This is very interesting to me. I first discovered this 'sound of silence' when I was a kid, because I've always had a hard time sleeping. At night, when I couldn't sleep, I would hear this very faint whistling sound and thought to myself, 'This is the sound of the universe', and that would put me to sleep in no time. Now I'm 36 and I hear Luang Por Sumedho talking exactly about that. This is outstanding.
Very useful. Thoughts are just thoughts. No judgements. Very simple yet freeing. No guilt. They come and go. Very useful for a western mind that has been conditioned to be weighed down by guilt.
I know you Mara. I see you. You can’t strike fear in me. You manifest yourself in many ways. I see you everywhere. In my mind as doubts. In the world, as ideas, as Degeneracy, Politicians, Greed, Lust, ignorance. But know this,Mara. As you could not Defeat Lord Buddha, or the other Buddhas, you will not defeat me. I see you, Mara. I see you. Your visage is as clear as the sky above and the Oceans below. You hide yourself in broad daylight, often fooling the spiritually weak or ignorant into serving you. You have millions of minions, unaware of their servitude to you, others are your henchmen. But I can see your schemes. I know where you are at all times. Know this, Mara. I can see through the fog. I can see through your fog, Mara. And soon, as did The Buddhas, I shall help millions see through your fog. Soon, Millions will see you. Millions will see you, Mara. We see you. They see you. We won’t lose to you, Mara. This is one Battle you won’t win, Mara. Go home. Take a rest, Mara.
What's the difference between attachment to something and awareness of that same thing? For instance, if I am attached to the idea of a new car. When I am enveloped in an idealic and sexy and seductive car commercial production on my big screen TV. Am I aware of it or am I not aware of it? When you are aware of attachment to something, are you aware of the thing or of attachment or both? How do you develop skill in understanding the difference between a thing and my attachment to it?
I have been listening to a Buddhist teacher who is very correct in his explanations of Buddha-dharma, but also very technical and it feels like knowledge without deep realization... but what a delight to hear from this gentle, humble, self-realized master, able to explain profound things in a simple, straighforward way. Thank you for posting. Great being.
I dedicate the merits of this practice to all those who died in the midst of sending thoughts of rage at their neighbours who once again dared to make a noise while living their lives. Wherever you are, I shall be joining you :) 🤝 I nearly died laughing at myself during this practice - and that was very helpful. Thank you for offering these practices. 🙏
TRUTH BOMB: You can speculate and philosophise about it, but you’re still caught in the realm and world of conditioned phenomena all the time; thinking, doubting and grasping somebody else’s ideas or views about it. So just ask yourself, in terms of this moment now, here and now, because this is all there ever is, all you’ll ever have; there is only now, there is no tomorrow. No past, only experiences, just right now, enlightenment/nirvana is now. So as long as you hold to that, and don’t recognise this/now; the importance of now; then you’re always practicing something with an unhelpful idea now; to get some kind of imagined result in the future. Where do you think that is going to take you? What good is that? You’re never breaking through the illusion; you’re just perpetuating it all the time. BOOM! From Ajahn Sumedho.
This hit the nail on the head for me. I was at Wat Pah Nanachat, in 1996, a couple of weeks into taking the white robes. Then this blindsided me, the heart filled with unwholesome guilt and shame. I couldn't take the kind guidance of Lum Por Passanno into my heart, it was too full of self-loathing.
