(approx 12 minutes) Q: There are many lists in Buddhism and I am sure they are all important. However, I find the number overwhelming and wish to more formally incorporate one/some into my practice as daily guides are there any you could recommend? Five spiritual faculties, saddha, viriya, sati, samadhi, pannya, trust in true principles, physical faculties, laws, consciousness, kamma, generosity, self-referencing, motivation, energy, embodied mindfulness, aliveness, literacy, disciplined attention, discernment, curiosity, upadana, desire and craving, fear and terror, sila, sati, indriya samvara, karuna, pannya, integrity,self confidence, intentional composure, compassion, happiness, discernment.
Q: Not Being Fooled By My Moods
(approx 12 minutes) I have noticed on many occasions that I believe that my current mood, whatever it is, will be a permanent feature of my existence. I can see that this is not helpful, for example it makes it easy to build up wildly inaccurate versions of the future. It is disconcerting to see how much a mood can condition/distort the thought process and also effect decisions and relationships. Which skills and practices would be the most effective in counteracting this? Trying to observe a mood without being drawn into it even further can sometimes be tricky. I am not expecting a quick fix! Variety of approaches, agility, a repertoire of skills, techniques, 3 categories, cutting through, seeing through, burning through, sapling, resignation,spectrum, lemon, tomato,red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, apparent reality, actuality,meditation retreat, coarse and refined mind states, resentment, compassion, contentment.
Q: A Time of Dhamma Declining
(approx 10 minutes)My questions are somehow a follow-on to the last ones you answered about the increase of greed, hatred and delusion. The Internet is also full of AI generated so called quotes by the Buddha and other great Sages. And also self appointed gurus who come up with somewhat dubious teachings. It is not always easy to avoid this and I feel I can get influenced by it. Is this now the time the Buddha was talking about when he pointed to the decline of the true Dhamma? Master Tsun Hua, looking outwards, theistic religions, three poisons, greed, hatred, delusion, eating, shaming, betraying our commitment, conscious composure, compassion meditation, fears, worries, anxiety, skilful means, movie, delusion, whole body-mind, apparent reality, actuality, ‘don’t believe it’, ‘don’t disbelieve it’.
Q: Issues Around Alcohol Consumption
(approx 11 minutes)12th February, 2023 Q: We take the training precept to refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind. Please could you offer a reflection on responding to issues that can arise in daily-life related to alcohol use by others. KEYWORDS: Leaving retreats, support, strength, understanding, stress management, numbing, serious side-effects, fancy bottles, advertising, blood-brain barrier, nausea, brain damage, smoking, money, regrets, addiction, fear of rejection, gift, embodied mindfulness, judgement-free awareness, compassion, spiritual faculties, empathy, wisdom and compassion.
INTENTIONAL ALONENESS: full moon - Sunday 15th December, 2024
Having found no companion who has travelled at least as far as ourselves, it is better to go alone than to accompany those who remain irresolute.
DHAMMAPADA v. 61
It can be tempting to turn the pain of loneliness into an enemy. An alternative approach might be to get interested in the relationship we have with the very feeling of loneliness. When mindfulness is not sufficiently embodied, we tend to following the habit of looking around in our heads for a solution to suffering. The Buddha’s solution is the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, which begins with the body. Can we feel lonely, not just think about how to stop feeling lonely? If we connect with the raw condition of suffering, learning to relinquish our addiction to abstract thinking, then perhaps we will discover we can be our own good friend. Instead of always looking outside for that object, or that relationship, that we believe will give us a feeling of wholeness, we can look inwards. In so doing, it’s possible you might start meeting others seeking the solution to their suffering by befriending themselves.