Kamacchanda

0:00 Must be back here again. We've got our regular classes again. I think this is the third since range retreat ended. So we had three months off. And yeah, I think the word must be getting out because I think we had about Three or four people for the first three weeks, and I can see we've got at least nine here tonight. Plus us, plus myself and the head from Stockwell Road and Ariel and Thomas. Report an error in the passage at 0:00 Highlight the passage at 0:00

0:26 That's lovely, and we've got a few people we've known for a long time, so all good. Yeah, my name's Ajahn Jhanarato. Generally, people call me JR, or Ollie. Report an error in the passage at 0:26 Highlight the passage at 0:26

0:42 For my family, but just them. Yeah, so we don't have Bob here tonight. But Bob's our long-term supporter and he's been looking after the Armadale group from years and years back when that was running at Armadale Hospital. And he's also Ajahn Santooti's shopping buddy. Report an error in the passage at 0:42 Highlight the passage at 0:42

1:09 Ajahn is out shopping once a week but he's just had a procedure in hospital so he's not here tonight but last week he was here he was just asking me to say a few words about the five hindrances to meditation and I gave sort of a brief overview and I thought actually it might be nice just to Go through and just tackle them one at a time. So I thought I might just give a short talk on maybe the first of the five hindrances. Report an error in the passage at 1:09 Highlight the passage at 1:09

1:48 Just a bit of background. I mean, when we talk about meditation, often we start and we teach the practice of meditation. We also teach people how to overcome the difficulties that they have with meditation. Report an error in the passage at 1:48 Highlight the passage at 1:48

2:04 In the ancient Buddhist scriptures that we rely on in our tradition, dating back two and a half thousand years, there is this list of five things. There's a lot of lists in the siddhas, by the way, in the Buddhist texts, for some reason. Perhaps as a way of remembering things, but there are five hindrances, and they are... Report an error in the passage at 2:04 Highlight the passage at 2:04

2:35 Usually referred to as sensual desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry and doubt. And these are the translations that we have actually. The original texts are in the Pāli language. And also you'll probably be familiar with some of the Sanskrit words. So, um... Report an error in the passage at 2:35 Highlight the passage at 2:35

3:03 The first of the five heiresses is actually a term called kamachanda. So kamachanda, I should say. So this is not to be confused with the Sanskrit word that you'll all know, which is karma, which is, you know, you make karma. This is actually karma is actually the five senses. Report an error in the passage at 3:03 Highlight the passage at 3:03

3:22 It's the sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch that we're all familiar with. And kamachanda means the... Sometimes translated as a sensual desire and I thought well that's a pretty I mean it might be a relatively accurate translation but I thought well maybe I should actually try and explain it a bit better because I when I talk about the five hindrances it's like well what does kamachandra actually mean and we're talking about quite a Report an error in the passage at 3:22 Highlight the passage at 3:22

3:59 few different things so when we sit down to meditate we you know first just calm the body which is well we get a comfortable position we close our eyes and the sense of sight turns off the there's not much to listen to and we Report an error in the passage at 3:59 Highlight the passage at 3:59

4:22 seem to still be lucky there's no sports on next door there's no smells of from the from the from the takeaway cart or or uh Report an error in the passage at 4:22 Highlight the passage at 4:22

4:36 You know, we're not eating anything, we're not tasting anything. I can taste the inside of my mouth, which tastes a bit like bottled water, really. And the feeling of touch. I mean, all we have is this, and I think later we'll sit down and we can do another body sweep meditation. But essentially, you know, the body's not really doing very much unless we're perhaps a little ill or, you know, maybe we've been... Report an error in the passage at 4:36 Highlight the passage at 4:36

5:05 doing some work a bit, got a few muscular aches or something, then the body, you know, there's not much going on there in terms of the five senses. So, you know, as we try and still our mind in the meditation, you know, we first, you know, we let go of the thoughts that we have about the past, the future, and we're trying to calm that thinking down. Report an error in the passage at 5:05 Highlight the passage at 5:05

5:31 So So this this, this uh... Report an error in the passage at 5:31 Highlight the passage at 5:31

5:35 What do you think is the most important thing for a Buddhist monk? haven't listened to music for about 20 years now But my mind still goes back to the music that I knew when I was a layperson. Sometimes there's just like an earworm in my head. I won't even start. Whatever music was made before 2006. And I don't know. As a layperson, you do some meditation, you sit down, do you have a tune in your head sometimes? Report an error in the passage at 5:35 Highlight the passage at 5:35

6:25 I mean, that's the sort of thing we're talking about. That's just one... thousand and six. Report an error in the passage at 6:25 Highlight the passage at 6:25

7:17 desire to sort of just look at your whatsapp messages you know oh maybe there's something i'm waiting for that message from my daughter she's going to tell me about that thing and then What was it? Oh, yeah, I'm supposed to be meditating. Anyway, so these are just a few examples of what that hindrance actually is. Report an error in the passage at 7:17 Highlight the passage at 7:17

7:39 And you'll find it if you practice meditation on a regular basis. These are things you'll just... These five hindrances are the things that always come up. And essentially, these five hindrances are absence of this wanting for the... If the five sense world is absent, then the meditation is actually very easy. The mind comes out of the present moment and you can sit here for half an hour and just follow me as we work through the parts of the body and calm them down and enjoy that sort of contentment. Report an error in the passage at 7:39 Highlight the passage at 7:39

8:21 Not with having these things of the five senses, but not having them. You start to see how much peace there is just to not have music, not have food, not have just a lot of stuff you don't have to worry about. You don't have to go out and get. You can actually be here in the present moment and be content. So that's possibly the most important hindrance. Report an error in the passage at 8:21 Highlight the passage at 8:21

8:45 That's probably why it's number one in the list. So that's... That's sort of what we teach when we talk about Buddhist meditation, what Buddhist monks practice, what people in our tradition, the forest tradition of Thailand and also Sri Lanka I should mention as well. There's actually quite a large meditative tradition there which has actually been sort of revived from the Thai forest tradition. Report an error in the passage at 8:45 Highlight the passage at 8:45

9:14 So it's very nice the way these things work. one other thing i was going to mention because when i thought about this sort of this uh maybe it's a bit of a tangent um but uh the um the kind of wanting that's not exactly wanting for the five senses but also but what uh i think the uh um i'm gonna get it i'm gonna pronounce his name name wrong i think it's Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, I think. He was a Tibetan monk that came to America. He wasn't from the Thaivara tradition, but he came to America and he also coined this term Report an error in the passage at 9:14 Highlight the passage at 9:14

9:59 spiritual materialism, where we're not going out seeking for these five senses, but also just seeking to get somewhere in the meditation. meditation And and this this is is something that happens a lot Report an error in the passage at 9:59 Highlight the passage at 9:59

10:26 and again it's that kind of wanting that just takes you out of the present moment so anyway that's a very just a quick Report an error in the passage at 10:26 Highlight the passage at 10:26

10:39 I'll talk on the first hindrans, the kamachanda, and I'll probably go through the other four one by one when I'm teaching here, which will be whenever it is. So you can always go onto Podbean and you can get all five of them eventually, if you don't happen to be here for all the talks. So, anyway, that's that. So, unless anyone has a... Report an error in the passage at 10:39 Highlight the passage at 10:39

11:08 Does anyone have any questions? Does anyone have any comments? Does anyone have any wishes? Any desires? Any? Okay, that's good. We're all ready for a sit. I think it's nice and comfortable in here. Is everyone warm enough? Cold enough? Air condition's alright? Report an error in the passage at 11:08 Highlight the passage at 11:08

11:30 I don't need my socks tonight. It's warm enough, I think, so that's good. So please, just get... right. Report an error in the passage at 11:30 Highlight the passage at 11:30

11:40 get comfortable turn down the lights that's good I've got my I've got my clock that has a backlight now which is good because I don't know I think about half an hour I won't be able to see my clock that was the problem last week but that was alright so we're good yeah excellent okay so for those who haven't been here before I like to to teach a style of meditation, I guess some people call it that, just kindness to the body, we'll sit here for 30 minutes, I'll go through the different parts of the body and we'll just have that, and basically I'll lead the meditation, so you don't have to do anything. Report an error in the passage at 11:40 Highlight the passage at 11:40

12:29 Please, just close your eyes. Report an error in the passage at 12:29 Highlight the passage at 12:29

12:35 just take a few minutes to or at least a minute just to check in on your posture whether you're sitting on the floor whether you're sitting in a chair and make sure you haven't got any clothing that's too tight there's Report an error in the passage at 12:35 Highlight the passage at 12:35

12:56 any itches to scratch you can scratch your itch and there's nothing sort of i don't know you don't have there's no uh set of keys in your pocket poking into your thigh or whatever so www Report an error in the passage at 12:56 Highlight the passage at 12:56

14:01 .com things. So let's make sure the body's nice and comfortable. And as we said here with our eyes closed Report an error in the passage at 14:01 Highlight the passage at 14:01

13:46 think last time I started on the left. I think today I'll start on the right. So just for a bit of balance there So please, yeah, just start by directing your attention. Report an error in the passage at 13:46 Highlight the passage at 13:46

14:09 you just notice as we practice this meditation it becomes the body comes into comes into focus little by little so just notice whatever's going on in those toes on your right foot just just Report an error in the passage at 14:09 Highlight the passage at 14:09

14:29 notice it should notice that part of the body and also just have that attitude of kindness to that part of the body allowing it to become calm allowing Report an error in the passage at 14:29 Highlight the passage at 14:29

14:46 it to become at ease And Report an error in the passage at 14:46 Highlight the passage at 14:46

14:56 little by little, just notice how that sense of calm and ease spreads through the sole of the foot there on the right hand side. Report an error in the passage at 14:56 Highlight the passage at 14:56

15:09 And just notice it creeping through the ball of the foot there. Report an error in the passage at 15:09 Highlight the passage at 15:09

15:18 Just gradually up the arch of your foot, up to the heel there. And Report an error in the passage at 15:18 Highlight the passage at 15:18

15:30 just having kindness to that part of the body and Report an error in the passage at 15:30 Highlight the passage at 15:30

15:36 allowing it to be at rest. All Report an error in the passage at 15:36 Highlight the passage at 15:36

15:54 that sense of kindness. Report an error in the passage at 15:54 Highlight the passage at 15:54

15:59 calm and ease to spread out the top of the right foot there too just relaxing that instep there from the toes the upper part of the upper part of the foot there up all Report an error in the passage at 15:59 Highlight the passage at 15:59

16:19 the way up through to the to the ankle there the joint on the right hand side there and allow that part of the body to relax and Report an error in the passage at 16:19 Highlight the passage at 16:19

16:36 really little Report an error in the passage at 16:36 Highlight the passage at 16:36

· · · silence, 1 minute

17:09 by little Slowly let that sense of kindness, calm and relaxation to spread upwards from the heel of your foot on the right hand side there and slowly creeping up through the Achilles heel and gradually just creeping up the leg there through the calf muscle. Just allow that muscle to relax because Report an error in the passage at 17:09 Highlight the passage at 17:09

17:49 it doesn't have anything to do. It doesn't need to pull on the... Ajahn Report an error in the passage at 17:49 Highlight the passage at 17:49

· · · silence, 1 minute

17:57 That muscle can just... Report an error in the passage at 17:57 Highlight the passage at 17:57

· · · silence, 1 minute

18:53 permeating right into the right into the lower leg there that sense of relaxation and allow it to creep up By little into the joint of the knee there. And Report an error in the passage at 18:53 Highlight the passage at 18:53

19:15 again any aches or pains there. Any sort of feelings at all. Kindness to that part of the body. And Report an error in the passage at 19:15 Highlight the passage at 19:15

19:53 just noticing that sense of ease flowing up through the knee there on the right hand side. Allow it to continue to flow up to the upper leg. Report an error in the passage at 19:53 Highlight the passage at 19:53

20:07 And just starting at the knee. The cap of the knee. You know that feeling to just spread up through the upper part of the thigh, those quadriceps there, that group of muscles there. And Report an error in the passage at 20:07 Highlight the passage at 20:07

20:27 allow them to relax and to become loose. And Report an error in the passage at 20:27 Highlight the passage at 20:27

20:55 again, just starting from that position at the back of the knee. Allow that sense of ease of kindness to flow up through the muscles at the back of the leg there, the hamstring muscles. the hamstring muscles Report an error in the passage at 20:55 Highlight the passage at 20:55

21:15 Again, letting them be at ease, letting them just loosen up there. Okay, Report an error in the passage at 21:15 Highlight the passage at 21:15

21:43 now gently turn your attention over to the left-hand side of the body, to the toes there on the left-hand side. As Report an error in the passage at 21:43 Highlight the passage at 21:43

22:02 the mindfulness sort of increases a bit, you can maybe notice that feeling spreading up from your little toe through the middle toes up to the big toe there. Report an error in the passage at 22:02 Highlight the passage at 22:02

22:24 With that sense of kindness, of ease and relaxation, allow that feeling just to spread through the sole of the foot there on the left hand side, through the ball of the foot there, across Report an error in the passage at 22:24 Highlight the passage at 22:24

22:43 the arch, to the heel of the foot there, and Report an error in the passage at 22:43 Highlight the passage at 22:43

23:04 very gradually let that feeling spread up through the ankle, sinking Report an error in the passage at 23:04 Highlight the passage at 23:04

23:17 deep into the joint there, and Report an error in the passage at 23:17 Highlight the passage at 23:17

23:27 allowing that part of the body to be at ease. as the feeling slowly creeps up the back of the ankle there feel the loosening of the Achilles heel and slowly spreading up the back of the leg through the calf muscle there on the left hand side and Report an error in the passage at 23:27 Highlight the passage at 23:27

24:21 again from the front part of the ankle joint there you just allow that feeling to just creep up the front of the leg there you Report an error in the passage at 24:21 Highlight the passage at 24:21

24:35 just feel the Report an error in the passage at 24:35 Highlight the passage at 24:35

24:38 Ajahn coming up through the bone at the skin of the leg there all the way up to the Report an error in the passage at 24:38 Highlight the passage at 24:38

25:13 have kindness to that kindness to that Report an error in the passage at 25:13 Highlight the passage at 25:13

25:20 And Report an error in the passage at 25:20 Highlight the passage at 25:20

25:32 from the back of the knee, just Report an error in the passage at 25:32 Highlight the passage at 25:32

25:39 allow that sense of ease to creep up from the back of the knee, up the, again up through the quadriceps there, up to where the back of the leg meets the body, little Report an error in the passage at 25:39 Highlight the passage at 25:39

26:08 by little. Report an error in the passage at 26:08 Highlight the passage at 26:08

26:13 Again on the right hand side, from Report an error in the passage at 26:13 Highlight the passage at 26:13

26:21 the knee up through the quadriceps, all the way up to the hip there. Report an error in the passage at 26:21 Highlight the passage at 26:21

26:32 We'll let that part of the body relax. www Report an error in the passage at 26:32 Highlight the passage at 26:32

27:00 .jhanarato.com just to loosen up Report an error in the passage at 27:00 Highlight the passage at 27:00

27:31 All of that part of the body. Allow it to relax as that feeling of relaxation spreads up to the ear. up through the hips up through to the the lower back there and Report an error in the passage at 27:31 Highlight the passage at 27:31

28:00 again if there's any pain or discomfort in that part of the back the lower back there again we have kindness to that part of the body as a sense of ease and relaxation slowly spreads up through the muscles the lower back the Report an error in the passage at 28:00 Highlight the passage at 28:00

28:33 spine up to the sides of the body and Report an error in the passage at 28:33 Highlight the passage at 28:33

28:48 then spreading out Report an error in the passage at 28:48 Highlight the passage at 28:48

28:53 Through to the front of the body there, your belly, all the way to around that area of the navel and just let that part of the body hang out to be loose, to be chilled out. Report an error in the passage at 28:53 Highlight the passage at 28:53

29:39 Again, allowing that feeling, that feeling of ease to creep up from the lower back. Slowly rise up, up and up until it reaches the Report an error in the passage at 29:39 Highlight the passage at 29:39

29:57 the inner curve of the small of your back there that very center of your spine where it curves out towards the front of your body and Report an error in the passage at 29:57 Highlight the passage at 29:57

30:15 again there's all there's many many little muscles there around that area of the body so we pay attention to them we give them kindness and Report an error in the passage at 30:15 Highlight the passage at 30:15

30:31 we let them relax and be at ease and Report an error in the passage at 30:31 Highlight the passage at 30:31

30:55 from the small of your back notice that feeling spread through to the front of the body and in particular to that part just below the breastbone the solar plexus there just Report an error in the passage at 30:55 Highlight the passage at 30:55

31:19 notice that sense of warm relaxation spreading Report an error in the passage at 31:19 Highlight the passage at 31:19

31:26 through the spreading through the center of the body there and very gradually rising Report an error in the passage at 31:26 Highlight the passage at 31:26

31:39 up the rising up the chest there noticing that sense of relaxation as it spreads through Each of your ribs, just Report an error in the passage at 31:39 Highlight the passage at 31:39

31:54 notice how the chest rises and falls with the breath as it goes in and Report an error in the passage at 31:54 Highlight the passage at 31:54

32:07 as it goes out. And Report an error in the passage at 32:07 Highlight the passage at 32:07

32:18 again, very gradually, allow that sense of relaxation and ease to spread up from the centre of the back, that small of the back, and up through the lower area of muscles there, around your spine and out to the sides of your body. Report an error in the passage at 32:18 Highlight the passage at 32:18

32:42 And also up to that area below the shoulder blades. Report an error in the passage at 32:42 Highlight the passage at 32:42

32:51 Very common place for there to be a knot of tension sometimes. So if you notice that sensation, just have kindness to that and relax that upper part of the body rising up into the shoulder blades. And Report an error in the passage at 32:51 Highlight the passage at 32:51

· · · silence, 1 minute

33:56 once again, very gently we turn our attention to the... Report an error in the passage at 33:56 Highlight the passage at 33:56

34:03 The fingers on the right hand side of your body. On the right hand there. The Report an error in the passage at 34:03 Highlight the passage at 34:03

34:14 thumb. The forefinger. The middle finger there. The ring finger. And the pinky finger. And again with kindness. We relax that part of the body. And Report an error in the passage at 34:14 Highlight the passage at 34:14

34:38 we allow that sense of relaxation. Just to spread through the hand. From Report an error in the passage at 34:38 Highlight the passage at 34:38

34:47 the joints of the fingers. Up the back of the hand. Report an error in the passage at 34:47 Highlight the passage at 34:47

34:55 And creeping up through the... the palm of the hand up into the wrist again Report an error in the passage at 34:55 Highlight the passage at 34:55

35:05 just relaxing the joint and Report an error in the passage at 35:05 Highlight the passage at 35:05

35:13 little by little that sense of ease rises up through the forearm through Report an error in the passage at 35:13 Highlight the passage at 35:13

35:23 the muscles of the outer forearm and Report an error in the passage at 35:23 Highlight the passage at 35:23

35:30 also creeping up the inner inner part of the forearm all Report an error in the passage at 35:30 Highlight the passage at 35:30

35:39 the way up to the elbow joint there on the right hand side and Report an error in the passage at 35:39 Highlight the passage at 35:39

35:49 noticing both the inner part of the elbow the crook of your elbow Ajahn to the point of the Report an error in the passage at 35:49 Highlight the passage at 35:49

· · · silence, 1 minute

37:02 shoulder muscles there those one two three muscles there that just work all day long just to keep that arm in the air put it here to put it there relax those muscles as well and Report an error in the passage at 37:02 Highlight the passage at 37:02

37:29 also allowing the inner part of the arm to relax as well the bicep there that's just lets go this grip on the on the arm that just just relaxes there Report an error in the passage at 37:29 Highlight the passage at 37:29

38:08 Now we turn over to the fingers of the left hand. And Report an error in the passage at 38:08 Highlight the passage at 38:08

38:17 again, just notice each one in turn as we relax. The thumb, the forefinger, middle finger, Report an error in the passage at 38:17 Highlight the passage at 38:17

38:35 ring finger, and pinky finger. And Report an error in the passage at 38:35 Highlight the passage at 38:35

38:45 just notice how that feeling slowly spreads through the left hand, Report an error in the passage at 38:45 Highlight the passage at 38:45

38:54 through the palm of the hand, and Report an error in the passage at 38:54 Highlight the passage at 38:54

39:00 creeping up the back of the hand into Report an error in the passage at 39:00 Highlight the passage at 39:00

39:06 the... the wrist joint there Report an error in the passage at 39:06 Highlight the passage at 39:06

39:25 love it that feeling of relaxation of kindness spread up through the forearm there on the left hand side Report an error in the passage at 39:25 Highlight the passage at 39:25

39:49 and also the inner part of the arm as well there Report an error in the passage at 39:49 Highlight the passage at 39:49

39:57 up to the crook of the yarn. Report an error in the passage at 39:57 Highlight the passage at 39:57

40:53 Jhanarato Those outer three muscles of the shoulder joint there. Report an error in the passage at 40:53 Highlight the passage at 40:53

41:03 and again it releases its grip on the body Takes a break, has a bit of time just to chill. And Report an error in the passage at 41:03 Highlight the passage at 41:03

41:32 allow your shoulders to slump, to settle at least. And let that relaxation flow up through the back of the neck. Report an error in the passage at 41:32 Highlight the passage at 41:32

41:48 Again, any tension there that might have been tough over the day. And Report an error in the passage at 41:48 Highlight the passage at 41:48

41:55 we allow that part of the body to relax. Just Report an error in the passage at 41:55 Highlight the passage at 41:55

42:17 notice that area around the collar. Yeah, Report an error in the passage at 42:17 Highlight the passage at 42:17

42:27 from the shoulders. the through the collarbones and just gradually rising up that sense of kind relaxation spreading up through your throat and all the way up to your jaw letting Report an error in the passage at 42:27 Highlight the passage at 42:27

42:51 that part of the body again relax be at ease and Report an error in the passage at 42:51 Highlight the passage at 42:51

43:07 we notice how it just spreads up through the face just starting with those muscles around the mouth around the lips corner of the mouth Report an error in the passage at 43:07 Highlight the passage at 43:07

43:24 And even let the tongue rest in your mouth. Just at ease. And Report an error in the passage at 43:24 Highlight the passage at 43:24

43:42 notice how that sense of ease rises up through the cheeks. And Report an error in the passage at 43:42 Highlight the passage at 43:42

43:50 up through the cheekbones. Report an error in the passage at 43:50 Highlight the passage at 43:50

43:56 And even the nose. And especially all those little muscles around the eyes. Reel down to relax. Report an error in the passage at 43:56 Highlight the passage at 43:56

44:14 And just be loose. And Report an error in the passage at 44:14 Highlight the passage at 44:14

44:32 little by little that sense of relaxation creeps up through the... Your brow. Up from your eyebrows. And just notice how that part of the body relaxes. All the way up to your hairline. Report an error in the passage at 44:32 Highlight the passage at 44:32

45:07 And also creeping up the back of the head. Report an error in the passage at 45:07 Highlight the passage at 45:07

45:17 Little by little just creeping up around the back of the ears there. And finally all the way up to the crown of the head. Report an error in the passage at 45:17 Highlight the passage at 45:17

45:29 Now with kindness we just relax that part of the body. Allow it to be at ease. Report an error in the passage at 45:29 Highlight the passage at 45:29

45:51 Okay, so we've come close to the end of the meditation now. Now's the time just to reflect on how you feel. How does your body feel now as Report an error in the passage at 45:51 Highlight the passage at 45:51

46:05 a whole? So, hopefully more peaceful, more relaxed, more at ease. Okay, Report an error in the passage at 46:05 Highlight the passage at 46:05

46:16 I will ring the gong three times and at the end of the gong, third gong, please come out for meditation. We Report an error in the passage at 46:16 Highlight the passage at 46:16

· · · silence, 1 minute

46:55 did an extra five minutes. Well done. I hope Report an error in the passage at 46:55 Highlight the passage at 46:55

47:10 you all enjoyed the meditation today. Yep, you're all smiling. Very good. Report an error in the passage at 47:10 Highlight the passage at 47:10

47:19 There's a few minutes left. If anyone has any questions or anything they want to bring up or any suggestions or anything. And if not, we can just take a few moments to open our eyes and come back to the world around us. We can... Yeah, take this feeling of peace and bring it home with us. So thank you all for coming. We can pack up. Excellent. Report an error in the passage at 47:19 Highlight the passage at 47:19

47:49 Cool. Report an error in the passage at 47:49 Highlight the passage at 47:49