From: https://youtube.com/watch?v=nfV1XLCJfN4

Context: Throughout this transcript, Bhante Vimalaramsi is the speaker unless otherwise indicated.

good evening and welcome to damascus

meditation center in

annapolis missouri this evening

general voldemort ramsey will give the

donna talk

it will be on mishima nikaya number 95

and today is

february the

12th

2011.

thus if i heard on one occasion the

blessed one was wandering in the kosalan

country with a large

sangha of monks

he didn't travel anywhere without 500

monks around him

and eventually he arrived at the kosalan

brahman village named oppa

oppasada

there the blessed one stayed in the gods

grove the salla tree grove to the north

of opasada

now on that occasion the brahman chanky

was ruling over opassada a crown

property

abounding in living beings rich in

grassland

woodlands waterways grain and a royal

endowment with a sacred grant given to

him by king passanati of kusala

the brahman householders of oppasada

heard the recluse gotoma

anyone

the son of the sakians who went forth

from the sakian clan has been wandering

through the country of

kosala with a large sangha of monks

with 500 monks

now a good report of master gotama has

been fred spread to this effect the

blessed one is accomplished fully

awakened perfect and true knowledge and

conduct

sublime knower of worlds incomparable

leader of persons to be tamed

teacher of gods and humans

awakened and blessed

he declares this world with its gods its

maras and its brahmas

this generation with the recluses and

brahmanas

with his princes and its people

which he has himself realized with

direct knowledge

he teaches the dhamma that is good in

the beginning good in the middle and

good in the end with the right meaning

and freezing

he reveals a holy life that is utterly

perfect and pure

now it is good to see such arahats

the brahmana householders of oppasada

set forth from oppasada in groups and

bands and headed northwards to the gods

grove the salla tree grove

now on that occasion the brahman chanky

had retired to the upper story of the

palace for his midday rest

then he saw the brahmin householders of

oppasada setting forth from oppasada in

groups and bands and heading northwards

to the gods grove the salla tree grove

and then he's when he saw them he asked

his minister good minister why are the

brahmana householders of oppasada

setting forth from oppasada in groups

and bands and heading northwards to the

gods grove the solitary grove

sir

there is the recluse gotuma

the son of the sakeans who went forth

from the sakian clan who has been

wandering

in the kosalin country

they're going to see

the

the master gotuma

then good minister go to the brahmana

householders of oppasada and tell them

sirs

the brahman chanky says this

please wait sirs

the brahman chanky will

also go to see the master

re the recluse master gautama

yes sir the minister replied and he went

to the brahmana householders of oppasada

and gave them the message

now on that occasion there were 500

brahmanas from various states were

staying at oppasada for some reason or

other

they heard that brahman chanky is said

is going to see the recluse go to ma

then they went to the

brahman chanky and asked him sir

is it true that you're going to see the

recluse go to my

so it is sirs i'm going to see the

recluse go to ma

sirs do not go to see the recluse go to

my it is not proper for master chalky to

go see the recluse gotsuma

rather it is proper for the recluse

gotomat to come see you

for you sir are well born on both sides

of pure maternal and paternal descent

seven generation back

in india the brahman class

they were cast was

really quite prideful

and they were the only ones that could

read

so

the more pure your

parentage is the higher kind of

brahman you are

ah

unassailable and impeccable in uh in

respect of birth

since that is so master chunky it is not

proper for you to go see the recluse

gotama

rather it is proper for the recluse go

to mount to come see you

you sir are rich

with great wealth and great possessions

you sir our master of the three vedas

with their vocabularies liturgy

phenology etymology and the histories as

the fifth

skilled in philology and grammar

you are

fully versed in natural philosophy and

in the marks of a great man

you sir are handsome comely and graceful

possessing super supreme beauty of

complexion

with the sublime beauty and sublime

presence

remarkable to behold

you sir are virtuous mature in virtue

possessing mature virtue

you sir are a good speaker with a good

delivery

you speak words that are courteous

distinct flawless and communicate the

meaning

you sir teach the teachers of many

and you teach the recitation of the

hymns to 300 brahman students

you sir are honored respected revered

venerated and esteemed by king passanati

of kosala

you sir are honored respected revered

venerated and esteemed by the brahmana

polka rasatti

you sir rule over oppasada

a crown property abounding in living

beings a sacred grant given to you by

king pasanati of kosala

since this is so master

chunky

it is not proper for you

to go see master the recluse gotema

rather it is proper for the recluse

kotoma to come see you

when this was said the brahman chanky

told those brahmanas

now sirs

hear from me why it is proper for me to

go see master gotuma

and why it is not proper for master

gotama to come see me

serves the recluse gautama is well born

on both sides he was in a warrior class

now in a lot of ways the warrior class

and the brahmana class

they were the the top of the rum

the warrior class was generally the

the rulers of of lands

because they

they were fighters

and sometimes the brahmanas would come

in and

try to take it from them

but

the brahmins were generally the

more educated

so

they

were

they had a gentle rivalry going all over

the time

sirs the recluse gotoma is well born on

both sides

of pure maternal and paternal descent

seven generations back

unassailable and impeccable in respect

to birth

since this is so sirs it is not proper

for master gotuma to come see me rather

it is proper for me to go see master

gotuma

sirs the recluse

gotama went forth abandoning much gold

and bullion stored away in vaults and in

lofts

serves the recruits go to ma went forth

from the home life into homelessness

while still young

a black-haired young man endowed with

the blessings of youth

what the ascetics generally did

was they would get married

and they would have kids and they would

raise the kids and then when they got to

be about 60 years old they turned over

everything and became ascetics

so

to have

somebody that was still very young

become an ascetic it was highly unusual

sirs the recluse go go to my shaved off

his hair and beard and put on the yellow

robe and went forth from the home life

into homelessness

though his mother and father wished

otherwise and wept with tearful faces

sirs the recluse gotama's handsome

comely graceful possessing supreme

beauty of complexion

with sublime beauty and sublime presence

remarkable to behold

sir is the recluse gotama's virtuous

with noble virtue with wholesome virtue

possessing wholesome virtue

sir is the recluse go to my is a good

speaker with a good delivery he speaks

words that are courteous distinct

flawless and communicate the meaning

sir sirs the recluse gotama is a teacher

of the teachers of many

sir the recluse go to my is free from

sensual lust

and without personal vanity

serves the recluse gotama holds the

doctrine of moral efficacy of action

the doctrine of moral efficacy of deeds

he does not seek any harm for the line

of brahmanas

sirs the recluse go to mao went forth

from a from an aristocratic family

from one of the original noble families

sir the recluse gotemo went forth from a

rich family

from a family of great wealth and great

possessions

sirs people come from remote kingdoms

and remote districts to question the

rekluse gotema

sir's many thousands of deities have

gone for refuge for life to the recluse

gotouma

serves a good report of the recluse go

to ma has has been spread to this effect

that the blessed one is accomplished

fully awakened perfect in true knowledge

and conduct

sublime knower of world's incomparable

leader of persons to be tamed

teacher of gods and humans awakened and

blessed

sirs the recluse gotama possesses the

thirty-two marks of a great man

sirs king sayana bimbasara of magadaha

and his wife and children have gone for

refuge for a life to the recluse gotuma

sir king pasanati of kosala and his wife

and children have gone for refuge for

life to the recluse gotuma

serves the brahman pokhara sati

and his wife and children

have gone for refuge for life to the

recluse gotuma

serves the recluse gotama has arrived in

oppasada and is living at the opposada

in the gods grove the sala tree grove to

the north of opasada

now any recluses or brahmanas that come

to our town

are our guests and guests should be

honored respected revered and venerated

by us

since the recluse gotuma has arrived at

oppasada he is our guest

and as our guest should be honored

respected revered and venerated by us

since this is so sirs

it is not proper for master gotama to

come see me rather it is proper for me

to go see master gotama

sirs this much is the praise of master

gotama that i have learned but the

praise of master gotuma is not limited

to that praise

his

praise is immeasurable

since master gotama possesses each one

of these factors it is not proper for

him to come see me rather it's proper

for me to go see

master gautama

therefore sirs let all of us go see the

recluse gotama

then the brahman chanky together with a

large company of brahmanas

went to the blessed one and exchanged

greetings with him

when this courteous and amiable talk was

finished he sat down at one side

now on that occasion the blessed one was

seated finishing some amiable talk with

some very senior brahmanas

at the time sitting in the assembly was

a brahmana student

a young shaven-haired 16-year-old he was

a master of the three vedas with their

vocabularies

liturgy phonology etymology and

histories as a fifth

skilled in philology and grammar

is fully versed in the natural

philosophy and in the marks of a great

man

while the very senior brahmanas were

conversing with the blessed one he repre

repeatedly broke in and interrupted in

their talk

that's almost unheard of for some young

man to be

with all of these elder

people

it's

even among monks

a young monk

only talks

when

they're talked to

otherwise

they keep quiet

then the blessed one rebuked the brahman

student thus

let not the venerable student break in

and interrupt the talk of the very

senior brahmanas while they are

conversing

let the venerable student wait until the

talk is finished

to memorize all three vedas and only be

16 years old is a pretty amazing

accomplishment he had a really bright

mind

when this was said the brahman chanky

said to the blessed one let not master

go to rebuke the brahmana student

the brahmana student is a klansman

he is very learned he has good delivery

he is wise

he is capable of taking part in this in

the discussion with master gautama

then the blessed one thought

surely since the brahmanas honor him

thus the brahmana student

must be accomplished in the scriptures

of the three vedas

then the brahman student thought

when the recluse go

gotoma catches my eye i shall ask him a

question

then knowing with his own mind the

thought of the brahman student

the blessed one turned his eye towards

him then the brahman student thought the

recluse got my eyes turned towards me

suppose i ask him a question

then he said to the blessed one master

gotuma

in regard to the

ancient brahmatic hymns that have come

down through oral tradition

preserved in the collections the

brahmanas come to the definite

conclusion

only this is true and anything else is

wrong

what does master goatama say about this

how then student among the brahmanas is

is there even a single brahman who says

i know this i see this only this is true

when anything else is wrong

no master gotama

how then student among the brahmanas is

there even a single teacher or a single

teacher's teacher's teacher

back to the seventh generations of

teachers who says thus

i know this i see this only this is true

and anything else is wrong

no master gotama

how then student the ancient brahmana

seers the creators of the hymns the

composers of the hymns

whose ancient hymns that were formally

chanted uttered and compiled

the brahmanas nowadays still chant and

repeat

repeating what was spoken reciting what

was recited

did even these ancient brahmana seers

say thus

we know this we see this only this is

true and anything else is wrong

no master gotoma

so student it seems that

among the brahmanas there's not even a

single brahmana who says thus

i know this i see this only this is true

and anything else is wrong

and among the brahmanas there's not even

a single teacher

or a single teacher's teacher

back to the seventh generation of

teachers who says thus

i know this i see this

only this is true and anything else is

wrong

and the ancient brahman seers the

creators of the hymns the composer of

the hymns

even these ancient brahmin seers did not

say thus

we know this we see this only this is

true and anything else is wrong

suppose there were a file of blind men

each in touch with the next

the first one does not see the middle

one does not see and the last one does

not see

so to student in regard to their

statement the brahmana seemed to be like

file of blind men

the first one does not see the middle

one does not see and the last one does

not see

what do you think student

that being so does not the faith of the

brahmanas turn out to be groundless

you can you can pull this out for the

christians too

because they say their their way is the

only way

you'll you'll see

in a moment

the brahmanas honor this

not only out of faith master gotuma but

they also honor it as oral tradition

student first you took the stand on

faith now you speak of oral tradition

there are these five things student

that may turn out in two different ways

here and now what five

faith

approval

oral tradition

reason cogitation and reflective

acceptance of a view

these five things may turn out to be two

different

in two different ways here and now

now something may be fully accepted out

of faith yet it may be empty hollow and

false

but something else may not be fully

accepted out of faith

yet it may be factual true and

unmistaken

again something may be approved of

yet it may be empty hollow and false

but something else

may not be fully accepted and unapproved

of

uh

but it could be factual true and

unmistaken

something may be well transmitted well

cuted well reflected upon

yet it may be empty hollow in faith and

false

but something else may be well reflected

upon

yet it may be factual true and

unmistaken

under these conditions it is not proper

for a wise man who preserves truth

to come to the definite conclusion only

this is true and anything else is wrong

but master go to mine what way is there

the preservation of truth

how does one preserve truth

we ask master gotama about the

preservation of truth

if a person has faith student he

preserves truth when he says

my faith is thus

but he does not yet come to the definite

conclusion only this is true when

anything else is wrong

in this way student there is the

preservation of truth

in this way he preserves truth

in this way he can describe the

preservation of truth

but as yet there is no discovery of

truth

if a person approves of something if he

receives an oral tradition if he reaches

a conclusion based on reason cogitation

if he gains a reflective acceptance of a

view he preserves truth when he says my

reflective acceptance of the view is

thus

but he does not come to the definite

conclusion only this is true and

anything else is wrong

in this way to student there is the

preservation of truth

in this way he preserves truth

in this way

we describe the preservation of truth

but as yet there is no discovery of

truth

in that way master go to mother is the

preservation of truth

in that way one preserves truth

in that way we recognize a preservation

of truth

but in what way master got to my is

there the discovery of truth

in what way does one discover truth we

ask master gautama about the discovery

of truth

here student

a monk baby living independence on some

village or town

then a householder a householder son

goes to him and investigates him in

regards to three kinds of states

in regards to states based on greed

in regards to states based on hate

and in regard to states based on

delusion

there

are there in this venerable one any

states based on greed such that if his

mind is obsessed obsessed with those

states

while not knowing he might say i know

or well not seeing he might say i see

or he might urge others to act in a way

that would lead to their harm and

suffering for a long time

as he investigates them he comes to know

there is no such states based on greed

in this venerable one

the bodily behavior and verbal behavior

of this venerable one

are not those of one affected by greed

and the dhamma that this venerable one

teaches is profound hard to see and hard

to understand

peaceful and sublime

unattainable by mere reasoning subtle to

be experienced by the wise

this

dhamma cannot easily be taught by one

affected by greed

when he has investigated him and has

seen that he is purified from states

based on greed

he next investigates him in regard to

states based on hate

are there in this venerable one any

states based on hate such that

with his mind obsessed by those states

he might urge others to act in a way

that would lead to their own harm

suffering and suffering for a long time

as he investigates him he comes to know

there's no such states based on hate in

this venerable one

the bodily behavior the verbal behavior

of this venerable one are not

those of one affected by hate

and the dhamma this venerable one

teaches is profound to be experienced by

the wise

this dhamma cannot easily be taught by

one affected by hate

when he has investigated him and has

seen him that he is purified from states

based on hate

he next investigates him in regards to

states based on delusion you remember

what delusion is

come on you can do it

taking things personally

are there in this venerable one

any states based on delusion such that

with his

his mind obsessed by those states he

might urge others to act in a way that

would lead to their harm and suffering

for a long time

as he investigates him he comes to know

there are no such states based on

delusion in this venerable one

the bodily behavior and verbal behavior

of this venerable one

are not those of one affected by

delusion and the dhamma that this

venerable one teaches is profound

to be experienced by the wise

this dharma cannot easily be taught by

one affected by delusion

when he has investigated him and has

seen that he is purified from states

based on delusion

then he places faith in him

filled with faith he visits him

pays respect to him

having paid respect to him he gives ear

and listens closely

when he gives here

he hears the dhamma

having heard the dhamma he memorizes and

examines the meaning of the teachings as

he has memorized

when he examines their meaning he gains

reflective acceptance of those teachings

when he's gained reflective acceptance

of those teachings

enthusiasm springs up

when enthusiasm has sprung up

he applies his mindfulness

having applied his mindfulness

he scrutinizes having

scrutinizes scrutinized he strives

resolutely striving he realizes

with the body the supreme truth and sees

it

by penetrating it with wisdom

seeing dependent origination

in this way student there is the

discovery of truth

in this way one discovers truth

in this way we describe the discovery of

truth

but as yet there's no final arrival at

truth

in that way master gotama there is the

discovery of truth

and that way one discovers truth

in that way we recognize the discovery

of truth

but in what way master gotama is there

the final arrival at truth

in what way does one finally arrive at

truth

we ask master gotama about the final

arrival at truth

the final arrival at truth student lies

in the repetition development and

cultivation of all the things mentioned

in this way

there is the final arrival at truth

in this way one finally arrives at truth

in this way we describe the final

arrival at truth

in that way master go to mother is the

final arrival at truth

in that way one actually arrives at

truth

practicing the

come on

practicing

practicing the six hours that will lead

you all the way

right

and that way we recognize the final

arrival at truth

but what master gotama is most helpful

for the final arrival at truth

we ask master ge gotama the thing

most helpful for the final arrival at

truth

striving is most helpful for the final

arrival at truth

if one does not strive one will not

finally arrive at truth

but because one strives one does not

one does finally arrive at truth that is

why striving is most helpful

for the final arrival at truth

but what master gotama is most helpful

for striving

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for striving

scrutiny is most helpful for striving

if one does not scrutinize

one will not strive

but because one scrutinizes one strives

that is why scrutiny is most helpful for

striving

paying attention

but what master gotama's most helpful

for scrutiny we ask master gautama about

the thing most helpful for scrutiny

application of

mindfulness is most helpful for scrutiny

if one does not apply one's mindfulness

one will not scrutinize

but because one applies one's

mindfulness one scrutinizes

that is why application of mindfulness

is most helpful for scrutiny

but what master gautama is most helpful

for the application of mindfulness

we ask master gotum about the thing most

helpful for the application of

mindfulness

enthusiasm

taking an interest

is most helpful for the application of

mindfulness

if one does not arouse enthusiasm one

will not apply their mindfulness

but because one arouses enthusiasm one

applies

one applies one's

mindfulness

that is why enthusiasm is most helpful

for the application of mindfulness

but master gautama

but what master gautama is most helpful

for enthusiasm

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for enthusiasm

a reflective acceptance of the teachings

is most helpful for the

uh for enthusiasm student

if one does not gain a reflective

acceptance of the teachings

enthusiasm

will not spring up but because one gains

a reflective acceptance of the teaching

one's

enthusiasm springs up

that is why

reflective acceptance of the teaching is

most helpful for enthusiasm

as you start seeing for yourself that

this works

you start having more enthusiasm

and when you have more enthusiasm

you're looking more closely with your

mindfulness

you're seeing things more clearly

you're able to

stay with your object of meditation

longer and you're seeing the things that

knock you off you're seeing them more

clearly

and you're not taking them personally

that's what it means by reflective

acceptance

it means from direct experience

reflect on your direct experience and

see whether it works or not

but what master gotama is most helpful

for reflective acceptance of the

teachings

we ask master gautama about the thing

most helpful for a reflective acceptance

of the teachings

examination of the meaning is most

helpful for reflective acceptance of the

teachings

examination see how it works

don't believe what somebody else says

if one does not examine their meaning

one will not gain a reflective

acceptance of the teachings

but because one

examines their meaning one gains a

reflective acceptance of the teachings

that is why examination is the

examination of the meaning

is most helpful for reflective

acceptance of the teaching

but master gotama

what is most helpful for examination of

the meaning

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for examination of the

meaning

memorizing the teaching

it doesn't mean you have to memorize

every suta it means that you have to be

able to

to know what the hindrances are without

trying to fumble around and figure out

what they are

what the noble truths are things like

that

memorizing the teaching

is most helpful for examining

the examining of meaning student if one

does not memorize a teaching one will

not examine its meaning

but because one's memories

but because one memorizes a teaching one

examines its meaning

but what master gotama is most helpful

for memorizing the teaching

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for memorizing the

teachings

hearing the dhamma is most helpful for

memorizing the teachings

how many times do i repeat myself

so you can memorize it

if one does not hear the dhamma one will

not memorize the teachings only makes

sense

but because one hears the dhamma one

memorizes the teachings

that is why hearing the dhamma is most

helpful for memorizing the teachings

but what master gotama is most helpful

for hearing the dhamma

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for hearing the dhamma

giving ear is most helpful for hearing

the dhamma student

if one does not give ear one will not

hear the dhamma

but because one gives ear one hears the

dhamma

that means taking interest in what's

being said without thinking

just listening

that is why

giving ear is most helpful for hearing

the dhamma

but what master gotuma's most helpful

for giving ear

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for giving ear

paying respect is most helpful for

giving ear student

if one does not pay respect one will not

give here

so you have to respect what's being said

but because one pays respect one gives

ear

that is why paying respect is most

helpful for giving ear

but what master gotama's most helpful

for paying respect

we ask master gautama about the thing

most helpful for paying respect

visiting a teacher is most helpful for

paying respect student

if one does not visit a teacher one will

not pay respect to him

but because one teaches one visits a

teacher one pays respect to him

that is why visiting is the most helpful

thing for paying respect

but what master gotama is most helpful

for visiting

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for visiting

faith is most helpful for visiting

student if faith in a teacher does not

arise

one will not visit him

but because of faith in a teacher

because

faith in a teacher arises one visits him

that is why faith is most helpful for

visiting

we ask master gotama about the

preservation of truth

and master gotama answered about the

preservation of truth

we approve of and accept that answer

and so we're satisfied

we ask master gotama about the discovery

of truth

and master gotama answered about the

discovery of truth

we approve of and accept that answer and

so we are satisfied

we ask master gautama about the final

arrival at truth

and master gotima

are

answered about the final arrival at

truth

we approve of and accept that answer and

so we're satisfied

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for the final arrival at

truth

and master

gotoma answered about the thing most

helpful for the final arrival at truth

we approve of and accept the answer

and so we are satisfied

whatever we ask master gautama about

that he has answered us

we approve of and accept that answer

so we are satisfied

formally master gautama we used to think

who are these ballpated recluses these

worthy menial offspring of the kinsmen's

feet

feet in asia

is considered very dirty

because you're walking around in dust

all the time and you most of the time

you just have sandals on

or

you're walking barefoot

a lot of places

they put a

big

well

it's it's a water container

so you can wash your feet before you

walk in

into their house

so when you when you say

uh swarthy menial offspring of the

kinsmen feet that's pretty big

insult

that they would understand a dhamma but

master gotuma has indeed inspired in me

love for recluses

confidence and recluse's reverence for

recluses

magnificent master gotama magnificent

from today let master go to my remember

me as a lay follower who has gone to him

for refuge for life

that's a pretty major thing that the

buddha just did they called his they

called

a lot of the uh

other sects

that were teaching other things they

called

him a master of

magical conversion

and his his magic was just telling him

the truth

so

when you go home

please sit no less than 30 minutes

morning is best

your meditation is going to have some

dips in it

there's going to be times when you have

a very active day

you start to sit and your mind is going

to be real active

okay

so no problem

so continue on

you will

start

improving in your meditation

but you have to do it every day

and sitting in the morning is the best

time because

you don't have to think about it in the

evening then if you want to sit in the

evening and you have time then you can

but i found through my own practice when

i was a layman

the evening it was a hard time to sit

because some friend would call up and

let's go out to dinner and then i go

let's go to a movie and

you get home and you're too tired

i'll do it tomorrow

so if you do it in the morning you don't

have that problem

now i had uh i had some students in

malaysia that

they were really serious about the

practice but they had kids and had a job

they had all of these things that they

needed to be taken care of

so they wound up getting

up two hours early

so they could sit for two hours before

they started their day

now that's real dedication

and it's not an easy thing

but

when after he took a retreat with me he

would go back to work and everybody

would see that he was a lot more calm

and he was smiling more and he was kind

of radiating a happy feeling and he

stopped complaining about things and he

started going

you're different

what did you do i want some of that

so the more you can keep your practice

going all day that means smile

all day

you

especially

yeah

you need more practice smiling

i used to

give people a little pocket mirror

and i got cayman to write smile on it

so every now and you can pull it out and

see you you get to look at your face and

see whether you're really smiling or not

there was this one lady that she came

and she started practicing with me she's

incredibly beautiful

and really really beautiful

and she was a little bit on the vain

side

and

she told me that she got in a big

argument with her boyfriend

and i said did you pull out the mirror

to see what your face looked like

she said oh no i wouldn't do that i said

that's when you need to look at your

face

and it was like a hitter with a wet

towel

so

it's real important

to

practice your smiling as much as you can

into everything even when you don't feel

like smiling smile

it has good benefit

and you'll find that your mindfulness

improves so much

i mean it's kind of gimmicky sounding

no just smile all the time

but it helps improve your awareness of

what your mind is doing in the present

moment

and you get to see your attachments and

you get to see when

you really start thinking a lot

and

then good to laugh

so

meditation

is living

living your life

you get to carry it with you all the

time

it's not just about sitting still like a

buddha image

it's about being mindful of what your

mind is doing all the time

the more you have an uplifted mind

the easier it is to recognize when your

mind gets pulled down

and the easier it is to let it go you

won't get caught for as long

there's some people that in in asia in

particular they they tell me well if i

practice loving-kindness all the time

people take advantage of me

and my answer is that is meditation does

not make you stupid

you can stop people from taking

advantage of you

and that it's like that the old farmer

he went out and he bought a mule from

his neighbor

he got the mule home and hooked him up

and he was gonna

put him to work and the mule just

didn't pay attention to him

so he went back to his neighbor he said

i can't get this mule to do anything

and the neighbor says i know what the

problem is

i'll come over and fix it for you

so he comes over and he picks up a 2x4

and he hits that mule right straight

between the eyes

and the farmer that just bought him said

you don't do that

and he said well the guy that owned him

previously said

well now he'll do anything you want i

got his attention for you

and sometimes loving kindness has to be

like that

you've got to get their attention that

doesn't mean you have to do it with

anger

so the the whole point of the meditation

is learning how to have

an uplifted mind so that you can be

happy all the time

it is

possible it is reasonable

except with some animals

anyway

do you have any questions

you were saying keep smiling throughout

the day but you don't

and that's sort of independent

like six hours

you keep doing the six hours all day too

as much as you can remember

and there'll be times that you forget

okay then start over again that's all

that doesn't work

you'll see

but the six hours are something that you

carry around with you all the time

just like the smile is but the smile is

part of the six hours isn't it

right

and laugh with it and

don't get serious

when you're serious you're attached when

you're attached you make yourself suffer

that's the way it works

but aren't there times that you have to

be serious

why

or you know

just to figure something i mean if

you're

trying to figure something out or work

on something well but if the more fun

you have while you're trying to figure

something out

the easier it is to figure out

and smile while you're doing it

and like i said you'll forget

but when you remember start over again

that's all

okay

may suffering ones be suffering free and

the fear struck fearless be

may the grieving shed all grief and may

all beings find relief

may all beings share this merit that

we've thus acquired for the acquisition

of all kinds of happiness

may beings inhabiting space and earth

devas and nagas a mighty power share

this merit of ours

may they long protect the buddhist

dispensation

you

good evening and welcome to damascus

meditation center in

annapolis missouri this evening

general voldemort ramsey will give the

donna talk

it will be on mishima nikaya number 95

and today is

february the

12th

2011.

thus if i heard on one occasion the

blessed one was wandering in the kosalan

country with a large

sangha of monks

he didn't travel anywhere without 500

monks around him

and eventually he arrived at the kosalan

brahman village named oppa

oppasada

there the blessed one stayed in the gods

grove the salla tree grove to the north

of opasada

now on that occasion the brahman chanky

was ruling over opassada a crown

property

abounding in living beings rich in

grassland

woodlands waterways grain and a royal

endowment with a sacred grant given to

him by king passanati of kusala

the brahman householders of oppasada

heard the recluse gotoma

anyone

the son of the sakians who went forth

from the sakian clan has been wandering

through the country of

kosala with a large sangha of monks

with 500 monks

now a good report of master gotama has

been fred spread to this effect the

blessed one is accomplished fully

awakened perfect and true knowledge and

conduct

sublime knower of worlds incomparable

leader of persons to be tamed

teacher of gods and humans

awakened and blessed

he declares this world with its gods its

maras and its brahmas

this generation with the recluses and

brahmanas

with his princes and its people

which he has himself realized with

direct knowledge

he teaches the dhamma that is good in

the beginning good in the middle and

good in the end with the right meaning

and freezing

he reveals a holy life that is utterly

perfect and pure

now it is good to see such arahats

the brahmana householders of oppasada

set forth from oppasada in groups and

bands and headed northwards to the gods

grove the salla tree grove

now on that occasion the brahman chanky

had retired to the upper story of the

palace for his midday rest

then he saw the brahmin householders of

oppasada setting forth from oppasada in

groups and bands and heading northwards

to the gods grove the salla tree grove

and then he's when he saw them he asked

his minister good minister why are the

brahmana householders of oppasada

setting forth from oppasada in groups

and bands and heading northwards to the

gods grove the solitary grove

sir

there is the recluse gotuma

the son of the sakeans who went forth

from the sakian clan who has been

wandering

in the kosalin country

they're going to see

the

the master gotuma

then good minister go to the brahmana

householders of oppasada and tell them

sirs

the brahman chanky says this

please wait sirs

the brahman chanky will

also go to see the master

re the recluse master gautama

yes sir the minister replied and he went

to the brahmana householders of oppasada

and gave them the message

now on that occasion there were 500

brahmanas from various states were

staying at oppasada for some reason or

other

they heard that brahman chanky is said

is going to see the recluse go to ma

then they went to the

brahman chanky and asked him sir

is it true that you're going to see the

recluse go to my

so it is sirs i'm going to see the

recluse go to ma

sirs do not go to see the recluse go to

my it is not proper for master chalky to

go see the recluse gotsuma

rather it is proper for the recluse

gotomat to come see you

for you sir are well born on both sides

of pure maternal and paternal descent

seven generation back

in india the brahman class

they were cast was

really quite prideful

and they were the only ones that could

read

so

the more pure your

parentage is the higher kind of

brahman you are

ah

unassailable and impeccable in uh in

respect of birth

since that is so master chunky it is not

proper for you to go see the recluse

gotama

rather it is proper for the recluse go

to mount to come see you

you sir are rich

with great wealth and great possessions

you sir our master of the three vedas

with their vocabularies liturgy

phenology etymology and the histories as

the fifth

skilled in philology and grammar

you are

fully versed in natural philosophy and

in the marks of a great man

you sir are handsome comely and graceful

possessing super supreme beauty of

complexion

with the sublime beauty and sublime

presence

remarkable to behold

you sir are virtuous mature in virtue

possessing mature virtue

you sir are a good speaker with a good

delivery

you speak words that are courteous

distinct flawless and communicate the

meaning

you sir teach the teachers of many

and you teach the recitation of the

hymns to 300 brahman students

you sir are honored respected revered

venerated and esteemed by king passanati

of kosala

you sir are honored respected revered

venerated and esteemed by the brahmana

polka rasatti

you sir rule over oppasada

a crown property abounding in living

beings a sacred grant given to you by

king pasanati of kosala

since this is so master

chunky

it is not proper for you

to go see master the recluse gotema

rather it is proper for the recluse

kotoma to come see you

when this was said the brahman chanky

told those brahmanas

now sirs

hear from me why it is proper for me to

go see master gotuma

and why it is not proper for master

gotama to come see me

serves the recluse gautama is well born

on both sides he was in a warrior class

now in a lot of ways the warrior class

and the brahmana class

they were the the top of the rum

the warrior class was generally the

the rulers of of lands

because they

they were fighters

and sometimes the brahmanas would come

in and

try to take it from them

but

the brahmins were generally the

more educated

so

they

were

they had a gentle rivalry going all over

the time

sirs the recluse gotoma is well born on

both sides

of pure maternal and paternal descent

seven generations back

unassailable and impeccable in respect

to birth

since this is so sirs it is not proper

for master gotuma to come see me rather

it is proper for me to go see master

gotuma

sirs the recluse

gotama went forth abandoning much gold

and bullion stored away in vaults and in

lofts

serves the recruits go to ma went forth

from the home life into homelessness

while still young

a black-haired young man endowed with

the blessings of youth

what the ascetics generally did

was they would get married

and they would have kids and they would

raise the kids and then when they got to

be about 60 years old they turned over

everything and became ascetics

so

to have

somebody that was still very young

become an ascetic it was highly unusual

sirs the recluse go go to my shaved off

his hair and beard and put on the yellow

robe and went forth from the home life

into homelessness

though his mother and father wished

otherwise and wept with tearful faces

sirs the recluse gotama's handsome

comely graceful possessing supreme

beauty of complexion

with sublime beauty and sublime presence

remarkable to behold

sir is the recluse gotama's virtuous

with noble virtue with wholesome virtue

possessing wholesome virtue

sir is the recluse go to my is a good

speaker with a good delivery he speaks

words that are courteous distinct

flawless and communicate the meaning

sir sirs the recluse gotama is a teacher

of the teachers of many

sir the recluse go to my is free from

sensual lust

and without personal vanity

serves the recluse gotama holds the

doctrine of moral efficacy of action

the doctrine of moral efficacy of deeds

he does not seek any harm for the line

of brahmanas

sirs the recluse go to mao went forth

from a from an aristocratic family

from one of the original noble families

sir the recluse gotemo went forth from a

rich family

from a family of great wealth and great

possessions

sirs people come from remote kingdoms

and remote districts to question the

rekluse gotema

sir's many thousands of deities have

gone for refuge for life to the recluse

gotouma

serves a good report of the recluse go

to ma has has been spread to this effect

that the blessed one is accomplished

fully awakened perfect in true knowledge

and conduct

sublime knower of world's incomparable

leader of persons to be tamed

teacher of gods and humans awakened and

blessed

sirs the recluse gotama possesses the

thirty-two marks of a great man

sirs king sayana bimbasara of magadaha

and his wife and children have gone for

refuge for a life to the recluse gotuma

sir king pasanati of kosala and his wife

and children have gone for refuge for

life to the recluse gotuma

serves the brahman pokhara sati

and his wife and children

have gone for refuge for life to the

recluse gotuma

serves the recluse gotama has arrived in

oppasada and is living at the opposada

in the gods grove the sala tree grove to

the north of opasada

now any recluses or brahmanas that come

to our town

are our guests and guests should be

honored respected revered and venerated

by us

since the recluse gotuma has arrived at

oppasada he is our guest

and as our guest should be honored

respected revered and venerated by us

since this is so sirs

it is not proper for master gotama to

come see me rather it is proper for me

to go see master gotama

sirs this much is the praise of master

gotama that i have learned but the

praise of master gotuma is not limited

to that praise

his

praise is immeasurable

since master gotama possesses each one

of these factors it is not proper for

him to come see me rather it's proper

for me to go see

master gautama

therefore sirs let all of us go see the

recluse gotama

then the brahman chanky together with a

large company of brahmanas

went to the blessed one and exchanged

greetings with him

when this courteous and amiable talk was

finished he sat down at one side

now on that occasion the blessed one was

seated finishing some amiable talk with

some very senior brahmanas

at the time sitting in the assembly was

a brahmana student

a young shaven-haired 16-year-old he was

a master of the three vedas with their

vocabularies

liturgy phonology etymology and

histories as a fifth

skilled in philology and grammar

is fully versed in the natural

philosophy and in the marks of a great

man

while the very senior brahmanas were

conversing with the blessed one he repre

repeatedly broke in and interrupted in

their talk

that's almost unheard of for some young

man to be

with all of these elder

people

it's

even among monks

a young monk

only talks

when

they're talked to

otherwise

they keep quiet

then the blessed one rebuked the brahman

student thus

let not the venerable student break in

and interrupt the talk of the very

senior brahmanas while they are

conversing

let the venerable student wait until the

talk is finished

to memorize all three vedas and only be

16 years old is a pretty amazing

accomplishment he had a really bright

mind

when this was said the brahman chanky

said to the blessed one let not master

go to rebuke the brahmana student

the brahmana student is a klansman

he is very learned he has good delivery

he is wise

he is capable of taking part in this in

the discussion with master gautama

then the blessed one thought

surely since the brahmanas honor him

thus the brahmana student

must be accomplished in the scriptures

of the three vedas

then the brahman student thought

when the recluse go

gotoma catches my eye i shall ask him a

question

then knowing with his own mind the

thought of the brahman student

the blessed one turned his eye towards

him then the brahman student thought the

recluse got my eyes turned towards me

suppose i ask him a question

then he said to the blessed one master

gotuma

in regard to the

ancient brahmatic hymns that have come

down through oral tradition

preserved in the collections the

brahmanas come to the definite

conclusion

only this is true and anything else is

wrong

what does master goatama say about this

how then student among the brahmanas is

is there even a single brahman who says

i know this i see this only this is true

when anything else is wrong

no master gotama

how then student among the brahmanas is

there even a single teacher or a single

teacher's teacher's teacher

back to the seventh generations of

teachers who says thus

i know this i see this only this is true

and anything else is wrong

no master gotama

how then student the ancient brahmana

seers the creators of the hymns the

composers of the hymns

whose ancient hymns that were formally

chanted uttered and compiled

the brahmanas nowadays still chant and

repeat

repeating what was spoken reciting what

was recited

did even these ancient brahmana seers

say thus

we know this we see this only this is

true and anything else is wrong

no master gotoma

so student it seems that

among the brahmanas there's not even a

single brahmana who says thus

i know this i see this only this is true

and anything else is wrong

and among the brahmanas there's not even

a single teacher

or a single teacher's teacher

back to the seventh generation of

teachers who says thus

i know this i see this

only this is true and anything else is

wrong

and the ancient brahman seers the

creators of the hymns the composer of

the hymns

even these ancient brahmin seers did not

say thus

we know this we see this only this is

true and anything else is wrong

suppose there were a file of blind men

each in touch with the next

the first one does not see the middle

one does not see and the last one does

not see

so to student in regard to their

statement the brahmana seemed to be like

file of blind men

the first one does not see the middle

one does not see and the last one does

not see

what do you think student

that being so does not the faith of the

brahmanas turn out to be groundless

you can you can pull this out for the

christians too

because they say their their way is the

only way

you'll you'll see

in a moment

the brahmanas honor this

not only out of faith master gotuma but

they also honor it as oral tradition

student first you took the stand on

faith now you speak of oral tradition

there are these five things student

that may turn out in two different ways

here and now what five

faith

approval

oral tradition

reason cogitation and reflective

acceptance of a view

these five things may turn out to be two

different

in two different ways here and now

now something may be fully accepted out

of faith yet it may be empty hollow and

false

but something else may not be fully

accepted out of faith

yet it may be factual true and

unmistaken

again something may be approved of

yet it may be empty hollow and false

but something else

may not be fully accepted and unapproved

of

uh

but it could be factual true and

unmistaken

something may be well transmitted well

cuted well reflected upon

yet it may be empty hollow in faith and

false

but something else may be well reflected

upon

yet it may be factual true and

unmistaken

under these conditions it is not proper

for a wise man who preserves truth

to come to the definite conclusion only

this is true and anything else is wrong

but master go to mine what way is there

the preservation of truth

how does one preserve truth

we ask master gotama about the

preservation of truth

if a person has faith student he

preserves truth when he says

my faith is thus

but he does not yet come to the definite

conclusion only this is true when

anything else is wrong

in this way student there is the

preservation of truth

in this way he preserves truth

in this way he can describe the

preservation of truth

but as yet there is no discovery of

truth

if a person approves of something if he

receives an oral tradition if he reaches

a conclusion based on reason cogitation

if he gains a reflective acceptance of a

view he preserves truth when he says my

reflective acceptance of the view is

thus

but he does not come to the definite

conclusion only this is true and

anything else is wrong

in this way to student there is the

preservation of truth

in this way he preserves truth

in this way

we describe the preservation of truth

but as yet there is no discovery of

truth

in that way master go to mother is the

preservation of truth

in that way one preserves truth

in that way we recognize a preservation

of truth

but in what way master got to my is

there the discovery of truth

in what way does one discover truth we

ask master gautama about the discovery

of truth

here student

a monk baby living independence on some

village or town

then a householder a householder son

goes to him and investigates him in

regards to three kinds of states

in regards to states based on greed

in regards to states based on hate

and in regard to states based on

delusion

there

are there in this venerable one any

states based on greed such that if his

mind is obsessed obsessed with those

states

while not knowing he might say i know

or well not seeing he might say i see

or he might urge others to act in a way

that would lead to their harm and

suffering for a long time

as he investigates them he comes to know

there is no such states based on greed

in this venerable one

the bodily behavior and verbal behavior

of this venerable one

are not those of one affected by greed

and the dhamma that this venerable one

teaches is profound hard to see and hard

to understand

peaceful and sublime

unattainable by mere reasoning subtle to

be experienced by the wise

this

dhamma cannot easily be taught by one

affected by greed

when he has investigated him and has

seen that he is purified from states

based on greed

he next investigates him in regard to

states based on hate

are there in this venerable one any

states based on hate such that

with his mind obsessed by those states

he might urge others to act in a way

that would lead to their own harm

suffering and suffering for a long time

as he investigates him he comes to know

there's no such states based on hate in

this venerable one

the bodily behavior the verbal behavior

of this venerable one are not

those of one affected by hate

and the dhamma this venerable one

teaches is profound to be experienced by

the wise

this dhamma cannot easily be taught by

one affected by hate

when he has investigated him and has

seen him that he is purified from states

based on hate

he next investigates him in regards to

states based on delusion you remember

what delusion is

come on you can do it

taking things personally

are there in this venerable one

any states based on delusion such that

with his

his mind obsessed by those states he

might urge others to act in a way that

would lead to their harm and suffering

for a long time

as he investigates him he comes to know

there are no such states based on

delusion in this venerable one

the bodily behavior and verbal behavior

of this venerable one

are not those of one affected by

delusion and the dhamma that this

venerable one teaches is profound

to be experienced by the wise

this dharma cannot easily be taught by

one affected by delusion

when he has investigated him and has

seen that he is purified from states

based on delusion

then he places faith in him

filled with faith he visits him

pays respect to him

having paid respect to him he gives ear

and listens closely

when he gives here

he hears the dhamma

having heard the dhamma he memorizes and

examines the meaning of the teachings as

he has memorized

when he examines their meaning he gains

reflective acceptance of those teachings

when he's gained reflective acceptance

of those teachings

enthusiasm springs up

when enthusiasm has sprung up

he applies his mindfulness

having applied his mindfulness

he scrutinizes having

scrutinizes scrutinized he strives

resolutely striving he realizes

with the body the supreme truth and sees

it

by penetrating it with wisdom

seeing dependent origination

in this way student there is the

discovery of truth

in this way one discovers truth

in this way we describe the discovery of

truth

but as yet there's no final arrival at

truth

in that way master gotama there is the

discovery of truth

and that way one discovers truth

in that way we recognize the discovery

of truth

but in what way master gotama is there

the final arrival at truth

in what way does one finally arrive at

truth

we ask master gotama about the final

arrival at truth

the final arrival at truth student lies

in the repetition development and

cultivation of all the things mentioned

in this way

there is the final arrival at truth

in this way one finally arrives at truth

in this way we describe the final

arrival at truth

in that way master go to mother is the

final arrival at truth

in that way one actually arrives at

truth

practicing the

come on

practicing

practicing the six hours that will lead

you all the way

right

and that way we recognize the final

arrival at truth

but what master gotama is most helpful

for the final arrival at truth

we ask master ge gotama the thing

most helpful for the final arrival at

truth

striving is most helpful for the final

arrival at truth

if one does not strive one will not

finally arrive at truth

but because one strives one does not

one does finally arrive at truth that is

why striving is most helpful

for the final arrival at truth

but what master gotama is most helpful

for striving

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for striving

scrutiny is most helpful for striving

if one does not scrutinize

one will not strive

but because one scrutinizes one strives

that is why scrutiny is most helpful for

striving

paying attention

but what master gotama's most helpful

for scrutiny we ask master gautama about

the thing most helpful for scrutiny

application of

mindfulness is most helpful for scrutiny

if one does not apply one's mindfulness

one will not scrutinize

but because one applies one's

mindfulness one scrutinizes

that is why application of mindfulness

is most helpful for scrutiny

but what master gautama is most helpful

for the application of mindfulness

we ask master gotum about the thing most

helpful for the application of

mindfulness

enthusiasm

taking an interest

is most helpful for the application of

mindfulness

if one does not arouse enthusiasm one

will not apply their mindfulness

but because one arouses enthusiasm one

applies

one applies one's

mindfulness

that is why enthusiasm is most helpful

for the application of mindfulness

but master gautama

but what master gautama is most helpful

for enthusiasm

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for enthusiasm

a reflective acceptance of the teachings

is most helpful for the

uh for enthusiasm student

if one does not gain a reflective

acceptance of the teachings

enthusiasm

will not spring up but because one gains

a reflective acceptance of the teaching

one's

enthusiasm springs up

that is why

reflective acceptance of the teaching is

most helpful for enthusiasm

as you start seeing for yourself that

this works

you start having more enthusiasm

and when you have more enthusiasm

you're looking more closely with your

mindfulness

you're seeing things more clearly

you're able to

stay with your object of meditation

longer and you're seeing the things that

knock you off you're seeing them more

clearly

and you're not taking them personally

that's what it means by reflective

acceptance

it means from direct experience

reflect on your direct experience and

see whether it works or not

but what master gotama is most helpful

for reflective acceptance of the

teachings

we ask master gautama about the thing

most helpful for a reflective acceptance

of the teachings

examination of the meaning is most

helpful for reflective acceptance of the

teachings

examination see how it works

don't believe what somebody else says

if one does not examine their meaning

one will not gain a reflective

acceptance of the teachings

but because one

examines their meaning one gains a

reflective acceptance of the teachings

that is why examination is the

examination of the meaning

is most helpful for reflective

acceptance of the teaching

but master gotama

what is most helpful for examination of

the meaning

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for examination of the

meaning

memorizing the teaching

it doesn't mean you have to memorize

every suta it means that you have to be

able to

to know what the hindrances are without

trying to fumble around and figure out

what they are

what the noble truths are things like

that

memorizing the teaching

is most helpful for examining

the examining of meaning student if one

does not memorize a teaching one will

not examine its meaning

but because one's memories

but because one memorizes a teaching one

examines its meaning

but what master gotama is most helpful

for memorizing the teaching

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for memorizing the

teachings

hearing the dhamma is most helpful for

memorizing the teachings

how many times do i repeat myself

so you can memorize it

if one does not hear the dhamma one will

not memorize the teachings only makes

sense

but because one hears the dhamma one

memorizes the teachings

that is why hearing the dhamma is most

helpful for memorizing the teachings

but what master gotama is most helpful

for hearing the dhamma

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for hearing the dhamma

giving ear is most helpful for hearing

the dhamma student

if one does not give ear one will not

hear the dhamma

but because one gives ear one hears the

dhamma

that means taking interest in what's

being said without thinking

just listening

that is why

giving ear is most helpful for hearing

the dhamma

but what master gotuma's most helpful

for giving ear

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for giving ear

paying respect is most helpful for

giving ear student

if one does not pay respect one will not

give here

so you have to respect what's being said

but because one pays respect one gives

ear

that is why paying respect is most

helpful for giving ear

but what master gotama's most helpful

for paying respect

we ask master gautama about the thing

most helpful for paying respect

visiting a teacher is most helpful for

paying respect student

if one does not visit a teacher one will

not pay respect to him

but because one teaches one visits a

teacher one pays respect to him

that is why visiting is the most helpful

thing for paying respect

but what master gotama is most helpful

for visiting

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for visiting

faith is most helpful for visiting

student if faith in a teacher does not

arise

one will not visit him

but because of faith in a teacher

because

faith in a teacher arises one visits him

that is why faith is most helpful for

visiting

we ask master gotama about the

preservation of truth

and master gotama answered about the

preservation of truth

we approve of and accept that answer

and so we're satisfied

we ask master gotama about the discovery

of truth

and master gotama answered about the

discovery of truth

we approve of and accept that answer and

so we are satisfied

we ask master gautama about the final

arrival at truth

and master gotima

are

answered about the final arrival at

truth

we approve of and accept that answer and

so we're satisfied

we ask master gotama about the thing

most helpful for the final arrival at

truth

and master

gotoma answered about the thing most

helpful for the final arrival at truth

we approve of and accept the answer

and so we are satisfied

whatever we ask master gautama about

that he has answered us

we approve of and accept that answer

so we are satisfied

formally master gautama we used to think

who are these ballpated recluses these

worthy menial offspring of the kinsmen's

feet

feet in asia

is considered very dirty

because you're walking around in dust

all the time and you most of the time

you just have sandals on

or

you're walking barefoot

a lot of places

they put a

big

well

it's it's a water container

so you can wash your feet before you

walk in

into their house

so when you when you say

uh swarthy menial offspring of the

kinsmen feet that's pretty big

insult

that they would understand a dhamma but

master gotuma has indeed inspired in me

love for recluses

confidence and recluse's reverence for

recluses

magnificent master gotama magnificent

from today let master go to my remember

me as a lay follower who has gone to him

for refuge for life

that's a pretty major thing that the

buddha just did they called his they

called

a lot of the uh

other sects

that were teaching other things they

called

him a master of

magical conversion

and his his magic was just telling him

the truth

so

when you go home

please sit no less than 30 minutes

morning is best

your meditation is going to have some

dips in it

there's going to be times when you have

a very active day

you start to sit and your mind is going

to be real active

okay

so no problem

so continue on

you will

start

improving in your meditation

but you have to do it every day

and sitting in the morning is the best

time because

you don't have to think about it in the

evening then if you want to sit in the

evening and you have time then you can

but i found through my own practice when

i was a layman

the evening it was a hard time to sit

because some friend would call up and

let's go out to dinner and then i go

let's go to a movie and

you get home and you're too tired

i'll do it tomorrow

so if you do it in the morning you don't

have that problem

now i had uh i had some students in

malaysia that

they were really serious about the

practice but they had kids and had a job

they had all of these things that they

needed to be taken care of

so they wound up getting

up two hours early

so they could sit for two hours before

they started their day

now that's real dedication

and it's not an easy thing

but

when after he took a retreat with me he

would go back to work and everybody

would see that he was a lot more calm

and he was smiling more and he was kind

of radiating a happy feeling and he

stopped complaining about things and he

started going

you're different

what did you do i want some of that

so the more you can keep your practice

going all day that means smile

all day

you

especially

yeah

you need more practice smiling

i used to

give people a little pocket mirror

and i got cayman to write smile on it

so every now and you can pull it out and

see you you get to look at your face and

see whether you're really smiling or not

there was this one lady that she came

and she started practicing with me she's

incredibly beautiful

and really really beautiful

and she was a little bit on the vain

side

and

she told me that she got in a big

argument with her boyfriend

and i said did you pull out the mirror

to see what your face looked like

she said oh no i wouldn't do that i said

that's when you need to look at your

face

and it was like a hitter with a wet

towel

so

it's real important

to

practice your smiling as much as you can

into everything even when you don't feel

like smiling smile

it has good benefit

and you'll find that your mindfulness

improves so much

i mean it's kind of gimmicky sounding

no just smile all the time

but it helps improve your awareness of

what your mind is doing in the present

moment

and you get to see your attachments and

you get to see when

you really start thinking a lot

and

then good to laugh

so

meditation

is living

living your life

you get to carry it with you all the

time

it's not just about sitting still like a

buddha image

it's about being mindful of what your

mind is doing all the time

the more you have an uplifted mind

the easier it is to recognize when your

mind gets pulled down

and the easier it is to let it go you

won't get caught for as long

there's some people that in in asia in

particular they they tell me well if i

practice loving-kindness all the time

people take advantage of me

and my answer is that is meditation does

not make you stupid

you can stop people from taking

advantage of you

and that it's like that the old farmer

he went out and he bought a mule from

his neighbor

he got the mule home and hooked him up

and he was gonna

put him to work and the mule just

didn't pay attention to him

so he went back to his neighbor he said

i can't get this mule to do anything

and the neighbor says i know what the

problem is

i'll come over and fix it for you

so he comes over and he picks up a 2x4

and he hits that mule right straight

between the eyes

and the farmer that just bought him said

you don't do that

and he said well the guy that owned him

previously said

well now he'll do anything you want i

got his attention for you

and sometimes loving kindness has to be

like that

you've got to get their attention that

doesn't mean you have to do it with

anger

so the the whole point of the meditation

is learning how to have

an uplifted mind so that you can be

happy all the time

it is

possible it is reasonable

except with some animals

anyway

do you have any questions

you were saying keep smiling throughout

the day but you don't

and that's sort of independent

like six hours

you keep doing the six hours all day too

as much as you can remember

and there'll be times that you forget

okay then start over again that's all

that doesn't work

you'll see

but the six hours are something that you

carry around with you all the time

just like the smile is but the smile is

part of the six hours isn't it

right

and laugh with it and

don't get serious

when you're serious you're attached when

you're attached you make yourself suffer

that's the way it works

but aren't there times that you have to

be serious

why

or you know

just to figure something i mean if

you're

trying to figure something out or work

on something well but if the more fun

you have while you're trying to figure

something out

the easier it is to figure out

and smile while you're doing it

and like i said you'll forget

but when you remember start over again

that's all

okay

may suffering ones be suffering free and

the fear struck fearless be

may the grieving shed all grief and may

all beings find relief

may all beings share this merit that

we've thus acquired for the acquisition

of all kinds of happiness

may beings inhabiting space and earth

devas and nagas a mighty power share

this merit of ours

may they long protect the buddhist

dispensation

you