5) Q: How do we introduce Dhamma to children in a Vipassana family who are yet too young to learn Anapana?
A: They become capable of practicing Anapana quite early in life, but if they are very young, then give them metta. If the child is sleeping then sit near them and give them metta. Sit for an hour and then give them metta. If they are awake, then take them in your lap, rock them to sleep and then give them metta. They will start absorbing the vibrations of metta. As soon as they grow a bit older, they will easily practice Anapana and soon after that they will learn to practice Vipassana.
š· 6) Q: When I sit for meditation I remove my glasses and I feel sensations, should I do the same thing when walking?
A: Why would someone with glasses remove them while walking around? If you run into something and stumble, people will blame me and I don't want that. When you sit and meditate, go ahead and remove your glasses. At all other times, we have to work with open eyes. We can continue to be aware of the sensations, but, we shall always work with our glasses on. See I have put my glasses on — I need them too!
š· 7) Q: My body has become quite frail. You said to follow the advice of the doctor, so I had three surgeries for my cancer. Now I do not want to undergo another surgical procedure. This disease is not going to leave me. What should I do?
A: I say get freed from the diseases of the mind. Then you will see that no matter what the situation is, you are always in a positive state of mind. There is a pain somewhere in the body, but your mind is free from pain, and you shall not let the mind get agitated. Then you have understood the Dhamma! Because of the accumulated kammas of this life or of a past life, some kind of disease has manifested in the body, but now if you are established in Dhamma, then there is no agitation. And oh how intense the pain as one approaches closer to death! Only those who are dying understand their own pain, no one else can. But even with so much pain, many meditators pass away with a smile on their face and without any sedative drugs or painkillers as they are developed in the Dhamma. Oh how can cancer affect such persons? If an illness comes then we will try and treat it, but if the doctor says this is beyond any treatment, then we have our own remedy. We shall not allow our minds to get agitated; we shall not lose our equanimity
š· 8) Q: Could you please explain the meaning of 'kalyÄnmitta'?
A: KalyÄį¹ means welfare, and mitta means friend. One who is a friend in our welfare is therefore a 'kalyÄį¹amitta. PÄpa means immoral, blameworthy acts. Hence one who leads us on an immoral, unwholesome path would be a 'pÄpamitta', and one who leads us to our well-being is a 'kalyÄį¹amitta'.
KalyÄį¹amitta,
Satya Narayan Goenka.
No comments:
Post a Comment