Question

As I have practiced over the years I find it hard to remember how it was to be a new meditator and at times what it was like to not be a meditator. I'm grateful about the development but want to guard against conceit or taking the practice or Wat Kow Tahm for granted. Any suggestions?

Answer

Sometimes when I feel the burden of teaching and would rather work on myself, I try to remember what I was like before I met the Dhamma. I try to remember that person and the Dukkha that she had and try to understand what caused the transformation. Then I value the Dhamma higher. In remembering what we were like, we can try to imagine meeting ourselves before we got into the Dhamma. And how we would be able to relate to this person. Sometimes this helps in seeing the changes and a great deal of gratitude about the Buddha and the Dhamma may arise which helps to guard against conceit.

As far as not taking the practice or Wat Kow Tahm or us for granted, reflection of death and impermanence is very helpful. Sometimes I say on Day 8 that many of our old students tend to think we're a permanent fixture here. But we are impermanent, we are also subject to death and we don't know our Kamma either. So reflecting on the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha and death are helpful for letting go of conceit. Not taking the practice for granted. Sympathetic Joy meditation is also very helpful, as well as other confidence inspiring objects of meditation.

Our apologies if there are any errors in the above text. If anything seems to be wrong or confusing in any way, please feel free to contact the teachers for further clarification.