Ajahn Sucitto's most recent Dharma talks (Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center)

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) Ajahn Sucitto describes the basic condition of being a monk as being in a field of dana. He expresses his appreciation. [Ends 6:53]

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) Buddha’s last words were: All sankhāras are impermanent. Keep applying yourselves with vigilance. This closing talk offers a review of kāya-, citta- and vaci-sankhāra, and a simple 3 step process to moderate their energies: 1) Pay attention, 2) Soften, widen, 3) Include it all. These steps can be used in meditation practice as well as in interactions in the world. We will lose presence, but we don’t have to wait until the next retreat to work it out. When you notice the programs running, feel the body, come down into the feet, exhale, where am I?

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) Settling into sitting meditation, tracing posture and energy up the back and down the front, spherical breathing from abdomen. [Bell at 38:17] [Instructions at 40:27] Invitation to loosen the intensity and congestion of thought - vaci-sankhāra, that which forms thought energy. Rather than not thinking, take time to formulate what to think about and bring heart qualities into that. This is a dhamma practice.

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) 1. Can you please speak about dependent origination; 2.(37:20 What is a skilful way to deal with boredom at work?; 3. (35:47) Question on body meditation; 4. (44:53) Could you talk about death?

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) Before we know how we are or how we’re feeling, we have a sense of here. That’s the basis for whatever is felt and thought. Find what thoughts we are locking around, then opening, breathing - how is that? Is there acceptance of that? It doesn’t mean approving, but there is knowledge of it. This mood, this feeling, is not to be followed. Rather than opening oneself to critical mind, opening oneself through devotional gesture to awareness. This is keeping your citta clean from specks of kharma that can cause irritation and inflammations. [Instructions end 6:25]

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) An explanation of the Four Noble Truths, what keeps us from realizing them, and how to skilfully work to understand and realize each one. This is described as the rich center of the Buddha’s teachings from which everything else emanates. We are encouraged to contemplate the teachings and understand them for ourselves.

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) 1. How would you characterise freedom from sakkayaditthi (personality view)? 2. (18:08) I want to release self-hatred and “not good enough” patterns from an experience with a caregiver in my past that I have been carrying for 14 years. I have had metta towards the memories and the pattern has softened. I want to have metta for the caregiver. Any guidance gratefully received. 3 (32:13) Could you explain further about the body and mind connections?

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) What is it that moves us? In the business model, getting things done is generally what drives us. It’s not about appreciation the quality of experience, it’s about arriving at an end result. That root perception gets embedded. The nature of kamma is that the root quality of the intention will appear in the action and also appear in the result. Still the mind, and separate out mental intention from body energy. Mental intention sets up the aim, then let the body follow through with action.

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) How is walking when there is nowhere particular to go and you want to know how this whole thing operates together? An encouraged skilful means is aimless walking. Frequent pauses to check energies and perceptions, come back into the feet and legs, how does it feel to be in this body now? [Instructions end 3:38]

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) In meditation we can be confronted with inertia or pushing hindrances. Recommendation is to use physical enactment of energy - bowing, chanting -so you’re not gliding along but rising up into the occasion. Cultivate with a sense of sappāya, that which is appropriate, comfortable, manageable. Finding a frame of reference that can support moving against hindrances with patience and opening. This must be a fundamental aim in meditation. [Instructions end 12:43]