WHEN I CHOOSE THE OBJECT VS WHEN THE MIND CHOOSES THE OBJECT

Singapore Q&A 14.7.2023 (08:23-9:35)

The beginner starts by choosing this object and that object. If you choose the object, the idea of self is already there.

When the mind naturally knows an object, the mind has already chosen the object – so, this object does not belong to you and there is no idea of self.

For example, if you choose to be aware of your breath and the mind then knows the pain, which one is yours? Breath is your choice and pain is not your choice. Breath is personal and the idea of self is there. Pain is not personal; naturally, the mind knows it. You didn’t choose it, so, it is more obvious that it is not personal.

SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF NAMA-RUPA

Singapore Q&A 10.7.2023 (32:05-34:50)

Sayadaw: There are the three universal characteristics of nama-rupa (samanna-lakkhana) – anicca, dukkha, anatta – and there are the specific characteristics (sabhava-lakkhana).

For example, fire element has its own characteristic – burning. The first step is to understand that every paramatta or nama-rupa process has its own characteristic. Later, we can understand the 3 universal characteristics of all nama-rupa.

But many yogis forget about the specific nature of processes, they don’t want to understand this. They just want to find out about the universal characteristics.

First, we need to understand the specific characteristics before we can understand anicca, dukkha and anatta.

The 4 elements have their own characteristics and we need to understand them, one by one.

Yogi: Sayadaw, what are the specific characteristics that we need to understand?

Sayadaw: Everything; like now you are watching the mind and the object. Knowing and being known, these are the specific characteristics of awareness and object.

PRACTICE TO REDUCE SUFFERING, NOT TO GAIN HAPPINESS

Singapore Q&A 10.7.2023 (1:20:18-1:21:00)

I like daily life practice because we suffer in our daily life and with practice, we experience less suffering.

I don’t want to tell yogis that if they practice, they’ll be happy; I don’t want to say happiness because people like happiness.

If I say happiness, they’ll get attached to happiness; so, I say less suffering. It is different from happiness.

THE FUNCTION OF THE OBJECT IS TO SUPPORT THE AWARENESS

Singapore Q&A 4.7.2023 (28:40-29:31)

Yogi: Do we go back to the same object or can we move from object to object?

Sayadaw: It doesn’t matter if you use the same object or many objects; the important thing is to have consistent awareness with the right attitude.

You can use one object or many objects – whichever is more suitable depends on your personality. You can adjust for yourself.

THE MIND BECOMES DULL WATCHING NEUTRAL OBJECTS

Singapore Q&A 10.7.2023 (39:23-40:27)

Yogi: I notice that when there are pleasant and unpleasant objects, the awareness is sharp, but when the object is neutral, the awareness is not sharp.

Sayadaw: Normally when the object is neutral the mind is not stimulated to watch it; only wisdom can watch neutral objects.

Pleasant and unpleasant objects are more obvious – they can easily stimulate the mind. That is why the mind is not sleepy when watching these objects.

With neutral objects, the mind gradually falls asleep. That is why the mind must have more wisdom – when understanding comes, this is object and this is awareness, the yogi knows very clearly, and the mind wakes up.

If there is no understanding, the mind becomes sleepy.

DEVELOPING THE UNDERSTANDING OF AN OBJECT

Singapore Q&A 10.7.2023 (28:34-31:48)

Yogi: In the real world, there must be good and bad.

Sayadaw: Very quick, the mind already judges everything.

When we watch our feeling reactions and they come down to neutral, this state of mind can be understood as it is.

Whatever happens, the mind already judges; so, we can start by watching our feelings. When the mind settles down, come back to the object – there is a relationship between mind and object. Pain, for example, we watch the feeling first and when the feeling becomes neutral, come back to the pain. The neutral mind then can understand the nature of the pain.

I used to have knee pain – when I went on alms round and was walking, there would be feelings of pain and no pain. I would watch pain and no pain and suddenly I realized that pain and no pain were both objects. I understood the meaning of an object.

Both pain and no pain are known; when this understanding comes, there is no unpleasant feeling when pain comes, and the mind is not happy when there is no pain.

Pain and no pain are only objects; they are the same. Because of this understanding, the mind does not react.

RIGHT EFFORT, FAITH AND WISDOM GIVE MOMENTUM TO THE PRACTICE

Singapore Q&A 10.7.2023 (1:16:05-1:17:12)

Yogi: Sometimes it is hard to practice; where do I get the strength to continue to practice?

Sayadaw: Strength comes from effort, faith and wisdom. These three qualities make you continue to practice – faith, understanding and effort.

Some yogis have faith-based personality, and they will try to practice very hard, again and again. They practice patiently with the right effort and saddha.

For others, confidence in the practice arises because of understanding. If you know the benefit of the practice, confidence increases, and effort follows.

You need to appreciate how much you have already benefited from the practice.

WHEN SOMETHING UPSETS US, COME BACK TO THE MIND

Singapore Q&A 10.7.2023 (22:30-24:02)

The right attitude is holding the idea that the suffering feeling is nature, that there is nobody there.

Because of the right attitude, the watching mind can be equanimous towards a suffering object.

We learn by watching it again and again. So, every time anger arises, we need to watch the anger not from the pain only but from every suffering object – be it a person or situation. Whenever the reaction arises, we try to practice how to watch suffering feeling with equanimity again and again.

We need to practice watching suffering feeling with equanimity and without expecting the feeling to go away.

WE DON’T HAVE TO ACCEPT THE RIGHT INFORMATION

Singapore Q&A 4.7.2023 (00:20-03:43)

Yogi: My negative emotions have been growing stronger and stronger over the past few weeks, especially anger. Sometimes the anger is so strong I want to scream and pull my hair and I end up crying.

My teachers always say to be open and to accept it but every time I notice this anger I cannot accept – I’ll run away and suppress it.

Sayadaw: First, you need to think that anger is not yours, anger is anger, and everybody can experience anger. Put in this right view before watching anger.

You do not try to accept; you try to think the right way that anger is nature. And try to be aware of the feeling – the burning sensation – and not follow the storyline. Keep coming back to watching the feeling every time the mind follows the storyline.

Don’t try to accept; it is not necessary to accept. You only need to think that anger is nature. We’re not trying to make the anger go away; we’re trying to know and understand the nature of anger.

Can you do this?

WATCHING THE BODY OR THE MIND?

Singapore Q&A 14.7.2023 (01:16-02:20)

Sayadaw: What object are you more aware of? Body or mind?

Yogi: Body.

Sayadaw: Why?

Yogi: I prefer the body.

Sayadaw: But the mind is more important.

Yogi: I know.

Sayadaw: If you’re aware of the awareness, you can also know the body.

That is why I remind yogis: What is the mind aware of? This is also attention to the mind.

I also ask: Do you recognize that awareness is present? That is also the mind. That is enough because the body sensation is already with the awareness.

CHECK THE OBJECT AND THE KNOWING MIND

Singapore Q&A 7.7.2023 (2:19-4:50)

Sayadaw: Sometimes we check if the awareness is present; then, we check again if we have realized something. Basically, you need to know what the object is and what the mind is.

Tell me what you’re aware of in the 30-minute sit.

Yogi: I know my breath and then the sound of the door and then the breath again. Then I go to thinking.

Sayadaw: Only aware? At that time, do you know what the object is and what is the awareness?

Yogi: Sometimes yes and sometimes no.

WHEN WE ASK ‘WHY’, WE WANT TO SEE MORE OF THE PROCESS

Singapore Q&A 10.7.2023 (1:05:40-1:06:21)

Yogi: If we keep asking ‘Why, why, why’, won’t we get into thinking and not being aware?

Sayadaw: When we ask ‘Why’, we want to see more of the process, and not think more, just like a detective who asks ‘Why’ and then observes carefully.

We try to be aware of the experience and not think all the time.

HOME PRACTICE IS REAL

Singapore Q&A 4.7.2023 (42:12-42:30)

I’m more interested in daily life practice. In the center, there is not much suffering.

A HOME-LIFE PRACTICE

Singapore Q&A 14.7.2023 (03:14-04:14)

Just recognize the intention and action together throughout the day; that is enough. Then, you already recognize the process. If you’re aware of the intention and action, then you will know that there is nobody there.

You can see the intention and action process the whole day – and if you’re more aware of this, you’ll understand anatta, i.e., there’s nobody there.

For example, when there is the intention to look, we look; and when there is the intention to move, the hand moves. All actions come from intention.

HAVING THE DHAMMA IN OUR LIVES

Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary Retreat Zoom Q&A Concluding Talk 17 Jan 2023 (39:00-39:25)

Peace of mind is about how the mind orientates itself; it is about how we see the Dhamma in the nature of things. That is why we need the Dhamma in our lives.