Ok then! Dhamma talk sharing time!
The talk for the morning half was about worry and fear. Specifically worry and fear of death and the unknown. The Achaan told a story about a teacher and his students. He first taught his students to walk. They would do walking meditation for long periods of time and after a month or two the teacher gave them a new task. He told them to walk across a bridge that stretched over a misty pit. No one could see what was in the pit because of the heavy mists. Some of the students theorized that there might be animals that would eat you or that the pit might go on forever more. The students were terrified and walked very slowly across the bridge. They continued even after one fell. It was later discovered by the students that below the pit was a lake and that the lake wasn't very far down. The student who fell was alive and well. From that time onward the students could walk across the bridge full of confidence.
These sorts of story are very common in Buddhism to show examples of how life works according to Buddhism. In this case we see that living beings are afraid of the unknown. They do not know what it is and it can result in death which is a great fear for most living beings. However death is a certainty. We will all die eventually whether or not we go about life cautiously or recklessly. You will die.
The lesson here is to remember that fact and to never let your worries take control of you. Sure you shouldn't be careless, but you shouldn't be immobilized by fear or worry. You should walk on and search and learn and live. You might learn that whatever you were afraid of wasn't really a problem at all. Like the students in the story!
The Achaan gave an additional talk about people being saddened by death. Death as we have established is a certainty. It is a fact of life and it is not one that will change. Therefore separation with loved ones will happen whether or not you want it. You should not hate your relatives. You should treat them with love and kindness, but you must also remember that one day you will be parted from them. Grieving doesn't fix problems. You will probably feel sad and that's ok, but do not let it consume you. Live.
For the afternoon session we had a talk about the life of Bhikkhu. In Thailand one can become a Bhikkhu at the age 20. They take on the 227 rules of the Bhikkhu. Before then one came become a novice monk and take on the 10 Precepts. One can take up the life of the Bhikkhu and abandon when they feel it is appropriate to do so. You can disrobe without shame (at least this is how things are supposed to be). The Bhikkhu get up at 4 in the morning. They shower and then get together to chant at 4:30. This chanting lasts for an hour. Then the Bhikkhu go out and do chores and talk and meditate. They have a meal sometime in the morning at around 7:00. They then continue with their chores and meditation and study. Time is taken out of their schedule for things like marriage ceremonies and the meditation classes of course. They have lunch at 12. This is their last meal for the day. They cannot eat anything until the next morning. They can however drink tea or water. The Bhikkhu sleep at 10:00 PM.
Now this morning session we had yoga. Apparently the yoga is supposed to be a regular thing but the woman who leads it hadn't been there for the other three classes I've been to. Yoga is...difficult. It's quite depressing how stiff my muscles are... I will need to fix that. THERE ARE OLD WOMEN MORE FLEXIBLE THAN ME.
News about Visakha Puja...It's on the 17th but the wat will be holding services on the 15th which is a Sunday. I will be attending said services as well as help set up the day before.
edited 30th Apr '11 4:35:27 PM by Aondeug
If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan ChahOh yes that is something else I did today! I dislocated part of my foot during meditation while shifting my position. I have learned how to consistently do this just because I was curious if it would happen every time I moved like that! AND LO AND BEHOLD IT DID.
edited 30th Apr '11 4:56:02 PM by Aondeug
If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan ChahI know how to dislocate my knees too. I try to avoid that...The fuckers have been doing that since I was like...9? STOP IT KNEES. STAY IN PLACE YOU CUNTS.
I have also dislocated my pinky toe because I ran into the tv stand while running to turn off the stove.
If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

I'm a masochist Aon.