QUESTION 71: AFTER FINDING THE BREATH CONNECTED TO THE MIND, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE NEXT?ANSWER: Once you have found the breath with the appropriate intensity that connects to the mind, you gain firm confidence in your path of spiritual cultivation. Holding onto this volume of breath means maintaining control over the mind. At this stage, you should skillfully sustain the correct breath intensity to prevent the mind from wandering. However, the tranquility achieved at this point is only superficial. Deep within the subconscious, many hidden faults remain, which must be recognized and eradicated.At this point, we must remember that past karma has not yet been fully cleansed. The merit needed for the highest levels of enlightenment is still insufficient. And deep within, ignorance, ego-clinging, conceit, selfishness, and impurities still persist. It is essential to apply contemplations, as taught in the Nikaya scriptures, to eliminate these lingering faults in the mind.Each individual can select appropriate contemplative subjects, synchronizing them with the breath. For instance, as you breathe in, contemplate a specific intention, and as you breathe out, affirm it. For example:• Breathing in, silently contemplating, “May I be free from conceit.”• Breathing out, affirm, “May I be free from conceit.”• Or, “Breathing in, may I be free from selfishness. Breathing out, may I be free from selfishness.”This practice is like sending a message deep into your subconscious. Over time, these messages gradually dissolve the latent faults within the mind, paving the way for deeper spiritual progress.In meditation, one should anchor the mind at the bottom of the abdomen and skillfully maintain the correct breath intensity to avoid being misled by the sensations of bliss and joy, which could foster conceit. At the same time, it is crucial to earnestly bow to the Buddha Buddha and make vows to guide one's cultivation across countless lifetimes to come: “May the Buddha bless me so that, even if one day I realize the mind and see that my true nature is the all-encompassing serene mind, I will remain vigilant and clearly recognize that this profound mind still harbors ignorance and ego-clinging, and that it could still be stirred. May this awareness prevent me from turning outward and ensure that I continue cultivating toward the ultimate goal of non-self, completely eradicating ignorance.”#Religions, #Buddhism, #Meditation, #Questionandanswers, #Religious, #Buddhist, #Truedharma, #Enlightement, #Buddhatemple, #TheLawofKarma, #BuddhismforBeginners, #Janna #Monastery, #JannaOrderMonastery, #PRACTICE, #GUIDE, #LAYPRACTITIONERS, #DialogueBuddhismReligions

QUESTION 70: FINDING THE BREATH THAT STICKS TO THE MIND IS LIKE HAVING A STAKE TO HOLD ONTO, NO LONGER BEING CARRIED AWAY BY THE ISSUES OF WANDERING THOUGHTS, AND PREPARING TO ENTER RIGHT MINDFULNESS. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THIS?ANSWER: When we find the breath that sticks to the mind, it's like finding a stake to hold our mind in place. Before, when we hadn't found the stake, the wind blew us in whatever direction it went. Now, the wind still blows, but we are no longer carried away by it, just as wandering thoughts still arise, but we no longer follow them. We have found the breath that sticks to the mind, meaning we have a place to anchor ourselves. When wandering thoughts come, we look at them but don't chase after them, we don't chase after their issues or content anymore.When we don't pay attention to wandering thoughts, they gradually weaken because they are no longer fueled. Wandering thoughts only have power because we pay attention to their content. But now, wandering thoughts still arise, but we don't follow their content anymore. We hold onto our "stake," maintaining our anchor in the breath that sticks to the mind, and the wandering thoughts weaken, allowing us to enter the depths of Right Mindfulness.#Buddha, #Buddhism, #Buddhist, #Truedharma, #Meditation, #Enlightenment, #Buddhatemple, #TheLawofKarma, #Blessing, #Goodblessing, #Janna, #JannaMonastery, #JannaOrderMonastery, #LawOfKarma, #CauseAndEffect, #UniversalTruth, #KarmicRetribution, #AxiomaticTruth, #PhilosophyOfMind,

QUESTION 69: WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT A PRACTITIONER HAS FOUND THE RIGHT VOLUME OF BREATH THAT STICKS TO THE MIND?ANSWER: If we find the right volume of breath that sticks to the mind, we will notice:Firstly, the mind naturally resides at a very low point. Even without intentional effort, the mind automatically stays low.Secondly, the mind naturally rests at a secret, suspended point in the lower abdomen. This point forms a triangle with the dantian point and the perineum point. Even if we don't intentionally focus on the dantian, perineum, or the suspended point in the lower abdomen, when we find the right volume of breath, the mind naturally rests at that suspended point. It is the connecting point between the dantian and the perineum.Thirdly, when we find the breath that sticks to the mind, potential and hidden illnesses in our body and mind are healed.And especially, it helps us eliminate the instinct of desire, leading to a profoundly pure inner self.However, these are the signs when we practice and have found the right volume of breath. At this point, language cannot fully describe it, as it depends on the merit, morality, wisdom, and perception of each individual.#Buddha, #Buddhism, #Buddhist, #Truedharma, #Meditation, #Enlightenment, #Buddhatemple, #TheLawofKarma, #Blessing, #Goodblessing, #Janna, #JannaMonastery, #JannaOrderMonastery, #LawOfKarma, #CauseAndEffect, #UniversalTruth, #KarmicRetribution, #AxiomaticTruth, #PhilosophyOfMind,

QUESTION 68: MOST OF THE TIME THE VOLUME OF THE BREATH PASSES BY THE MIND, UNABLE TO "TOUCH" IT. WHAT IS THE SECRET TO FINDING THE RIGHT VOLUME OF BREATH THAT STICKS TO THE MIND AND ENTERS THE WORLD OF MEDITATION?ANSWER: Meditating in silence, after going through the steps, we begin to be aware of the in-breath and out-breath; the breath gradually calms down, becoming slow, little, and gentle; at this point, we search for the appropriate volume of breath that sticks to our mind. Generally, the breath is slow, little and calm, but the actual intensity varies from person to person. For some, the breath might still be slightly strong but can touch the mind, because their mind is still somewhat agitated. For those whose minds are already very peaceful, the intensity of the breath is very subtle and can touch the mind, entering meditation like passing through a city gate.Which volume of breath can stick to the mind (deep or shallow, fast or slow, strong or weak) depends on the wisdom, perception, as well as the morality and merit that each person accumulates in their life.What is morality? It is loving everyone deeply and kindly. It is putting oneself in others' shoes with great sensitivity. It is detecting and correcting even the smallest and most subtle mistakes. And what is merit? It is helping others with both small and big tasks, doing whatever one can without hesitation or holding back, and doing it without seeking recognition, attachment, or boasting. The combination of many virtues and merits throughout life crystallizes into subtle and profound wisdom, allowing us to find the appropriate volume of breath that sticks to the mind. Our mind is held, and there are no more wandering thoughts.#Buddha, #Buddhism, #Buddhist, #Truedharma, #Meditation, #Enlightenment, #Buddhatemple, #TheLawofKarma, #Blessing, #Goodblessing, #Janna, #JannaMonastery, #JannaOrderMonastery, #LawOfKarma, #CauseAndEffect, #UniversalTruth, #KarmicRetribution, #AxiomaticTruth, #PhilosophyOfMind,

QUESTION 67: CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE PRECIOUS FINAL TECHNIQUE OF THE MEDITATIVE BREATH?ANSWER: The human mind system is very complex, consisting of many layers and components, in which attention is an important part of the mind. It can also be understood that attention is the mind.In this life, we also have many "frivolous" concerns and attention. The practice of contemplating and applying the doctrine subjects will wash away those meaningless concerns, leaving only attention to the breath. This breath will bind our minds. So the core issue is the things that the mind pays attention to: What do we pay attention to that makes the mind agitated? What do we pay attention to that helps the mind settle?In meditation, anchoring the mind to a meditative theme is a technique. There are many anchoring techniques that help calm the mind. We can anchor the whole body, anchor the chest, abdomen, or follow the in-and-out breath to increase mindfulness. When we pay attention to the breath, the mind will be "tied" down. But in reality, "anchoring" the mind is not easy. Our mind is like a wild buffalo, and the breath is like a rope. When the rope has not yet been tied to the buffalo, it still struggles, thrashes, and wanders around eating grass, trampling on other people's rice. Similarly, when the mind and breath are not connected, the wandering mind still roams everywhere like an untamed wild buffalo.When we talk about the fourth level of breath, we are talking about a secret of heaven and earth. It is The Volume of the Breath.The volume of the breath means whether the breath is deep or shallow, strong or weak, slow or fast. When the breath reaches the right volume, the breath immediately clings to the mind, the mind is held, and is not led by wandering thoughts. When we find the right volume, we stand right at the gate, ready to enter the world of Right Mindfulness and Right Meditative Ecstasy .The journey to this gate is not easy. Through many contemplations and applications of principles, practicing many techniques, accumulating merit and cultivating virtue, step by step, the path gradually appears, until the day we find the appropriate volume of breath.#Buddha, #Buddhism, #Buddhist, #Truedharma, #Meditation, #Enlightenment, #Buddhatemple, #TheLawofKarma, #Blessing, #Goodblessing, #Janna, #JannaMonastery, #JannaOrderMonastery, #LawOfKarma, #CauseAndEffect, #UniversalTruth, #KarmicRetribution, #AxiomaticTruth, #PhilosophyOfMind,

QUESTION 66: EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING MY BREATH, BREATHING IN AND OUT FOR MANY YEARS, MY MIND IS STILL NOT TRANQUIL. IS THERE SOMETHING HIDDEN HERE?ANSWER: In many sutras of the Nikaya system, the Buddha repeatedly emphasized the importance of breath in meditation. Based on these noble teachings, many people have spread and practiced the method of breath meditation. However, the number of people who truly attain a peaceful mind is not many. Even those who achieve meditative states and certain results can regress without understanding the reason.In some meditation schools, despite not having achieved any results, they often self-suggest to their minds that they are pure, peaceful, and happy. When the mind is still full of ignorance, conceit, jealousy, and agitation, but one considers oneself pure, it means they are misjudging the truth. This only leads to a depletion of merit and further disturbance of the mind. Recognizing one's own shortcomings and flaws is a contemplation that leads to mindfulness, helping the mind become calmer; on the contrary, self-satisfaction and the illusion of being superior only harm merit, making the path to enlightenment distant and obscure.Why do we maintain mindfulness of the breath, follow the breath, but the mind is not in tranquility? We are only slightly mindful but have not yet been able to focus the mind, and sometimes when wandering thoughts arise, we forget again because our breath and mind are not yet connected. Breath in meditation has many different levels: From knowing that we are breathing, to knowing the breath without controlling it, to the third step of slow, little and gentle breathing, and finally to the breath that clings to the mind. It is this final breath that "clings" to the mind that is the gateway to the world of meditation. The previous techniques are stepping stones to get closer to the gate, but not yet to set foot in the castle of meditation. This is a secret, an extremely valuable secret. Only those who truly have good fortune and have sown good roots from many lifetimes can know this final technique.#Buddha, #Buddhism, #Buddhist, #Truedharma, #Meditation, #Enlightenment, #Buddhatemple, #TheLawofKarma, #Blessing, #Goodblessing, #Janna, #JannaMonastery, #JannaOrderMonastery, #LawOfKarma, #CauseAndEffect, #UniversalTruth, #KarmicRetribution, #AxiomaticTruth, #PhilosophyOfMind,

QUESTION 65: WHEN PRACTICING THE FIRST STEP OF MINDFULNESS, WHICH IS TO BE AWARE OF WANDERING THOUGHTS, WHEN SHOULD I MOVE TO THE SECOND STEP OF BEING AWARE OF THE CHEST AND ABDOMEN?ANSWER: As soon as you are aware of wandering thoughts, immediately be aware of the chest and abdomen, then contemplate the fleetingness of the body, then maintain slow, little, and gentle breathing, then be aware of the perineum, then remind yourself that deep within the mind is ignorance and negativity. Continue like this to maintain mindfulness. If mindfulness is prolonged, we settle at the bottom of the abdomen.There are also many people who practice but do not follow the order from 1 to 6, but they remember which step and practice that step. In this way, mindfulness also appears, and the mind also has fewer wandering thoughts. Practicing back and forth like this also helps our minds become calmer; however, never forget the contemplation that "deep within our mind is ignorance and negativity”. Even if the mind is in tranquility, we practice flexibly through the six steps of mindfulness, but we must never forget the ultimate truth (the sixth step of mindfulness) until the day we attain non-self.#Buddha, #Buddhism, #Buddhist, #Truedharma, #Meditation, #Enlightenment, #Buddhatemple, #TheLawofKarma, #Blessing, #Goodblessing, #Janna, #JannaMonastery, #JannaOrderMonastery, #LawOfKarma, #CauseAndEffect, #UniversalTruth, #KarmicRetribution, #AxiomaticTruth, #PhilosophyOfMind,

QUESTION 64: IS THERE A SPECIFIC ORDER TO APPLY THE TECHNIQUES AND PRINCIPLES TO ACHIEVE MINDFULNESS? OR SHOULD I APPLY THEM SIMULTANEOUSLY?ANSWER: We practice according to the following 6 steps of mindfulness:Step One: BEING AWARE THAT THIS MIND IS AGITATEDFrom a state of delusion, immersed in wandering thoughts, suddenly we wake up and realize that we are wandering. No method can help us achieve this first step, except for the merit of bowing reverently to the Buddha and sincerely repenting.Step Two: BEING MINDFUL OF THE ABDOMEN AND CHESTThe reason we have wandering thoughts is due to two reasons. One is the nature of the brain, which is to constantly think, because the brain is supplied by two sources of energy: oxygen and nutrients carried by the blood to the brain, and the source of vital air from the lower body. The second is karma, due to many past lives when we have caused anxiety and affliction to others. Therefore, we must repent to reduce karma and be mindful of the abdomen and chest to prevent vital air energy from flowing up to the brain, as this will supply energy for the brain to be active.Step Three: BEING AWARE THAT THIS BODY IS IMPERMANENTInitially, the practice of contemplating impermanence is a lengthy process, but with practice, it becomes faster. In the third step of mindfulness, we alternate between contemplating the impermanence of the body and the impermanence of the world.Step Four: BEING AWARE OF THE IN-BREATH AND OUT-BREATH CLEARLY, SKILLFULLY MAINTAINING THE BREATH SLOW - LITTLE - GENTLEIn order for the slow - little - gentle breath to appear, we must be aware of the whole body gently (just enough touch), similar to gently touching a bowl of water, so that the surface of the water does not ripple. But when we touch a little deeper, the water moves in strong waves. When we reach the level where awareness just touches the body, we have grasped the "essence of the fingertip touching water.Step Five: BEING MINDFUL OF THE PERINEUM POINTThis helps the mind avoid illusions, become deeply tranquil, and prepares for entering meditative absorption later. Being mindful of the perineum point also helps heal potential defects or diseases in the brain.Step Six: BEING MINDFUL THAT DEEP WITHIN THIS MIND IS IGNORANCE AND NEGATIVITY (AGITATION, SUFFERING, UNCERTAINTY)This contemplation of the ultimate truth is extremely important, helping us control our conceit and avoid being led astray by wrong views. Contemplating step six is like a mantra that opens a wide path to non-self and maintains it until attaining Arahantship, enlightenment, and liberation.#Buddha, #Buddhism, #Buddhist, #Truedharma, #Meditation, #Enlightenment, #Buddhatemple, #TheLawofKarma, #Blessing, #Goodblessing, #Janna, #JannaMonastery, #JannaOrderMonastery, #LawOfKarma, #CauseAndEffect, #UniversalTruth, #KarmicRetribution, #AxiomaticTruth, #PhilosophyOfMind,

QUESTION 63: WHEN MEDITATING, I EXPERIENCE DROWSINESS AND SLEEPINESS. THIS IS VERY DISTRESSING?ANSWER: Drowsiness and sleepiness, even falling asleep while meditating, are obstacles that meditation practitioners must struggle very hard to combat. Once asleep, there is no longer any cultivation, only the inherent darkness and ignorance of ordinary beings.Drowsiness can be due to one of two reasons: First, in recent days, you haven't had enough sleep, so when you meditate and your mind is somewhat at peace, your brain demands that you get enough sleep. Second, it is due to bad karma from the past, drowsiness appears and covers the mind, causing obstacles to spiritual practice. Sometimes it is karma from many past lives where you have obstructed the spiritual practice of others; sometimes it is spreading wrong thoughts and views, causing others to follow and be deluded. Sometimes it is wrong views (wrong thoughts) right in this life that cause you to be drowsy and deluded. Sometimes a torrent of wandering thoughts causes you to lose awareness, which is also a reason why you become drowsy, and the root cause is also due to karma.If it is due to a lack of sleep, then simply get enough sleep as your brain requires, and the drowsiness during meditation will disappear. As your meditation progresses, you may not need to get enough sleep anymore (but you also shouldn't force yourself to stay awake to do other things, as you still need to maintain your health for long-term spiritual practice).If you feel that drowsiness is caused by past karma and is hindering your practice, the only way is to use willpower to resist drowsiness during meditation, and later you bow to the Buddha with deep reverence and repent. Many people fight drowsiness by walking meditation, yet drowsiness still torments them terribly, sometimes even causing them to fall while walking. We must also create merit by helping others practice meditation in any way possible; by doing so, we ourselves gain merit and reduce obstacles in our practice.But how to know which case the drowsiness belongs to in order to handle it correctly? For this, we must observe ourselves with wisdom and willpower, as outsiders cannot judge for us. However, the feeling of sleepiness due to karma is obscure, strange, and unlike anything else; even if you sleep all day and then meditate, drowsiness still comes and covers the mind. In that case, we must try to fight until the sleepiness is gone. Many times, during meditation, you just try to stay awake and cannot immediately perform the steps of the practice. After the meditation session, we are exhausted because you have to fight with all our strength and willpower, but then our heart feels less tormented. Keep fighting hard, and the divine beings above will have compassion and one day the drowsiness will disappear. If we give up and don't try, the meditation session will be meaningless, our soul will become weak, and we will continue to be immersed in delusion.#Buddha, #Buddhism, #Buddhist, #Truedharma, #Meditation, #Enlightenment, #Buddhatemple, #TheLawofKarma, #Blessing, #Goodblessing, #Janna, #JannaMonastery, #JannaOrderMonastery, #LawOfKarma, #CauseAndEffect, #UniversalTruth, #KarmicRetribution, #AxiomaticTruth, #PhilosophyOfMind,

QUESTION 62: THE BRAIN IS ALWAYS THINKING. HOW CAN I STOP THINKING WITHOUT DAMAGING MY BRAIN?ANSWER: To stop wandering thoughts, we have a very important formula: actively choose 'appropriate thoughts' to occupy the mind. Why? Does this sound strange? It's like planting a tree on a plot of land overgrown with weeds: when the tree grows large and provides shade, the weeds cannot grow in the shade. Similarly, appropriate thinking helps the brain naturally stop unnecessary thoughts. This is Right Thought and the principle of contemplation in meditation.In the practice of meditation, those initial appropriate thoughts will awaken the mind, but they won't immediately eliminate wandering thoughts. Next, when the power of mindfulness is sustained, just as a shadow covers and prevents weeds from growing, so too will wandering thoughts gradually cease and eventually fade away completely. This is what we call entering meditative absorption (samadhi).Different Zen schools often select various meditative themes for practitioners to focus their attention on, contemplate, and investigate in order to cultivate mindfulness. Naturally, each school has its own set of meditative themes, which may have some overlap but are mostly distinct. We respect them all, however, we prioritize using the objects taught by the Buddha due to their originality, accuracy, and therefore, greater safety and effectiveness. Some of these themes include: this mind is agitated; this body is fleeting; the world is like a dream, nothing is lasting forever. And the truth that we must never forget is that 'Deep within this mind lies ignorance and negativity.#Buddha, #Buddhism, #Buddhist, #Truedharma, #Meditation, #Enlightenment, #Buddhatemple, #TheLawofKarma, #Blessing, #Goodblessing, #Janna, #JannaMonastery, #JannaOrderMonastery, #LawOfKarma, #CauseAndEffect, #UniversalTruth, #KarmicRetribution, #AxiomaticTruth, #PhilosophyOfMind,