Q&AMaui Retreat23 Nov 2016
Questions and answers — Speech, Relationships, and Wholesome Mind
Sayadaw U Tejaniya · 1 hr 37 min
Original audio: Burmese · English interpretation
0:00−1:37:26
Uses compressed audio.
AI-written summary
The Q&A clarifies right effort, recognizing intention (cetana) as subtle impulses, and maintaining mindfulness during communication. The teacher explains wholesome versus unwholesome mind states, encouraging yogis to observe ego and unpleasant feelings without self-blame.
Topics
Talks in this retreat
Maui Retreat · 18 talks
- 942 minMorning instructions — Being Aware in the Present Moment20 Nov 2016
- 101 hr 35 minQuestions and answers — Working with Greed, Fear, and Pain20 Nov 2016
- 1112 minMorning instructions — Right View and Awareness Throughout the Day21 Nov 2016
- 121 hr 27 minQuestions and answers — Effortless Awareness, Right Speech, and Working with Anxiety21 Nov 2016
- 134 minMorning instructions — Maintaining Continuity and Momentum22 Nov 2016
- 141 hr 21 minQuestions and answers — Awareness While Speaking and in Sleep22 Nov 2016
- Viewing151 hr 37 minQuestions and answers — Speech, Relationships, and Wholesome Mind23 Nov 2016
- 1620 minMorning instructions — Being Aware of Thoughts and Restlessness24 Nov 2016
- 171 hr 11 minQuestions and answers — Suicide, Anicca-Dukkha-Anatta and Practicing at Home24 Nov 2016
- 1831 minLast morning instructions — Continuing Practice and Bringing Dhamma into Life25 Nov 2016
Transcript
EnglishOkay. So this is the 8th session of Dharma Dialogues with Sayadaw U Tejaniya, speaking with the retreatant on Maui, November 23, 2016.
EnglishYes. So I don't have a specific question, but perhaps I could report a little bit and just— Yes. —repeat that? So one of the themes for me this retreat
Englishhas been really understanding right effort, or at least thinking that I understand right effort. And it came from the exercise
Englishwhen Sayadaw just asked us to know that we're sitting and asked us how much effort that took, which turned out to be hardly any. And then I just, sort of, for the first few sittings or days after that, I just tried to bring that same level of effort to my awareness, just to whatever experience was happening.
EnglishAnd I found that to be equally just as easy, and then things started flowing along
Englishpretty well. So it's almost been like checking my effort has been similar to, sort of, checking my awareness and seeing how things are going. And sometimes it feels so easy, like the practice is just happening on its own.
[Burmese segment]
EnglishHe says, um, when you feel that way, you know that you're doing it right. You know? He says, whether we check for our effort or awareness, you know, since they work as a team, anything of those that you check, you're checking the meditating mind.
English If we were not in a hurry, he says, to get somewhere in Dharma, you know, trying to put in effort and, you know, trying to get work hard to get something. He said, if we weren't in that frame of mind, he says, and we just work steadily, um, in a relaxed way, but just kept doing it.
EnglishHe says effort is the thing that he, um, sorry, greed is the thing that he sees, um, reeks the most heavil in our practice for yogis, um, in all his years of teaching. He says we, despite knowing, you know, or having the information that if the mind, um, you know, the way to cultivate the mind is if that quality is allowed to rise again and again, it will just get stronger.
EnglishDespite that, um,
Englishwe still try to get as much as we can, or we think that we might be able to get more if we tried harder. Now,
EnglishBut the longer we practice, yeah, it says, the more we need to let nature do its work. He says, if we keep interfering with the process of nature, then we keep, sort of, like, um, like jamming the brakes, in a way.
EnglishYou know, putting a spanner in the work. He says, it's like going up, it's like hiking on going up a mountain. You just do it one step at a time. You don't keep thinking of the summit.
English Yeah. He says, and when you get there, you know you're there.
English But if we keep looking to see how far, how far more, how far more, you know, we're tired as we're going along, yeah, in, in, in more ways than one.
English We just keep doing that. Just steady.
EnglishSteady does it.
EnglishYeah. And, uh, a couple of comments, um, and questions pertaining to that. I was very, um,
Englishtouched by Sayadaw's comments this morning about speech and the adverse effects, particularly on those close to us and loved ones and such, and how that's a very ripe area for practice for myself, because I see the truth of that very easily. And in relation to that, I have another question, because just prior to coming here, I got married, and interestingly enough, those the part my partner has come up, but there's not really been much, you know, real interest in terms of following thoughts, you know?
EnglishIt's just like, oh, thinking, hmm, there's no you know, and I just wonder, as practice matures and, um, mindfulness is and awareness is present, does that influence and change our relationships, personal relationships? You know, in, and you know, in a positive way, I suppose, but, you know, there's not the same, you know, don't you ever feel that guilt or shame?
EnglishI didn't really think about you when I was away. Do you know what I'm saying? I'm not trying to go upstairs. Yeah, it was great, you know?
EnglishSo it's just interesting. It just occurred to me. It's like, oh. I mean,
Englishand as our relationship, our awareness changes to the
Englishmomentariness of everything, um, I'm just curious. It was just, it just, interesting reflection.
[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.…