Sunday Times 2
How to find peace through the stillness of the mind
Ven. Ajahn Brahmavamso Maha Thera, popularly known as Ajahn Brahm delivered a discourse on meditation at the BMICH Colombo on June 15 to a packed audience who attended this full-day programme.
This Poson programme was organised by the BMICH Staff Welfare Association and the Ajahn Brahm Society of Sri Lanka. Ven. Ajahn Brahm Thera conducted a session in each hall, with large video screens and TVs displaying the talks in all halls.
Offering a tray of flowers to the Buddha, the Ven. Maha Thera began his discourse on meditation. He spoke of the ‘still mind’ and ‘samadhi’. “Meditation has nothing to do with concentration,” he said. In his usual humorous banter, he said, “concentration sounds like concentration camps! which it is not.” “Meditation is stillness and calming of the mind – peace of mind.”
Pic by Lashan Ekanayake
The Thera illustrated this with a glass of water which he held in his hand; he tried to keep the water still but was unable to do so. “People try to hold their minds still and try harder and harder. It does not work. If we know how to do it correctly, the glass of water should be put down – place it on the table.” It settles and is still. The MahaThera says that in meditation you should let go of all what you control.”Control freaks have the biggest ego. The more you control, the bigger your ego. You cannot control the world. For example, you cannot stop a dog from barking. The more you let go, the closer you get to Samadhi. Then, you see things as they are. The true nature of things,” he said.
“The first thing you should let go is your body. When one is asked to sit, cross your legs and keep your back straight – it is torture.” In meditation, “number one is to sit comfortably,” he said, quipping that now there are even designer cushions for meditation. If you are comfortable it is much easier to meditate. “Please do not torture your body. Buddha attained enlightenment under the shade of a beautiful tree near a river – in pleasant surroundings.”
The Ven. Maha Thera suggests that when you start meditating, first you should relax. If you want to cough, you must cough without holding it back. Otherwise pressure starts to build up and erupts like a volcano making a big noise disturbing others in their meditation. If there is an itch you attend to it. This preparation can continue for 2 – 3 minutes before you start your meditation. The first lesson in meditation is how to relax your body and the second is how to relax your mind. The mind should be settled. There is stress in your mind when you are trying to think. Let go of the past and the future. The way to do this is mindfulness, sathi and compassion.
Ven Ajahn Brahm related his personal experiences to explain a point. “Compassion can cure a sickness,” he said. “Once when I was living in a cave I had a severe stomach pain and discomfort. There was no medicine or no chance of seeing a doctor. I tried to understand the pain and focused on it with compassion and by morning the pain had gone! When I was a young boy playing soccer in a West London street where I lived, I fell and my legs were bruised. I went home and my mother kissed the place where it hurt and it felt fine. No medicine! It is because of my mother’s kindness and compassion. More kindness, less pain!” The theory is mindfulness and kindness. The Venerable Thera coined a word – “kindfulness” from kindness and mindfulness!
The mind is always busy thinking of the past and the future, he said. “One should not try to get rid of what happened in the past but be kind to it -I am aware of it and am kind to it. The future is also the same. One should not worry about the future. Exploit the past and future and be kind to it, let go and then come to the present where the future is made. Your craving and desire are obstacles for meditation. You carry two heavy bags – one in the left hand and the other in the right. In the left hand is the past and in the right is the future. You should keep these bags down and let go of the past and the future. You are free of the burdens. The nature of your mind is to be still. When you do not want anything, the mind is still.”
The example of the leaf moving with the wind was explained. When the wind stops the leaf does not move. It is the same with the mind, stop your craving and wanting and the mind is still – like the leaf. When you meditate, things disappear, the body disappears. The only thing you hear is your breath. It is like the waves in the ocean – coming in and going out .”
The focus should be on the present moment, Ven. Ajahn Brahm said. Giving an example he said when a leaf falls on a clear path, you can see it, unlike when there are many leaves on an unswept path. When the mind is clear you can see clearly.
“People are restless and busy all their lives with craving and desire. Let go of wanting.” One is advised to let go of the past and future if you want jhanas.
“My mission is to re-establish Buddhism as it was in the Buddha’s time. There should be equality – Bhikkhu, Bhikkhunis, Upasaka Upasikas. I am working hard teaching in Aranyas and work camps,” Ven. Ajahn Brahm said.
“One day I came to my Aranya and did I find peace? I had work camps and many things to do. If I am the owner, there is more work. I have to see to everything. I realised my mistake. So, every Monday I became a visitor to my Aranya! When I was not an owner, it became peaceful. The owner is a fault finder – will never find peace. No fault finding is a key to peace. You are tired because you think too much. Your energy is wasted. Happiness comes from energy. Cherish the happiness of meditation.”
“There are four possibilities in meditation – Sovan, Sakadagami, Anagami and Rahath.”
Ven. Ajahn Brahm Thera says the four footprints of the Buddha are the first, second, third and the fourth jhanas. These are the four holy places of the Buddha. If a person gets the jhanas, he walks the path of the Buddha.”
“The happiest thing I ever did in my life is meditation,” he continued. “You need not watch cricket and soccer. There is no need for alcohol and drugs. To be happy, teach them to meditate. When the breath vanishes, beautiful images are seen in the mind. This is the ecstasy of the jhanas.. don’t be afraid of happiness – develop it.”
The next session was on Insight Meditation. It was explained with many examples to make it easy to understand. “Insight and calm go together” was the explanation given by the Ven. Maha Thera. “Take the difficulties in life and transfer them to wisdom.” He explained how one could overcome the grief over the death of a loved one. The Ven. Maha Thera also explained about the “will” which he said is the greatest cause of suffering. “The ‘Will’ will not leave you alone. ‘Will’ is dukkha. Your will is guided by others.”
The last session was question time. Questions were written on pieces of paper and answers were provided by the Ven. Thera to selected questions, explaining in detail with real life experiences of disciples and devotees. A ten-year-old had asked a question regarding bullying in school which was explained by the Maha Thera to help the child face this unpleasant situation.
Ven. Ajahn Brahm’s book ‘Wisdom of Silence’ which deals with making a mistake, meditation, attachment, the five hindrances, satipatthana and offerings – puja, was distributed and autographed by the Maha Thera.
There are Sinhala translations by Ven. Kahawe Abhaya Thera who studied under the Maha Thera in Western Australia and other writers of the many books written by Ven. Ajahn Brahmavamso. These include Dan Bhavanawata Kalayai, Veradi Sidu Nowanne Kaa Athinda, Anapanasathi Sutraya, Budhu Dhahamehi Hadawatha Bhavanavai, Ledaroga Maranaya saha Samaya.