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

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society)

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) 1. Could you say more about the citta? 2. (6:47) I believe you suggested this (the conditions for the citta to understand) is where things have to be undone. Could you explain this please? 3. (31:10) Could you talk about “the patience that crosses over”? 4. (44:00) If you know someone who is very dishonest and a Buddhist, what is the most appropriate way to interact?

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) A lot of the Buddhist approach is in not doing - relaxing, softening, and relinquishing harmful and unskilful inclinations. Establish a firm foundation from which to let go. Don’t get fascinated by content, just establish the frame of reference. Everything is “yes” in terms of its existence, but “no” in terms of getting activated by it. Just acknowledging and letting go, recognizing there’s an alternative, and the energy of the activation shifts by itself and discharges.

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) 1. Further comments on spherical experience of the breath and the experience of the body; 2. (19:43) What is the role of metta bhavana in practice?; 3. (47:32) If the body energy and breath have settled should one proactively introduce an object or wait for an object to present itself?; 4. (48:44) Is it important to be grounded all the time? What about the arupa jhāna non-grounded states?; 5. (51:38) Could you say more about the citta?; 6. (51:53) Can you speak about stream entry and how it arises?

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) “What is greater, the water in the ocean or the tears shed in this faring on?” We cling to the aggregates, tearfully in search of something stable, permanent, comfortable. But it hasn’t happened. However, subjectivity - that which seeks comfort - is itself a source of comfort and stability. It’s called the citta and depends on itself - doesn’t depend on the aggregates. What needs to be undone is not the aggregate but the clinging to it. So we find a way to maintain presence with these aggregates in all their moving and changing. We use embodiment to bring a heft to awareness, to bring a sense of presence.

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) The thing to assess is where the dukkha is, the stress, pressure, longing. Find your refuge place. First attend to where your strengths are, where your ease, humour and resources are, and be nourished there. Don’t let yourself get pulled into your struggle until you’re ready for it. Aspiration, recollection and assessment are necessary prologues to direct application. [Instructions end 23:55] [Begins again 59:15] Sensing how it feels to come back into the group form after a period of individual practice. Sharing blessings and receiving them.

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) 1. Is aspiration (not the chanda type) the same as becoming? How can we not make aspiration into bhava tanha (craving for becoming); 2. (12:30) How do we have skillful mindfulness or more effective awareness of sensations? I find my mindfulness is rather superficial; 3. (18:25) How can we abstain from killing living creatures when doing daily duties? For example finding ants in what needs to be swept in the kitchen; 4. (25:22) Is it possible to be aware and work fast at the same time - like in the kitchen? 5. (43:10) Please talk about spiritual by-pass and how to avoid it, especially as it relates to the idea of not self.

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) In meditation practice we need to moderate the meditator. Influenced by the business model, attention can be rigid. Wisdom, which we all have access to, is sensitive and flexible in its mode of attention, helping us find the right touch to meet experience.

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) Use the word “yes” to meet whatever is occurring. Without agitation or resistance, without results or trying to change anything. A reference point begins to form, there’s willingness and openness that has its own stature. Use sympathetic resonance with whatever arises.

(Bandar Utama Buddhist Society) Sati-sampajañña, mindfulness and full knowing, are the basis of mindfulness. These are the holding and handling in meditation. Sati is the foundation for samadhi (unification), sampajañña is the foundation for pañña (wisdom). Sense of ground is generally the necessary starting point. [Instructions end 9:52]