As a monk, I bring a strong commitment, along with the renunciate flavor, to the classic Buddhist teachings. I play with ideas, with humor and a current way of expressing the teachings, but I don't dilute them.
Sitting in a field of fifty to eighty people really starts my mind sparking. Since I don't prepare my talks ahead of time, I find myself listening to what I'm saying along with everyone else. This leaves a lot of room for the Dhamma to come up. Just having eighty people listening to me is enough to engage me, stimulate me, and create a nice flow of energy. The actual process of teaching evokes ideas that even I did not realize were being held somewhere in my mind.
Different teaching situations offer their own unique value. In retreat, you are able to build a cohesive and comprehensive body of the teachings. When people are not on retreat and come for one session, it opens a different window. They are more spontaneous and I'm given the chance to contact them in ways that are closer to their "daily-life mind." This brings up surprises and interesting opportunities for me to learn even more.
I'm continually struck by how important it is to establish a foundation of morality, commitment, and a sense of personal values for the Vipassana teachings to rest upon. Personal values have to be more than ideas. They have to actually work for us, to be genuinely felt in our lives. We can't bluff our way into insight. The investigative path is an intimate experience that empowers our individuality in a way that is not egocentric. Vipassana encourages transpersonal individuality rather than ego enhancement. It allow for a spacious authenticity to replace a defended personality.
I normally incorporate Qi Gong instruction in my retreats. They are not suitable as audio files but you can watch the nine videos here: https://tinyurl.com/Sucitto-qigong
00:36 Q1 In your way of speaking awareness is not vinyana. What are the other Pali terms would you use for it? Is it related to citta or nibbana? 20:32 Q2 How to know the heart in the heart? 37:35 Q3 You've explained how the mind creates forms and that we need to see through these delusions. Is it the same mind that first creates and sees through these delusions? 45:10 Q4 What are your recommendations on reflecting on the value of sila? How to avoid getting lost in concepts? 48:06 Q5 What's the difference between rights and rituals one should give up and those that seem to be part of monastic life.
Ajahn uses this refuge mantra at 27:30:
Buddhaṃ me jīvitaṃ yāva nibbānaṃ saranaṃ gacchāmi
Dhammaṃ me jīvitaṃ yāva nibbānaṃ saranaṃ gacchāmi
Sanghaṃ me jīvitaṃ yāva nibbānaṃ saranaṃ gacchāami
{To the Buddha I go for refuge living my life to realize nibbana
To the Dhamma I go for refuge living my life to realize nibbana
To the Sangha I go for refuge living my life to realize nibbana}
Questions are précised Q1 I heard you say energy is there before effort. Can you expand on this? Q2 08:14 Can you elaborate on citta and consciousness? Q3 26:49 Teachers have taught us about the slow effacement of the self. You’re teaching us to fully embody us. I am confused.