Q&ABangkok Retreat13 Nov 2015
Dhamma discussion group D3 — Working with Loud Noise, Thoughts, and Cause and Effect
Sayadaw U Tejaniya · 1 hr 56 min
Original audio: Burmese · English interpretation
0:00−1:56:31
Uses compressed audio.
AI-written summary
In a group interview, the teacher clarifies maintaining awareness with right attitude toward noise and defilements. Instead of suppressing disturbing sounds or negative thoughts, meditators should recognize internal aversion and craving as natural processes unfolding through conditions.
Topics
Talks in this retreat
Bangkok Retreat · 22 talks
- 131 hr 18 minDhamma discussion group D2 — Concept and Nature, and Watching the Mind11 Nov 2015
- 141 hr 30 minDhamma discussion group A3 — Mind-Body Process and Right Attitude Towards Thoughts11 Nov 2015
- 157 minDay 6 guided 10 min meditation — Being Aware or Idle Thinking12 Nov 2015
- 161 hr 42 minDhamma discussion group B3 — Wrong Attitude, Defilements, and Relaxation in Practice12 Nov 2015
- 172 hr 11 minDhamma discussion group C3 — Working with Anger, Resistance, and Thoughts12 Nov 2015
- 1815 minDay 7 guided 15 min meditation — Right Attitude and Practicing Vipassanā Anywhere13 Nov 2015
- Viewing191 hr 57 minDhamma discussion group D3 — Working with Loud Noise, Thoughts, and Cause and Effect13 Nov 2015
- 201 hr 56 minDhamma discussion group A4 and B4 — Grounding Mind When Facing Challenges and Working with Emotions13 Nov 2015
- 211 hr 50 minDhamma discussion group C4 and D4 — Nature of Mind, Defilements and Wisdom14 Nov 2015
- 2254 minFinal sit and encouragement — Carrying on Practice After Retreat14 Nov 2015
Transcript
English
Okay. Sadhu, um, I'm learning to explore seeing process and notice that the mind don't know many things. First thing it noticed was, even though it wasn't paying attention, seeing was happening. Because the moment it notices seeing, it actually can recall the past sights that happened.
English
So it noticed that, actually, when I use the word "looking," it's when additional personal effort was being made. That means, regardless
English
whether the mind noticed or not, seeing was already happening. So I noticed that there are many gaps in the seeing process. off the care.
English
off the care. off your lob, off your care.
English
Then it noticed, um, that because of that it saw the contrast of the past. What I've been doing is, it behaves like a blind person. That means even though the eyelids are open, it was relying on bodily sensation, touching, and memory to walk, and so on.
English
And it didn't notice that seeing was an important process. So it notices this, and it was very surprised. Because in the past experience, we ignore the sight. So I was almost, I felt like blind, just noticing touching. Even wearing, it's all are physically touching and rather than seeing.
English
So it was like, hmm.
English
Yes. Then it noticed even when seeing is happening and there is happy feeling, when it checked the happy feeling, it's also appreciating the concept. That means, oh, the eyes can see.
English
Oh, it likes greenery. Only, only in glimpses that it noticed, it appreciate that knowing is happening. So even happy feeling was associated with concept. .
English
. And it noticed that even when it's seeing, if it's nature, I mean physical trees and roads, it's, uh, more at ease. The moment there's a human being in the vicinity, then the mind actually jumps into the mind and it notices the chattering mind, it notices the feeling, the mental states.
English
It hardly stays noticed seeing as seeing. It always jumps into the mind that judges, notices, chattering, and so on.
English
Only, uh, rarely that when it notices. So this is not only living things but something that you're interested in, something that holds your attention for whatever reason. Then, um, whether it's animate or inanimate, the mind will start talking.
English
Um, then on certain occasions, it notices different minds. This time it just noticed, uh, sight is one, and it noticed thinking is one. That time the, the noticing of the
[Burmese segment]
English
. Then yesterday, while noticing the Dhamma discussion going on, it was checking the mind and suddenly it is like a movie that it stopped halfway and the whole screen freezed. Then after that it noticed that the hearing was here and in front was just like a picture.
MY
So then he said, "Eh, it was just a glimpse."
English
. Mm-hmm. So, uh, those, uh, the explorations and seeing. Um, Sayadaw, I have a question to ask on Samatha Vipassanā. Dharmathā Vipassanā. What is Samatha Vipassanā? Oh, more in my practice. Uh, recently, after learning from Sayadaw, the mind learns that whenever it, it checks and there is less defilement in the mind, the stability of mind and the workings of the mind become clear.
English
And in this retreat, I noticed that some of the stability of mind, some of the workings of the mind, reminds me of the time that I was doing
English
my past tradition of rising-falling. And the amplified mental states are all there. Though the mind noticed that it's because it checks that the observing mind is clean, and so these, uh, experiences and these workings of the mind become clear, there is a question in the mind that asks,
English
is it necessary to on and off
English
goes into
English
this practice of one-pointedness to increase the stability and continuity? What. Are you, are you calling what is happening right then one-pointedness? No. I, during this period, it was purely just noticing until the mind is clean and then it reveals itself.
English
But I also know in the past tradition that I practiced, it tends to just be aware of one object. The only problem last time was because I do a lot of things with greed. There's a lot of pushiness, there's a lot of wanting, and when the mind steals, the wanting and the pushiness continues. But now, in this learning of, uh, right attitude and right view, the pushiness and the wanting is still there when I off and on, uh, notice a single object but it's inchecked.
English
So I just wasn't sure, should there be a balance or I just continue this journey just checking and let it unveil by itself. That was the uncertainty in this mind. There's still a tiny doubt, though I notice every time the mind is clean, Dhamma shows itself and I didn't do anything.
English
And it's so, it's so true. But there was still this little doubt that I'd like to clear, Sayadaw. Thank you. So you're asking is Samatha necessary at all?
[Burmese segment]
English
. If you, uh, have the right attitude, either way is fine. You know, you can start by just checking the mind. And because you have the right attitude and continuous awareness, the mind will also build momentum until it, it is able to see very clearly. Um, and if you have the right attitude, you can start with one object and slowly, from one object, you, you know, broaden your field of awareness until you see as clearly.
English
So regardless of what you do, it's just right attitude and continued awareness. Okay. Thank you, Sayadaw. Sayadaw, I have a question. Will frequent short nap actually affect the momentum of awareness during a retreat?
Keep listening by topic
Suggestions for what to listen to next · Based on the topics of this talk. No account history needed.
- Day 9 Dhamma discussion group B — Handling Sleepiness and Investigating AversionSayadaw U Tejaniya1 hr 16 min
Shares topics with this talk
- Group B · session 2 — Balancing Effort and Observing with Right ViewSayadaw U Tejaniya1 hr 30 min
Shares topics with this talk
- Dhamma discussion — Awareness with Wisdom, Middle Way, and Right ViewSayadaw U Tejaniya1 hr 7 min
Shares topics with this talk
- Day 6 Dhamma discussion group C — Changing Mind's Habitual Reactions and Cultivating InterestSayadaw U Tejaniya1 hr 29 min
Shares topics with this talk
- Group 06 — Maintaining Awareness at Six Sense Doors and Right ViewSayadaw U Tejaniya2 hr 1 min
Shares topics with this talk
Sayadaw U Tejaniya began his Buddhist training as a young teenager in Burma under the late Shwe Oo Min Sayadaw (1913–2002). After a career in business and life as a householder, he has become a permanent monk since 1996.…