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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
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PARAMATTHA (NATURE/REALITY) AND PANNATTI ...

WHATEVER MIND STATE, LET NATURE HAPPEN

Singapore Q&A 18 November 2022 (03:00-7:48) with Sayadaw U Tejaniya

Yogi: Last time when I practiced, the mind was more calm. But now, the emotions arising from joy can be very strong.

Sayadaw: Don’t think that our mind should be equanimous all the time – that is only achieved in the very high level practice of sankhara upekkha.

When we concentrate too much, we think the mind is equanimous, but actually the mind becomes stuck like a zombie. That is not the right way; it is not a natural process.

Even by seeing joy arise again and again, we can also understand the impermanent nature of that mind.

Let nature happen – there is no need to target equanimity all the time.

THE MIND WANTS TO CHOOSE, NOT ‘I CHOOSE’

Singapore 18 Nov 2022 Q&A (00:30-02:22) with Sayadaw U Tejaniya

Yogi: Although there is awareness of the emotion, sometimes I choose to engage with it.

Sayadaw: Who chooses to engage in the emotion? You think that intention is you, but intention is not you.

Choosing mind is choosing mind, not ‘I want to do this and that’. People have the habit to think that this mind or any mind state is ‘me’.

Next time, just say that the mind wants to choose, not I want to choose. This is better because when we’re aware of whatever mind is happening; it is more open and natural. Otherwise, we get attached to the idea of self and that is wrong view.

REALITY AND CONCEPTUAL EXPERIENCES

Swiss Retreat 2019 Interviews 3 (1:24:00-1:28:18) with Sayadaw U Tejaniya

Yogi: When I look at the tree and I’m mindful of it, something changes because I connect to it. The tree transforms and I transform. I feel that a different level of seeing is involved.

Sayadaw: Seeing. When you see, you’re supposed to be aware of the fact of seeing which happens in the body, not the tree. The seeing is only your ability to see. The tree is what we think about to recognize it, and that’s concept.

Sight is reality, but sight is again not the tree.

When you want to practice seeing, stay with the knowing that you’re seeing and stay with that. Never mind what you’re seeing. It’s not I’m seeing a tree, but I know that seeing is happening. Stay with the knowing of seeing.

If you know you’re looking at the tree, that’s fine, you can know that you’re looking. ‘I know I’m looking.’

Yogi: I like the intensity of what I see and the feeling that this is a different level of consciousness.

Sayadaw: That’s thinking and following the imagination and cultivating the enjoyment. Meditation is about knowing; not just indulging.

NOTICING THOUGHTS IS A GOOD PRACTICE

Swiss Retreat 2019 Interviews 3 (44:19-46:05) with Sayadaw U Tejaniya

Yogi: When I am out for a walk, it is easier to be aware of walking, seeing and hearing, but It is more difficult when I sit in the hall because there are a lot of thoughts coming up again and again. It is hard to come back to the moment.

Sayadaw: Do you know that when you know the thought, you’re in the present moment?

Yogi: Yes, but sometimes it takes me away and I have to come back.

Sayadaw: That’s not bad; it’s just part of how practice is and it’s ok. Just practice with that.

When you realize the mind is thinking, you acknowledge it and then you bring it back. You can do that over and over and it’s fine.

The more we acknowledge thinking when it arises, the more skillful we’ll become at recognizing thoughts and not getting involved.

It’s actually a good practice – when we don’t see thoughts enough, we don’t know how to practice with them and every time they come, we get lost.

If we notice thoughts more and more, we get less and less involved.

CONCEPT AND REALITY REGARDING MEMORIES

Swiss Retreat 2019 Interviews 2(45:32-46:10) with Sayadaw U Tejaniya

The mind that is arising now is new every moment, but the story or concept sounds the same.

Even our memories, we have memories of our childhood and those stories, are a concept, that is why they feel old, but the mind that is having the memories is new because this mind that is having the memories is only happening now.

WANTING TO SEE THE OBJECT CLEARER

Swiss Retreat 2019 Interviews 1 (29:26-30:19) with Sayadaw U Tejaniya

Yogi: Today, there is stronger feeling of aversion and I want to look at it, but there is a barrier. There is something which hides it and I cannot look at it.

Sayadaw: Just recognize its presence without wanting to see it more clearly. You are probably trying too hard to see it in a certain way and that is not necessary – you already know it. That’s enough.

You already see it; so, don’t try to look at it.

GETTING RESTLESS FROM OVER EXERTING

Swiss Retreat 2019 Interviews 3 (18:15-22:40) with Sayadaw U Tejaniya

Yogi: The mind is very interested in what is happening inside, but I experience a lot of restlessness. It becomes difficult to know the knowing of the process because it is not as clear as the body. Sometimes, I feel that I over focus on the mental processes and I don’t know how to make them lighter.

There is a wish to solve it like solving problems. How can I help myself when it gets too entangled?

Sayadaw: You just need to change your attitude – you probably want too much to know what is going on in the mind. That is why it feels restless although you know your mind.

It’s good that you recognize that you’re probably over focusing; too intent on knowing what is in the mind. It is very good when the yogi can recognize how much energy the mind is putting into what it is doing.

Knowing that it is too much helps you to recognize that you need to back off. So, you can now learn to adjust.

Whenever we’re restless, always check the attitude and usually you’ll find that the mind is wanting something.

Is the mind simple and relaxed, or is the mind trying too much?

FEELING AND REACTION ARE DIFFERENT MINDS

Swiss Retreat 2019 Interviews 2(33:00-33:57) with Sayadaw U Tejaniya

We always resist things that are unpleasant, but as we watch the resistance and aversion to the unpleasant, you will sometimes find moments when the resistance is not there although the unpleasant is still there, then you see a different view.

It is not unusual – many yogis recognize surprisingly that sometimes what is happening is unpleasant but the observing is okay.

When the attitude is right, the observing feels okay even though the experience is still unpleasant.

BACKING OFF ALSO MEANS NOT TO BE TOO INTERESTED IN THE OBJECT

Swiss Retreat 2019 Interviews 3 (30:44-35:05) with Sayadaw U Tejaniya

Sayadaw: The experiences from our practice are the way through which our mind learns to adjust. We have these sorts of experiences and sometimes the mind can have an insight about what is right effort or right object and know how to apply it.

It is good to reflect on how we’re practicing, how the mind is applying its effort and awareness and backing off sometimes, not trying to be aware but sitting back and checking to see how it is going.

Yogi: Does backing off also mean not to be too interested in the object that is arising?

Sayadaw: That’s right.

WHY DOES THE MIND COMPLAIN WHEN PEOPLE GET SICK?

Singapore Q&A 19 November 2022 with Sayadaw U Tejaniya (0:28-1:49)

The mind complains because they don’t like the unpleasant feeling when they’re sick – they get upset when they can’t get the pleasant feeling. So, we need to be aware and notice that the feeling is good whenever the mind is feeling good.

Most people don’t notice this – they’re deluded and unconsciously the mind is enjoying. So, when people get sick, immediately the mind complains.

When we’re healthy and feeling good, we need to be aware of this, otherwise the mind is deluded each time the mind says ‘how nice and good’.

THE VALUE OF HOME PRACTICE

Swiss Retreat 2019 Interviews 2 (1:04:30-1:05:29) with Sayadaw U Tejaniya

Yogi: I have the emotions at home, but they are not here with me at the retreat.

Sayadaw: When you go home, then watch them. This is the wrong place to practice on the emotions.

At home, it can feel more complicated. But when we can really practice at home, it can simplify things. Then we see the value of being. 

DON’T FOLLOW THE IMAGINATION, STAY WITH THE AWARENESS

Swiss Retreat 2019 Interviews 3 (56:15-58:08) with Sayadaw U Tejaniya

Yogi: I was walking today and I asked: Is the seeing here? The seeing is like a big cloud around me.

Sayadaw: When you notice seeing, seeing becomes more obvious; it can feel like it is expanded. But don’t imagine more than that.

Just keep it real – like it is more obvious. Investigate at that time the seeing and the knowing of the seeing.

Come back to the awareness so that the mind won’t think and exaggerate the object.

WITH AWARENESS, THE MIND LEARNS FROM EXPERIENCES

Swiss Retreat 2019 Interviews 2 (4:45-05:07) with Sayadaw U Tejaniya

Yogi: Yesterday, I thought I was mindful, but something was not right as everything was foggy and I couldn’t see.

That was the entire afternoon – and when I took a walk, I saw that there was just wanting and not awareness.

I figured out that I was not mindful at all during that period – although I knew that there was something, but the clarity was not there.

Sayadaw: You did try, that’s why you could tell later on. You can’t say that you weren’t mindful; it wasn’t ideal mindfulness, but there was mindfulness.

All you need is to try, not to have perfect mindfulness.

Sometimes it’s like that. We’re so busy trying to be mindful and we don’t see everything, but when you go for a walk, it rebalances and it gives you that clarity.

Sometimes when we try so hard, we forget to back up and see what is happening.

A lot of times when we’re in the Dhamma hall, there is this sense of striving and we try too hard. When we walk, we’re not over focused; we have balance and can see more clearly.

These very experiences are the way our mind learns how to adjust.