Q&ASasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary Retreat10 Jan 2024
Q&A group A — Cultivating Awareness with Right Attitude
Sayadaw U Tejaniya · 2 hr 21 min
Original audio: Burmese · English interpretation
0:00−2:21:06
AI-written summary
This group interview highlights appreciating awareness rather than fixing or clinging to objects. The teacher clarifies investigation as present-moment curiosity, encouraging practitioners to maintain right attitude toward thoughts and sensations.
Topics
Talks in this retreat
Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary Retreat · 6 talks
- 11 hr 28 minIntroduction talk — Cultivating Wholesome Qualities and Right Attitude5 Jan 2024
- 21 hr 44 minQ&A group A — Investigation and Right Attitude Toward Unpleasant States6 Jan 2024
- 32 hr 15 minQ&A group B — Investigating Drowsiness and Practicing with Right Attitude8 Jan 2024
- Viewing42 hr 21 minQ&A group A — Cultivating Awareness with Right Attitude10 Jan 2024
- 52 hr 26 minQ&A group B — Appreciating Awareness and Staying on the Side of Awareness12 Jan 2024
- 648 minConcluding talk — Continuing Practice and Awareness at Home14 Jan 2024
Transcript
English
Today is 10 January 2024, Q&A with Sayadaw U Tejaniya, and translation by Ma. Ted at Sasanarakha Buddhist Sanctuary via Zoom. We have Group A today. Uh, good afternoon, Sayadaw and Ma. Ted. I have a question: I always fall in thoughts of sweet memories.
English
Because it is pleasant, I indulge in it rather than being aware of it. What should I do?
[Burmese segment]
English
um, there is an echo from somewhere, I don't know where.
[Burmese segment]
English
So Sayadaw says you... uh,
English
so you have to make the effort, okay? And in the beginning, you may not be able to do it right away because there's a habit of liking those memories and indulging in them. So whenever you remember to be aware, Sayadaw says, just be happy that you were aware. Acknowledge it. Try to keep going. If you forget again, it's okay, because it's just because it's a habit.
English
And then you remind yourself, uh, and then when you remember again— so every time you remember to be aware of the thinking mind, yeah? Sayadaw says, every time you remember, you be happy that you remembered. Okay, this is good. I'm aware now. I will try again. So... and if you keep doing that, if you're happy every time you remember to be aware, you will slowly become more and more aware.
[Burmese segment]
English
So Sayadaw said you— so you remember that, yeah? Just— he said just like, you know, when you have good memories, your mind is happy about it. So because your mind is happy about it, your mind likes to keep thinking about those good memories. But in the same way, when you become aware of the thinking mind, if you are happy that you became aware, then, uh, the mind will also like being aware and increasingly be more aware.
English
You understand? The principle works the same way. And Sayadaw said you— because, uh, the reason why you want to be happy whenever you are aware is because sometimes we will have bad memories, right? Sometimes they will not be pleasant. And at that time you want to rely on the awareness, right? At that time you can't rely on the good memories, but you rely on the awareness. So you want to be happy whenever you are aware.
English
Okay? Okay. Thank you. Uh, thank you, Sayadaw and Ma. Ted.
English
Thank you.
English
Good evening, Sayadaw and Ma. Ted.
English
Good evening, Sayadaw and Ma. Ted.
English
Uh,
English
just one second.
English
Hello, Sayadaw. Because, uh, my practice is still in its initial stage and, uh, and still a work in progress.
English
So meantime, I don't have a question to ask about my practice. But I'd like to relate to Sayadaw. Yesterday morning, after the pointing meditation and also given some explanations, I realized all this while I've been practicing with an awareness method.
English
Uh, though the— uh, we are given the right information on how to practice again and again, but I don't think I got it. I thought I understood it, but actually I didn't. So when realizing this, I felt very emotional.
English
And now I'm trying on the awareness method. So can Sayadaw give more pointers? Thank you. Can you first tell me what you thought was an error? Oh, because the other time I was practicing with focused, I— I did not know.
English
Focusing on the object. Only yesterday morning I realized I was wrong.
English
Hmm. No, I won't use such a strong word as wrong. All of us start by focusing on something. Come on. Do not be so extreme. Sorry.
[Burmese segment]
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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.…