Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Account of my third retreat of the year

It has been a week since I came back from my self-organised 2-day retreat at BMBMC.
I had decided to go for a retreat (here meant not just to take the 8 precepts but to spent all my time, trying to meditate).

After going to a one-day retreat organised by Inward Path under Sister Gavesini, I find that I do like the programme as I do not find it that taxing as my first one before.

So, I arrived at BM Buddhist Meditation Center on the 13th of December (Sunday) at 5 pm. Uncle Lim was kind enough allow me to stay in a kuti as I requested for it.
After cleaning up the kuti, I then proceed with my meditation (one-hour period of alternating walking and sitting meditation).

Sunday night meditation was good, except for the mosquitoes that decided to help themselves as I was alone in the sitting hall.

However, as usual, the first night I could not get any sleep, mainly because the kuti was hot (real hot, no fans and with the weather surprisingly on that day was hot). So I had a "sauna-like" bath sleeping in the kuti.

Fortunately, I managed to get some shut-eyes and passed the night with some rest.

Woke up at 5:00 am, tired but not really that bad. I managed to do some walking meditation and then it is breakfast time.Try to take some food as the time is about 6:30 am and in about 4 hours, lunch will be served.
In BMBMC, food is abundant, so I try to watch the sensual pleasure that may take over my purpose of that day.

Morning part meditation is good (good here is to my standard, meaning I can sit for one hour without being "bothered" by the pain). Walking meditation helped to elevate my drowsiness (due to the lack of sleep)

Lunch time in BMBMC had many kinds of food offered, very difficult to be mindful, with members offering delicious food. But remember, Sister Gin said to take only one-tenth of what we normally do. So I controlled myself (hope that those aunties and uncles were not disappointed)

Afternoon meditation is good too, although some members of BMBMC decided to stay back for some chit-chatting. I now able to tolerate some talking when meditating.

After dusk, again the mosquitoes attacked. However, meditation becomes bad. Pain is experienced at the lower part of body namely at the lower back. Cannot sit for more than 20 minutes. Mindfullness gone probably I am tired. Walking medititaion still can be completed for one hour, but I was worried (one of the five hindrances) that if I do too long of a time in walking, tomorrow I will not be able to do sitting and walking.
So decided to go to sleep. This time, mindfulness is gone, although I try to make sure that I keep some.
Sleep at 9 pm but wake up at 12 midnight. Too hot, even though it rains for a that 3 hour period.
Took my blanket and pillow and straight went into the back room at the center and managed to get a 5 hour sleep (with fan on).

I thought the second day I will not be able to sit. So told myself, if I cannot sit for an hour in the morning, I quit.Fortunately, I still can have the hourly sitting and walking meditation until lunch.

In the afternoon, walking meditation is good, managed to observe only one stray thought in a 20 paces walk. But sitting deteriorate as the afternoon wears off.
Until 5 pm, the pain at the back becomes the hindrance, for I can only do most a 20 minutes sitting and then I had to end the session.


Gone back home at 6 pm but still holding the 8 precepts.
Did an hour of sitting meditation at home, surprisingly no pain (maybe, the energy comes back)

These 2 day meditation retreat is a good experience as I had never gone more than a day period. Originally planned for 3 days, maybe I will be brave for the next one (next year?). Still had thoughts during the sitting session, but can watch the rising and falling clearly (sometimes).

A big Sadhu to members of BMBMC (especially Uncle Lim and those that provide me with the meals).

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Listen to Talk

It is wonderful to see many of you today in this hall for the Dhamma talk this morning," said Venerable Sayadaw U Vimala.

There are 5 advantages in listening to Dhamma talks, namely
  1. Able to hear new subjects one had yet to hear
  2. To have better understanding of the subjects that we heard before
  3. Remove our doubts in the Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha, Kamma and Kamma-Vipaka
  4. To right our view regarding the Dhamma
  5. Cleanse our mind of confusion - thus make us calm and joy

It is many times more beneficial for one to listen to the Dhamma than just doing dana without any understanding of the Dhamma

Our Dana, Sila and Bhavana will lead us to Magga Phala Nibbanna only if we had listen to the Dhamma. By listening to the Dhamma, one can then inclined his practices towards Nibbana. Sayadaw pointed out that Muslims, Christians and Hindus too had their dana, sila and bhavana but they do not lead them toward Nibbana as they did not listen to the Buddha's Teaching.

One must always aspire to attain Magga-phala Nibbana in his daily practices.

This talk is taken from the Dhammasuvana Sutta.

Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Everything is Impermanence


"Observe everything as impermanence," said Sayadaw U Vimala. I know that all things are impermanent but this is not meditation.

In tonight talk which is based on the Maha-salayatanika Sutta, Sayadaw U Vimala relate how the Buddha advices us to observe impermanence so that wrong views can be abandon.

Observed impermanence in one of these five things when we see. Which five? The eye sensitivity, the visual object, the eye consciousness, the eye contact and the feeling that arises from the eye contact.

The same goes to hearing, tasting, touching and smelling.

Therefore, Sayadaw said there is no excuse that we had no time to meditate. We have time to see, hear, taste, touch and smell. We only had to observe this as impermanence.

Most of the time, beginners in vipassana meditation are more exposed to kayanupassana more than the other vedananupassana, cittanupassana, or dhammanupassana. Maybe when one had practiced to an advanced stage, one will be more readily able to practice dhammanupassana.

Nevertheless, tonight Sayadaw had reminded us about the four fields of mindfulness that one had to practice in Vipassana Meditation.

Saddhu, sadhu, sadhu.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Respect the respected

Ven. Sayadaw is in Singapore so today we had invited Ajahn Santi for lunch. Ajahn Santi gives a short talk on respect or homage. Ajahn said, one should practice respect to the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha) and also to our parents.

At the time of the Buddha, a man and his wife brought their son to give dana to a Bhikkhu. The Bhikkhu blessed the two adults but not their son. When asked, the Bhikkhu foresees that the boy is going to die in 7 days.

Shocked and frightened, the parent and the son went to see the Buddha. The Lord Buddha also blessed the parent and not the son as the Buddha also said that the son will die in 7 days.
Pleaded with metta, the parent requested the Buddha to save their son and the Buddha decided to do so.

Together with a large retinue of bhikkhus (arahants and senior monks), Lord Buddha proceed to their house.
After placing the boy on a platform, the Buddha and the monks seated around the boy and chants were offered for 7 days and 7 nights.

The presence of the Buddha, Arahants and celestial beings (Devas and Brahmas) distanced the petas and asuras from the boy. After the 7th day, the boy is still alive.
Years passed by and the boy grew up. When asked why did the boy still alive, the Buddha said that it is through the respect to the Triple Gem that the boy is saved from the evil ones.

This lesson from Ajahn Santi today showed that a simple act of paying respect had high effect on our lives.
Sadhu, Sadhu and sadhu.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

My Jati Day

The late Bhante Suvanno once said celebrating birthday is celebrating one more year less to your deathday, so do good now.

Heeding this wonderful advice, Amy and I perform our usual dana at BMBMC in conjunction to my birthday today. I am fortunate to be able to perform dana to Sayadaw even though Sayadaw U Vimala is away to Singqpore.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Hair of the Buddha

I had heard that there are Buddha's hair relics and also seen some Buddha rupa (images) that showed Buddha having hair on His head.

The Bhikkhus are all bald shaven, are the creators of the Buddha images making a mistake?

Thus, I asked Sayadaw U Vimala before yesterday's lunch dana. Sayadaw said the Buddha had hair on His head and not bald shaven as with the other the 32 greater and 80 lesser marks.

This clarify a nagging feeling that I had when I observed my Buddha rupa in my house.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Pindacara at Kota Permai Market

This morning Amy and I decided to get up early (around 6:30) to go to Kota Permai Market which is about 4 km away from our house. We reached the market about 8 am and waited for the Sayadaws and samaneras who finally arrived at 8.30 am.

A number of devotees arrived soon after and Sayadaws and samaneras lined themselves up at the entrance of the market.

Today there are more people giving food, probably because this is the last day of this year novitiate programme.

In Malaysia, especially in Penang, Buddhists here are very generous when it comes to religious activities. They do not mind donating food, money and other kinds of offering to the temples, bhikkhus and others. Most of the time we have excess of food and money donated by the devotees and with these excess food and money we in turn donated it to other charitable societies.

A big Sadhu to all.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Pindacara at BM market

Today, Amy and I followed Sayadaws and 20 samaneras for pindapatta at BM market. We left BMBMC at about 8 am and reaches our destination in 20 minutes.

Some of the devotees and helpers were already there waiting for our bus. We spent about 30 minutes there and after bagful of food stuff, all of us proceed back to BMBMC.

Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu to all involved, most of all the young samaneras who endured the whole process with patience and obedience.


Sunday, November 22, 2009

Samanera programme in BMBMC

Lord Buddha once said in Dahara Sutta
"There are these four things, great king, that shouldn't be despised & disparaged for being young.

Which four? A noble warrior, great king, shouldn't be despised & disparaged for being young. A snake... A fire... And a monk shouldn't be despised & disparaged for being young. These are the four things that shouldn't be despised & disparaged for being young"

Today and for the next 10 days, twenty four young men decided to forgoes their school holidays to become samaneras in BMBMC under the guidance of Venerable Sayadaw U Vimala.Add Image
More pictures can be seen in this link.

Reverence to cetiyas

Should we Buddhists paid respect to cetiyas? Some of us may think that those who did are ignorant of Buddhist's practices. However, in yesterday Dhamma Talk, Venerable Sayadaw U Vimala said it is in accordance to the Teaching of The Buddha that one gains Kusala Kamma for respecting the cetiyas.

There are five types of cetiyas namely,
  1. Paribhoga Cetiya- enshrined with requisites used by the Buddha
  2. Uddissaka Cetiya- built or made in remembrance of the Buddha
  3. Dhatu Cetiya- enshrined with the relics of the Buddha
  4. Dhamma Cetiya
  5. Pada Cetiya- foot prints of the Buddha
This means that as Buddhists, we should and can give our respect and offering to these cetiyas. For example, Buddha images are the Uddissaka Cetiya which we should be paying respect to whenever we enter a temple or Buddhist meditation centre. Even places that houses the Dhamma books should be respected.

Further interesting information on cetiyas can be obtained from these sites (1), (2), (3)

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Worthy of A Stupa

Most Malaysian Buddhists do not view Buddhist stupas as significant to Buddhism although stupa is one of the objects of reverence in Buddhism.

In tonight Dhamma Talk, Sayadaw U Vimala teaches us the importance of stupas in Buddhism.

Stupas are used to house the remains of the Buddha. In the Mahaparinibbana Sutta, the Buddha mentioned that there are 4 types of person worthy of being enshrined in a stupa. They are namely
  1. A Samma Sambuddha
  2. A Pacekka Buddha
  3. An Arahanta
  4. An universal monarch
Sayadaw said that reverence such as offerings of flowers or water can be made to a stupa and in the commentaries, such action can assists a person to be reborn as human or devas.

Sister Gin also mentioned about the great reverence of the stupa to the Burmese people during our retreat at Santarama BH.

But, in my opinion, Chinese Malaysians had the outmost extreme zeal in paying reverence to inanimate objects such as stones, idols etc. Right understanding in paying reverences to objects had to cultivated in the Buddhist practice so that ancestral practices of worshiping do not cloud the importance of paying respect in Buddhism.

Otherwise, we are going to have a real hard time in maintaining correct atmosphere in Buddhist places especially in meditation centers.

Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu.

The Theras

Titles may be trivial or petty matters but sometimes it may be important to us when we are addressing or make reference to a person.

Tonight before the Dhamma talk, Sayadaw mentioned that people here are ignorant of the terms nava, majjhima, thera and mahathera. Many people used wrong titles of Mahathera when refering to a bhikkhu even though the bhikkhu is only had one vassa. Here, Sayadaw taught us the proper usage of these 4 terms:
  1. Nava bhikkhu refers to bhikkhu who has less than 5 vassas
  2. Majjhima bhikkhu refers to bhikkhu who has 5 to 9 vassas
  3. Thera bhikkhu refers to bhikkhu who has 20 or less than 20 vassas
  4. MahaThera bhikkhu refers to bhikkhu who has more than 20 vassas
  • Further clarification of these terms can be checked from this link.
Reverence to the title of Maha Thera must be done correctly, reflecting the seniority of the bhikkhu and not to the convenience of the devotees.

Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Return from Balik Pulau #2

Some 'light' moments during the retreat.



Back from Balik Pulau #1

What a tiring day! A 12-hour meditation exercise (with 2 free meals) was tiring but interesting. Together with about another 30 yogis under the guardance of Sister Gavesini, Amy and I managed to complete our second retreat of the year. Both of us agreed that we had a better experience from this retreat due to regular daily practices prior to this retreat. I can even managed to do each of the sitting and walking meditation sessions for a full one hour-period (even though the five nirvaranas starts to their attack after lunch). A very big Maha Sadhu to Sis. Gin, Bro Kean Beng (where is my KFC), Sis Hong Bian and Bro Sunanda Lim of House of Inward Journey (for hosting this course) and not forgetting all the Dhamma dayakas (who sponsored and ensured that meals are provided for us during the retreat). Another retreat? Heeeheee


Saturday, November 7, 2009

Vipassana Meditation Retreat at Santarama

Today, Amy and I will be staying at Santarama, Balik Pulau for 2-days-1-night vipassana meditation retreat as part of the meditation course that both of us joined for the past two months. This couse is conducted by a very experienced lay-teacher Sister Gavesini at House of Inward Journey. It must be a good year for me this year for having the opportunity of attending not one but two retreats for a year (after many many years of not attending any since the 1980s). Expectation none, as Bhante Suvanno had said, it not our mind that we can decide, just take it as it come. Let's see....

Saturday, October 24, 2009

The Naked Truth

We do not understand about the concept of non-self, we thought we know but actually we do not know. It is wonderful to be able to hear tonight talk about Acela Sutta from Sayadaw U Vimala at BMBMC.

Most of us have either the eternalist or annihilationist views about self. We think of us as permanent even though we know that The Buddha taught us that there is anatta. Learning from this Sutta, Sayadaw said that if we think that we are the same person, for example, we think that if we perform dana now and later we will be born in heavenly realm; the 'we' is the same person then we have the eternalist wrong view. On the other hand, if we then think that the 'we' is different, then we have the annihilationist wrong views. Actually there is no 'we'.

Oh! Oh! Here goes the understanding in most of us. But then, in satipatthana meditation we had always been advised to watch the five aggregates namely nama (made out of 4 aggregates) and rupa (1 aggregate).

In a moment, the combination of the five aggregates is unique but then will changed in the next moment. So we cannot said that there is no person in that moment in the conventional truth as there are the five aggregates coming together, but in the next moment that the person that exist is not of the same aggregrates. Confusing isn't it.

The importance of Pattica Samuppada is also shown in this Sutta. Sayadaw said that every Buddha will have to contemplate on the Dependent Origination before becoming Enlightened. Reflecting on the Dependent Origination, The Buddha knows and understands suffering, it's cause, it's cessation and how to cause its cessation.
Mind our views - that's the gist of tonight talk.

Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu.
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Saturday, October 17, 2009

A Dozen Dangers

Do you understands the Paticca Samuppada well? Ananda once told Lord Buddha that Paticca Samupada is easy to understand. The Buddha said that many beings do not yet understand Paticca Samupada. In tonight talk, Sayadaw U Vimala hope that BMBMC members can try to understand the Pattica Samupada as this talk is based on Mahnidna Sutta.

Why is it that we do not understand the Paticca Samuppada? Sayadaw asked, "It is because most of us tends to take things as pleasurable"

Tanha (craving) is the cause that will lead to Upadana. Tanha arises because of upadaniya (object of tanha) that we always take as pleasurable. Once upadana (clinging) arises, then bhava (becoming) follows.

Bhava (becoming) leads to Kamma (action). Sayadaw pointed out that Kamma will be present all the time (only absent when we sleep). Even when we meditate, there is Kamma performed.
Then bhava causes jati (birth) to arise. When we have jati, then we will expect to have jara, maranam, soka, parideva, dukkha, domanassa and upayasa.

Sayadaw said that our samsara is long because we tends to take things as pleasurable. When we see, hear, smell, taste, touch and think, we observe their objects as pleasurable.

In Vipassana, Sayadaw said we have to observe things as unpleasant or danger or disadvantage. This is how we should practise. By doing this, we will eradicate tanha and if tanha is eradicate, then upadana, bhava, jati and jara-maranam-soka-parideva-dukkha-domanasa-upayasa will be eradicate. Then one will attained Nibbana.

Personally, I think it is not easy for one to maintain or even observe things as unpleasant. That is why we need to do vipassana bhavana. Bhavana will help one to observe these things as unpleasant.

Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu.


Graphics taken from these sites
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Monday, October 12, 2009

BMBMC Kathina Day Celebration 2009

Yesterday, Amy and I participated in the BMBMC Kathina Day Celebration. We arrived at the centre at about 7:30 am and there were already many people there.
Amy is in charged of the free-books distribution stall in which various titles of Dhamma books were distributed free. Some of the books were given to me by Inward Path Publisher which is a prominent Dhamma Books publisher in Penang.

For the second time, the Kathina Celebration commenced with a pindapatta session. This year we are fortunate to be able to invite 12 bhikkhus for the Kathina Day Celebration including our two residing Sayadaws.

Most of us at BMBMC were a little bit worried as the sky decided to open up just after 8.00 am. Probably due to the blessing and good intentions of the members of BMBMC, the rain stopped just before the pindapatta session is about to start.

A total number of 300 members lined up along the road leading away from the centre; each member was given a packet of rice (Amy brought hers from home) given free by the centre.

Led by Sayadaws, the sight of 12 bhikkhus, walking mindfully and patiently waiting for us to put our scoops of rice in the bowl was indeed an experience worth remembering.

After the pindapatta session, Sayadaw U Vimala gave a Dhamma talk. Unfortunately, I was unable to mindfully listen to it as a result of being given the responsibility of taking care of the robes offering ceremony.

With Amy able to man the book stall, I am fortunate this year to be able to help in the food offering ceremony. This year, the bhikkhus took their food from the buffet-long table as compared to being presented in trays as previously done.

While the bhikkhus were having their meal, our members and guests were also invited to help themselves with various types of food and fruits. This year, the quantity of food exceeds the consumption rate and most of the helpers managed to have their fill before the robes offering ceremony.

The robes-presentation ceremony went on smoothly.

After repacking and clearing up, about 20 of us went to Lunas Buddhist Hermitage sima hall to witness the proclaimation of the Kathina robe.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Purposely purpose

Why are you here today? asked Bhante Jinnadata. You must have a purpose to be here today for dana, said Bhante, But most of us feel funny about having a purpose to do good as it is culturally thought to be bad. In contrary, we must have an aim or motivation or cause in what ever we do, even the Buddha's former name has the word 'attha'.
So in performing any deeds, it is good for us to have aims that can be classified to be of
  1. benefit for one self
  2. benefit for others
  3. benefit for both oneself and others
Now here, what degree of benefits should one aim for? Bhante Jinnadata pointed out that there are three types of benefit, namely
  1. Benefit gained in this very life
  2. Benefit gained in the next life
  3. Benefit of Final good/excellence
Unfortunately, most of us have not encountered the benefit of the final good and thus, we keep on seeking the first two benefits. And we keep on seeking worldly things that we hope to be of permanence but they are impermanence (kaliko).

Why is it not permanence? Bhante said that what we seek had itself immersed in a temporal dimension. Time causes things to change, from past to present to future. This is continuous e.g today one may be good but in the future be bad, yesterday was mooncake festival, today if we were to celebrate mooncake festival it will be of no meaning as it had past its time.
So, only things not subjected to time is permanent and one and only one thing not subjected to time is NIBBANA.

Therefore, Bhante advised us to seek for the bliss of Nibbana by practising what our teacher, the Buddha had taught us. Seeking things that will changed will not give as any benefits. Our aim or goal should be to gain benefit of Final good that is 'akaliko'
Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Happy, Happy, Happy

Be happy why worry! So be happy is what most of us want, and in fact we had been trying to be happy. We think that we will be happy if we have big cars or houses, or have more money and so on, as mentioned by Sayadaw U Vimala in a pre-dana session talk this morning.

There are three types of happiness, namely, happiness of human, happiness of deva and happiness of Nibbana.

Sayadaw further explained that while we had been trying to obtain material things in our quest for happiness, many of us tend to forget that our Kamma does play an important factor here. For example, if one's Kamma enable one to be beautiful, one does not have to do much to beautify oneself.

However, for one who are not that fortunate due to Kammic forces, he/she will be disappointed if beauty is the criteria set for his/her happiness.
Sayadaw U Vimala further said that when one performs Dana with correct understanding, then in the future, one may gain the happiness of the deva. Moreover, if one were to cultivate one's mind to the fullest, one may gain Nibbanic happiness or bliss which is the ultimate happiness for one.

Happiness comes with harmony, and in a community, harmony among its member will ensure that the people in the community will be happy. This advice was given by Sayadaw as a guidance before our Kathina celebration committee/devotee meeting begins. A timely advice indeed.

Sayadaw further elaborates that there are two types of people not easily encountered, that are, namely (1) people with similar desires and (2) grateful people.

Two people cannot have similar desires, said Sayadaw. Even husband and wife ofter quarreled because of dissimilar or conflicting desires. In a temple committee with so many people, it is virtually impossible for everybody to have similar desires.

Then how can we be harmony? By trying to be the second type of people, said Sayadaw. We had to try to be grateful for the help rendered to us. For example, Sayadaw said that in BMBMC, the chairman had be very helpful to the secretary and hence, the secretary must be grateful to the chairman.

This is true also in reverse. By doing that, we can then create a harmonious environment with each other, seeing other in a loving-kindness eye. Happiness can then be achieved by us.

Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Seven versus five

What do you do when you see a beautiful girl? Hah! Most of us will think about her, think and think. For some, this might even lead to inability to sleep and fell sick (love sick as some may call it).

However, Sayadaw U Vimala called it the arising of sensual desire (kāmacchanda). The five hindrances (sensual desire, ill-will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and doubt) can obstruct our progress in meditation and as laypersons, we have to be aware of it in our daily life.

How then can one check the advances of these pañca nīvaraṇāni? Sayadaw pointed out that one must try to cultivate the seven factors of enlightenment (bojjhanga) namely mindfulness, investigating the Dhamma, energy/effort, joy, tranquility, concentration and equanimity. Through the cultivation of these 7 bojjhangas, one can then overcome the arising of the 5 nivaranani especially during meditation.

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Mahindarama Sunday Pali School 50th Anniversary Dinner

Yesterday night 12 Sept 2009, both of us attended the MSPS 50th Anniversary Dinner. At first, I had thought of skipping this occassion as we will miss our meditation sitting and Dhamma talk. After receiving an invitation call from Bro Hor Kwei On, I decided to go as MSPS is a part of my life, my Buddhist life.
Mahindarama Sunday Pali School was set up on the 6th of September 1959 and is part of Mahindarama Buddhist Temple, a Sri Lankan's temple at 2 Kampar Road, Penang.
It is a night full of surprises.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Chattering mind

Tonight I heard a talk given by Bhante Jinnadatta about conditioned mind. Although this talk is given in Hokkien/Mandarin, Bhante also uses some English terms and with my pasar Hokkien I can managed to get the gist of what tonight talk is all about.
Our mind is conditioned, said Bhante. This conditioned mind will always judged things to be good or bad, right or wrong. Therefore, one is confused about facts and opinions.

The conditioned mind is the second link in Dependent Origination that is sankhara. Because of A, B followed, just like what happened to the dog in Pavlov's Experiment.

Our mind like a pendulum, always swinging from the past to the future. Our mind begins to judge because we conditioned it to judge, to judge things to be yes or no.

What then conditioned our mind? It is our thoughts. Our thoughts also identify. We use our thoughts to identify things with another things for example we sometimes identify happiness with wealth or success. But sometimes we did not identify thing with the truth.

For instance, we identify self or ego with thought. Thoughts conditioned us, and we think that these thoughts are our self.

Since awakened from our sleep, we live in the realm of thought. We get lost in our thought.
Our mind is full of thoughts. It is always yes or no. This then gives rise to attraction (if it is a yes) and repulsiveness if it is a no.

Because we are always thinking (eating, walking and so forth), we identify it as our ego. And what give rise to thought? Bhante said it is ignorance that causes thought to arise.

So our thoughts kept on talking in ourselves; we have a chattering mind, and we will not have any peace. Thought swings from the past to the future. Our ego cannot let go of the past. The thought condition us.

How then can we stop ourselves from thinking? Awareness is the answer. We have to aware, not to know, not to think. In meditation, we are aware of the object at the present. To have our mind at the present, not to think of the past or the future. Thus we are aware of ourselves.

Bhante said we know but we do not know our selves ("chai e'ay, bo chai lan" in Hokkien). We have the sense doors to know other things outside of ourselves but we do not know inside ourselves.

I have always find Bhante's talk to be enlightening as Bhante is able to explained abhidhamma things in a layman terms.

Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu.