so again, for the way of meditation
one of the things which I’ve noticed
that people always ask questions
and they try and follow the instructions
they get so peaceful
but then nothing else happens
and they get to like a blockage in their meditation
I wonder just why?
first of all
the very idea they got to a blockage in their meditation
shows me that they're aiming for something
if they weren't aiming for anything
then they get to a certain place
it should be reasonably peaceful
and a person should think
oh this is good enough for me
it's nice and peaceful, it's quiet
what more do you want?
because you're wanting again
causes the problems
and so when I’m meditating you just
you let go and allow the conditions
to make the mind nice and peaceful
and just sometimes you don't have the time to go, you know
all the way into the very deepest of meditations
but you can go quite nicely
and even to the beautiful breath
that's lovely
the delightful breath
sitting there just
watching the breath come in .. ah
watching the breath go out .. oh
that's so nice
so what is that people want anything more for?
but that ego wanting to attain things
wanting to get some things
it's a self
the idea of me who wants
to crack this meditation
and get the deepest meditation
get enlightened or whatever
that sense of self
that creates the wanting
and the wanting stops the meditation
so Ajahn Chah's, my teacher's
one of his famous sayings
instructions rather for meditation
he would say this so often
but it took me many years before I understood
what he was talking about
he said we meditate
not to gain things or to attain things
we meditate to let go of things
not to attain
so if you're meditating trying to attain a Nimitta
trying to attain a Jhana
trying to attain Insight
trying to attain Nibbāna
you are going to suffer
that is not the path
the path is learning how to let go of things
so it doesn't matter how far you've let go
say you're in the delightful breath
let go of trying
that kind of wanting something more
even if you've experienced
deeper states of meditation before
this is good enough for me
you know that became one of my little mantras
I used to remind myself
when I was meditating: good enough
it was good enough was just
it was a translation of what I learned
from other Thai monks
they said 'Phxdī', 'Phxdī' [พอดี]
in other words you're meditating
it doesn't matter
where you were in your meditation
'Phxdī' which means good enough
what they did, this is good enough
it reminded me not to try to attain things
this really was good enough and
as soon as I thought this was good enough
it really became good enough and
the experience which I had
well, this is good enough
and then it got really more peaceful
because I wasn't trying
this is really good enough!
wow this is exceptionally good enough!
wow that's amazingly good enough!
this is good enough!
the happiness, the depth and
the powers of meditation got deeper
and it just did that all by itself
I did not force it
I didn't ask it to happen
I didn't make it happen
I just let go
more and more and more
never try to attain
just let things be
and how do you let things be?
that's so hard because
let it be!
come on Ajahn Brahm!
let it be! can't remember that!
of course that's not letting things be
it's one of the reasons why I like the talk
last night about the thousand petal Lotus
the kindness which you give to your
poor meditation practice
how long you've been meditating?
some of you for years and years and years!
have you got into Jhanas yet?
well forget it! it's not going to happen!
that's not fair!
because if you forget it
it's not going to happen in the future
it happens now!
when you're not trying to achieve
not aiming for something which
you don't really know what it is anyway
just be in this moment with kindness
like I you can't do this to your mind
it's just a simile, there you are poor mind
been meditating for such a long time
you're really just not trying
to get deep in meditation
poor mind I know you're not gonna break it so..
be kind and let go and let go
and let go and let go..
and then when you stop trying
that is where things happen
you all know one of my favorite similes
of chasing the donkey
no that's wrong isn't it
oh is it wrong?
just another way of looking at it
the donkey chasing the carrot
was the carrot chasing the donkey?
depends which way you look
anyway the carrot the donkey chasing the carrot
you heard that story many times before
and I’ve only got a couple of minutes
so when the donkey stops racing after the carrot
then the carrot comes towards a donkey
that's a brilliant simile
because that's what happens
you've been racing after deep meditation
Jhanas, Enlightenment for so many years
then I’m not going to get it
my job is to try and make you stop
that's why I say that's it's helpless
you're not gonna ..
Thomas look, no be honest
you're not gonna get Jhanas
so stop chasing the carrot
when you stop chasing the carrot
the carrot comes to you
and with that simile
now they're learning how to stop
be still, don't do anything
don't want anything, be here
instead of thinking that
happiness is somewhere in the future
just be here
that's not enough
because for many people it's like they stop
and the carrot swings towards them
and it bounces off their teeth
they forget to open their mouths
that's why I put in that extra little bit to say
the door of my mouth is open to you carrot
come in
the door of my heart is open to you stillness
kindness, joy
kindness is one of the most wonderful ways
of letting go
it's not about me
it's not about you
it's not even about us, it's just kindness
why not?
it's with that kindness you have
to your meditation practice
you're not forcing your mind
you're not asking for anything
you're appreciating this beautiful kindness
whatever you're experiencing right now
what you're experiencing in this very moment
if you look at it with a kindly eye
it shows itself to you
and you go into it, deeply into it
what started off with even like
an ache or a pain in the body
you let it be, you're kind to it
you're just watching it
this is good enough for me
you go into it, draws you in
the kindness gives the joy
the happiness, the delight
which draws the attention inside
attainments, wanting
always takes the attention outside
to some fantasy in the future
but if you stay in this moment
this is good enough for me
with kindness, it draws you in
and you're patient enough
just to allow it to happen
no rush no time
and see what happens afterwards
little by little your meditation gets so easy
the easiest thing in the world to do
when you're not trying
strange, isn't it?
why just letting things be
just doing nothing, just relaxing
why is that hard?
because we're addicted control freaks
we always want to control
we also want to take charge of our meditation
we always want to do it
we're not meditating
we're busy doing something else
always wanting to get involved
even when you're meditating
make it happen! No no
you're wasting time
let things be, allow the mind to be still
grant yourself a moment of peace
allow things to happen
your sense of self has to vanish for that
you're not in charge, you're not the boss
you're not the manager anymore
you're just the observer
kind observer
then the mind gets still all by itself
the most wonderful experiences!
then you go looking into the books
you find all those things
you read about in the books
you experience them
and you don't try
the attainments come to you
you don't chase the attainments
so anyway, that is how to meditate
so simply
so you sit down close your eyes and stop trying
don't just don't do anything
that's coming close to the end of the meditation
what are you aware of inside?
does it have that profound joy?
like a sunset is delightful to watch
this is deeper, more profound
here comes your inner world
and you check your body
now you go from inside to the world
go to your body next
five senses
and feel my body mostly disappeared
now I’m coming back
always just so relaxed
and understand how this meditation works
even if you're not as relaxed today
you certainly are much more delightful
than when you started
there is no such thing as a bad meditation
I’m now going to ring the gong
people in the west, this is from Germany
many people are just so impatient
so I’m gonna just watch my breath!
come on I can do this!
watch my breath!
they get tired
so just do a lot of stillness relaxation
and what happens then
was that when the mind gets, body gets relaxed
and you go inside the mind, you get peaceful
what you are doing there is
creating a strong sense of mindfulness
your mindfulness is much more powerful
than if you just close your eyes
and try and watch the breath
so the next question:
what is the most important for meditation?
is whatever you're experiencing right now
is the most important meditation object
close your eyes
what are you experiencing now?
that is my meditation object
what's the most important time?
Easy, now!
What's the most important thing to do?
To care
Be kind
such a simple teaching
emperor's three questions
and I do that regularly
especially when you start meditating
you may be anxious
not anxious so much as tired
you may have been busy doing lots of stuff
and so when I start my meditation
close your eyes
try to get the body nice and comfortable
then you know
if the body's really aching or sick or tired
and I just say
well, what am I aware of right now?
this moment is all I have
it's good enough
whatever I’m aware of right now
whatever!
it might be a toothache,
it might be a tummy ache
it might be just an overall tightness in my body
it might be just sweaty because you know
it's too hot today, or chilly because it's too cold
whatever that is
that to me is important
I don't like it?
that's not the point!
it's telling me something
they'll keep coming back
until I’ve learned this lesson
I let it in, I embrace it
I open the door of my heart to this moment
and I care for it
beautiful method
doesn't matter I’m tired, I’m sick,
I’ve got no energy
got heaps of energy, I’ve had too much
tea or coffee or whatever that doesn't
that's not the point
you meditate with anything
now it's the most important time and
this is the most important thing
even you know that
when you get to your dying moment
really in pain maybe
maybe you've got all sorts of drugs and
antibiotics inside of you but
you are still aware
this is the most
important time because it's right now
whatever this thing you're experiencing
you don't try and analyze it
you try and be it
don't even try to be it
you obviously are it
and you're kind, compassionate
and the body just relaxes
the mind relaxes and
you go into some really deep meditation
in the most impossible situations
now then in the good situations
Wow! that's very powerful
so what is the most important in meditation?
present moment
whatever's in front of you right now
and caring
nothing else
don't try and cure things
get things, get rid of things
that's craving
that way just get so peaceful very easily
very powerfully
simplest thing in the world
when you follow instructions
you don't want to follow instructions, do you?
you want to do it your way!
oh well, carry on..
I did my job :)
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