Getting Close to the Buddha

0:00 I thought I'd talk a little bit about the upcoming rains retreat for the monastics and the theme of my talk is becoming closer to the Buddha and I'll base my meditation session on that as well. So the Buddha existed over 2,500 years ago. And his teachings are still accessible to us today here in Perth, Australia and all around the world. Report an error in the passage at 0:00 Highlight the passage at 0:00

0:40 And more so, it's still relevant in this day and age. And how Report an error in the passage at 0:40 Highlight the passage at 0:40

0:57 do we go about bringing the Buddha closer to us? And one of the ways is through his teachings. Report an error in the passage at 0:57 Highlight the passage at 0:57

1:08 He taught for I think 40 years or so and his teachings are now available and I'll do a plug-in for Bhante Sujato. Sutta Central has some very easily readable translation, English translation that's available to all of us and it's free. And so... Report an error in the passage at 1:08 Highlight the passage at 1:08

1:38 How is it that we make these teachings come alive? And so there's actually the four main baskets of the teachings. The most common one is the Majjhima, which is the middle length discourses. And then you get the Samutra Nikaya, which is, I guess, linked. Report an error in the passage at 1:38 Highlight the passage at 1:38

2:12 linked suttas, and then you get the Anguttara Nikaya, which is the numbered discourses, and the Digha Nikaya, which is the long discourses. So it's good to see which one of these major texts talks to you. And, um... During the Rains Retreat, I'm personally going to be looking at the start of the Anguttara Nikayas. Why? Because it's actually short, succinct, and you can understand them quite easily and be inspired. Report an error in the passage at 2:12 Highlight the passage at 2:12

2:56 That is the most important thing, to be inspired by these teachings. It may be that you're into even shorter readings like from the Dhammapada, the short sayings or the heartfelt teachings of the Buddha. These are verses. And I want to talk firstly about a little bit about the structure of a sutta. And so normally the Buddha has An introductory passage or paragraph which actually introduces the topic, followed by a list of things in relation to that topic. Report an error in the passage at 2:56 Highlight the passage at 2:56

3:41 And then he sums it up and emphasizes what point he's trying to bring across. So when you're reading the suttas, this is what you can look for. To actually maybe memorize, you know, so what is the key point? What are some of the key points in the list? And what is the main topic that the Buddha is trying to, or the message he's trying to get across? Usually like a summary line. Report an error in the passage at 3:41 Highlight the passage at 3:41

4:20 For those who are not familiar with suttas, Every sutta is structured in this. And the Buddha also, instead of having a list, sometimes have beautiful similes, which you can truly be inspired by. And how I like to use the suttas is actually maybe just read a short passage. See what calls me. What is actually relatable to me? And then what I'm planning to do with this range is try and think Report an error in the passage at 4:20 Highlight the passage at 4:20

5:07 about it, to reflect on it, and see if I can actually bring it into my own practice. The Buddha was a very practical person and the teachings he gave is for us to remember. And then to put into use in our day-to-day life. And I particularly like the suttas, and I think in previous talk I've mentioned I'm very much inspired by Maha Kasapa, who was really into nature. Report an error in the passage at 5:07 Highlight the passage at 5:07

5:53 And there's some beautiful verses of that in the Theragatha, which is the verses of the month. You can look that up if you're interested. And so I would like to, if it's okay with you, there's some beautiful passages, some suttas, short ones that I found that I'd like to read to you. Which I truly find inspiring. And listen to it and see whether you also, whether they might call you. Report an error in the passage at 5:53 Highlight the passage at 5:53

6:34 Of course, according to each of our personalities, different suitors, according to our character, calls us and we need to investigate for ourselves. Which of these teachings touches our heart. Report an error in the passage at 6:34 Highlight the passage at 6:34

6:58 So Report an error in the passage at 6:58 Highlight the passage at 6:58

7:03 the first one is from Angotara 1115. And this is called the benefits of loving kindness. And it goes as such. Oh, Nance, oh, layman, layman. When the liberation of mind by loving kindness has been pursued, developed and cultivated, made a vehicle and basis, carried out, consolidated and properly undertaken, eleven benefits are to be expected. Report an error in the passage at 7:03 Highlight the passage at 7:03

7:40 What eleven? One sleeps well. That's one. Two. One awakens happily. Three. One does not have bad dreams. 4. One is pleasing to human beings. 5. One is pleasing to spirits. 6. Deities or devas protect one. 7. Fire, poison and weapons do not injure one. 8. One's mind quickly becomes still. 9. One's facial complexion is serene. 10. One dies unconfused. Report an error in the passage at 7:40 Highlight the passage at 7:40

8:22 And eleven, if one does not penetrate further, one fades onto the Brahma world. When monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen, the liberation of the mind by loving kindness has been repeatedly pursued and developed and cultivated, made a vehicle and basis, carried out, consolidated and properly undertaken, these eleven benefits are to be expected. Report an error in the passage at 8:22 Highlight the passage at 8:22

8:52 So this actually is a really beautiful summary of the benefits of loving kindness. What really speaks to me here is that one dies, I'm confused. There's a few of us that are getting on edge and this is something to keep in mind that actually practicing loving kindness meditation You can have a very peaceful passing away. This is the particular point that calls to me. Report an error in the passage at 8:52 Highlight the passage at 8:52

9:30 And this one is actually, this is really beautiful. This brings in some similes. But before this current sutta that I read, you can see that the topic is loving kindness. Then he lists 11 points which are the benefits and then he says actually that summarizes that by doing the loving kindness meditation you can actually get to develop even you know go to jhāna stages right and that's what he means that the mind can be liberated by loving kindness. Report an error in the passage at 9:30 Highlight the passage at 9:30

10:20 Okay, so I'll move on to the next sutta. It's called Loving Kindness Shines Like the Moon. Months. Whatever grounds there are for making merit productive of a future birth, these do not equal a sixteenth part of the liberation of mind by loving kindness. The liberation of mind by loving kindness surpasses them and shines forth bright and brilliant. Report an error in the passage at 10:20 Highlight the passage at 10:20

10:54 Just as the radiance of all the stars does not equal a sixteenth part of the moon's radiance, but the moon's radiance surpasses them and shines forth bright and brilliant, even so, whatever grounds there are for making merit productive of a future birth, these not These do not equal a sixteenth part of the liberation of mind by loving kindness. The liberation of mind by loving kindness surpasses them and shines forth bright and brilliant. Report an error in the passage at 10:54 Highlight the passage at 10:54

11:31 Just as in the last month of the rainy season, in the autumn, when the sky is clear and free of clouds, the sun, on ascending, dispels the darkness of space and shines forth, bright and brilliant, even so, Whatever grants there are for making merit, productive or future birth, these do not equal a sixteenth part of the liberation of mind by loving kindness. Report an error in the passage at 11:31 Highlight the passage at 11:31

11:58 The liberation of mind by loving kindness surpasses them and shines forth bright and brilliant. And just as in the night, at the moment of dawn, the morning star shines forth bright and brilliant, even so, whatever grounds there are for making merit productive of a future birth, these do not equal a sixteenth part of the liberation of mind by loving-kindness. Report an error in the passage at 11:58 Highlight the passage at 11:58

12:27 The liberation of mind by loving-kindness surpasses them and shines forth bright and brilliant. Report an error in the passage at 12:27 Highlight the passage at 12:27

12:42 So here he brings in some beautiful similes saying that none of these things You know, the bright stars in the sky or when you have a beautiful spring season and the sky is clear of clouds. This does not even compare to the liberation by loving kindness. And just as a knight, With the morning star, bright and brilliant, even though that's beautiful, that does not surpass the mind cultivating loving kindness. Report an error in the passage at 12:42 Highlight the passage at 12:42

13:30 There's a last sutta that I like to read, which I think this is actually something that we can put into practice through our behavior. Report an error in the passage at 13:30 Highlight the passage at 13:30

13:47 This one is called One of Great Wisdom. And it's Anguttara 4, 186. And it goes as such. A certain monk asked the Blessed One, It is said, Bhante, a wise person of great wisdom, a wise person of great wisdom. In what way is one a wise person of great wisdom? Here, monk, a wise person of great wisdom does not intend for his own affliction, or for the affliction of others or for the affliction of both rather when he plans when he plans for his own welfare the welfare of others the welfare of both and the welfare of the whole world it is in this way that one is a wise person of great wisdom So this is something, this sutta I really like. It's short and it's succinct. Report an error in the passage at 13:47 Highlight the passage at 13:47

14:46 And here the question being asked is how to develop wisdom. And it is us cultivating the qualities that we intend that we don't harm ourselves, others and we don't harm both of ourselves. So this is something that we can actually look at throughout the day. Report an error in the passage at 14:46 Highlight the passage at 14:46

15:17 See, in terms of interactions with people, right? You know, are the things we're saying, the way we're communicating, is this actually hurting the person who's listening to this conversation? And at the end of the day, when you walk away from it, you also realize that you've been unskillful, perhaps in your speech, and it actually weighs... Report an error in the passage at 15:17 Highlight the passage at 15:17

15:45 This is how it's harming yourself and the other person. So this is a very practical thing that the Buddha says and touching one's speech and also bodily actions as well because we can harm people through our body language even. Report an error in the passage at 15:45 Highlight the passage at 15:45

16:12 So yeah, I really like that one too because it talks about wisdom and wisdom is of course one of the greatest qualities that the Buddha developed and used in his lifetime. So here I would really like you all to... um, um, uh... Embark on a journey on investigating, studying and making the suttas come alive for you and especially during a long retreat period and I'm sure I know that Catherine has just completed one month retreat at Jhāna Grove. Report an error in the passage at 16:12 Highlight the passage at 16:12

17:09 And she looked very happy when I saw her on a Wednesday night talk for Ajahn Brahm. And so what I've, I guess as monastics and even as, you know, the people who are present who may wish to do a one month retreat or a longer retreat. Report an error in the passage at 17:09 Highlight the passage at 17:09

17:37 Just a few pointers that I'd like to give to you all. Three months is actually quite a long time and I just thought I'll just describe a little bit about the structure that we have at Dhammasara Monastery. So this year we'll be on duty for two weeks. And during that time we do just tasks such as cleaning toilets and mopping, meditation hall, cleaning dining hall, setting up dining hall, mainly cleaning tasks basically, a little bit of administrative things as well, not too much there, and sweeping. Report an error in the passage at 17:37 Highlight the passage at 17:37

18:20 and so You may think, well, what do the monastics do apart from, you know, this two weeks duty period? So basically the duty period, you come up for half a day. Report an error in the passage at 18:20 Highlight the passage at 18:20

18:35 If there's some of the duties requires you to be there maybe until two o 'clock or something because we have to wash tea towels. But thereafter, the practice time is ours during those two weeks. So how do you spend? Say two and a half months, how do we spend our time? Well, it's recommended that during this rainy season period that we meditate for six to eight hours. Report an error in the passage at 18:35 Highlight the passage at 18:35

19:10 Six hours at least, right? Those who are in a very good state of meditation practice. Samādhi level, they can maybe do more. But generally speaking, what we do is, yes, we do those six or eight hours. There's plenty of time in the day to fit that in. But in between that, we do walking meditation. Report an error in the passage at 19:10 Highlight the passage at 19:10

19:44 Few probably do some standing meditation. Each of our hearts has a long walking path. And we can do that walking meditation on that walking path. And we also have those of us who are living in the forest, we can sit on our walking path and look out and look at the forest and be with nature, right? And so you make a nice hot cup of tea, you sit down, And you sit there. You do nothing. And Jana Grove, Catherine will say, is a great place for doing that too because it's just so, so peaceful and there's many, many places you can sit and just do nothing. Report an error in the passage at 19:44 Highlight the passage at 19:44

20:34 As Ajahn Brahm says, sit and just watch the trees grow. And so on top of that, because there's longer sitting periods, We need to get some exercise and those who have been to Dhammasara know it's a very large property, nearly 600 acres. So we have creeks running through the property and four bridges actually. Report an error in the passage at 20:34 Highlight the passage at 20:34

21:10 I love to sit on a bridge and that's my usually free time when I just want a break from meditation. And to see I'm going to even try and sit on a bridge and meditate. So there's I think two of the bridges there's actually quite flowing water whereas another one has got quite it's quite noisy. There's a lot of water flowing through there. So it's so Report an error in the passage at 21:10 Highlight the passage at 21:10

21:48 Even for you all to find, and many times I guess I've spoken about finding somewhere in nature where you all have the opportunity to meditate as well, right? It is just so conducive. I also tend to, because I'm a very visual person, and because I'm now getting quite old now, um it's It's a bit difficult for me to sit and meditate in nature, but I have a pretty good memory and because I'm visual, I tend to just, I can visualize in my room when I'm meditating the place that I've been to, which I find really inspiring. Report an error in the passage at 21:48 Highlight the passage at 21:48

22:35 So I sit with that. So I'm very fortunate that I can just imagine myself. I don't have to be physically sitting somewhere. I can bring it into my heart. So if you're unable to now sit in the forest or in a park comfortably, try that. I find that especially something that I use in my meditation practice. So it's also good to do some chanting. Report an error in the passage at 22:35 Highlight the passage at 22:35

23:10 chanting um if you're if Chanting is not everyone's thing. So you'll have to, you know, see. But it's good to do even a little bit of chanting, you know, if you feel inspired. Because I like the Ittibiso Gatha, Loving Kindness, the Dhammata Sutta. These things are really peaceful and before your meditation sit, it's nice to do a little bit of chanting just to get started and to bring up some joy in the practice. Report an error in the passage at 23:10 Highlight the passage at 23:10

23:56 I'll sum it up by saying, see what works for you. And especially if you haven't tried, So, yeah. Report an error in the passage at 23:56 Highlight the passage at 23:56

24:09 you know um reading some short verses to see whether they you know um bring up some brightness in your mind and you know calls to you right um and um it's it's a great way if something really resonates with you some words of the Buddha to actually bring that into your mind before you um sit for your meditation just as you bring you bring an an image image of of some aspect. Report an error in the passage at 24:09 Highlight the passage at 24:09

24:40 Similarly, so I like to end my talk here and I sincerely hope that in the next three months that you all also be able to intensify your practice and be inspired by the teachings and Ajahn Brahm's talks are Ajahn Brahmali is freely available out there and listen to them because all the monastics are offline during this time. Report an error in the passage at 24:40 Highlight the passage at 24:40

25:24 Also to know that he will be giving a Wednesday live stream talk and also Ajahn Brahmali will be doing Sutta classes every Saturday evening so watch out for them. And if you all have time for either one of them, you can join in. And that's online. Report an error in the passage at 25:24 Highlight the passage at 25:24

25:52 And yes, it'll be really lovely to have you all joining us as well to participate in this rains retreat. Make it your rains retreat as well. So I'll leave it there. And if it's okay with you, let's do half an hour of meditation. Report an error in the passage at 25:52 Highlight the passage at 25:52

26:23 Okay, Report an error in the passage at 26:23 Highlight the passage at 26:23

26:43 so make yourselves comfortable. Do Report an error in the passage at 26:43 Highlight the passage at 26:43

26:53 some light stretching if you need to. And Report an error in the passage at 26:53 Highlight the passage at 26:53

27:11 remember that the successful meditation is being, learning to relax your body, first of all. Report an error in the passage at 27:11 Highlight the passage at 27:11

27:28 And it's good to take a bit of time to do this because it means that your meditation will be comfortable and peaceful. Take Report an error in the passage at 27:28 Highlight the passage at 27:28

27:57 a few deep breaths if you need to and roll your shoulders. This is what I tend to do. Especially rolling the shoulders actually helps me to relax. Report an error in the passage at 27:57 Highlight the passage at 27:57

28:27 And smile because this is your time. Report an error in the passage at 28:27 Highlight the passage at 28:27

28:48 So we are letting go of the past and we are letting go of the future. Whatever busyness you've had during the day, that's all finished. We Report an error in the passage at 28:48 Highlight the passage at 28:48

29:13 are just learning to be here, learning to be present. So Report an error in the passage at 29:13 Highlight the passage at 29:13

29:32 today's theme is being inspired by the Buddha. Bring Report an error in the passage at 29:32 Highlight the passage at 29:32

29:55 to mind a place in nature that you really love and resonates with you. And Report an error in the passage at 29:55 Highlight the passage at 29:55

30:24 you're sitting there comfortably in the presence of the Buddha. Report an error in the passage at 30:24 Highlight the passage at 30:24

30:41 The sun is shining on the stream that is flowing gently and the water is shimmering by the sunlight and Report an error in the passage at 30:41 Highlight the passage at 30:41

30:59 you can hear the bird song of little birds. Report an error in the passage at 30:59 Highlight the passage at 30:59

31:22 You are in the presence of the Buddha. The Buddha is sitting in meditation and Report an error in the passage at 31:22 Highlight the passage at 31:22

31:32 this beautiful golden pink light is emanating from the Buddha and Report an error in the passage at 31:32 Highlight the passage at 31:32

32:01 this light touches you. And you are surrounded by this beautiful pink yellow light. The Report an error in the passage at 32:01 Highlight the passage at 32:01

32:22 Buddha is doing compassion and loving kindness meditation and you are one of the recipients. This Report an error in the passage at 32:22 Highlight the passage at 32:22

32:41 beautiful light fills you from head to toe, making Report an error in the passage at 32:41 Highlight the passage at 32:41

32:57 you feel safe, protected and secure. Report an error in the passage at 32:57 Highlight the passage at 32:57

33:20 The Buddha lets you know that you're totally okay the way you are. You're fully accepted and he understands there are things about yourself that you may not like but you're aware of them and you're working on them and that's good enough. So Report an error in the passage at 33:20 Highlight the passage at 33:20

33:57 the message he's giving you here is that you're okay. You're more than good enough. Report an error in the passage at 33:57 Highlight the passage at 33:57

34:16 So with this beautiful pink yellow light of compassion and kindness of the Buddha. We will sit for the next 20 minutes or so and I'll stay quiet. We Report an error in the passage at 34:16 Highlight the passage at 34:16

· · · silence, 16 minutes

50:51 are nearing the end of the meditation but before you come out of the meditation ask yourself were you able to be with the Buddha in the presence of the Buddha and if you choose to do this type of meditation in the future What I forgot to mention is that if you lose that connection to the Buddha, it's to re-visualize the place you're in and also the Buddha sitting with you. Report an error in the passage at 50:51 Highlight the passage at 50:51

51:28 So that actually keeps that feeling going. And how did you feel? Did you feel safe and secure in the presence of the Buddha? Knowing that you were surrounded by the light of kindness and compassion, did that work for you? Again, depending on your personality, this type of meditation may not be suitable for you, but it's something to try. Report an error in the passage at 51:28 Highlight the passage at 51:28

52:10 So I hope Report an error in the passage at 52:10 Highlight the passage at 52:10

52:18 that you got maybe a bit of joy out of this. and perhaps even a little bit of peace and acceptance of yourself, because we tend to be sometimes very harsh in judging ourselves. And so we'll end the meditation now, and you're all free to come out of the meditation. I'd like Report an error in the passage at 52:18 Highlight the passage at 52:18

53:00 to invite you all for any comments or questions that you have. Report an error in the passage at 53:00 Highlight the passage at 53:00

53:25 He's like, I don't know why, but like, the meditation really, I Report an error in the passage at 53:25 Highlight the passage at 53:25

53:37 don't know how to say it, but like, I've never been like this before. And when I was like, when I was in Medan, the Buddha was sitting there, and then he was like, had loving kindness and all this stuff. And then I just felt like crying, Report an error in the passage at 53:37 Highlight the passage at 53:37

54:04 and then I was like, I felt really weak. I Report an error in the passage at 54:04 Highlight the passage at 54:04

54:11 felt like it kind of like clashes. I felt like it clashes with my internal, I don't know if it's like identity or stuff, but it really, really kind of shaken me. I don't know, I'm still kind of being the middle of like being shaken by this. And then I felt like it's like part of me, it's like the Report an error in the passage at 54:11 Highlight the passage at 54:11

54:43 feeling of like open Report an error in the passage at 54:43 Highlight the passage at 54:43

54:48 my heart to the kindness, and it's like the feeling of like... Report an error in the passage at 54:48 Highlight the passage at 54:48

55:01 I feel like it's like I'm not able to it's like it's the feeling of like the current me cannot adore for it and it's like can feel it to a certain extent but because when I feel it it also make me it also kind of like inside Report an error in the passage at 55:01 Highlight the passage at 55:01

55:33 so I don't know if this is a question but like it's really weird for me but I feel like it's like it's yeah. It's a weird experience for me, I guess. I've never felt like this. Report an error in the passage at 55:33 Highlight the passage at 55:33

55:55 okay it is it's actually a good sign this is actually saying something to you um gloria that um you know because i guess you mentioned in the past in in terms of um you know i i spoke about acceptance right um and being happy with who we are um this is This is perhaps telling you that you need to open your heart more and it can be achieved through doing loving kindness meditation. Report an error in the passage at 55:55 Highlight the passage at 55:55

56:24 And the Buddha, no matter who the person was, the person who was cleaning the feces on the street in India, he spoke to the Brahmins who were very well educated. In their own teachings, every person, right? And he never judged any of them. He had nothing but love and compassion for the sick and the rich people, the poor people, the disabled people, right? Report an error in the passage at 56:24 Highlight the passage at 56:24

57:07 And he understood that about the human condition and the potential that each one of us has. Report an error in the passage at 57:07 Highlight the passage at 57:07

57:19 To learn to be happy and to end our suffering. So actually I'm happy with the result with what you've described Gloria because this is actually telling you something that you need to continue your loving kindness meditation. Report an error in the passage at 57:19 Highlight the passage at 57:19

57:38 And the fact that you were in tears it means that it did touch you in some way. way right the Buddha's compassion and loving Report an error in the passage at 57:38 Highlight the passage at 57:38

58:04 continue with the mettā practice. Do the mettā chant as well. Make it real for you. And just for everyone, the mettā sutta, mettā chanting, loving kindness, it's one I think we should all do daily because I guess sometimes we are pretty hard on ourselves and it's a good one to read the words of what the Buddha described in terms of the practice. Report an error in the passage at 58:04 Highlight the passage at 58:04

58:37 which can take you very far to the jhāna states even at the end but most importantly to bring up that spark of loving kindness in our own hearts and Report an error in the passage at 58:37 Highlight the passage at 58:37

58:56 we need to the final thing I'd like to say is that we need to accept that And I just use the example, this imaginary example of the Buddha, you know, receiving love from the Buddha. But we need to be able to receive love from everybody. And as Ajahn Brahm says, you know, opening the door of our hearts, right? We are all working, you know, to free ourselves. Report an error in the passage at 58:56 Highlight the passage at 58:56

59:25 And most of us know where our weaknesses are. We need to be happy with that and to know that we are working with them and we are just continuing on this path. And fully love and accept ourselves for who we are. Yeah, Report an error in the passage at 59:25 Highlight the passage at 59:25

· · · silence, 1 minute

1:00:16 thank you very much. That's alright. That's okay. Just to finish off with that last comment, Gloria. The Buddha is real. He has left a vast amount of teaching for us. right um just for um Report an error in the passage at 1:00:16 Highlight the passage at 1:00:16

1:00:33 Very practical teaching. And it's up to each of us to bring it alive for us. And that goes to my talk in terms of reading the suttas and seeing what's applicable to us at this point in time. Report an error in the passage at 1:00:33 Highlight the passage at 1:00:33

1:00:53 Because he is speaking to us when he laid down the teaching, it was for future generations, for all of us. To put into practice, to make it come alive, and to liberate ourselves. You're Report an error in the passage at 1:00:53 Highlight the passage at 1:00:53

1:01:20 welcome. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:20 Highlight the passage at 1:01:20

1:01:33 Someone said that she also feels unsafe about receiving love and kindness, not because other people have been untrustworthy in the past. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:33 Highlight the passage at 1:01:33

1:02:03 Actually, I've seen just a comment come up. up and And it's actually a very good point. The Buddha seems to be, you know, he existed over 2,500 years ago. And you think, and he existed in a culture which is very different to, you know, what we're living in now. But so if you, I mean, sometime later on when your practice is developed, especially your meditation practice, When you get to those steps, You know that you're following the footsteps of the Buddha. So that confidence is gained over time. Report an error in the passage at 1:02:03 Highlight the passage at 1:02:03

1:03:17 And that confidence is gained as you see the changes in yourself. You see that you're a better person. You're more patient. You're more kinder. You have more compassion towards yourself and others. You're developing your qualities. And alongside all those qualities you're also developing your meditation practice. This is when you begin to understand the Buddha was real. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:17 Highlight the passage at 1:03:17

1:03:49 He was a human being just like you and me. And just as he had taught himself how to end all suffering, we too can learn to do that. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:49 Highlight the passage at 1:03:49

1:04:10 With what he left behind for us, which is the teachings. So that faith and confidence is developed over time. Just keep on going. Just keep on going with the practice. That's all you need to do. Some days they'll not be that great. Your meditation may not be that great. Some days you've felt like you've said a harsh word to someone or that you're short-tempered. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:10 Highlight the passage at 1:04:10

1:04:42 That's just the nature of being a human being. But we just keep on going. That's all it is. Never, never, never stop. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:42 Highlight the passage at 1:04:42

1:04:58 And Gloria, and the other person who asked the question, yes, if you are not able to relate to the Buddha at the moment, someone suggested someone like, say, Ajahn Brahm, even the Dalai Lama, right? Very inspiring. He resonates Report an error in the passage at 1:04:58 Highlight the passage at 1:04:58

1:05:24 loving kindness in a big way. And he's loved throughout the world. So find out in the interim until the Buddha comes alive for you. Find someone else. It could be Ajahn Brahm. It could be the Dalai Lama. It could be Mother Teresa. Someone. See who that is. Investigate. Report an error in the passage at 1:05:24 Highlight the passage at 1:05:24

1:05:54 Could be any one of your teachers. Some people say it's Goenka Ji. Report an error in the passage at 1:05:54 Highlight the passage at 1:05:54

1:06:04 So whoever it is. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:04 Highlight the passage at 1:06:04

1:06:30 So Report an error in the passage at 1:06:30 Highlight the passage at 1:06:30

1:06:51 just to give a short summary of loving kindness meditation for those who haven't done it before. It's recommended that you start with loving kindness for yourself to develop that for yourself. And you could do that. For a whole year, because some of us find it hard to do that. And until you have that feeling of love in your heart, you just keep on doing it. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:51 Highlight the passage at 1:06:51

1:07:21 And it's by saying those phrases, may I be happy, things like may I be safe, may I be at peace, something like that. Whatever words resonate for you. So keep doing that. Keep doing that and make it a daily practice. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:21 Highlight the passage at 1:07:21

1:07:41 Even if it's 10 minutes a day, build it up. And those of you who are here who have problems sleeping, it's a great one to do as well. I tend to do meditation for a short while in the morning before I wake up and also before I go to bed. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:41 Highlight the passage at 1:07:41

1:08:07 So develop loving kindness for yourself. When that is strong, when you can feel that feeling of love in your heart and you can spread it throughout your whole body, you are ready to move on to the next person, which is the loved person. The loved person can be a friend who you are very close to, that you have an uncomplicated friendship with. Report an error in the passage at 1:08:07 Highlight the passage at 1:08:07

1:08:38 Usually good not to make this person someone who you may have romantic feelings for. Someone who's easy to generate mettā. So that's the loved person. The third person is the neutral person. This could be just someone who you meet on a day-to-day basis in your workplace that you say hello. You don't know much about them. Report an error in the passage at 1:08:38 Highlight the passage at 1:08:38

1:09:07 Someone, you know, who you see at the petrol station, right? You go to fill your car. Report an error in the passage at 1:09:07 Highlight the passage at 1:09:07

1:09:19 And so that's called a neutral person. This son might be a little bit difficult and you might get bored with this person because you don't know them that well, right? your car. Report an error in the passage at 1:09:19 Highlight the passage at 1:09:19

1:09:32 Maybe just, you know, someone maybe in your workplace or someone who you have a little bit of contact with who, you know, you can sort of, you know, send them good wishes, you know, may you be well, may you be safe, you know, may you be protected, you know, whatever phrases you want to send them, right? Report an error in the passage at 1:09:32 Highlight the passage at 1:09:32

1:09:51 And the last person is called the difficult person, right? So that is the last one. The difficult person should never ever be the first one that you develop love for. It is the last one because what that means is that you have really established your mettā practice through doing mettā for yourself, the loved person, the neutral person. Report an error in the passage at 1:09:51 Highlight the passage at 1:09:51

1:10:17 This could be years of work, Kim. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:17 Highlight the passage at 1:10:17

1:10:26 So, um, uh... Know that this could take a long time. I mean, others who, you know, where the love flows freely, comes naturally, they can develop it faster, right? But me personally, because I've actually grown up in a Western culture, you know, I've always been hard on myself. And it's actually, to develop that mettā for myself actually took a couple of years. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:26 Highlight the passage at 1:10:26

1:11:03 A couple of years. So this is just to give you an indication of what it is for people. And not to give up. Not to give up. Because that... Report an error in the passage at 1:11:03 Highlight the passage at 1:11:03

1:11:25 Bhante Sujata, who's one of the main teachers, one of my teachers that I've learned mettā meditation from, he says you just continue with the practice, whether it's breath meditation or mettā, because each and every one of us, we have love in our heart. We just need to learn to tap into it. So you need to strongly believe that, that love is in our heart. Report an error in the passage at 1:11:25 Highlight the passage at 1:11:25

1:11:56 No matter how long it takes, you will just keep on wishing yourself well because you deserve it. Report an error in the passage at 1:11:56 Highlight the passage at 1:11:56

· · · silence, 1 minute

1:12:33 one okay so um thank you very much in the chat gloria from jennifer oh yeah yeah yeah oh question sorry um any tips on how to maintain a daily meditation practice as a lay person Report an error in the passage at 1:12:33 Highlight the passage at 1:12:33

1:12:56 Okay, so I think the key to that is to make a determination that every day, right, you will do whatever time that you decide, right, whether it's 20 minutes. 20 minutes is a good time because even in that small amount of time, you can actually see at the end of that meditation that you feel You know, there's a bit of peace and perhaps a little bit of joy, right? You can see that in 20 minutes, right? Report an error in the passage at 1:12:56 Highlight the passage at 1:12:56

1:13:35 So decide what it is, you know, depending on whether you're a beginner. And if you're a beginner, I recommend, you know, you do 20 minutes a day, right? Five days a week. Set a time. And that time has to be a time that you are, you know, you finished your work, right? Whether it's a job or your house duties, whatever it is. Report an error in the passage at 1:13:35 Highlight the passage at 1:13:35

1:14:05 But make a determination that that time is your time for practice. Report an error in the passage at 1:14:05 Highlight the passage at 1:14:05

1:14:15 Keep it, right? You are sincere about it. And you Report an error in the passage at 1:14:15 Highlight the passage at 1:14:15

1:14:26 continue with that. And over time, you will slowly begin to see results. And I don't know whether the person who asked the question is a beginner or sort of a seasonal meditator, but over time, you grow that 20 minutes into, say, 45 minutes to an hour. right? Report an error in the passage at 1:14:26 Highlight the passage at 1:14:26

1:15:02 Me personally, I tend to sit for an hour and I do walking meditation for half an hour and then I sit back, sit for another hour. So I actually combine both sitting and walking meditation along with maybe, I do some walking meditation inside my heart, but on a nice, clear day, I go outside on my walking path. Report an error in the passage at 1:15:02 Highlight the passage at 1:15:02

1:15:32 So every person is different and depending on where you're at with your meditation, you need to be able to see when your mindfulness is decreasing. And that's when you stop and you can get on the walking path and do some walking meditation. So in summary, make a determination, keep to it. And again, Bhante Sujata's recommendation that you Report an error in the passage at 1:15:32 Highlight the passage at 1:15:32

1:16:15 do 20 minutes five times a week and if you miss it, you've got two days to catch up. And someone I saw a comment coming up, it doesn't matter what your mind state is. Some days, if you've had a hard day at work or a difficult encounter, it's going to be more difficult to settle down. It's okay, but it's actually just sitting with whatever emotion that you have, whatever mood that you're in. Report an error in the passage at 1:16:15 Highlight the passage at 1:16:15

1:16:46 You may be grumpy or sad. Just sitting with that because you're sitting, you're learning to know about your own emotions and to understand yourself. Report an error in the passage at 1:16:46 Highlight the passage at 1:16:46

1:16:58 And you will see that over time that you will see some changes in yourself which I've described before. that you're calm and you you can deal with any difficult situation in your life I hope that helps Report an error in the passage at 1:16:58 Highlight the passage at 1:16:58

1:17:34 which she said about it being very emotional sometimes because um especially when i meditate with adam brown sometimes like when i'm hard on myself like and he talks about accepting yourself it really um makes you feel really um emotional but then afterwards i feel a bit like Report an error in the passage at 1:17:34 Highlight the passage at 1:17:34

1:17:59 So I think, yeah, it was really nice to recollect the compassion of the Buddha, and yeah, so thank you. Oh, you're most welcome. Likewise. Yeah, I mean, whenever Gloria, you know, any one of us, when we're hard on ourselves, you know, think of that teacher, and even more closer to us, some of us, we can think of our parents, right? Report an error in the passage at 1:17:59 Highlight the passage at 1:17:59

1:18:27 You know who, you know, and Gloria, I remember in terms of what you've said in the past, but you need to work out whether if it's not your parents and someone else that, you know, you truly feel that, you know, that you trust and, you know, that they love you dearly, right? Report an error in the passage at 1:18:27 Highlight the passage at 1:18:27

1:18:51 And... There are a lot of people, I guess, around us. And when we begin to develop our practice, they see the difference in us, right? And we are also able to give them that love as well. So it's a two-way thing. Report an error in the passage at 1:18:51 Highlight the passage at 1:18:51

1:19:24 Really lovely comment there. Thank you, Peace. Report an error in the passage at 1:19:24 Highlight the passage at 1:19:24

1:19:42 Yes, that's correct. The Buddha said that the only way that you can repay your parents is by getting them grounded in the dharma. So if your parents have a practice that's going, that's actually their meditation, their meditators, and until they pass away, they practice the Buddha's teachings. And, you know, I see parents of some of the nuns here who have a very strong practice going. Report an error in the passage at 1:19:42 Highlight the passage at 1:19:42

1:20:24 They attend retreats. And you can see, you know, they are very kind, peaceful people and practicing well. yeah, so... Even if you've had a bit of a difficult time with your parents, slowly, slowly see them if you can introduce them to dharma. This could take a lot of time and you have to use a lot of tact and patience, heaps of patience if they are not Buddhists. Report an error in the passage at 1:20:24 Highlight the passage at 1:20:24

1:21:04 But the best example you can give your parents is by how you behave yourself. When they begin to see changes in you, they will start asking you questions. What are you doing? What is this Buddhism about? Report an error in the passage at 1:21:04 Highlight the passage at 1:21:04

1:21:23 That's what Ajahn Brahmali says. His parents saw the changes in him. And then later on, his family were attending his talks in Norway. Report an error in the passage at 1:21:23 Highlight the passage at 1:21:23

1:21:38 And I think they had even some meditation practice going later on. And his parents are very, very proud of him. So keep on practicing because they will begin to see that there's something going on for you. And they'll be inquisitive. They'll want a piece of that action as well. Report an error in the passage at 1:21:38 Highlight the passage at 1:21:38

1:22:31 you very much, Venerable, for joining us. Giving us a beautiful guided meditation and dharma talk and we wish you very well on your coming retreat and very peaceful time. Report an error in the passage at 1:22:31 Highlight the passage at 1:22:31

1:22:48 Before we end, shall we have a share of merit or blessing or anything? Yes, certainly. And I wish you all the same. I sincerely hope that each and every one of you will be able to deepen your practice. And remember the end goal that the Buddha left for us is to end all our suffering and to exit saṃsāra. Report an error in the passage at 1:22:48 Highlight the passage at 1:22:48

1:23:16 Sapa Rogo Vinimuto, Sapa Santapavajito, Sapa Viramatikanto, Niputo Jatuanbhava, Sapa Tiyo Vivacantu, Sapa Rogo Vinasatu. Report an error in the passage at 1:23:16 Highlight the passage at 1:23:16

1:23:47 Matipavatvantarayo Sukhi dikha yukobawa Abhi vada nasi Report an error in the passage at 1:23:47 Highlight the passage at 1:23:47

1:24:02 Thank you Report an error in the passage at 1:24:02 Highlight the passage at 1:24:02

1:24:23 all for joining me today. I wish you all well in your practice and take care. Report an error in the passage at 1:24:23 Highlight the passage at 1:24:23

1:24:52 Thank you, Gloria. Thank you, everyone. Bye bye. Report an error in the passage at 1:24:52 Highlight the passage at 1:24:52