Special Retreat Australia April 2005 | Rosemary & Steve Knowledgebase

Old Students' Special Retreat Australia April 2005

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At present there are 48 entries in this list.

Teacher
Day
Index
Question
Steve
3
1
From the guided Compassion/Lovingkindness meditation yesterday, I could just arouse compassion for a suicide, but a murder is quite beyond me. Is it a case of separating the person from the deed?
Ref: 2005.04.x.03.01
Written answer
Steve
3
2
Please can you explain the levels of attainment (i.e. stream enterer, once returner, non-returner)?
Ref: 2005.04.x.03.02
Written answer
Steve
3
3
I'm a little confused about the Parami of Energy. I used to think it was the same as Determination but now I noticed that resolution is also called Determination.
Ref: 2005.04.x.03.03
Written answer
- Determination
- Energy
Steve
3
4
In the retreat we should avoid communication. Sometimes I see someone in trouble and wish I could help a person, and this is not possible without any communication. So, what is your advice for these situations?
Ref: 2005.04.x.03.04
Written answer
Steve
4
1
With observation, I have found it quite easy to see that the comfort of a person's material circumstances does not result in peace and wealth in the mind. I have met wealthy people who have poverty in the mind. But how is it then that the Buddha said that such poverty in the mind will result in poor circumstances upon rebirth. Shouldn't there be few poor people with wealth in the mind as a result and few rich people with poverty in the mind. In my experience this is not the case. Have such people changed dramatically in youth for either better or worse?
Ref: 2005.04.x.04.01
Written answer
Steve
4
2
A friend is so in the moment, but I find he's not there. I feel like I'm talking to no one. Depersonalized, I'm sure he's missing the point somehow.
Ref: 2005.04.x.04.02
Written answer
Steve
4
3
Did the Buddha ever give precise teachings about dying and the after-death states similar to the Tibetan teachings?
Ref: 2005.04.x.04.03
Written answer
Steve
4
4
Are there any enlightened people living that we can see as opposed to having as teachers, or do they stay quiet to avoid attention?
Ref: 2005.04.x.04.04
Written answer
- Enlightened people
Steve
4
5
Would it be beneficial to skip the evening meal? In other words, no food after midday during the retreat.
Ref: 2005.04.x.04.05
Written answer
- Food after midday
Steve
4
6
On my first trip to a monastery in Taiwan, I was told by a Monk, "You don't exist." As an attention grabber this was certainly powerful. I have never really got more than the most tenuous grip on the word Anatta, a Pali word in Buddhism, though I'm sure my anger feeds my ego and vice versa. Do you see non-self or not-self as being literally true at some level or do I really "not exist"?
Ref: 2005.04.x.04.06
Written answer
Steve
4
7
A teacher once told me that "if there ain't no Dukkha there ain't no practice". Now I thought this was a bit strong. What do you think?
Ref: 2005.04.x.04.07
Written answer
Steve
5
1
Recently I have become interested in "lucid dreaming". That is becoming aware of what one is dreaming and then taking control of what happens in the dream. Do you see any benefit or harm from my practice of doing this?
Ref: 2005.04.x.05.01
Written answer
- Dreams
- Lucid dreaming
Steve
5
2
Should we avoid coffee and tea during the retreat?
Ref: 2005.04.x.05.02
Written answer
Steve
5
3
Can you suggest any tips on working with subtle boredom? I have a lot of trouble catching it.
Ref: 2005.04.x.05.03
Written answer
Steve
5
4
How does one get the balance between how fortunate I am to have what I have and being depressed because my needs are not being met?
Ref: 2005.04.x.05.04
Written answer
Steve
5
5
I fear I'm not deadly serious about death reflection. Is " We'll all go some times, so let's get on with it" quite sufficient?
Ref: 2005.04.x.05.05
Written answer
Steve
5
6
Can you please tell me something about the balance between Compassion and Lovingkindness?
Ref: 2005.04.x.05.06
Written answer
- Compassion
- Lovingkindness
Steve
5
7
Regarding the Compassion/Lovingkindness wish for all the beings that will die during our walking meditation: is this for all beings who will die anywhere in the whole world during this time or is it for beings who will die as a result of our walking?
Ref: 2005.04.x.05.07
Written answer
Rosemary
6
1
It is easier to be compassionate for people far away. A friend of mine moved into a Lebanese community in Bankstown. She did not know this. There was constant fighting and women were kept in their place. Windows got smashed. My friend's car got trashed. Her husband and child never went out after dark and many other unpleasant things. I heard myself say in my head 'I wish those Lebies would pack up and go home'. PS I know a fabulous Lebanese Muslim family down the street from me.
Ref: 2005.04.x.06.01
Written answer
Rosemary
6
2
Is the order of the Paramis important?
Ref: 2005.04.x.06.02
Written answer
- Paramis
Rosemary
6
3
Can we work on all the Paramis at the same time or should we focus on a few?
Ref: 2005.04.x.06.03
Written answer
- Paramis
Rosemary
6
4
In the guided meditation concerning the Ten Paramis I have trouble with the reflection on Energy. The others are more obvious, but having always been an energetic person both pre- and post-Dhamma I'm not sure of what exactly to take note of, or if there is any particular Dhamma Energy that I should recognize.
Ref: 2005.04.x.06.04
Written answer
Rosemary
6
5
What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of a personal silent retreat?
Ref: 2005.04.x.06.05
Written answer
- Personal silent retreat
Rosemary
6
6
Your pronunciation of words such as Buddha and Dukkha differs from what I have heard elsewhere.
Ref: 2005.04.x.06.06
Written answer
- Pali
Rosemary
6
7
Is yielding to sense pleasures OK as long as one notes it?
Ref: 2005.04.x.06.07
Written answer
Rosemary
6
8
Why do we do walking meditation? Why don't we just sit?
Ref: 2005.04.x.06.08
Written answer
- Walking meditation
Rosemary
6
9
Is it praise when someone tells me I helped them solve a problem? And why shouldn't I feel joy with him or her about that?
Ref: 2005.04.x.06.09
Written answer
- Joy
- Praise
Rosemary
6
10
Please could you explain the five powers of mind and how they relate to each other in the practice.
Ref: 2005.04.x.06.10
Written answer
- Five Spiritual Powers
Rosemary
6
11
Could you please try to explain how to reflect on the confidence-inspiring objects like the Buddha? Are there more of these objects?
Ref: 2005.04.x.06.11
Written answer
Rosemary
6
12
When I try to fall asleep I am recently very restless. How can I work with that restlessness?
Ref: 2005.04.x.06.12
Written answer
- Restlessness
- Sleep
Rosemary
7
1
I can't seem to snap out of sleep. When my meditation gets dozy, it's like I've slid into a deep pit and my attempts to climb out are feeble and weak. Any ideas?
Ref: 2005.04.x.07.01
Written answer
- Energy
- Sleepiness
Rosemary
7
2
My compassion has a long way to go. On hearing a barking dog or a noisy engine my first reaction is usually anger and a desire to fix it. Only later and often through clenched teeth can I arise compassion.
Ref: 2005.04.x.07.02
Written answer
Rosemary
7
3
Sometimes I listen to the sound of my breath in my head as a calming technique. Other times I force the in and out movement of my abdomen for about ten times. I find this can help me settle into the sitting sessions. This technique helps my concentration. Comment please.
Ref: 2005.04.x.07.03
Written answer
- Concentration
Rosemary
7
4
Is Truthfulness more than not talking lies?
Ref: 2005.04.x.07.04
Written answer
- Truthfulness
Rosemary
7
5
Does the Theravadin tradition have any overseeing authority that has powers to make alterations in accordance with changing times?
Ref: 2005.04.x.07.05
Written answer
Rosemary
7
6
Other writings on the Dhamma I have read listed consciousness last in the list of Five Aggregates, while you list it second, can you please explain why you differ?
Ref: 2005.04.x.07.06
Written answer
- Five Aggregates
- Dependent Origination
Rosemary
7
7
Steve said that some of his students memorize the Suttas and my worry was that I might get so concerned with my head that I might trip on something, you know, I wouldn't be mindful.
Ref: 2005.04.x.07.07
Written answer
Rosemary
7
8
If the Four Foundations of Mindfulness is in "this handful of leaves", what are some of the others that go in this handful?
Ref: 2005.04.x.07.08
Written answer
- Handful of leaves
- Noble Eightfold Path
Steve
8
1
Yesterday Rosemary said that some people may be attached to pleasant sound, and on reflection I realized that I may be one of them, and equally to pleasant sights, smells, touch and thoughts. Other than going to live in an industrial slum, what can I do about it?
Ref: 2005.04.x.08.01
Written answer
Steve
8
2
Is compassion to animals wild and domestic different to compassion to humans, what about insects and plants?
Ref: 2005.04.x.08.02
Written answer
Steve
8
3
How can we grow in resolution?
Ref: 2005.04.x.08.03
Written answer
Steve
8
4
Sometime I play the same painful story over and over again in my head. I know intellectually it is a ridiculous thing to do as it causes me great suffering. I go to the breath - I get settled and next thing I know I'm doing it again. There's got to be some way to get out of it but I can't see it.
Ref: 2005.04.x.08.04
Written answer
Steve
8
5
When I saw that even by dumping water I have to kill living beings, I started to get worried about taking other lives. How can I work with that?
Ref: 2005.04.x.08.05
Written answer
Rosemary
9
1
What does Sadhu, Sahdu, Sahdu mean and why is it written next to the names of donors?
Ref: 2005.04.x.09.01
Written answer
Rosemary
9
2
I live in a small community and I find that I seek some obscurity with regards to Buddhism. It is known by many that I practice and I am not in the closet with it, but I find that I resent the projections of many people who seem to think that Buddhism is something like Christian evangelism. Some people tried to question my ethics in order to make me look hypocritical even though I've never made an overt statement to them about my ethics. I'm also uncomfortable when a Tibetan Buddhist friend of mine, makes proud references to our friendship and to my Dhamma practice at our work place. Is this an unhealthy obscurity that I seek?
Ref: 2005.04.x.09.02
Written answer
Rosemary
9
3
Morality, does it change according to societies' values?
Ref: 2005.04.x.09.03
Written answer
- Morality
Rosemary
9
4
I've read that in the early days of Buddhism, images were discouraged and the wheel of Dhamma was adopted as a symbol. This was to avoid Buddhism turning into a personality cult. However, now the opposite seems true. Please comment.
Ref: 2005.04.x.09.04
Written answer
- Buddha statue
- Confidence-inspiring objects
Rosemary
9
5
How can I help lessen my attachment to obscurity?
Ref: 2005.04.x.09.05
Written answer
- Obscurity