While in the midst of those who hate, to dwell free from hatred is happiness indeed.
DHAMMAPADA v. 197
The teachings we receive from the Buddha and the great disciples can serve to inspire us. Feeling inspired leads to feeling energised. Then we are encouraged to skilfully apply this energy in the process of purifying our hearts and minds from habits of resisting reality. In reality most of us do still suffer from becoming lost in aversion, in sadness, in disappointment. And we probably do still feel challenged by our compulsive tendencies to resist the pain of life. Skilful effort in practice means we are neither in too much of a hurry, nor are we are too tardy. Although it can be tempting to grasp at the desire for difficulties to end, if we wish to follow the teachings of the Buddha, we recollect how he also taught about modesty and patience.
Q: How Important Is Physical Activity And Fitness In Practice?
(approx. 11 minutes) KEYWORDS: "How important is physical activity and fitness to the practice of Buddhism?” Ajahn Chah, practising in the city or the forest, healthy or sick, inner exploration, talking dhamma, sincerity, humility, modesty, Lyme's disease, opening, disappointment, ageing, whole body-mind, conceptual understanding, the Buddha experienced pain, Vultures’ Peak, no suffering, resisting reality, letting go.
Q: How Do We Honour Both Our Spiritual Aspirations And Our Limitations?
(approx. 12 minutes) KEYWORDS: "How do we push ourselves to higher standards in practice while at the same time, remaining compassionate towards ourselves with regards to our current spiritual limitations?" Overly idealistic, holding too tightly, goals, bearings, force, assertive, balance, goal-oriented, becoming enlightened, Newcastle-Edinburgh, humility, modesty, truthfully, loneliness, denied pain, greed, hatred, burning through, old debt, patience, contentment.
Q: How To Deal With Feelings Of Frustration and Discouragement?
(approx. 9 minutes)Keywords: "I find myself frustrated by the laziness of others". Two approaches, strategies, expectations, meeting experiences, Ajahn Chah, 70%-30%, 90%-10%, stories in our head, judging, questioning, resentment, feelings in our heart, surrendering, deep in-breath, the open-heated state, feel fully offended, agents of our suffering, compassionate heart, trusting, relationships, alone under a tree, settle the great matter, vectors of transformation, humility, abdication, modesty.