Dhamma talkOther Dhamma talks19 Dec 2013
Stepping Back and Asking Questions
Sayadaw U Tejaniya · 5 min
0:00−5:51
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The teacher explains stepping back by either easing energy or using wisdom to recognize phenomena as natural processes. He also clarifies the distinction between questioning driven by anger and inquiry arising from wisdom and genuine interest.
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EnglishWhen I'm practicing mindfulness, when I— when I step back to, to notice something, notice the mind, or notice something that the mind is doing— How do you step back? How do you step back? Uh, when I— when I shift, uh, say I'm focusing on the breath and something comes up, a memory or a thought, and then I— when I say step back, I mean to step— I, I, I step away from the breath and look at the— Oh.
EnglishAnd, and look at what the mind is doing. The thought. Yeah.
EnglishUm,
Englishshould I just notice that, notice the thought, and then— say, say it's a defilement, say it's a defilement of something, say, say I feel agitation because of this, whatever it is— Sometimes you can— you can think this is a nature. Okay. Or you can— you can use— use this, this as a nature. Yeah.
EnglishThat means step back. Okay. That means step back, or two kinds of step back. Some people, they use the energy relief a little bit far away. If you focus, you focus on the object, right? So you use the energy relief, some energy that's a little bit far away, that people say this also step back.
EnglishMm-hmm. Another one is because of your intelligence or information, this is a nature, not person. Because of understanding also, you feel step back, or this is an object. So you feel step back is two ways. Energy less, or the wisdom, right? Okay. Right?
EnglishSo this is a nature. Then you can watch the mind being more assertive, assertive in this nature. Otherwise, this is, uh, you judging, then the mind is resisting. So defilement, defilement, so what? This is nature, then you can assert the— then the mind interests.
EnglishHow, um, I, I— I'm— I don't want to— I don't want to get into— Another thing is you can do this Anapana, you use Anapana or you thinking horizon.
EnglishNot let go about Anapana, so continue watching. Mm-hmm. Okay. Some people, they use Anapana also, they notice thinking. Mm-hmm. Negative.
EnglishContinue you watch your, your, your Anapana, and also you are knowing, just know the thoughts. Mm-hmm. Yeah.
EnglishNo need to let go and watch this. Mm-hmm. And slowly then you know the mind, other objects also the same. You can— you use the— this focus on one object, but actually the mind is stronger, stronger. It can receive naturally. Mm-hmm. Because of you know both. That's why you go and look, right? Mm-hmm. No need to look one, focus one.
EnglishLike this, just stay with the awareness. Just stay here. Then also knowing. Yeah. That's enough. And, and when, uh, when do I then, at some point, ask the question? Like, like today, I was— I was a lot of, uh, aversion and anger was coming up. Oh. And it's— and for the most part, it comes up and I say, "Okay, there it is," and then it goes away, and I say, "Okay, there it is," and then it goes away, and I notice it, I notice, and they go away.
EnglishAnd at some point I said, "Gee, Liz, there's a lot of anger coming up. I wonder what's going on." And, and I— But this is a real nature. Yeah. And, and at some point I feel asking the question is relevant, but I don't want to just ask the question immediately and be analytical about every time I see something. I don't want to chase it.
EnglishWhat, what— when do you— when do you stop and ask and really— Stop and ask. When, when do you—
Englishwhat— Oh. Instead of just noticing. Asking also. Instead of just noticing. Different, different asking. Wisdom also asks. Defilement also asks. Okay. Sometimes angry also asks, "Why is this not happening to me?" Right? This is not wisdom. This is angry. Mm-hmm. Angry asking of question.
EnglishWe use the question is intelligent with the use of wisdom. Simple is why I want to know really simple things. Right. But sometimes the, the, the anger also use a lot of questions. Mm-hmm. Why this happening to me? And wisdom would say, what would wisdom say? Wisdom is, "I want to know simply, I want to know what is this, why this happening."
EnglishIt's a simple way. Why this happening to me? But angry also asking, "Why this happening to me?" But. Same question, different motivation. Right? But different feeling. Yeah. Different feeling, different motivation. Wisdom is a very calm, very peaceful, all just interest. Investigation. Angry is a you asking, more angry. Yeah, yeah. More, more asking, more, more angry.
EnglishWhy too much angry this happening to me?
EnglishIt's more angry. But I thought, I, I, I was thinking. Because of this, anger is a basic is a me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because of me that angry coming, right? You use the question, "Because of me." Um. How about me? This is one, one, I like this one, even I'm using in the YouTube, "How about me?"
EnglishHow about me? Everything. Morning wake up, people start to think, "How about me?"
EnglishIf you're not in the dining hall, it's not ready. A lot of problem. Ah.
EnglishEverybody think, "How about me?"
EnglishIf you're dining hall morning, not ready yet, a lot
Englishof people.
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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.…