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.

Q: Dealing With Entitled People And Their Hurtful Remarks

(approx. 10 minutes) Keywords: "Sometimes I receive hurtful remarks from difficult participants." Unconditional, aspirations, other people, subtext, heart capacity, hurt, contracted heart, projection, view, don’t be afraid to suffer, dukkha is a message, pay attention, Four Noble Truths, Dhammapada verse 228, backlog of denied pain, fear of criticism, caution, gentleness, clinging, strategies of avoidance, live simply, eating, sleeping, not knowing two things, discipline attention, indulgence and denial, suffer accurately, forbearance, resilience, strength.