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BE AWARE OF PAIN, NOT THINK ABOUT THE PAIN
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GOOD OR BAD, WE NEED TO BE AWARE
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HOW TO MAINTAIN THE PEACEFUL MIND THROUGHOUT ...
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PRACTICE WATCHING ALL FEELINGS IN DAILY LIFE
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STILL OKAY IS NOT OKAY

SEEING IS NOT OUT THERE

IMS Retreat 2012 Q&A Group A#1 (1:32:50-1:34:40)

Seeing is a natural object to be aware of because it is so obvious.

The only thing that people find difficult is that when we try to recognize seeing, it has become a habit to immediately look and see objects outside of ourselves. It is difficult to recognize the process of the eyes and the mind just doing this work of seeing.

Our whole life, we have used our eyes to actually know the concepts of the world – the distance, size, shape, color, and so on of things around us. That recognition comes is really quickly.

To understand that it’s just a process of seeing and not have to go into the names of the things we see, some people find it difficult to switch to just that.

It’s practice as well – if anyone practices, they become more familiar and understand it more easily.

OUR PRACTICE IS TO SUSTAIN THE AWARENESS WITH RIGHT VIEW

IMS Retreat 2012 Q&A Group A#1 (1:42:03-1:44:10)

Yogi: When we’re aware of unskillful mind states like desire or aversion, do we do something to change that or do we maintain awareness and let that dissipate on its own?

Sayadaw: Apply the 3 yogi jobs – have right view that it is a process of nature, be aware and continue to be aware with right view. We’re not being aware of the story of the desire or aversion, but the nature.

When you sustain the awareness, it means that you’re watching continuously; then, some understanding of the nature of the process can arise.

No moment of awareness ever goes to waste for the mind – every moment of awareness is data that is picked up and stored for future understanding.

Remember the goal: the goal is not to change the experience; the goal is to make awareness continuous.

PRACTICE WITH SILA, SAMADHI AND PANNA

IMS Retreat 2012 Q&A Group A#1 (1:35:45-1:36:30)

Yogi: Does perfecting our sila (morality) help to speed up cultivating wisdom?

Sayadaw: To perfect sila, you need to have a lot of awareness because if you’re not aware, you won’t know when defilements push you.

When you have a lot of defilements, it is easy to just go that way – you won’t be able to control the mind without awareness. It takes a lot of discipline to maintain your sila, to be present to choose which way you’re going to go.

So, we have to practice with sila, samadhi and panna.

RECOGNIZE THE AWARENESS THAT IS PRESENT REPEATEDLY

IMS Retreat 2012 Q&A Group A#1 (1:27:00-1:28:53)

Yogi: When I ask what is the mind experiencing, I could see an agitated being rushing here and there that comes back to complain that there is a pain in the knee and wants to get up. Is this totally silly? How do I deal with this?

Sayadaw: Always remember to come back to the awareness. Always recognize that there is awareness at work already – and, no judgment about the experience.

Whatever thoughts that are happening, you’re already aware of that – so, just recognize the awareness repeatedly.

PRACTICE LIGHTLY AND SUSTAIN THE LIGHT AWARENESS

IMS Retreat 2012 Q&A Group A#1 (1:37:00-1:41:00)

Yogi: I’m trying to practice lightly because I tend not to; but when awareness is very light, it seems to go away.

Sayadaw: Practicing lightly is what everybody should do, but the key is to continue to practice and it shouldn’t fade to the point of not being there. And, the simple way to check is to ask: Is there awareness?

Although it feels very light, but when the practice is sustained, it will start to gain clarity even though it doesn’t feel effortful.

If you let it do its work, awareness gains power. You’re not trying to see clearly; you’re waiting for the awareness to gain momentum and gather its own power.

BE SKILFUL MAINTAINING AWARENESS WHETHER EYES OPEN OR CLOSED

IMS Retreat 2012 Q&A Group A#1 (1:32:00-1:32:42)

Yogi: You say that it is important to meditate with the eyes open?

Sayadaw: We must be equally skillful at practicing with or without the eyes closed. We must maintain the same quality of mind – the same awareness with the eyes closed, and the same awareness with the eyes open. Then, we can continue to be aware even when we’re at home; otherwise, we’ve to keep closing our eyes if we want awareness to be continuous.

RECOGNIZING WHAT IS PRESENT IS RIGHT VIEW

IMS Retreat 2012 Q&A Group A#1 (20:10-21:04)

The wording we use to remind ourselves of right view is very important.

Know that every experience is a process of nature. We don’t want to say to ourselves ‘This is not me or mine’ because the mind finds it very hard to accept that.

To say that this is nature is much easier because, on top of being mine, it could be a process of nature; and the mind just accepts it better and does not fight with that bit about being me or myself.

When you recognize that there is an association with the self, it is also right view. Right view is to recognize what is there as it is.

WATCH THE UNSTABLE MIND WHENEVER DEFILEMENTS FLARE UP

Penang Retreat 2019 Group 4 Round 4 (03:45-04:09)

Yogi: The mind is upset because it has no right attitude and no matter how much awareness there is, the attitude is still wrong.

Sayadaw: Be aware of the wrong attitude then – you know there’s wrong attitude, that’s enough. 

Watch again and again that when there’s wrong attitude, the mind cannot be stable – it’s a learning process.

PARAMATTHA METTA

Penang Retreat 2019 Group 4 Round 4 (1:03:22-1:03:36)

My teacher told me to send metta to all beings after meditation because sending to all beings without choosing is paramattha metta.

When you choose to send to specific individuals, the metta becomes a concept.

Also, when you wish other beings to be happy and well, check if your mind quality is the same as the wish.

THE MEDITATOR’S AWARENESS

IMS Retreat 2012 Q&A Group A#1 (30:40-35:04)

Yogi: How do we live with despairing about the condition of the world in general? I’m aware of it – should I be glad?

Sayadaw: When I say to be happy when you’re aware, the awareness is of the sense objects which the mind can contact directly. In the mind, it is recognizing thinking and feelings, not the story but just the fact that the mind is thinking and feeling. The same goes for the 5 physical sense doors.

The awareness only comes into contact with the 6 sense objects, and a meditator’s awareness is knowing the mind and body for what it is.

For example, when you know that a car is passing by, is that a meditator’s awareness?

Anybody would know that, and dogs as well. What then is the difference between a meditator’s awareness and an ordinary one?

The yogi is aware of the sense contacts – aware that seeing has happened and hearing has happened. The yogi has felt something and the direct awareness of these contacts is the meditator’s awareness.

THE MIND RECEIVES THE EXPERIENCE THAT MATCHES ITS QUALITY

IMS Retreat 2012 Q&A Group A#1 (1:00:00-1:05:36)

Yogi: I feel cheated – I’ve attended 70 retreats in the last 40 years and don’t seem to be any closer to nibbana.

Sayadaw: It is only a mind that is free of defilements, a pure mind that can take a pure object – only a pure mind is able to realize nibbana.

The principle is that the mind receives the experience that matches its quality. The only thing we can do is to purify this mind as much as we possibly can because that’s how much closer it gets to experiencing what is more pure.

Experiential wisdom must arise for real purification to happen because it is wisdom that purifies the mind.

The problem with all of us is that we’re not able to sustain the process of purification in our lives. That’s all.

THE TIP IS TO BE LIGHTLY AWARE

IMS Retreat 2012 Q&A Group A#1 (45:00-47:49)

Yogi: I had a very busy 7 weeks of work before coming here and there are the aftereffects.

Sayadaw: Over here, think of yourself as being on vacation – don’t practice intensely.

Just allow yourself to be lightly aware of whatever comes up in the mind and be happy with that.

When you have had a busy schedule and then you allow yourself to relax, you will feel drowsy as the tiredness comes in. Let it be – just be patient with the practice – and don’t blame yourself.