Dhammaloka Book Club: "Atomic Habits"

0:00 And these days I am also more into practical dharma. I like to, you know, in the past I used to really indulge in all the concepts and, you know, dependent origination. They're all great. I still like it. But I also wanted to sort of apply myself from where I am, here and now, the way I am, what can I do to take my next step. Report an error in the passage at 0:00 Highlight the passage at 0:00

0:23 That sort of started to become more important. However small I felt, if I moved even a tiny bit in the right direction, that is making progress, rather than sitting here and wondering how am I going to get there, which seems a bit, you know, a difficult terrain even or unknown even where we are heading. Report an error in the passage at 0:23 Highlight the passage at 0:23

0:44 But rather, just what can I do right here, right now, with my life the way it is, whatever kind of life I have. Even in monastic life, our life can be up and down, we can have busy periods, we could be sick, we could have ceremonies, we could have problems, all kinds of things happen too. So with all of those things, we have to keep going, right? So wherever we are, wherever I am today, wherever I am now, Also, I want to be able to apply myself. So this is what was fascinating. That is why I kind of like. So mostly how to practice in daily life. Report an error in the passage at 0:44 Highlight the passage at 0:44

1:24 So this is what I want to encourage. I'm definitely not going to go through the book because time is going very, very fast. So you will have to do it. At least I'm encouraging you the way to read it, what to keep in mind, and then hopefully you'll benefit from it. So Report an error in the passage at 1:24 Highlight the passage at 1:24

1:49 James Clear, the author, his central question was, how can we live better? So he's not like a Buddhist or a... spiritual person maybe but you know he was just asking the question how can we live better and this applies to us as well because you know the ultimate goal or this is where we are heading every step every time we practice the quality of our life increases and that is actually a way that we can find out whether we are making progress which is kind of nice Report an error in the passage at 1:49 Highlight the passage at 1:49

2:22 And he likes to find great ideas and explain them in a way that is easy to use and apply to daily life, which is also nice because sometimes, you know, some books we read, it's hard to understand. So it's nice somebody else reads them, process it, and then present it in a bit more easier way for people to understand. And I found this to be true. Report an error in the passage at 2:22 Highlight the passage at 2:22

2:44 So that is one. And he focuses on how to start and stick to good habits. We have all started, right? I'm sure each one of us. Our problem was not being able to stick to it, right? So there are some good methods. So that is helpful. How to make good choices and avoid bad ones. It's also good, right? It's tricky. It's really tricky because our mind tells us all kinds of stuff. Report an error in the passage at 2:44 Highlight the passage at 2:44

3:18 When it wants to have things, it will justify itself. But how do we really make good choices and avoid bad ones? Another good one. How to accomplish more in less time? That is important, right? All of us are busy people. We have very little time. We have so much to do. So that is also helpful if it is methodical, if it is putting in the right kind of courses. Report an error in the passage at 3:18 Highlight the passage at 3:18

3:45 Because if you put the right courses and you are persistent in... And how to create better systems and processes. So that I'll come to you if you don't understand what that means and how to achieve meaningful results without overwhelming yourself. This is also important, right? Sometimes you really, my mom used to call this soda bottle effect. When you're so excited, it's bubbles up and it's all fizzy and you know, so much energy. Report an error in the passage at 3:45 Highlight the passage at 3:45

4:26 After a while, everything goes flat. flat and you know and not to But to maintain and get meaningful results without getting too overwhelmed by... Even I have found myself, when I get inspired, I have a whole daily schedule and I look at it and then somebody was laughing. So my daily schedule, there's no way you're going to do this for two days. So this is what you mean. Sometimes you try when you're inspired and it becomes too much. Report an error in the passage at 4:26 Highlight the passage at 4:26

4:56 So we need to know the right balance and do what is possible. And doing what is possible without getting overwhelming, then we may be able to sustain it. So this is also why reading this book, I found good tips and good ways of maybe getting there. So does this sound attractive to you? And maybe you might want to read the book, I don't know. But if it is not, well, ask for your money back. Not from BSWA, from the author. Report an error in the passage at 4:56 Highlight the passage at 4:56

5:31 Or consider it a donation if you bought the book from here. Report an error in the passage at 5:31 Highlight the passage at 5:31

5:37 And I also want to just say that, I mean, this book... to, okay? Report an error in the passage at 5:37 Highlight the passage at 5:37

5:41 As you read it, it is mostly focused on achieving worldly goals, right? Because this is just written for a general public. So always just replace it with your spiritual goals. And that's a really nice thing because you can just stop, read it slowly. And when you see if they say you want to become fit or you want to get into shape or you want to become a millionaire, then you can see, you know, what you want. Report an error in the passage at 5:41 Highlight the passage at 5:41

6:05 And in your spiritual path and reflect, okay, in this occasion, what do I need to do? So that is what, this is not going to give you information for your spiritual journey. That is something you have to take out from the suttas and apply to it. This is going to tell the mechanism or processes or systems that you can put into place. Report an error in the passage at 6:05 Highlight the passage at 6:05

6:28 But it is your homework and stuff to just take it out from the suttas. I will give a little bit of a helping hand by bringing up a few things so you get an idea and then you can do your work yourself. Report an error in the passage at 6:28 Highlight the passage at 6:28

6:44 Yeah, so mainly, if anything, before I stop, even if I run out of time, I'll stop and I will actually say a very practical way of how to apply Noble Eightfold Path in daily life. So that is helpful just to get you started. This is what I hope to do, rather than saying too much about all the things in the book, which you can explore or you can watch on YouTube about the book. Report an error in the passage at 6:44 Highlight the passage at 6:44

7:10 And Report an error in the passage at 7:10 Highlight the passage at 7:10

7:16 So I also have to give a word of caution. So however, like any self-help book, it is important to read it with a critical eye and consider how its ideas might apply to your personal situation. Also watch out for any ideas that goes against the teachings of the Buddha because remember the worldly concepts are based on greed, hatred and delusion. Report an error in the passage at 7:16 Highlight the passage at 7:16

7:38 How to become rich, how to become attractive, how to become successful, how to bring up your ego, how to make your senses So that is, you know, there you have to be careful. There you have to be careful. And the way this book is presented, there is a tendency to build the sense of self and the sense of controlling. Report an error in the passage at 7:38 Highlight the passage at 7:38

8:02 So it is important to bring your attention to the Buddha's teachings on non-self and the universal law of causes and conditions. So don't look at it as controlling, rather the idea of putting in causes. Now this is in the suttas. The Buddha says putting in the causes, but not controlling with willpower, but There's something to do, because the Buddha says the right effort, what is the definition for right effort? I'm going to say in Pāli, so you know it is the Buddha's words, and then I'll say in English. Report an error in the passage at 8:02 Highlight the passage at 8:02

8:36 So Chandan Janeti means you arouse desire, you arouse inspiration. You put in effort. Chandan Janethi, Vyamati, Viriyangara. Report an error in the passage at 8:36 Highlight the passage at 8:36

8:49 Viryam arabati, you bring up energy. Chittam paghanati, your mind is set on the goal. And padahati, you really exert yourself. Now this is not during meditation, right? Otherwise you all have question marks coming up. Even myself, because you know, not during meditation. Like I said during the sit, meditation time is receiving that present. Report an error in the passage at 8:49 Highlight the passage at 8:49

9:19 Of all of your hard work. So this right effort is sense restraint. The work that you do outside of your formality. This is your everyday life. Every wakeful moment. Every wakeful moment there's things to be done. But it is not done in a way of controlling with willpower, with stupidity rather with wisdom putting in the right course. Report an error in the passage at 9:19 Highlight the passage at 9:19

9:43 So as you're reading this book read it in that light. Otherwise you might end up creating a big controlling sense of self and i will i do not want to take the blame and lead you in the wrong direction which is why i wanted to say that So after that... So who can benefit from reading this book? If you want to build better habits and break bad ones, if you want to overcome procrastination, actually procrastination done at the right time isn't bad, but done at the wrong time in the wrong way can be a problem. Report an error in the passage at 9:43 Highlight the passage at 9:43

10:22 If you want to make lasting change, if you want to improve personal professional life, if you want to understand science behind habits, because it's also helpful sometimes to know how does this work, right? then you can sort of fine-tune it to your personal needs and if you want to maximize your potential Report an error in the passage at 10:22 Highlight the passage at 10:22

10:42 For enlightenment? No, it doesn't say that, but for us that is what it is, right? Increase our potential. And if we are skillful, we can direct... A special guest has arrived, he's sitting at the back which is fine. It doesn't matter whether he's at the back, we'll pick his brain as and when necessary. Thank you, Ajahn Brahmali, welcome. You're a bit late, but that's all right. Report an error in the passage at 10:42 Highlight the passage at 10:42

11:10 Excused. That's okay, let him sit there, that's fine. Report an error in the passage at 11:10 Highlight the passage at 11:10

11:17 Okay, so now let's get into the framework of this book. Having said all of this, are you inspired so far? Yeah? Have I sold it? That's fine. Report an error in the passage at 11:17 Highlight the passage at 11:17

11:28 Let's see, let's see more, okay? So the core principle of this book is the power of small habits when repeated over a long period of time, as mentioned earlier. Report an error in the passage at 11:28 Highlight the passage at 11:28

11:42 An atomic habit is a little habit that is part of a larger system. Just as atoms are building blocks of molecules, atomic habits are the building blocks of remarkable results. Report an error in the passage at 11:42 Highlight the passage at 11:42

11:59 So, how is this in the Buddha's teachings? Buddha's way is that gradual path, right? So the gradual path is the system, which is why we've put so much emphasis, I mean Ajahn Brahmali talks about this, give workshops on this, you know, to bring out the importance of focusing on the importance of gradual training, gradual path, right? Report an error in the passage at 11:59 Highlight the passage at 11:59

12:25 Gradual practice, that is the system. If you don't do the factors of the gradual training and you want to sit here and try to really exert yourself to watch the breath and get enlightened, it is not going to really happen. Because it is a gradual, it's a system that works to get into the results. So you have to put in place the right kind of system and focus on building on the system. Report an error in the passage at 12:25 Highlight the passage at 12:25

12:55 So this is important, and this is where sometimes we miss out, because sometimes, unless you attend to some of these sessions, I mean, I'm very grateful for Ajahn Brahmali, because he brings this up a lot, and you get to hear, but it's not always heard enough times, right? Because a lot of emphasis is on meditation, breath meditation, and sometimes a little bit on satipaṭṭhāna, but not on all these other things that looks like very simple, like how you conduct yourself. Report an error in the passage at 12:55 Highlight the passage at 12:55

13:24 During your day. And this really matters. This really matters if you want good meditation. And that is the system. That is the system in place that gradual training or the Noble Eightfold Path. I mean, they are all parallel. They are also the same. You can also tell gradual path to the Noble Eightfold Path. And it has. Report an error in the passage at 13:24 Highlight the passage at 13:24

13:45 It builds up on foundations. you have to work on those things and also in the right order this is also necessary right so the right order is necessary otherwise we are not ready so you had You can't go out of context. So this is where understanding your system. What system do you need to get to your goal? I mean, if it is enlightenment, awakening, then it is given by the Buddha. Report an error in the passage at 13:45 Highlight the passage at 13:45

14:09 But of course, if you have other things that you also want to achieve to become or make yourself more prepared for this, then you have to see which is the right system and how to apply yourself. So this is where. So instead of focusing on the goal, Report an error in the passage at 14:09 Highlight the passage at 14:09

14:26 Focus on the system, which is important, right? Because some people, it's like, I want to, I mean, so I'm worried about dying and life is so precious, the dharma is going to vanish after my time. I really want to get enlightened right now. And some people actually get very stressed. I know this happens to people, right? Report an error in the passage at 14:26 Highlight the passage at 14:26

14:47 And that is really goal-oriented, really focusing on the goal and thinking that I have to somehow, you know, push myself, control myself, put in and exert myself and this is where we go wrong and practice in the wrong way. Instead, find out, learn about the system to begin with. It's not necessarily obvious. Understand how it works, you know, how the system works, the big picture, the whole map. It's helpful, isn't it? Report an error in the passage at 14:47 Highlight the passage at 14:47

15:15 It is helpful to know the whole map and see how things link. Report an error in the passage at 15:15 Highlight the passage at 15:15

15:23 meditation psychology how the mind works understanding the whole process I'm not going to say all of that this is beautifully presented many times over I also did that during the retreat and maybe I can't remember yesterday's talk but you know you know understanding that how does sīla empower us you know what's its place how does that full mindfulness All of those things, when you understand, when you make sense, then you are inspired. So this is understanding and learning your system and then finding out what are the little things that I need to do in order to make those steps work and function and build them up, cultivate them. Report an error in the passage at 15:23 Highlight the passage at 15:23

16:03 So this is why it is quite nice to focus. So this encourages and shows the importance of... Focusing on the system rather than the goal that you want to achieve. So actually it takes away that real controlling factor rather than putting in the causes, which is how the Buddha taught. Report an error in the passage at 16:03 Highlight the passage at 16:03

16:24 And so Report an error in the passage at 16:24 Highlight the passage at 16:24

16:42 just to give a little bit of a core framework. I'm not going to get into detail. As I said, we are going to run out of time. Just a tiny taste only. Here it says there are four behavior changes, laws of behavior change given in this book. And the author here uses cue. craving response reward so at the heart of this book are four steps modeled for building good habits and breaking bad ones and it mirrors the psychological feedback loop that drives human behavior even no not only human animals too how do you train your dog This is how it is, right? So cue, craving, response. Cue is the trigger that initiates the behavior. Craving is the desire or motivation behind the behavior. Report an error in the passage at 16:42 Highlight the passage at 16:42

17:40 Response is the actual thing that you're going to do. And the reward, right? Do you think there are rewards in the spiritual path at every step? There are, but we need to look for it. Sometimes we overlook it. So that is why, you know, every time we meditate, what do we normally say at the end? When it's about two minutes to finish, we say, now stop and reflect back, you know. And if you feel peaceful, if you feel joyful, that is your reward right there, right? Report an error in the passage at 17:40 Highlight the passage at 17:40

18:11 Even after giving something to somebody, notice the joy in your heart. After saying something nice, notice the joy. These are our little rewards. And it is that reward that makes us to crave, to want to do it. And it is the wholesome craving. It's not like, this is already in the suttas. There was a sutta where somebody asked, this path is about getting rid of craving. Report an error in the passage at 18:11 Highlight the passage at 18:11

18:37 But, you know, because somebody asked, what is this path about? And the Buddha, sorry, It was when about Ananda I said, right, Ajahn, said something about, you know, about Report an error in the passage at 18:37 Highlight the passage at 18:37

18:54 About arousing the right kind of craving. And he said, isn't the path about ending craving? And then he says, but didn't you have some craving to want to come to the monastery first? He said, yes, but where is that craving now? Well, it's gone when you get there. But in order to get there, you still have to have. So even to do the spiritual path, you still have to have some form of a desire. Report an error in the passage at 18:54 Highlight the passage at 18:54

19:14 So that is what. But what keeps you want to do it is when you see some rewards. But the beautiful thing about the Buddhist path is it's a path to happiness, right? Every stage is stages of happiness, joys, blisses. All of those things. So as you experience, as you really notice them, that gives you that inspiration to want to do it. Report an error in the passage at 19:14 Highlight the passage at 19:14

19:38 So these things are important. I'm just bringing up for your own reflection as you read this book to apply it into your path. But you're not going to be able to do it fully because time goes very fast. And the author translates this loop into a practical framework called the follows. yeah and to build Good habits you have make the cue obvious. So if you want to meditate, you know, find a nice spot that is attractive, that is peaceful. Report an error in the passage at 19:38 Highlight the passage at 19:38

20:12 Put your meditation cushion in a place not far back in the house, but in a place where you'll see it a lot. So when you see it, you feel like I should sit, you know, something like this. Make it attractive, yeah? So make it comfortable, make it not in a cluttered part of your house but more in a nice place, something like that. Report an error in the passage at 20:12 Highlight the passage at 20:12

20:32 Make it attractive. Make it easy, right? So you don't have to go find your meditation cushion at the back of your wardrobe and clear the whole house before you get to sit. You will not sit, right? So that's why have it ready already. And make it... Satisfying. We'll talk about it. How can you make your practice satisfying, right? And to break a bad habit. This is equally important, right? Report an error in the passage at 20:32 Highlight the passage at 20:32

20:57 We all have bad habits that get in our way. Sometimes we don't even realize. And then to do that, make it invisible. So the cues for bad habits, try and make it invisible. Make it unattractive. Make it difficult and unsatisfying. So look at the dangers, the problems, the difficulties, and things like that, even in the sensual world, right? Report an error in the passage at 20:57 Highlight the passage at 20:57

21:24 Is sensual world energizing or tiring? Report an error in the passage at 21:24 Highlight the passage at 21:24

21:31 Think about maintaining a relationship, maintaining your job, maintaining a family, organizing a dinner party, going out to the movies, right? Tiring. It is tiring, not energizing. So look at the downsides of these things. I'm not going to go into detail, but this is what it is about. So you can apply accordingly. Report an error in the passage at 21:31 Highlight the passage at 21:31

21:57 And it also has other supporting concepts like habit. stacking so this is interesting for us i'll talk a little bit and give some ideas and maybe we can discuss you can come up with some ideas also of how can we stack our habits it is like using something that you already do we already have some habits some very general habits that you do when you wake up in the morning as you go through your day when you go to sleep there are a few things that you do you can see whether you can do some interesting things from the spiritual path to that so that is stacking a habit right so something you're already doing and you stack it on which is smart way of doing things and and environmental design and there is also the idea of plateau of latent potential i'll tell you a little bit about what that is and that is sometimes because what we are talking about here is just one percent gain right small little things if you talk about doing big things They are going to give up after two or three days because we can't sustain. But if it is something very small, we'll do it. But the thing is, it takes a while for the results to come. Report an error in the passage at 21:57 Highlight the passage at 21:57

23:04 So sometimes what can happen, you'll do what I say. I'll make some nice, attractive suggestions for you. You'll do it for about a month and say, nothing's happening. I don't think this works. So the thing is, these things take time. So you go through a plateau, right? So don't give up. Don't give up. It's nothing anyway. It's simple things. That's why do two or three simple things and continuously do. After a long period of time, check it out. Report an error in the passage at 23:04 Highlight the passage at 23:04

23:34 Check out how you have changed. And if you notice, then you know actually this works. So be aware of that plateau of latent potential. You can read all about it here. It's only very briefly. So, it's... Only 20 minutes to go, so most of this I'm not going to be able to go through, but let's talk about some interesting, shall we discuss, talk about some things that you can incorporate into your own life, so to get an idea what you can do, right? Report an error in the passage at 23:34 Highlight the passage at 23:34

24:11 So some things that I thought and some things that I do myself as well are little things. So you might laugh when I say this, but it's okay, I don't mind. So we all have a shower every day or sometimes a couple of times a week, whenever you're having a shower, right? If you're doing it every day, it's better for habit to work. If it is something you do, when you're soaping your body, when you're soaping your body, just take a couple of seconds or even a minute to give a bit of kindness, love and care to your body. Report an error in the passage at 24:11 Highlight the passage at 24:11

24:49 You know, some people are very passionate about their cars. You should see how they wash and polish their cars. But your body is your vehicle too, right? It has been there with you, allowing you to do so many things in life. You know, we have to have a bit of gratitude. But what do we do? We are very good at complaining when it's sick or one little part of it is not functioning. We complain like anything. Report an error in the passage at 24:49 Highlight the passage at 24:49

25:15 Poor body. It's good. to think about and have gratitude right so this is the starting point of a bit of self-care we need that we need to look after this body we need to care for ourselves that attitude of love care affection to your body done through that tiny little bit does it take time Is it too hard to do? I've given a clear place to do it. Easy too because you're already massaging yourself or putting soap on your body. Report an error in the passage at 25:15 Highlight the passage at 25:15

25:44 It's a nice time like you give a gentle rub and think about thank you body and I care about you. Just few seconds. Do it every day and see. Maybe it might make a difference in how you also not only care for yourself, but also for other people. Because that's that little thing that goes in your head, right? Report an error in the passage at 25:44 Highlight the passage at 25:44

26:06 It slowly, slowly becomes big and helpful. This is something that is helpful. Very simple. I'm not sure everybody would want to do this. There are alternative things as well. But if you are brave enough, then when you wake up every morning, first thing when you wake up, What happens if you bring that idea? Report an error in the passage at 26:06 Highlight the passage at 26:06

26:48 And make it real, so not to do it in an automatic way, not in a mindless way. Especially with this one, you won't be mindless because it's a bit important, right? If you're going to die, the idea is kind of interesting. So, when you bring that idea of today might be my last day, as it sinks in, you will see some shifts, I hope, on how you conduct yourself. Report an error in the passage at 26:48 Highlight the passage at 26:48

27:17 Is there any room to hold on grudges, disappointments, upsets, regrets? We can't, right? We don't want to die like that. We want to make amends. And we also want to try and do the right thing, bring up joy, bring up peace. The path becomes... a priority we can't wait we realize you know we can't wait till we get all of these things out of the way we have to get this out of the way before we do anything else that idea slowly comes in is this just my suggestion or did the Buddha say this the Buddha said this right the power of maranasati the power of reflecting on death it's just not any complicated meditation You can do complicated meditations to make it fun. But in the Buddha's teachings, it's simply remembering, I could die anytime. Report an error in the passage at 27:17 Highlight the passage at 27:17

28:13 I don't know when. This is the idea. This is what is powerful. Because we all know that we are going to die. But the idea that I don't know when... This is what brings on some energy. This is also very helpful if you feel like you're getting slacked with your practice. You know, this happens sometimes, especially after a long time, your initial energy starts to go down and you sit down, sitting, meditating, nothing's happening. Report an error in the passage at 28:13 Highlight the passage at 28:13

28:38 You know, I don't get joy. Am I progressing or going backwards? Why am I doing this? I've had enough of this. Does this work? If any of those things come to your mind, If this gets into you every day, if you did like this, you actually would find yourself living life better, right? You have to, you have no choice, because nobody wants to die in a bad state. Report an error in the passage at 28:38 Highlight the passage at 28:38

29:00 So that is why it's such a simple thing to do. Wake up and think, it might be my last day, that's all. Another small little thing. These are habit stacks, right? Because you wake up and then there's something that you do just before you get out of bed. You do this and then you get out of your bed and do what you do next. Report an error in the passage at 29:00 Highlight the passage at 29:00

29:17 So this is how you stack it with something. Very easy, doesn't take any time, but hopefully brings some results. Another thing, when you go to sleep, right? When you lie in your bed and ready you turn and now you're ready to sort of fall asleep. Just before that you can just bring a sense of gratitude. If you got something, If somebody did something kind to you, you can bring that up and bring a sense of gratitude. Or if you did an act of kindness, most people here do this all the time, many things in a day, bring that, wow, I had that opportunity to give. Report an error in the passage at 29:17 Highlight the passage at 29:17

29:54 Just bring that up into your mind. Or if you saw somebody else do something, you bring that up. So something like that to uplift your mind. And then you can leave it aside because it's only a few seconds and you go to sleep. But it would do something to your dreams even if you die because some people didn't wake up today, isn't it? Report an error in the passage at 29:54 Highlight the passage at 29:54

30:16 Some people did not. And one day it might be me. So if we went to bed with a good kind of thing, I mean there are many things, I'm just suggesting. Suggesting. Another thing is you can spread love to all the beings in the world. Mettā. Anything. I'm just suggesting how you can stack a habit. And it's not a long thing. Not asking you to do half an hour of mettā meditation before you go to sleep. If I ask that, you might do couple of days, but you'll forget it. Report an error in the passage at 30:16 Highlight the passage at 30:16

30:45 But this one, you can do it, right? It will. You will eventually get to that. When you are inspired enough, you would say, this is not enough. I actually want to really do gratitude a lot more or do mettā meditation a lot more. It will eventually come when you are ready. But this is just a small thing to do that will get you there. So this is working on the systems and working on these small little places to build those up so they work. Report an error in the passage at 30:45 Highlight the passage at 30:45

31:13 So there are many things that I thought. Another thing, is this helpful? Another thing, like when you are having your breakfast, you can bring the idea of kamma and vipaka. My intentional actions have consequences. This we all know, but we don't bring it up enough. Because if you remembered that, would you really say anything that is hurtful for anybody, anytime? Report an error in the passage at 31:13 Highlight the passage at 31:13

31:43 Do anything that is hurtful or harmful, we won't, right? But we forget momentarily that the consequences of our actions, sometimes big time, right? Big time we forget it and we go right ahead and do stupid things in our life. So if this is repeated many times, because we know, we already know kamma, but we don't make it, bring it on, make it current enough times. Report an error in the passage at 31:43 Highlight the passage at 31:43

32:11 So something like that will have far-reaching consequences. Now that we only have 10 minutes to go, I'm going to tell a story. So that is all about the book. The rest you have to read and apply and see what we go. We can have a catch-up session maybe another time where people can, after having read that, can tell how you read it, how you applied it, was it a waste of time or not. Report an error in the passage at 32:11 Highlight the passage at 32:11

32:35 Maybe I'm just suggesting if it is appropriate we can do that. If not, we don't have to. But here I promise that I will tell you how can we apply the Noble Eightfold Path in the daily life. Who is doing that already? Report an error in the passage at 32:35 Highlight the passage at 32:35

32:52 Sort of. Not sure. You think you are doing but not sure. Okay, let's see. I'm going to tell a story and see what happens. This is a story that I missed telling yesterday, but some people already know this. Never mind. This is one of my favorites. Everybody is going to hear this until I die. You'll be sick and tired of it, but I enjoy it. Report an error in the passage at 32:52 Highlight the passage at 32:52

33:17 This is a story from my own life when I went to Santi Forest Monastery four years ago. So it's a new monastery. It's actually quite a wild monastery, like a wild forest, not a wild monastery, wild forest, scary. Report an error in the passage at 33:17 Highlight the passage at 33:17

33:30 So when I first arrived there, I thought I need to familiarize myself. I didn't want to suddenly get lost. I want to know the place. It's 150 acre natural forest. So one fine, beautiful morning, I went for a walk. Report an error in the passage at 33:30 Highlight the passage at 33:30

33:45 So when you're going in a place where you don't know you, of course, walk very mindfully, quietly. But after a while, I met another nun who also went with me walking. She also had the same idea. What happens when two people meet? You start talking. What happens to your mindfulness? It starts to drop. Report an error in the passage at 33:45 Highlight the passage at 33:45

34:06 I certainly dropped my mindfulness but the other nine had a little bit more mindfulness but I certainly had good luck which is why I'm sitting in front of you and talking. Okay so we were walking down a narrow path and so she was in front of me and she suddenly put her hand out to stop me and when I stopped There was a red-bellied black snake. I don't know whether you know them in Western Australia. They're as bad or worse than the tiger snakes here. Really, really powerful, quite venomous, and it's a really big one too. Report an error in the passage at 34:06 Highlight the passage at 34:06

34:41 It's a really big black snake. It has already lifted itself up and was ready to strike. It can strike quite high. We were half an hour away from the main area where the telephones are, where the vehicles are, where the people are. If we got bitten, no way we are going to make it back. By the time we walk, the poison would reach our heart and we'd be dead. And we can't, even if we scream, nobody would hear. Report an error in the passage at 34:41 Highlight the passage at 34:41

35:07 We were that far. So if you met a snake like that, what is your honest, what is going to be your honest response? How would you react? What would you do? Tell me. Run. Yes, that's what exactly I thought. Run. Because I was so scared. What else? Report an error in the passage at 35:07 Highlight the passage at 35:07

35:27 Scream, yeah, of course, scream, it happens. Freeze, yes. Scream is also true. Some people would scream, some people would run, some people would freeze. Of course, nobody here would do the other one, because we are all Buddhists and we have taken our precepts, but some people kill also, right? Some people, because if it is in a farm, it can be a threat to their wild, you know, the stock or for the children. So this is also a common response, to kill. Report an error in the passage at 35:27 Highlight the passage at 35:27

35:56 So let's just work with these four things. When we meet a black snake, we could either scream, run, freeze, or kill. So this is normally. I also thought of running. But of course the other nun who was with me had a different idea. She held my hand very strongly that I couldn't move. In my head I was thinking, what are you doing? Let's run. But I didn't say it because she was very calm. Because she's calm, I calmed down. Report an error in the passage at 35:56 Highlight the passage at 35:56

36:24 And I trust her, so I thought she had a different plan, and I also sort of knew if I tried to run, the snake can outrun me, and this is not a good idea anyway. Report an error in the passage at 36:24 Highlight the passage at 36:24

36:35 So we just stopped for a little while, which is normal, because you also said freeze, and then we took a few steps back, and what she did after that is the really interesting part that I want to talk about. She spoke to the snake in the sweetest kind of voice. She's also a very sweet person. And said, I can't repeat, but I'll try my very best. Report an error in the passage at 36:35 Highlight the passage at 36:35

36:57 Said, oh, we didn't know you were here. It's such a beautiful day. You must be having a nice sunbathing. We were just going for a walk. But you know, we don't have to go that way. We are going to go back. Have a really nice day. Enjoy. Enjoy your day. It was really sweet. Really full of love, lot of respect the way she spoke. But of course, we know the snakes are deaf. Even if they could hear, do they know English? Report an error in the passage at 36:57 Highlight the passage at 36:57

37:29 But did the snake understand? Yes, if you have had pets, you know. They don't know the concept of sunbathing or anything like that, but the snake could feel the respect. With which we were interacting. It realized because I could see its glassy eyes looking at us. I can still remember that. Really watching what is going on. Report an error in the passage at 37:29 Highlight the passage at 37:29

37:53 Ready to strike if need be or not if otherwise. So watching. And was saying that we are trying to do something. Would see, feel the energy of our minds. Of hers, not mine. I was a bit scared but I was calming down luckily. And the respect, the kindness, the love, the sweetness. Report an error in the passage at 37:53 Highlight the passage at 37:53

38:13 Beautiful, isn't it? Beautiful. So if I was that snake, I would have been flattered. I think the snake was. But anyway, so now my question is, do you meet black snakes in your day-to-day life? Report an error in the passage at 38:13 Highlight the passage at 38:13

38:30 Do you meet black snakes? No? Yes. Black snake situations, right? Situations that trigger terror, Fear, anger, lots of desires, even sadness, anything, right? How do you respond? No, not respond. React. How do you react? Same ways, right? When something like that happens, some people scream. Some people freeze. Report an error in the passage at 38:30 Highlight the passage at 38:30

39:00 Some people run away. Some people kill the situation. We have probably done them all in different locations. Can you relate to that? To the person, to the situation? This is our natural reaction, habitual reaction, even to other things. Report an error in the passage at 39:00 Highlight the passage at 39:00

39:18 But do we have a choice? We do. The problem is we have forgotten that we have a choice. I'm so glad that this happened and this nun behaved in this way, that it suddenly showed me and opened up a whole array of things, which is why this has become my number one favorite story, also a lesson in my own life, which is why I repeat, because I applied, I realized the benefit of it, that I have a choice every time. Report an error in the passage at 39:18 Highlight the passage at 39:18

39:46 Every time as I receive the world, as I receive the world, do you understand when I say receive the world? You receive through sight, you receive through sound, taste, touch, right? You receive experiences. As you receive, how do you receive? And how, what is your reaction? Reactions are usually conditioned by our past, conditioned by defilements, right? And wrong views. Report an error in the passage at 39:46 Highlight the passage at 39:46

40:14 But the whole part of the spiritual path is about responses. What is the difference between reaction and response? Mindful engagement. This is where mindfulness is so important. Whether it's a reaction or a response, whether it's good or bad, they are conditioned. Our choices are conditioned. But we still can choose good or bad depending. Report an error in the passage at 40:14 Highlight the passage at 40:14

40:40 On our right view, right understanding, how much dharma we know and how much mindfulness we have. So mindfully engaging, we can change the course. We realize we have a choice. So this is where you apply your Noble Eightfold Path. Six factors of the Noble Eightfold Path can be applied here. I will tell you which ones you can't in every moment is your job. Like Samma Ajiva is about your job. That's something you have to decide. It's not in every moment. Report an error in the passage at 40:40 Highlight the passage at 40:40

41:10 And deep meditation. So Samma Samādhi is also later. But this is what leads to the Samma Samādhi. So if you've chosen a good job, that is correct. And if you do these other six factors every time. You have experience. Every time you contact the world, every time you receive, you have this ability. And this is where you're applying yourself, all six factors. Report an error in the passage at 41:10 Highlight the passage at 41:10

41:35 So here I go. I have now only one minute. I'm going to go over time. Is that okay? Are you happy? Okay. It is okay. So right view. So I'm just saying only a little bit. You have to do homework to put the whole of the right view. It will be a lifetime job, but right view informs us. Your intentional actions have consequences. Report an error in the passage at 41:35 Highlight the passage at 41:35

41:56 So if we try to harm that snake, kill it, or do something bad, we know there are consequences. So that is not a good way to do. So rather, if you do something kind, something respectful, something wholesome, something good, then that's good. So right view informs us, okay, this is the right choice. Not that, don't kill, don't do that, but do this. So that is where the choice is. Report an error in the passage at 41:56 Highlight the passage at 41:56

42:25 Right view is there. And then right intention. Right intention is about... Non-harming, non-cruelty, right? So other aspects you can apply to your own thing, even renunciation, right? That is the third factor. I'm going very quickly, but you get it because you know that dharma, I'm just showing you, this is happening in every place, right? Everything you do. Report an error in the passage at 42:25 Highlight the passage at 42:25

42:48 Right, speech. What's her speech, right? Sweet, nice, not harsh, not lying, not divisive, right? Right, speech. Kind speech. Words that goes to the heart. Right? If you speak like that actually, it's a successful communication. Have you ever achieved when you went into a conversation with your big ego and with a bit of anger and irritation? Report an error in the passage at 42:48 Highlight the passage at 42:48

43:12 Very difficult to achieve anything useful. Even if you have, it's not much. So, you know, this is really important. So right speech, right action is again not killing, not stealing, all of those things you apply to that situation. So you have a choice, right? And then, of course, in order to do that, do you need some mindfulness? Report an error in the passage at 43:12 Highlight the passage at 43:12

43:35 So this is not really called the right mindfulness, not samma sati, but sati sampajanya. This is mindfulness and clear comprehension, which is the starting point. This is what then we can build into right mindfulness. And also doing this is your right effort. What are you doing? You are staying clear of unwholesome ways of behaving because you have a choice, right? Because your reaction, the habitual reaction was more veering towards unwholesome. Report an error in the passage at 43:35 Highlight the passage at 43:35

44:04 But with your mindful engagement, your response is now veering towards wholesome. So this is now going into right effort. So can you see? So I said very briefly and not full session, but just to show every time when you have to, when you are receiving and responding, you can apply six factors of the Noble Eightfold Path. Report an error in the passage at 44:04 Highlight the passage at 44:04

44:29 So if you are actually doing this as much as possible, I mean, we can't be perfect, but we can, right? Little by little. So this is where, so this is your system, right? This is your system. So find out. And many things are repeated things, repeated black snakes, same kind of snake all the time. So you can reflect back, understand, how am I going to deal with this in a skillful way? Report an error in the passage at 44:29 Highlight the passage at 44:29

44:57 Is it possible? It is possible. This is how you apply. Otherwise you wonder, how am I going to do this? So this is why. So you put small things, big things, think about things. Sorry, because somebody wanted how to change mental habits. So this is precisely that. Your attitude about the snake. Our attitude is usually about the snake. Report an error in the passage at 44:57 Highlight the passage at 44:57

45:19 Snake is scary. It can kill me. It will be painful. They are bad. They are yucky. We have very bad things. Poor snake. It's a snake. Report an error in the passage at 45:19 Highlight the passage at 45:19

45:28 You know, snakes are probably another, you know, animal, another being, probably living with fear, thinking what's going to happen to me, you know, lost and, you know, all these things. We never think about snakes like that, right? It's hard, but you can. You know, I don't have time, I'm sorry, but there was a really nice sweet story of a nun who's from New Zealand where there are no snakes, so she didn't have this kind of bad attitude, and she was in America, and she was warned to be careful about rattlesnakes. Report an error in the passage at 45:28 Highlight the passage at 45:28

46:00 But she was meditating outside and had a really nice, peaceful meditation, and when she woke up, when she opened her eyes, there was something looking at her. And so sweet, so nice, so... Oh, there was a cute snake. That's what she thought. Cute snake with big eyes looking at me. And she felt like the snake was asking her to follow her. Report an error in the passage at 46:00 Highlight the passage at 46:00

46:22 And she turned around. So she decides to follow the snake, this cute little snake. After a while as she was walking and coming out a little bit more from her meditation, she heard the rattlings now and she remembered her instruction and she got a bit fear because rattlesnake is supposed to be quite dangerous. Report an error in the passage at 46:22 Highlight the passage at 46:22

46:41 So when she got fear, the snake also got fear and snake luckily ran in one direction and she ran in the other direction. But the point of the story is... We have bad views about these things, about these people, about these situations. This is where right view is so important, not just mindfulness. Mindfulness isn't enough. Right view is important and replacing wrong view. So we have so much wrong views in our life. Report an error in the passage at 46:41 Highlight the passage at 46:41

47:12 So changing those things. So I actually end up giving a dharma talk rather than doing a book club. But the idea is to inspire you to how to apply it. Did it make sense? Yes? Okay. Alright. I'm going to stop. I'm five minutes past time. Is that okay? Forgive me for that. Alright. Sorry we didn't have enough time to go through. Report an error in the passage at 47:12 Highlight the passage at 47:12

47:38 Because that's another session which is why we can't even really go over time. But yeah. So enjoy your book. Or just whatever, enjoy your practice. Take care. Report an error in the passage at 47:38 Highlight the passage at 47:38