Discourse on the theme of the retreat” “Five Abilities: Some Basic Steps to Liberation and Enlightenment”. Everything that happens in our life is the result of causes and conditions. If we want a positive experience such as enlightenment, we also have to work in the necessary causes and conditions. Praying to any external being will not help, we have to do it by ourselves.
Short introduction to walking meditation. Right after a meal it is better to do walking meditation. Sorry, no video.
Short introduction to mindful eating. How monks are trained to eat in the forest tradition and how to apply it during the retreat and our lives. Sorry, no video.
Why do we practice meditation? To be free of suffering… We can all describe suffering in our own particular way, however we all have it. The question is what do we do about it, going after other things or running away will not solve things, the solution is in your mind.
Bhante Saranapala explains how the Buddha made very clear that the way to enlightenment is the practice of the Noble Eightfold Path.
What is right effort when you meditate according to the Buddhist Sutras? There is at the end a very interesting Q&A that covers how to breathe. This talk was the basis of the next ones, where different aspects of the Q&A were developed.