Guided Meditation

0:01 Okay, welcome to this meditation class, this session. And one of the things I'd like to talk about today is sometimes your mind becomes peaceful and very nice, but it's always, you know, you can't go further. It's always that, see, you can't go into really deep and really into really still, you know. And then, of course, we try harder. Report an error in the passage at 0:01 Highlight the passage at 0:01

0:26 Then the harder you try, the worse. I think because of that, one of the reasons because of Your mind couldn't go deeper because of your lack of, you have no contentment because you always want more. So sometimes whenever you become peaceful, then your craving come, you want to, oh, now peaceful, I want to be more peaceful, I have to have more peace. Report an error in the passage at 0:26 Highlight the passage at 0:26

0:47 Actually, the moment you have that thought, actually your mind's already moved. Whenever your mind moves, and that really stops you from going further. So they say something is important, like meditation. meditation not only sitting on the cushions actually in a daily life we have to we have to we have to develop you know certain qualities sometimes some of one of the very important ingredients in life also not not only in our life also in our meditation that's gratitude because gratitude leads you to content Even though sometimes you might... Even though... Report an error in the passage at 0:47 Highlight the passage at 0:47

1:24 Most people understand that, yeah, I have to be more content. Then you keep telling yourself, oh, it's good enough, it's good enough, it's good enough. But you still wouldn't go deep because you try to use it as a technique to make yourself become more peaceful. But actually, you're still thinking, isn't it? You keep telling yourself, oh, it's good enough, it's good enough. You still couldn't. They say sometimes you have to... Report an error in the passage at 1:24 Highlight the passage at 1:24

1:51 You develop those qualities throughout. That's why sometimes it's important how you live your life. And you develop that. You start every morning, early in the morning, you get up to develop those qualities. Having your breakfast, always bring to mind, so grateful with the food and thinking of... We are so thankful with all the beings, you know, contribute in the food, and that you become more appreciative. So when you meditate, you have that kind of attitude. Report an error in the passage at 1:51 Highlight the passage at 1:51

2:18 You really appreciate your breath. We're really so grateful that the fact that, you know, I'll be able to breathe. We are so grateful that we still have a healthy body. We're so grateful that we have the opportunity to meditate. Sometimes we take it for granted, isn't it, that we're able to meditate. But sometimes people, some people at least... Report an error in the passage at 2:18 Highlight the passage at 2:18

2:39 They can't even earn enough to live, let alone to have time to meditate. So sometimes we tend to take it for granted that we are not content. And it's okay, if someone has these qualities, someone is always content with whatever. And naturally you see it will happen by itself, you're so content. The fact that we have the chance to meditate, we're already content with contentment, that. that is happy. Report an error in the passage at 2:39 Highlight the passage at 2:39

3:08 Then your mind becomes peaceful and calm by itself naturally. Because the moment we crave, we want more, we want not peaceful enough, we want to have more deep meditation, we want to be really still. The moment we want, our mind moves. When we crave, the mind is moving. So it's very difficult to be peaceful. Report an error in the passage at 3:08 Highlight the passage at 3:08

3:30 Even you keep reminding yourself, it doesn't work. Actually, you have to develop those qualities. Then you become more appreciative of your meditation. Sometimes we're not appreciating ourselves. And also, it's important, your attitude towards meditation. Because how you live your life is how your attitude towards life. Report an error in the passage at 3:30 Highlight the passage at 3:30

3:54 So when you sit in meditation, you bring with the same kind of attitude towards your meditation. This is... This actually, a lot of people thinking that practice dharma, they tend to separate, like, you know, meditation, or listen to dharma talk, you know, but then they don't see the importance of how you live your life. Report an error in the passage at 3:54 Highlight the passage at 3:54

4:47 You know, you really appreciate, really have gratitude towards our breath. It's so precious. The breath is so precious. We really appreciate every single in and out breath. You know, without breathing, we're all dead, isn't it? So we really appreciate that the breath gives And then you have that. You become more appreciative. When something that you're appreciative of, you feel like, ah, it's so nice, it's so precious. Report an error in the passage at 4:47 Highlight the passage at 4:47

5:14 It becomes very precious, isn't it? So your breath becomes very precious. That's why sometimes it's important, not only sitting on the cushion, actually, in your daily life, you develop that. Thank you. Report an error in the passage at 5:14 Highlight the passage at 5:14

5:25 And it's a very important quality, ingredients in our life. So if someone always appreciative, and also you're happy when you're happy, your mind is more easily contented, isn't it? When you're not happy, you're always looking for something else, isn't it? So that's why you develop that, not to underestimate, it's a very important ingredient, not only for our meditation, and also in our daily life. Report an error in the passage at 5:25 Highlight the passage at 5:25

5:51 So we develop that. We do it like... Morning and at night, you know, to develop that, you know, to be always thankful. And that, because we've been appreciative, it's always grateful for whatever we have. And then, it's naturally when we sit in meditation, when we meditate, we're really appreciative. We're being appreciative. We appreciate really this moment. Report an error in the passage at 5:51 Highlight the passage at 5:51

6:17 That we are at, you know, we really at each moment, we really appreciate each moment that we're in. And that your mind naturally calm. But one of the mistake like people used to make, people tend to try hard to make the mind peaceful. You can't make the mind peaceful. The mind actually make patience, the practice actually is a natural process. Report an error in the passage at 6:17 Highlight the passage at 6:17

6:43 process. You have to put in the causes and conditions. You have to put in They said sometimes people... and at night you do that, and you develop that attitude. And then this is how you also, when we sit in meditation, we naturally being very appreciative to our breath, our meditation. They say sometimes people think that, oh, if Why I can't go deeper? Oh, maybe I don't focus enough. So maybe then they will use willpower to force themselves, you know, try to focus. Report an error in the passage at 6:43 Highlight the passage at 6:43

7:24 Someone said to me, oh, why after I meditate, sometimes my nose pain, some people said their forehead pain, some people chest pain, because sometimes they try to follow their breath and they try to focus so hard. Painful because you're using willpower and people think that, oh, I cannot go deeper. I only see, you know, you feel a bit, you know, peaceful, calm, it's okay, but only you can't go further. Report an error in the passage at 7:24 Highlight the passage at 7:24

7:50 And then, first because of, when we become peaceful, when we are not content, we always want to have more peace, isn't it? So the moment, that's why one of the frequent asked questions people like to ask, Oh, what shall I do? Oh, my mind become very peaceful and calm. So what is next? Then I said, no next. Because the moment when you're peaceful and calm, the moment you think what is next, it's gone, isn't it? Report an error in the passage at 7:50 Highlight the passage at 7:50

8:18 It's all gone. You're no longer being present. You're no longer in the present moment. You're at Venice being fully aware and fully present with what you are meditating on. For example, you are... Doing the mindfulness on breath. So if you are fully here, with your breath, fully aware of your in and out breath, but the moment you think, oh, what is next? Report an error in the passage at 8:18 Highlight the passage at 8:18

8:43 How to make my mind more peaceful? Then you lose it. Because you are no longer present, it's gone. You already gone into the future, gone into the projection, thinking of how to do it, how to make my mind more peaceful. Then you lose it. And then... Your mind can never go deep. And also you can't force your mind, even though some people think, oh, maybe I remind myself that I keep telling myself, some people say, oh, I keep telling myself that, oh, it's good enough, it's good enough, it's good enough. Report an error in the passage at 8:43 Highlight the passage at 8:43

9:20 Actually, you're using good enough to really as a technique, you know. To try to make your mind peaceful. And it doesn't work. Because you try to manipulate. You try to use that to manipulate. And also you're still thinking, isn't it? You keep telling yourself it's good enough, it's good enough. It's still thinking. And it's very difficult. You cannot become peaceful. Report an error in the passage at 9:20 Highlight the passage at 9:20

9:46 Even though you cannot go deep. And then even though... Before that you were peaceful, but the moment you think, how can I become more peaceful, it's not peaceful enough, I want more peace. The moment you think like that, and you're already off, you're already lucid, you're not in the present moment. So it's just a moment, when you're in the present moment, and the knowing. Report an error in the passage at 9:46 Highlight the passage at 9:46

10:18 you know so all our energies put into knowing fully aware of every single breath and very appreciative of our every single breath because it's like it's just like uh uh uh something that is very precious to us that you know and then we look upon the breath as something very precious Very appreciative. Then your mind naturally becomes peaceful and calm naturally. But because of our desires, our wanting, we always want more, isn't it? Report an error in the passage at 10:18 Highlight the passage at 10:18

10:50 Because of lack of contentment, because we are not content. Even though we are peaceful, we still want more peace. We are not content. And that's why we have to train our mind. We have to condition our mind. Because we have to condition our mind that we are someone, It's always content. That's what we have to start with, you know, develop that quality of gratitude, always being grateful. Report an error in the passage at 10:50 Highlight the passage at 10:50

11:17 So you do that morning, at night, you always find something that you, I'm so grateful for, you know, having this opportunity. I'm so grateful that I've been able to meditate and so grateful that I've been able even to sit. You know, if someone can sit cross-legged, oh, I'm so grateful that I can sit cross-legged. And they're always grateful to our body as well. You know, we say, you know, we, you know, say thank you to our body, you know, being grateful, you know, thank you, we're being thankful to our body that we are healthy enough to be able to meditate. Report an error in the passage at 11:17 Highlight the passage at 11:17

11:55 And also we are grateful that we are still in a place that we live that is peaceful, calm, you know, quiet, and we have this beautiful environment, you know, because we tend to take it for granted that... When we have all this, that's why sometimes I used to tell my nuns, you know, because when they see the monastery, when they first join the monastery, ah, so peaceful, so nice, because the contrast when you're from outside, you come in to a place very peaceful, you feel much more, isn't it? Report an error in the passage at 11:55 Highlight the passage at 11:55

12:29 Then every day you got the peaceful, you know, you have the quiet and peaceful place. You take it for granted, isn't it? Because it's become like something normal. It's just like when you first taste the food that is delicious, you go, wow, it's so delicious. But you have it every day. It becomes so normal. The same thing. Sometimes we take it for granted when we are peaceful. We take it for granted. It becomes not so special anymore. Report an error in the passage at 12:29 Highlight the passage at 12:29

12:58 So we want something more. We want to experience more. More than this. So the moment the wanting is there, the craving is there, your mind moves. Because when you want something, you desire something, your mind moves. So when your mind moves, you cannot become peaceful. You can't go deep. You can't just force yourself to do it when you meditate. Actually, you have to condition your mind. You have to train your mind in your daily life. So find something to be grateful for. Report an error in the passage at 12:58 Highlight the passage at 12:58

13:30 I'm grateful for this. Get up in the morning. If you feel good, you feel well, you're not sick. So thankful that I'm so grateful that I'm not sick. I'm so grateful that I'm good enough. I'm so grateful that, you know, that I have a nice food to eat. I'm so grateful, you know, that all the beings contribute into the food that, you know, I'm so grateful for all the effort people put in. Report an error in the passage at 13:30 Highlight the passage at 13:30

13:53 So become so appreciative. And this is how you condition your mind. And then naturally, when you sit in meditation, you have so much gratitude and really appreciation towards our breath. You know, we really take it, the breath becomes very precious, you know, and something very precious you really, you know, look after, isn't it? Report an error in the passage at 13:53 Highlight the passage at 13:53

14:15 You really feel that so precious, you really being very appreciative. Then you will be able to really stay, you have met your breath, you know, easily because to you it's something so precious. Something that you're so grateful and you're being so appreciative, then actually you'll be very appreciative of every single breath that breathes in and out. Report an error in the passage at 14:15 Highlight the passage at 14:15

14:44 And because you'll be grateful that the breath gives us life, and that your mind naturally becomes peaceful, you'll be content. So when you're content, you know, your mind, you're just okay, you're just happy, you know, it's just whatever is good enough. But it's not that you keep telling yourself good enough. It's naturally you feel that it's good enough. It's not like you keep reciting like a parrot like that, keep telling yourself it's good enough. Report an error in the passage at 14:44 Highlight the passage at 14:44

15:13 But actually, truly come from the bottom of your heart that you feel that you are so grateful. It's really good enough. Then your mind very naturally goes deeper. And because of the craving, the wanting you want more, that really stops because of lack of contentment. They say contentment is the key. So to be able to have the contentment, you have to start to develop the qualities, being grateful, have the gratitude. Report an error in the passage at 15:13 Highlight the passage at 15:13

15:41 Whatever we do in our daily life, whatever we receive, always be thankful. So when we have that, When you meditate, it becomes very easy. You don't have to struggle, you don't have to force, you don't have to try to make your mind peaceful. Your mind naturally peaceful, your mind naturally happy with your breath. You're so content. The contentment comes naturally when you have this quality. Report an error in the passage at 15:41 Highlight the passage at 15:41

16:12 When you're someone very appreciative, you always have these qualities of gratitude. gratitude always being grateful and your mind naturally become content you just content with your breath and then when you when you have the contentment and you're being content and actually your mind naturally become very peaceful and you can go deeper and deeper and you you just meditation is a natural process you just keep going you just be just fully fully fully fully aware and fully be present And mindful, fully aware of our in-breath, and your mind naturally goes deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper. And that's because you have to train your mind. Report an error in the passage at 16:12 Highlight the passage at 16:12

16:59 And that's also, sometimes it's also people, many people tend to underestimate that actually in a daily life, how you live your life, that really helps. With your meditation, it's not only sitting on the, when you meditate, you sit on the meditation and that's, you know, that you try to manipulate, you try to control. Report an error in the passage at 16:59 Highlight the passage at 16:59

17:23 It doesn't work like that. And actually, to have good meditation, how you live your life, actually, it contributes to us, you know, when you're sitting on the cushion. Report an error in the passage at 17:23 Highlight the passage at 17:23

17:35 They say it's not only, you know, some people tend to separate their life. With the meditation, the practice, no. Because how we live our life, our attitude towards our life, actually is part how we, you know, the attitude towards our meditation. Because we bring that, you know, we carry that forward to our meditation practice. They say sometimes, to develop this, if you want your meditation to go deeper, Report an error in the passage at 17:35 Highlight the passage at 17:35

18:04 You want your mind to become really still, so it's important that in your daily life to develop quality and gratitude and contentment. So when you have this quality, you are not only happy in your daily life. You're also happy in your meditation. Because when you're happy, it's easy to meditate, isn't it? If the day is that you're not happy, it's very difficult to meditate, isn't it? Report an error in the passage at 18:04 Highlight the passage at 18:04

18:31 When you're happy, you sit in meditation, it's very easy, isn't it? Because throughout the whole day, someone always appreciative, very happy, content. So the moment you sit down, it's very easy to meditate. This is sometimes not to underestimate that. Every little single little things, you know, actually that's really helped us to support us in our meditation. So maybe now we can meditate, okay? Report an error in the passage at 18:31 Highlight the passage at 18:31

18:56 Okay, Report an error in the passage at 18:56 Highlight the passage at 18:56

19:05 just find the most comfortable posture and just relax. Report an error in the passage at 19:05 Highlight the passage at 19:05

19:31 Being aware of your bodily feelings and sensations. Just Report an error in the passage at 19:31 Highlight the passage at 19:31

19:45 calming your mind and body by relaxing your body. And Report an error in the passage at 19:45 Highlight the passage at 19:45

20:08 first of all, We just be thankful to our body and Report an error in the passage at 20:08 Highlight the passage at 20:08

20:21 be thankful that we have the opportunity to be here. We're Report an error in the passage at 20:21 Highlight the passage at 20:21

20:30 very thankful that we'll be able to meditate here with other people and Report an error in the passage at 20:30 Highlight the passage at 20:30

20:44 have this peaceful environment. Just Report an error in the passage at 20:44 Highlight the passage at 20:44

20:59 being appreciative of Report an error in the passage at 20:59 Highlight the passage at 20:59

21:05 this moment and also grateful for the opportunity to be here and Report an error in the passage at 21:05 Highlight the passage at 21:05

21:20 also grateful that our body Is still healthy and be able to sit in meditation and Report an error in the passage at 21:20 Highlight the passage at 21:20

21:35 very grateful that we are not sick and Report an error in the passage at 21:35 Highlight the passage at 21:35

22:03 be thankful to our body that Report an error in the passage at 22:03 Highlight the passage at 22:03

22:18 we are well enough to be here and to meditate as Report an error in the passage at 22:18 Highlight the passage at 22:18

· · · silence, 1 minute

23:11 you feel the calmness. Put Report an error in the passage at 23:11 Highlight the passage at 23:11

23:28 attention, place attention to our breath, fully aware of our in and our breath, very Report an error in the passage at 23:28 Highlight the passage at 23:28

23:40 thankful to our breath. Report an error in the passage at 23:40 Highlight the passage at 23:40

24:05 appreciative of us, every single breath that we breathe, I guess Report an error in the passage at 24:05 Highlight the passage at 24:05

· · · silence, 37 minutes

1:00:54 when Report an error in the passage at 1:00:54 Highlight the passage at 1:00:54

1:01:14 you're talking about contentment being really helpful for feeling peaceful, I was just thinking often we compare ourselves to like what could be better, but to be content, are we looking at what could be worse or not, or just focusing on what we have? Report an error in the passage at 1:01:14 Highlight the passage at 1:01:14

1:01:34 It's actually contentment is that you just say, Everything, whether it's good or bad, is okay. I remember, you know, sometimes I remember my understanding early, early years, you know, when I was still a junior nun. And then I have this idea, because I spent some time in Thailand, they're very strict. We are not allowed to even, like, to ask for, like, honey is something easily. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:34 Highlight the passage at 1:01:34

1:02:02 And then, of course, come to Australia, honey is nothing, you know. And then I have the perception like, oh, how come I practice contentment, everything, abundance, you know. Then my understanding of contentment is that, oh, contentment, that means I have to be content with inferior things, less things. Report an error in the passage at 1:02:02 Highlight the passage at 1:02:02

1:02:25 Then until one day, As one of the utmost monks, he's very good at his practice ascetic, he's an ascetic monk. I'm not wrong, I think it's Kasapa, I forgot his name. So he talked about how he's really content whether it's something superior or inferior. Report an error in the passage at 1:02:25 Highlight the passage at 1:02:25

1:02:57 Oh, then I remember. Then I realized that I've been discontent with having good things. You know, contentment is not about having good or bad, you know. Whatever, whether it's not, you're just content. So I become like, I become like discontent. Having good things. Oh, then I was thinking, oh, maybe I'm not, I was thinking, whether should I continue to sit here? I cannot practice contentment because here is, we have abundance of everything, you know, everything so good and then, you know, I have enough food and everything. Report an error in the passage at 1:02:57 Highlight the passage at 1:02:57

1:03:33 Then, this is how I become discontent. So, contentment is whatever. whether it's good, whether it's inferior, the most expensive. Of course, we don't ask for expensive things, you know, but we've been offered, we're just content with whatever we receive, whether it's good, it's more superior things or inferior things, we're just content with that. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:33 Highlight the passage at 1:03:33

1:03:58 So, that answer your question? Ajahn Report an error in the passage at 1:03:58 Highlight the passage at 1:03:58

1:04:10 Hasapanna, it is said in Buddhism that the devas can come and help Practitioners, what I'm talking about now is this meditation here, group meditation, do you feel like, it's also said that devas, they congregate around, do you feel that there are unseen beings around here too, while we meditate, especially people with problems too, like before meditation, And then that adds into helping them feel much better too in their meditation. Sometimes it's good that we always focus on ourselves or practice, not thinking of... Report an error in the passage at 1:04:10 Highlight the passage at 1:04:10

1:05:03 I mean, yes, we know that there's other unseen beings, you know. But they say sometimes, like for example, sometimes those unseen beings also, they feel if you have the good energy, they also feel that. That's like when I was in, last time I used to, when I... And when I go to a new place, when I meditate, so I always like sharing merits with all the beings, you know, that after meditation, I always do that sharing merits with all unseen beings, you know. Report an error in the passage at 1:05:03 Highlight the passage at 1:05:03

1:05:42 And if you feel good, you can feel that kind of, you know, you feel peaceful and calm. Because I have someone with me, this person traveled with me and we went to Thailand. And do you know what happened to this person, my friend? He always got this, like he said, got this spirit, you know, disturbed him. Then I said, nothing happened to me. Report an error in the passage at 1:05:42 Highlight the passage at 1:05:42

1:06:04 I said, I'm peaceful, nothing happened to me. I don't know why he always have something. And I remember there was another lady. She always have problem with snakes into her kuti. And then the kuti she stay, the kuti she stay, actually it more seal, like, you know, breaks. The kuti that I say actually is open, like a platform. And then actually, because you can't close the wall, if you close the wall, it's very hot, and no air comes in. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:04 Highlight the passage at 1:06:04

1:06:41 So actually, you have to open up. It's very simple, hard, and then you have to open up. Basically, it's like a platform, you're just sleeping on top. And actually, snakes, whatever, can easily come in. Then I never have that problem. And she always have that problem. And then she went to the other monastery and she come back again, she almost like crazy. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:41 Highlight the passage at 1:06:41

1:07:04 And then she have this snake, you know, she's in the kuti. And the snake is on top, you know, because those kuti, they don't have ceiling, you know, on the beam. And, you know, roll a coil, like this coil up, you know. On the beam And the whole night she can't sleep And I was thinking Why I should always have snake But actually The critique I see is more exposed But then I never have this problem. I never have any, you know, like people being bitten by scorpion and all these things. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:04 Highlight the passage at 1:07:04

1:07:41 I, you know, I never happen that. Never happened to me. I think sometimes it's just, yes, if you meditate and you're always sharing marriage with other beings, you do have some sort of protection. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:41 Highlight the passage at 1:07:41

1:07:55 Sorry, can I say something? You're saying about your friend, seeing something disturbing, that is spirit disturbance. And that is very much mentioned in Tibetan Buddhism. So in fact, you know, I tell you, sometimes, you know, among our sickness people here, if the person, you know, is of a good personality, you up yourself, these lower beings, they can't come to you, they're scared of you, you know. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:55 Highlight the passage at 1:07:55

1:08:23 If they are down and low down to that level, they can come and disturb you and make you sick. Do you believe that? I mean, if you have very strong positive energy, and normally those, they... Those, you're not so easily affected. It's only when your energy is low, when you're more negative, you're more easily get drawn by those negative energy. Report an error in the passage at 1:08:23 Highlight the passage at 1:08:23

1:08:50 It's just that negative with negative, easily to draw with that negative energy. So that's like, yeah, you know, I remember when my son just moved into his house and because the house been vacant, Someone bought it but had never lived in. And then he moved in. And then they always see something. And remember, my grandson, he's so young, doesn't know anything. So he asked the mom, how did he get in? Report an error in the passage at 1:08:50 Highlight the passage at 1:08:50

1:09:23 When they came back, when they came back from outside and then they saw the being there, you know, just like, you know. So then he asked his mother, how did he get in? Report an error in the passage at 1:09:23 Highlight the passage at 1:09:23

1:09:36 And then I told my son, I said, you know, then my son started to every day he go to offer dharma and then he invite monks to come and chant. So I told him that you improve your... know then Report an error in the passage at 1:09:36 Highlight the passage at 1:09:36

1:09:50 You have more positive energy, so you improve your energy, you know, because you have more positive energy. So then every day he go, he offer dharma, sharing merits. And then I said, like, you do chanting, you meditate, you improve, you know, to make your more positive energy. And slowly it disappear. Report an error in the passage at 1:09:50 Highlight the passage at 1:09:50

1:10:13 And at the beginning, when they move in, sometimes they smell very terrible smell. It's very smelly, the kind of smell. And then after that, slowly it disappears. Luckily, they are not so afraid because the kids saw it. They said, oh, I saw this. Why this guy is here? But then they just keep, you know, they don't want to scare him. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:13 Highlight the passage at 1:10:13

1:10:41 He said, oh, never mind, you know. Yeah, he said, sometimes, I think sometimes, I don't know, that usually sometimes kids, they're able to see. But then once they improve that, you know, I said, you know, you make more merits, you know, and then you do, and then they do like sometimes chanting. And then I said, then he did invite, you know, monks to come and chant, you know, because the house been vacant for too long. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:41 Highlight the passage at 1:10:41

1:11:12 you know. And that's why you tend to have other beings living there. But actually, human is more scary than those beings. Isn't it? Human being is more scary. Actually, those beings, I don't know why people are really scared of ghosts. Actually, they're not scary. They're just the spirit. Report an error in the passage at 1:11:12 Highlight the passage at 1:11:12

1:11:42 Actually, if they are kind, it won't disturb you. Actually, they didn't really disturb them much. It's only they have to be able to see them. Then slowly, they didn't come anymore, then it's okay. The thing is, if they don't come anymore, you put your positive energy in you, you up yourself, you become well. Report an error in the passage at 1:11:42 Highlight the passage at 1:11:42

1:12:05 Yeah, I remember one of my supporters said, She said that she moved in, she never invite any monks and nuns or to do house blessing or something like that, chanting. So she find that she said that she have been like, everything like not smooth, like everything like not very happy, you know, the kind of energy is not very good. Report an error in the passage at 1:12:05 Highlight the passage at 1:12:05

1:12:28 Then she said, oh, can you come and offer dharma? You know, they offer dharma, so we went for the house dharma, and we do the chanting for her, you know, do house blessing. Then after that, she said, since then, the house that she feel, I don't know whether she psychologically, I don't know, maybe she feel better psychologically. Report an error in the passage at 1:12:28 Highlight the passage at 1:12:28

1:12:46 She said, since then, everything is quite good, like they don't feel like... That kind of like everything quite smooth. She feel like more at ease. Before that she don't feel at ease. I don't know whether it's psychologically, but it's still good if psychologically she feel better after the chanting. Report an error in the passage at 1:12:46 Highlight the passage at 1:12:46

1:13:02 It's still good, you know. Then she said, oh, she feel better. Before that she just felt like there's something like she feel that not at ease. like always you don't feel at ease at all living in the place in the house like there's always something you don't feel at ease at all if you some sometimes uncomfortable or i'm not at ease at all but then after that she said oh now she's very good i said okay that means our chanting working Report an error in the passage at 1:13:02 Highlight the passage at 1:13:02

1:13:35 Thank you. Any Report an error in the passage at 1:13:35 Highlight the passage at 1:13:35

1:13:41 more questions or comments? Okay. Report an error in the passage at 1:13:41 Highlight the passage at 1:13:41

1:14:02 Dear Ajahn, when you meditate and thoughts appear, do you watch the thoughts until they keep changing and disappear or you just come back to the breath no matter what feelings or thoughts appear? Yes, because you don't entertain them. Because once you entertain, you suck in and then your mind starts to think, proliferate. Report an error in the passage at 1:14:02 Highlight the passage at 1:14:02

1:14:24 So actually, you keep coming back. Because your object is breath, you keep... Keep it, you know, focusing on breath because then you'll be able to go deep because if not, you don't, it's just all you need to do if there is any thoughts, you know, thoughts appear, all you need to do just to recognize and acknowledge it's there and you accept it's there, you leave it alone and not to try to push it away, you know, just like touch and go. Report an error in the passage at 1:14:24 Highlight the passage at 1:14:24

1:14:55 You know that it's there, acknowledge and you go back to the breath. Because if you have the habit of keep going and then next time, the thoughts is always, you get distracted by your thoughts all the time and then very difficult to become peaceful. So yeah, no matter, they said you just come back to the breath and no matter what feelings or thoughts appear, whatever feelings you feel, you just know that how you feel, that's it. Report an error in the passage at 1:14:55 Highlight the passage at 1:14:55

1:15:23 And you leave it alone and you come back again. And then you do it again and again and again. Because if you entertain those thoughts, then your mind is no longer present, isn't it? You keep, you know, you keep. And then some people ask me, oh, if I have these unwholesome thoughts or whatever, or if I have anger, should I practice mettā? Report an error in the passage at 1:15:23 Highlight the passage at 1:15:23

1:15:44 I say, no, no, no, you don't. Practice breath and then you go to practice mettā. And then mettā, you come back to the breath. I say, don't do it. Either you do. Mettā, mettā. You do breath, you do breath meditation. But when you're doing breath meditation, you keep doing your breath meditation. No matter what's happened, thoughts, whatever, you know, anger, whatever, you just acknowledge that it's there, but not to entertain, not to get involved, okay? Report an error in the passage at 1:15:44 Highlight the passage at 1:15:44

1:16:11 Dear Ajahn, I often fell asleep when trying to meditate. Do you have any tips? Thank you. Okay. The reason why you fall asleep when you try to meditate, because your mindfulness is not strong enough. Because breath is a more subtle object. Then when your mindfulness is not strong, it's very difficult. Because the object is too refined. Your mind is not refined enough to be able to really focus. Report an error in the passage at 1:16:11 Highlight the passage at 1:16:11

1:16:40 That's why it's difficult. then very easily you fall asleep because of your mindfulness is not strong that's why i always encourage people that to You develop your mindfulness, you build up your strength. you know from from walking meditation then after that you become your you build up your mindfulness from a causal object then you sit down when you sit down don't force yourself straight away to the breath because Your mind is still not refined enough. So you sit down, just do some relaxations and body contemplation, aware of your body, feeling, sensation. Report an error in the passage at 1:16:40 Highlight the passage at 1:16:40

1:17:34 If you feel there is tightness in your body, you just relax your body until you feel the peace and you have the calmness. Then only, and then you can feel the breath very prominent. You know, because when you're peaceful and calm, the breath is so easy to, easy, easy to, easy to observe. Then only you go to the breath. Report an error in the passage at 1:17:34 Highlight the passage at 1:17:34

1:17:58 Or you can start with, you can do mettā meditation. You can do until you're peaceful and calm, then only you do breath meditation. That's also work. Because last time, last time, last time I start off with many years ago, I start off to do with the different type of meditation that the kind of, you observe of the, rising and falling of the atonement, you know. Report an error in the passage at 1:17:58 Highlight the passage at 1:17:58

1:18:22 It's a different type. Then when I do breath, I find it very difficult. I can't sit. Then I want to give up. No, no, no. Continue to do breath meditation. But you do mettā first. Then I do mettā. Actually, I do one hour walking meditation, mettā meditation. You just stand and you focus on your foot. You just mettā. Report an error in the passage at 1:18:22 Highlight the passage at 1:18:22

1:18:49 And then when you do the end, you stop and you say, may I be well, may I be happy, may I be free of suffering. And then after that, I turn around, mettā, mettā, mettā. I do for an hour. Then become really peaceful and calm. Then I sit and I also do mettā meditation until I feel like so much happiness, like rapture, you know. Report an error in the passage at 1:18:49 Highlight the passage at 1:18:49

1:19:14 I have the feelings of the pīti sukha. Then I feel very peaceful. Then only I start to be, I start, and I start my mindfulness on my breath, you know, put my attention on my breath. And then actually I did that for six months. I can't go to the breath immediately because from changing one type of meditation to another, because my habit is, I always go back to old habit. Report an error in the passage at 1:19:14 Highlight the passage at 1:19:14

1:19:39 It's very difficult and I'm struggling so hard. But then when I do, a mettā walking meditation, one hour walking meditation, half an hour mettā, then only do the breath. If you have no breath, you're already dead. Report an error in the passage at 1:19:39 Highlight the passage at 1:19:39

1:20:10 The breath is there, always there. If there's no breath, you know, isn't it? You have no breathing, you're already dead, I say, you know. Because our mind is not refined enough, that's why you can't feel the breath. That's why you can't rush, you know. You have to just, you know, you train yourself from a causal level to... Report an error in the passage at 1:20:10 Highlight the passage at 1:20:10

1:20:32 More refined level. I know one very, very senior monk. He's still a monk for many years, almost 40, 50 years. He told me when he was a young monk in early 20s become a monk. He said he cannot sit at all. He did like seven, eight hours only walking meditation. Only walking meditation. And then until After few years, he started to be able to sit and sit and then, you know, because when he's young, he's got so much energy. Early 20s, you know, a lot of energy, very difficult to sit still. Report an error in the passage at 1:20:32 Highlight the passage at 1:20:32

1:21:12 But he's still a monk after 50 years, you know. Sometimes, a lot of people tend to force, you don't force. You have to put in the causes and conditions. Meditation is a natural process. It's not something you can control, you can manipulate. It will never happen. So they said we have to find out why. They said sometimes you can try that, you can do walking meditation, do contemplation before you go to the breath. Report an error in the passage at 1:21:12 Highlight the passage at 1:21:12

1:21:46 Or you can do mettā. You know, walking meditation matter, and half an hour matter, then only you got on breath. So have to be really patient, you know, keep going, you know. Report an error in the passage at 1:21:46 Highlight the passage at 1:21:46

1:22:02 And this is a question from German. Dear Ajahn, due to a cancer in my lung and COPD, and I cannot catch much breath, it does not feel as much as I want. How do I proceed to breathe? I can feel the breath, but... I have the habit of following the breath. Then when I'm following the breath, then I try not to follow the breath, then I try to focus here, then I feel my, because the breath is, I always into like, more like contemplating the air element, then I feel the vibration. Report an error in the passage at 1:22:02 Highlight the passage at 1:22:02

1:23:08 I feel the vibration at my nose vibrate. And then if I don't focus here, then I feel the vibration from my nose, in and out, in and out, I feel the vibration. So rather than I just knowing the breath in and out, but I'm already, I used to it. The meditation like you contemplating the air element, then you go up and down. Report an error in the passage at 1:23:08 Highlight the passage at 1:23:08

1:23:33 And it's very difficult. That's why when I try to do Ānāpānasati, it's really difficult for me. But then I do mettā and I do walking meditation. meditation, you know, mettā-vomitation. But walking meditation is also good. It also helps you to build up your mindfulness. And also you can do mettā first. Say mettā. Report an error in the passage at 1:23:33 Highlight the passage at 1:23:33

1:23:56 Say mettā to your body, to your illness. It's okay. We accept you, we love you. A lot of people tell me that when they have cancer, they do mettā meditation. It really helps. I remember one of our supporters said, She's also going through, I think, chemo. And then she sends so much loving kindness to her body. Report an error in the passage at 1:23:56 Highlight the passage at 1:23:56

1:24:24 And she sends loving kindness towards the nurses and the doctors. And then she says she doesn't have much side effects after that chemotherapy. Most people have side effects, isn't it, after the chemo? But she says she's okay and she's quite happy and she's doing well. That time is about more than 10 years already when she has that. But now she's still okay. She's still, you know, okay. Report an error in the passage at 1:24:24 Highlight the passage at 1:24:24

1:24:49 And she's still here. And she do lots of loving kindness meditation towards her body, towards the nurse and the doctors who treat her. And she did that. And she told me that it really works. It really works for her. So you can try that doing... doing mettā meditations, you send lots of mettā towards your body, and you do body contemplation is also helpful. Report an error in the passage at 1:24:49 Highlight the passage at 1:24:49

1:25:18 Can you please describe how to practice the first two sessions of the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta Body and Feelings? Report an error in the passage at 1:25:18 Highlight the passage at 1:25:18

1:25:32 When the buddhas talk about the body, The body actually is like, the breath itself is like, the body is like, The whole body, the breathing in and out, that is not so much of the physical body, you know, because they call it sky, you know. And also body contemplation, also the Buddha do, you know, teach body contemplation. Feel your body and feel your body feelings and sensations. Report an error in the passage at 1:25:32 Highlight the passage at 1:25:32

1:26:03 So you just feel, you just sit there being with whatever feeling is there. But not to try to identify, not try to, Not try to identify, you know, your body, you know, and sometimes, you know, you just feel it, you do that, actually you can start with the scanning, scanning from the top, top, you know, from the top to the tip of your body, just scan through your body, feel how you feel. Report an error in the passage at 1:26:03 Highlight the passage at 1:26:03

1:26:31 So if that is tightness, you just know that is tightness there, but not, you know, just all your energy into just knowing. But don't, not to identify. I know some part of like the Mahasi system, you do nothing, nothing, nothing, you know. If you feel hot, you feel hot, hot, hot. And then you feel hot, hot, hot, hot. No, no need to do that. You just know that if your body feel cold, you feel that it's cold. Report an error in the passage at 1:26:31 Highlight the passage at 1:26:31

1:27:00 Because the body make up of four elements. And then you feel, sometimes you feel the wind element, and you feel that vibration in the body, you just know that it's vibration. You just know. How you feel, but not to start to analyze why you feel that way. Then you're not observing, you're not contemplating your body, you're not observing your body feeling and sensation. Report an error in the passage at 1:27:00 Highlight the passage at 1:27:00

1:27:29 You become like analyzing. So no talking, just observing. It's just like you're watching television, you just watch, isn't it? No commentary. Report an error in the passage at 1:27:29 Highlight the passage at 1:27:29

1:27:41 Just know whatever feeling is there, you know, how you feel, just know. All your energy, all go into your knowing and know how you feel. Normally sometimes you feel, because especially sometimes when we're working outside, sometimes it has some tension built up in my body. Sometimes you tend to have a lot of tension in your body, then you just relax your body. Report an error in the passage at 1:27:41 Highlight the passage at 1:27:41

1:28:11 Just relax, just be with... I remember when I first started to meditate, when I do the body contemplation, I have lots of vibration, I feel the vibration in my body, and then sometimes, even my whole body, when I become peaceful and calm, and I feel the release of the tension, even my body will just go like this. Report an error in the passage at 1:28:11 Highlight the passage at 1:28:11

1:28:32 And then people think that I have something wrong with my body. Actually... Because when you're peaceful and calm, actually all the tension will release. So they said, just stay with how you feel. Just stay with how you feel. Do not try to analyze. Just know how you feel. All your energy into knowing how you feel. Report an error in the passage at 1:28:32 Highlight the passage at 1:28:32

1:28:55 If you feel that it's heat, Vibration, heart in your body, you just know how you feel. All the sensation, feelings, you just know how you feel. If there is any tension in your body, just try to relax your body. Normally, when I do body contemplation, when I feel there is tension in my body, I feel tight, I just relax. And then it will go away. Report an error in the passage at 1:28:55 Highlight the passage at 1:28:55

1:29:18 And then you just stay. And then eventually you become quite peaceful. It's quite peaceful after a while. So any more questions or comments? Yes. Report an error in the passage at 1:29:18 Highlight the passage at 1:29:18

1:29:35 Normally like from here to there, depends. But for me normally, for me it's enough from here to there. But some people have long legs, maybe you need a longer path, you know. Just keep it natural, you know. The pace is natural pace, you know, at your own pace. I Report an error in the passage at 1:29:35 Highlight the passage at 1:29:35

1:30:02 think our kuti is about... I think it's about 10 meters. I think I could do one. I don't know. But I think 5 meters is enough. Okay, thank you. And then just walk naturally. And some people say, oh, how fast, how slow? I say, no, no, just natural. Just be natural. Don't try to control. I remember when I first started to learn how to meditate and do walking meditation, I tried to control myself. Report an error in the passage at 1:30:02 Highlight the passage at 1:30:02

1:30:29 I tried to control the walk. I was so tired after 20 minutes because I tried to control to walk very slow and because I tried to see the rising and falling of all the phenomenons. Because, you know, when you read all these books, you have all these ideas, you know, and then you think that you want to experience that, you know. Then I tried to control, you know, tried to make it very slow. Report an error in the passage at 1:30:29 Highlight the passage at 1:30:29

1:30:57 So tired, 20 minutes I was like, so tired. Because he tried to control, just walk naturally, just naturally. Thank you. Report an error in the passage at 1:30:57 Highlight the passage at 1:30:57

1:31:10 Any more questions or comments? No more questions or comments? Okay, thank you for coming. Report an error in the passage at 1:31:10 Highlight the passage at 1:31:10