Monks LP Tiradhammo was in Canada visiting friends and families for six weeks. He returned on 20th July. Ajahn Khemavaro, Bhante Siriratano, and Venerable Bhuripannyo visited Dhammacakka Forest Monastery in Queensland from 14th to 17th July. Photo Gallery: Gatton 2023
Ajahn Khemavaro was in Vietnam from 21st to 30th June. He visited Huyen Khong Son Thuong Monastery in Hue, Buu Long Temple in Ho Chi Minh City, and Vien Khong Monastery in Ba Ria. Dan and Venerable Pannyananda also joined him for the trip.
Ajahn Khemavaro was in Texas visiting families from 9th to 27th May. He led a 3-Day Meditation Workshop at Giac Dao Buddhist Meditation Centre, outside of Houston. Ajahn also visited Sitagu Buddha Vihara in Austin Texas. Ajahn Khemavaro and a group of lay supporters visited Ajahn Santutthi in Perth from 26th April to 2nd May.
Bhantes Siriratano and Saccadhammo arrived from Indonesia 2nd May. Bhante Siri is planning to spend the Rains Retreat at the Wat and Bhante Sacca returned to Indonesia on 1st June.
Venerable Bhuripannyo came from South Adelaide on 2nd May for a six weeks visit. He plans to spend the Rains Retreat at WBD.
Ajahn Dtun at Seymour Forest Monastery 12th to 27th March Ajahn Khemavaro and a large delegation of lay supporters from WBD participated in the Installation Buddha Relics in the main Buddha Statue at Seymour Forest Monastery.
4-Day New Year Retreat with Ajahn Khemavaro Friday 29th December to Monday 1st Jan 2024
Activities
• Around 40 attended the 4-day Easter Retreat with Ajahn Khemavaro in April. • The monks went on alms round in Cabramatta on 21st January, 19th April, and 10th June.
Current Building Projects
Laundry Shed finished in December 2022 New Workshop—To be by December 2023 New Dome Kuti installed July 2023 New Solar Batteries for Granny Flat Increased power capacity for kitchen with additional solar batteries Electricity upgrade for Yurt
Potential Building Projects for 2024
Roof repair and lighting reconnection for Dorm Sink and toilet for Kyle House Decking and roof renovation for Cynthia House Decking, window, and roof restoration for Family House Decking for Old Kitchen Bathroom upgrade for Yurt
The Buddha taught that the unenlightened relationship to the agreeable aspects of life such as youth and good health, may be best characterized as a kind of intoxication. We take the good things in life for granted, forget their impermanent nature, and as a result, act, speak and think in ways that cause suffering to ourselves and others.
For this reason the Buddha taught us to constantly remind ourselves: 1. I am subject to old age. I am not exempt from old age. 2. I am subject to illness. I am not exempt from illness. 3. I am subject to death. I am not exempt from death. 4. Sooner or later, I will be separated from everyone and everything dear and agreeable to me. 5. I am the owner of my kamma, heir to my kamma; I have kamma as my origin, kamma as my relative, kamma as my support. I will be the heir of whatever kamma that I do, good or bad.
The strength of resistance we feel towards these reflections is a measure of the strength of the intoxication. It is dwelling on the truth that makes us sober and clear minded.
Excerpt from: From Heart and Hand Vol II by Ajahn Jayasaro For more teachings of Ajahn Jayasaro, please click here: Teachings by Jayasaro
MONASTERY REPORT for Annual General Meeting in November
Comings & Goings Monks
Luang Por Tiradhammo will be visiting New Zealand 26 Oct – 16 Nov and to Thailand 13 Dec – 2 Feb
Ajahn Khemavaro will be away the following dates:
2 – 9 November in Thailand 17 Nov to 7 Dec in USA 25 Jan to 5 Feb in Singapore and Thailand
Ven Pannyananda left for Vietnam on 20 October.
Ven Caranadhammo will be coming on 30 Dec and will stay for one year.
Long-term Lay Guests
Megan is visiting her family in Melbourne for a few weeks in Dec
Annie currently has no travel plan for 2023
Yuliana is staying for a while and probably for a longer term
David is planning to stay until Dec
Retreats Regular retreats with Ajahn Khemavaro were held monthly from early 2022 until the commencement of Rains Retreat in July. The next retreat is the 4-day New Year Retreat (30 Dec–2 Jan) and the registration is open. 4—Day Easter Retreat is from 7th to 11th April (For further info, see below)
Completed Projects 2022 Bush toilet opposite the kitchen Lay Open Sala Laundry shed Flooring repair for Granny Flat Kempsey–New water tank, Meditation platform, drop toilet built. Dhammacakka Forest Monastery – the first Vietnamese Theravada monastery in Australia Land purchase finalized in July and first Robes Offering Ceremony in October 2022
Building Projects for 2022/2023 Road repair around the monastery after prolonged rain/flood Electricity upgrade for Yurt Roof repair and lighting reconnection for Dorm Sink and toilet for Kyle House Decking and roof renovation for Cynthia House Decking, window and roof restoration for Family House Decking for Old Kitchen Bathroom upgrade for Yurt Workshop near car park
LP Thiradhammo’s book has arrived. Hard copies of LP Thiradhammo’s new book: Beyond I-Making, A Contemplative Investigation of the Concept of Anatta and the Path to its Realization, has arrived. If you would like a copy, please contact the office at wbdoffice@gmail.com. Otherwise, a digital copy, is available here: Beyond I-Making
Ajahn Dtun at Kathina Ceremony, Boonyawad Monastery Thailand
Ajahn Khemavaro attended the Kathina Ceremony at Ajahn Dtun’s Monastery in Thailand. Picture Gallery: Boonyawad Kathina
Upcoming Retreats
Spiritual Indulgence 4–Day Easter Retreat with Ajahn Khemavaro Friday 7th to Monday 11th April 2023 Weekend Retreat Registration
To register for upcoming retreats, please register at Eventbrite or click on link attached to that retreat.
Rains Retreat 2023 1st August to 29th October You are cordially invited to spend the Rains Retreat at the Wat. To serve and to deepen your practice. Minimum stay of one month and priority will be given to those who can commit for the entire three months.
To register for the Rains retreat, please complete the application form on the WBD website.
For more info regarding the monastery, visit our websitewww.wbd.org.au. For further enquiries, please email wbdretreats@gmail.com or call the office at 0409-389-887 between 9 – 12 noon.
The entire world and everyone in it needs the Dhamma as a protection. We all survive and find comfort in life with the support of the knowledge and skills, mindfulness and wisdom, of countless others. Without their help we would all perish as soon as we left our mother’s womb. We’d have no food to eat, clothes to wear or house to live in. Our parents, whose faces we have never seen before, give us life and all the things we need to make us healthy and strong. For our clothes and living places, and all the various skills we learn, we are entirely–indebted to others. From the first moments in our mother’s womb, all of us have a debt of gratitude owed to innumerable other people–no need to mention our parents and all our teachers, to whom the sense of gratitude we should feel is incalculable.
Even people of one nation have much to be grateful for those living in another. This is something which, if you think about it, is not too hard to see. Knowing and acknowledging with gratitude the debt we have to others, and placing them above ourselves, is called katannuta. The effort to repay the debt is called katavedita. The ones who know what has been done for them are called katannu. And those who return the favor gratefully are called katavedi.
Katannu-katavedita: acknowledging the debt we owe to others and paying it back with acts of gratitude are spiritual qualities which protect the world from harm, help society to function, and lead to peace and happiness.
Excerpt from The Life and Teachings of Luang Por Liem Thitadhammo pg 135
For more teachings from Luang Por Liem, please click here: LP Liem Teachings
The Robes Offering Ceremony marks the end of the Rains Retreat. On this occasion we rejoice in having spent the past three months at the Wat dedicated to the cultivation peace and kindness. This is a rare opportunity to take part in an old and inspiring Buddhist ceremony and a chance to connect with other practitioners.
The core values that are celebrated during the Kathina are those that make living together in harmony possible; qualities like kindness, compassion, patience and acceptance. In our sometimes confusing and competitive world, it is important to remember that our own sense of well-being cannot be secure unless it is founded on acts of generosity and goodwill to others.
The ceremony will include taking the Three Refuges and Five Precepts, auspicious chanting and Dhamma talks by Luang Por Tiradhammo and Ajahn Khemavaro. After the ceremony there will be a monastery tour, where visitors can see some monks’ huts.
For further info, please call 0409 389-887 between 8-10 am and 11am -1 pm or email: wbdoffice@gmail.com.
Robes will be available for offering at the monastery.
For further enquiries, please email: wbdoffice@gmail.com or call the office at 0409-389-887 between 8 – 12 noon.
Doubts and Other Demons
Q: What can I do about doubts? Some days I’m plagued with doubts about the practice or my own progress or the teacher.
A: Doubting is natural. Everyone starts with doubts. You can learn a great deal from them. What is important is that you don’t identify with your doubts. That is, don’t get caught up in them, letting your mind spin in endless circles. Instead, watch the whole process of doubting, of wondering. See who it is that doubts. See how doubts come and go. Then you will no longer be victimized by your doubts. You will step outside of them, and your mind will be quiet. You can see how all things come and go. Just let go of what you’re attached to. Let go of your doubts and simply watch. This is how to end doubting.
Q: These days, there seem to be so many teachers and so many different systems of meditation that it’s confusing. Which one should I follow?
A: It’s like going into town. One can approach from the north, from the southeast, from many roads. Often these systems just differ outwardly. Whether you walk one way or another, fast or slow, if you are mindful, it’s all the same. There’s one essential point that all good practice must eventually come to-not clinging. In the end, you must let go of all meditation systems. Nor can you cling to the teacher. If a system leads to relinquishment, to not clinging, then it is correct practice.
You may wish to travel, to visit other teachers and try other systems. Some of you have already done so. This is a natural desire. You will find out that a thousand questions asked and knowledge of many systems will not bring you to the truth. Eventually you will get bored. You will see that only by stopping and examining your own heart can you find out what the Buddha talked about. No need to go searching outside yourself. Eventually, you must return to face your own true nature. Right where you are is where you can understand the Dharma.
During the Rains Retreat the community at WBD will focus on formal meditation practice, cultivating stillness, compassion, and wisdom. While people are welcome to visit the monastery during the day, we will not be able to accommodate overnight guests.
Emails will be answered between 5-7 days. If it’s urgent please call the office at 0409-389-887 between 11 am and 12 noon. Thank you for your support.
Community List for Rains 20212 Monks LP Tiradhammo Ajahn Khemavaro Venerable Panyannda
Layguests Megan Annie Tommy Yuliana Graeme Serena Marie
Robes Offering Ceremony Sunday 16th October 2022 Activities include: Shared Meal, Auspicious Chanting, and Dhamma Talk 10 – 3 pm. For further enquiries, please email: wbdoffice@gmail.com or call the office at 0409-389-887 between 11 – 12 noon.
Empty Space
People want to go to Nibbana but when you tell them that there is nothing there, they begin to have second thoughts. But there’s nothing there, nothing at all! Look at the roof and floor here. Think of the roof as a “becoming” and the floor as a “becoming” too. You can stand on the roof and you can stand on the floor, but in the empty space between the roof and the floor there is no place to stand. Where there is no becoming, that’s where there’s emptiness, and to put it bluntly, we say that Nibbana is this emptiness. People hear this and they back up a bit. They don’t want to go. They’re afraid that they won’t see their children or relatives.
That’s why whenever we bless the laity by saying, “May you have long life, beauty, happiness and strength,” they become very happy. But if you start talking about letting go and emptiness, they don’t want to hear about it. But have you ever seen a very old person with a beautiful complexion or a lot of strength or a lot vitality? No! But we say, “Long life, beauty, happiness and strength,” and they are all pleased. They’re attached to becoming, to the cycle of birth and death. They prefer to stand on the roof or on the floor. Few are they who dare to stand in the empty space between.
Excerpt from A Tree in a Forest–A Collection of Ajahn Chah’s Similes
Greetings from winterly Wat Buddha Dhamma, 10 Mile Hollow, Wisemans Ferry, NSW 2775, Australia;
Here in the southern hemisphere we are experiencing Winter, which is also the time of the traditional Buddhist ‘Rainy Season’. Fortunately, at Wat Buddha Dhamma winter is not too extreme, with most mornings around 3 – 5C and sunny afternoons in the upper teens. Ironically, it is also the dry season.
This year we may only have a small Sangha due to some health issues and a serious delay in receiving a requested visa.
I have been reminded that it has been nearly 6 months since my last Blog update. I will not claim it as an excuse, but part of the reason was that not much has happened in the last 6 months – ‘nothing to write home about’, as the saying goes. The other part of my delay is that, for the early half of that time, I have been quite preoccupied with applying the finishing touches to my book. Now, with the final comments from my diligent proofreaders, Theresa and Grant, the enduring patience of Sharon for layout and Melinda for production of the ebook, it is now ready for reading. Copies can be downloaded at: www.wbd.org.au/news/book
In March, we were once again ‘flooded in’ with both the ferry down and the northern route along the river under water for ten days. Ari, one of our long term lay women, was eager to leave for a flight to Sri Lanka. The only option, other than walk 10 km over the hills, was to hire a helicopter for an airlift out. This was doubly helpful as it allowed some fresh vegetables to be flown in and Yuliana as a replacement cook to join us in our maroonment! Shortly after, several of us were obliged to have a picnic lunch in the park next to the ferry dock and had to clear debris off the picnic tables before eating. Various forms of debris, including an old mattress, clothing and driftwood indicated that the area was about two meters under water at some point. We are happy to live nearly 100 meters above the river level!
And … just as I am uploading this blog, we are once again ‘flooded in’. No big problems for us. The weekend retreat has had to be cancelled, some of the tracks are more washed out and the low lying bridge to the old garden has once again washed away – this time 100 meters downstream. One of our guests is marooned here while another guest, who hiked in from Wisemans Ferry five days ago, decided to hike out over the hills to Mangrove Mountain – 4 ½ hours in the rain!
The bridge to nowhere.
With the lifting of the Covid restrictions it is now possible to travel. I thus stirred myself from inertia and three of us took a road trip to Victoria. The main reason was to attend the Grand Opening of the Dhamma Sala at Vimokharama Monastery in the Dandenong ranges, east of Melbourne. This project has been in progress for the last eight years and Ajahn Hasapanyo and his disciples have done a superb job of re-establishing the site as an ongoing monastery after the original house was burned down.
Our trip to Victoria also allowed us to visit Ajahn Sudhammo at the new monastery, Nigrodharama, just north of Melbourne. Unfortunately, he was not able to extend his visa before it expired and has now returned to Thailand to re-apply for a return whenever it is granted. Ajahn Bom, another monk from Ajahn Dtun’s monastery in Thailand, is keeping the place warm over the southern winter.
On the return journey we followed the coastal route which involved an overnight stop at a camp ground where we were able to view the sunrise over the Tasman Sea. Australia is such a huge country – continent actually – that it really requires many days to appreciate the natural beauty and diversity of the landscape. It takes more than a few hours to absorb the effects of majestic rocky headlands pounded by the crashing surf or the endless expanse of pristine, sun-drenched beaches.
Ajahn Khemavaro has made good use of the opportunity to travel with visits to Thailand, Indonesia and USA, as well as several trips to various Buddha in the Bush properties. After a retreat in Brisbane, much interest was expressed in establishing a local Vietnamese Theravada monastery. With much enthusiasm and energy, a 360 acre property was located one hour west of Brisbane and the down payment was quickly raised. Dhammachakka Forest Monastery will be the first Vietnamese Theravada monastery in Australia, although still in the early stages of development.
One of the teachings of Ajahn Chah which I have been reflecting upon recently was triggered off by a discussion I had with one of our recent guests. This is the teaching that Dukkha (unsatisfactoriness or suffering) is our teacher. The more I contemplate this simple teaching the more profound it becomes. If I had only heard this teaching when I was young it would have saved me so much (unneccessary) suffering!
Most of us, unfortunately, waste so much time and energy denying, avoiding or trying to escape from suffering. If we could just transform this energy into studying suffering we would not only save a lot of wasted effort, but learn some valuable lessons in the process.
Of course, Ajahn Chah was giving this teaching within the context of the Buddha’s teaching on the Four Noble Truths. These truths tell us that suffering is a fundamental reality of life and this experience has a definite cause which can be brought to an end through a detailed practice of spiritual development.
I think the main reason why most people do not try to study suffering is that they do not know that there is a path of practice to transcend suffering – the Eightfold Path. Without a way out, suffering seems like a very unpleasant deadend. And, while not exactly easy, by studying suffering we can gradually learn to free ourselves from this self-created condition.
The tools are now within our hands.
Wishing you all good health, well-being and the peace of Liberation.
Australia Rock — can you see the outline of Australia?
LP Tiradhammo and Venerable Pannya in Victoria May 2022
LP Tiradhammo and Ven Pannya attended the Grand Opening of the new Sala at Vimokkharam Forest Hermitage in Victoria. They also visited Ajahn Sudhammo at Nigrodharam Hermitage in Seymour. Photo Gallery: Victoria Visit May 2022
Meditation Retreat in Indonesia
Ajahn Khemavaro lead a 4-Day Meditation Retreat on Bangka Island in Indonesia from 6th to 9th May. Picture Gallery: Bangka Retreat
Upcoming Retreats
Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend Retreat with Ajahn Khemavaro Friday 10th to Monday 13th June 2022 Long Weekend Retreat Registration Fully Booked–Waiting List Open
Spiritual Indulgence Weekend Retreat with Ajahn Khemavaro Friday 8th to Sunday 10th July 2022 Weekend Retreat Registration
The Beauty of Simplicity and Silence Weekend Retreat with Ajahn Khemavaro Friday 7th to Sunday 9th October 2022 Weekend Retreat Registration
To register for upcoming retreats, please register at Eventbrite or click on link attached to that retreat.
Rains Retreat 2022 14th July to 11th October You are cordially invited to spend the Rains Retreat at the Wat. To serve and to deepen your practice. Minimum stay of one month and priority will be given to those who can commit for the entire three months.
To register for the Rains retreat, please complete the application form on the WBD website.
For more info regarding the monastery, visit our websitewww.wbd.org.au. For further enquiries, please email wbdretreats@gmail.com or call the office at 0409-389-887 between 9 – 12 noon.
Q: Does one have to practise and gain samadhi (concentration) before one can contemplate the Dhamma?
Ajahn Chah: We can say that’s correct from one point of view, but from the aspect of practice, panna has to come first. In conventional terms, it’s sila (virtue), samadhi (concentration), and then panna (wisdom), but if we are truly practising the Dhamma, then panna comes first. If panna is there from the beginning, it means that we know what is right and what is wrong; and we know the heart that is calm and the heart that is disturbed and agitated.
Talking from the scriptural basis, one has to say that the practice of restraint and composure will give rise to a sense of shame and fear of any form of wrong-doing that potentially may arise. Once one has established the fear of that which is wrong and on no longer acting or behaving wrongly, then that which is wrong will not be present within, this provides the conditions from which calm will arise in its place That calm forms a foundation from which samadhi will grow and develop over time.
When the heart is calm, that knowledge and understanding which arises from within that calm is called vipassana (clear seeing). This means that from moment to moment there is a knowing in accordance with the truth, and within this are contained different properties. If one was to set them down on paper they would be sila, samadhi and panna. Talking about them, one can bring them together and say that these three dhammas form one mass and are inseparable. But if one were to talk about them as different properties, then it would be correct to say sila, samadhi and panna.
However, if one was acting in an unwholesome way, it would be impossible for the heart to become calm. So it would be most accurate to see them as developing together, and it would be right to say that this is the way that the heart will become calm. Talking about the practice of samadhi; it involves preserving sila, which includes looking after the sphere of one’s bodily actions and speech, in order not to do anything which is unwholesome or would lead one to remorse or suffering. This provides the foundation for the practice of calm, and once one has a foundation in calm, this in turn provides a foundation which supports the arising of panna.
Excerpt from Recollections of Ajahn Chah: Chapter 8 Questions and Answers II To download, click here: Recollections of Ajahn Chah
Ajahn Khemavaro and Venerable Pannananda in Brisbane
Ajahn Khemavaro and Venerable Pannananda visited Brisbane from 15th to 23rd March. They went on alms round in Inala Plaza and offer teachings at the Tathagatha Meditation Centre. Picture Gallery
Songkran Celebration and Conservation Work at Kempsey Picture Gallery
Studying the Dhamma
In seeking to go beyond suffering by way of studying, if one doesn’t delve into one’s own body and mind, then I can see no end to it. The study of books can only serve as a guideline. It’s just something that can be memorized and used to boast that one knows a great deal, which is merely a vain display of kilesa. It’s not that the formal studying of books is always a bad thing, because sometimes it can provide one with some good ideas and perspectives. Sometimes reading can cause faith and the desire the practice to arise. Nevertheless, one must know how to read: having read something, don’t hold tightly to it. The Buddha instructs us not to be led by the authority of religious texts. Instead, we should reflect in a well-reasoned way in accordance with the principle of cause and effect, and trust in this. Excerpt from Introduction of The Autobiography of Ajahn Dtun PDF Format
New Book by LP Thiradhammo After more than five years of research, a new book has manifested. It is titled, ‘Beyond I-Making: A Contemplative Investigation of the Concept of Anatta and the Path to its Realization‘, various ebook versions are available for download:
In February, Ajahn Khemavaro attended the Buddha Rupa casting ceremony at Ajahn Dtun’s monastery in Chonburi, Thailand. He also visited LP Piak in Bangkok. Picture Gallery
Active Meditation (Weed Control) at Kempsey January 2022
A Bush Meditation Retreat and Biodiversity Conservation Workshop was held at Kempsey Hermitage in January 2022 Picture Gallery
Upcoming Retreats
Spiritual Indulgence March Weekend Retreat with Ajahn Khemavaro Friday 25th to Sunday 27th March 2022 Weekend Retreat Registration Fully Booked–Waiting List Open
The Wisdom of Stillness 4-Day Easter Retreat with Ajahn Khemavaro Friday 15th to Monday 18th April 2022 (*not Tues 19/4 as advertised on Eventbrite) Easter Retreat Registration Fully Booked–Waiting List Open
Vesak Weekend Retreat with Ajahn Khemavaro Friday 13th to Sunday 15th May 2022 Weekend Retreat Registration Fully Booked–Waiting List Open
To register for upcoming retreats, please register at Eventbrite or click on link attached to that retreat. Register early as space is limited due to COVID distancing requirements.
Rains Retreat 2022 14th July to 11th October You are cordially invited to spend the Rains Retreat at the Wat. To serve and to deepen your practice. Minimum stay of one month and priority will be given to those who can commit for the entire three months.
To register for the Rains retreat, please complete the application form on the WBD website.
For more info regarding the monastery, visit our websitewww.wbd.org.au. For further enquiries, please email wbdretreats@gmail.com or call the office at 0409-389-887 between 9 – 12 noon.
Visit to Amber Forest Hermitage (Enfield Range Rd. Cooplacurripa NSW) in February 2022 Buddha in the Bush Project
Excerpt from Introduction of Beyond I-Making: A Contemplative Investigation of the Concept of Anatta and the Path to its Realization By Ajahn Thiradhammo While researching the Pali Canon for my previous book, Working with the Five Hindrances, I occasionally came across an intriguingly cryptic phrase: ‘I-making, mine-making and the underlying disposition to conceit’ (ahaṅkāra-mamaṅkāra-mānānusaya). This phrase was intriguing because it suggests a completely new perspective to the universal inquiry into self and selflessness, and provides a glimpse into the unique realization which the Buddha was awakened. He designated this realization with the Pali term ‘anattā’, which is usually translated as ‘non-self’, ‘not-self’ or ‘no-self’. While the translation is literally correct, it unfortunately fails to convey the correct meaning of what the Buddha is saying. The Buddha did not deny self. What he denied was that self has any permanent, imperishable essence. The Buddha realized that self is essentially a constantly changing process, artificially created through the interaction of craving and ignorance. And, since it is ‘made-up’ by activities which we have some influence over, craving and ignorance can also be ‘unmade’ so that the deleterious effects of grasping self as permanent can come to cessation. Where the phrase ‘I-making, mine-making and the underlying disposition to conceit’ is mentioned, the emphasis is upon its cessation in the context of full awakening. The Buddha awoke to the realization that the cessation of ‘I-making, mine-making and the underlying disposition to conceit’ is ultimate well-being through complete liberation from the suffering which ‘I-making’ entails. All the Buddha’s teachings facilitate this realization, some indirectly (for example the practice of ‘selfless’ generosity) and some directly (for example, meditations on impermanence). This is, of course, exactly what the Buddha’s teaching excels in, giving us an extremely wide range of perspectives applicable to a variety of temperaments. The Buddha’s teaching guides us from the delusion of self-centredness to a liberating reality-centredness, and thus Buddhist spiritual practice is ultimately directed to liberation from the insidious ‘I-making’ process. In order for this experience to be realized, the Buddha provided many approaches. Therefore, through investigating the various contexts in which this phrase is used in the Pali Canon, it is possible to understand the processes leading to the cessation of I-making, mine-making and the underlying disposition to conceit, and the means to arrive at liberation.
Greetings from summerly Wat Buddha Dhamma, 10 Mile Hollow, Wisemans Ferry, NSW 2775, Australia.
Shrine in Hill Kuti
Another Rains Retreat has passed, extra peacefully this time since we were in lockdown for the whole three months. This year, eight monastics and five laity resided for the retreat. Similar to last year, Ajahn Khemavaro gave the weekly Saturday evening talks and I gave the weekly Sutta Class. The Sutta Class theme was ‘Beyond I-making’, following the outline of my forthcoming book. The video talks can be viewed at: WBD YouTube Channel
Fortunately, some lockdown restrictions were eased in time for the Robe-offering ceremony on November 7th.This was offered by the three Anagarikaas, of three different nationalities: Thai, Sri Lankan and Australian. The ceremony was thus multiethnic with the offering announcement in five languages, including Pali and Vietnamese.
Ajahn Sudhammo, unfortunately, was not able to attend the Robe-offering ceremony as he returned to Nigrodharama Monastery, near Seymour, Victoria as soon as the border was opened. He had been expecting to spend the Rains Retreat there but was locked out due to the resurging Covid pandemic. Then the initial lockdown kept being extended, eventually for 100 days! Nevertheless, his calm and steady presence here was much appreciated.
At the time of writing, Australia has just opened its borders to international travellers. However, due to the uncertainties still surrounding international travel, and my own inertia from staying here for several years, I am not planning any travels at present.
Gamiya Lilies in Blossom
One of the insights which has become clearer to me while working on my book is just how programmed human beings are by feeling. At its simplest, human beings’ whole life is directed to pursue and maintain pleasant feeling, and avoid or escape unpleasant feeling. The development of civilization is simply the development of more and easier ways to fulfil this fundamental human drive.
Then, if we investigate feeling, what we discover is that most people experience the most pleasant feeling when they can escape, forget or lose their everyday (painful) selves in some form or other. The worst method, of course, is in intoxication, since one not only loses one’s sense of self but also one’s self-control, and both physical and mental health also suffer. Slightly less deleterious is losing oneself in art, music, dance, theatre, movies and other forms of entertainment. While sometimes this can expand one’s sense of self it can also bring up very strong emotions which maybe cannot be properly processed. Much less deleterious is losing oneself in nature or some form of healthy sport (extreme sports perhaps excluded). This is usually a very calming, relaxing and refreshing experience allowing a releasing of one’s excessive focus on self. On a more positive note is losing oneself in spiritual exercises such as prayer, chanting, meditation, etc. (However, if this becomes too obsessive it can lead to fanaticism.) The only major problem with all these methods is that they are all only temporary – one eventually returns to one’s old self again, hopefully at least somewhat more healthy and/or wiser.
The Buddha, of course, had a very unique answer to this universal human dilemma – ultimately, there is no self from which to escape. The escape from self is actually an escape from unpleasant feeling embedded in specific experiences; and if dealt with skilfully, unpleasant experiences can be successfully resolved to give the complete ending of unpleasant feeling and a new experience of well-being.
Of course, while the theory is very straightforward, putting it into practice can be somewhat more challenging. The main thing to keep in mind is to apply a step-by-step approach, the pleasure of peace dawning in stages. The first step then is to clearly observe the nature of the unpleasant feeling which we are attempting to flee. This, of course, is the key step in unlocking the whole backlog of unresolved negativity and ignorance wrapped around suffering.
Purple Invasion
Fortunately, the Buddha provides us with a wide range of skilful means to deal more wisely with difficult issues. The most useful of all the skilful means is the development of friendliness or metta bhavana. While this practice is usually taught as a way of spreading universal well-being or kindness throughout the world, most practically it is first necessary to develop friendliness towards one’s own unpleasant experiences. Only when we are truly openly friendly towards our selves in all of its aspects can we really share well-being with others.
Thus, we start by developing friendliness towards our own aches and pains, our annoyances and irritations, our anger and frustrations, etc., etc. How friendly can you be to these experiences? This is, of course, a developing process. Can you really be openly friendly, welcoming and accepting of all the unpleasant aspects of your self?
At the very least, this practice allows us to come a bit closer to our unpleasant experiences, which we have turned into our enemies and then avoided, ignored or actively fled from for so long. With this new attitude you may notice that perceiving unpleasant experiences as enemies actually makes them more unpleasant! By fighting with unpleasant experiences your body becomes more painful through contraction and toxic chemicals in the blood, and the mind becomes more painful through the toxic effects of hostility, negativity, frustration, fear, etc. However, responding with kindness and friendliness changes the rules, and thus the results, of the game. Try it out.
Coming closer to unpleasant experience allows the possibility to see it more clearly. And often just the act of being more aware of the basic issue, takes away its sting (not to mention that it can even be pleasantly interesting). At other times, maintaining some consistency of awareness reveals its inconsistency – the issue is actually a fluctuating series of events, memories, emotional reactions, ideas, etc., etc. Where is this thing we are turning into a monster out of fear?
Sometimes, of course, there is some obvious issue which is causing us suffering. This can benefit from some deeper, contemplative investigation directed towards revealing its root cause. Thus, from a calm state of mind we investigate how it manifests in the body, as an emotion, as a state of mind. Can it be sensed as an image, a sound, a texture? When does it arise and cease? How does it arise and cease? Can we allow it to cease?
Gradually, our ignorance and fear of unpleasant experiences eases and we can more peacefully see them as unstable, impersonal processes, which are part and parcel of the on-going web of life. The compounded fear and hostility around unpleasant feelings gives way to a receptive and peaceful well-being.
Wishing you all good health, well-being and the peace of Liberation.
Rains Retreat 2022 14th July to 11th October You are cordially invited to spend the Rains Retreat at the Wat. To serve and to deepen your practice. Minimum stay of one month and priority will be given to those who can commit for the entire three months.
To register for upcoming retreats, please register at Eventbrite or click on link attached to that retreat. Register early as space is limited due to COVID distancing requirements. For further enquiries, please email wbdretreats@gmail.com or call the office at 0409-389-887 between 9 – 12 noon.
