I said, okay, I can read them then. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:40 Highlight the passage at 1:10:40

1:10:53 You tested them for me. If they're really funny, I might start laughing and choke myself again. Was that accurate? Fairly, yes. But sometimes that playfulness, that joy, you go into something not knowing what you're going to discover. I mention that about the comics because Calvin and Hobbes, it's one of my favorite comic strips. I'm telling you, isn't a monk supposed to look at those comic strips? Report an error in the passage at 1:10:53 Highlight the passage at 1:10:53

1:11:27 But I do, and it's joyful. You don't necessarily see if there's anything interesting. And sometimes there is a different way of looking at things. Just like, okay, I don't know what I'm praising. You know, Burr, Burr's son, because he sent me an email last week, and it was a little joke about this man. Report an error in the passage at 1:11:27 Highlight the passage at 1:11:27

1:11:56 He went to see his doctor over in KL and the doctor told him, look, you need to relax more. You know, you're too tense. Do some meditation. And she said, I want you to do one hour of meditation every morning and then come back and see how it works. And after one month he came back and he said, it's amazing. I've been doing one hour of meditation every morning. I've got no more stress. Report an error in the passage at 1:11:56 Highlight the passage at 1:11:56

1:12:29 I'm relaxed. I said, well done, what happened? Well, because I did one hour meditation every morning, I was always late for work, so I got the sack from my boss, and my wife ran away and left me. Now I've got no more stress. Report an error in the passage at 1:12:29 Highlight the passage at 1:12:29

1:12:51 That's the kind of answer I never expected, but it was a beautiful one. And when I just add that to fun, then yeah, great, marvelous. Report an error in the passage at 1:12:51 Highlight the passage at 1:12:51

1:13:03 Alright, thank you very much. Excellent. So you get a smile? Yes. Put some fun into whatever you're going to do. Whether it be with your work or your service. And come into that with that intention to play. Yes. And that was reinforced of all places. In the Cavendish Laboratory over in Cambridge, they told you, here's some equipment, play around. So we were young students, of course we played around. Report an error in the passage at 1:13:03 Highlight the passage at 1:13:03

1:13:45 And then sometimes, and most of the time we broke things, but sometimes you'd do something and a strange result would come out and a new discovery was made. Right, wonderful. And that was at Cambridge University. I will tell you one of the things which I learnt over there, I'm not sure if... You already know it. But these were really incredible minds over there. Not just people like Hawking and Pip Hart and all these other great physicists. Report an error in the passage at 1:13:45 Highlight the passage at 1:13:45

1:14:18 They had their tea room. It was a university, but it was very English. So they'd have morning tea and afternoon tea. And you had to go if you were in the faculty. And so what they did... On every table where they served the tea, there was felt-tip pens. And the table was made of like formica. Report an error in the passage at 1:14:18 Highlight the passage at 1:14:18

1:14:45 So they were using those felt-tip pens. They had some equation, they haven't solved it yet. They'd write it on the tea table. And then the people sitting next to them, they'd give them some suggestions. And when they had a very difficult problem, they'd get all the other people around. They'd say, hey, can you... Report an error in the passage at 1:14:45 Highlight the passage at 1:14:45

1:15:06 Understand how this works? And so many discoveries were made in the morning and afternoon tea break when the other scientists, physicists, mathematicians would come down and use the felt-tip pens to write on the table. Report an error in the passage at 1:15:06 Highlight the passage at 1:15:06

1:15:25 And that was acceptable and accepted. And I always thought all of those people cleaning up, serving the tea, you know, washing, Were they KGB? Report an error in the passage at 1:15:25 Highlight the passage at 1:15:25

1:15:44 This was important stuff. So anyway, that's my fantasies. When I said that, they said, oh, that's interesting. They laughed, because that was what you're supposed to do, get interested. Report an error in the passage at 1:15:44 Highlight the passage at 1:15:44

1:15:59 Thank you very much, Ajahn Brahm. Okay. Report an error in the passage at 1:15:59 Highlight the passage at 1:15:59

1:16:06 How about any other question here? Okay. Going, going. Gone. Okay, let's go and finish off now. Have Report an error in the passage at 1:16:06 Highlight the passage at 1:16:06

1:16:22 I told that story before? Report an error in the passage at 1:16:22 Highlight the passage at 1:16:22

1:16:26 Oh, I told it to Bernard. He said, oh yeah. Report an error in the passage at 1:16:26 Highlight the passage at 1:16:26