I am just back from a Buddhist Meditation Retreat in Phuket. It is the first time ever that I am doing this and the experience has been gratifyingly fruitful.
While it has a standard schedule to follow, members are free to decide if this is indeed what they want to do. In essence, it is all within one to practise, be it listening in to Dharma talk, participating in the questions & answers session, meditating or simply, doing any other things that one wants to do.
The talks by Ajahn Brahm are simple yet profound, some of which are repeats but nonetheless, important as they are good reminders to us as lay people. It is normal that everyday I have to deal with issues of personal growth, work, people and grapple with the value of me - and Ajahn Brahm has in a lot of ways acted as a beacon by giving new perspectives, making me more aware of the reality, helping me to stay focus and be happy at the present moment.
There is an awareness that persistent and right efforts must be put into place to progress. A balance of active meditation and generosity practices in all aspects covering thoughts, speech and actions help to gain an honest self-knowledge and at the same time be in a more generous and open communication/relationships with others in the community.
Patience in this instance is necessary, be it towards myself, the natural world, or others. Patience with my body, the process of illness and aging, the course of nature, things and people around me.. everything.
What am I becoming? How do I behave, towards me and other people?
Maintaining goodwill and kindness is a good start. This kind of attitude means being patient and generous. Very often, people are not kind to themselves and assume that they are worth less what they are. This is very oftern unconscious and affects behaviour and relationships in some. I guess I am one of such people. So exercising patience and an attitude of metta towards myself by being realistic about illness, towards other people (be it differences, faults or failings) and by applying steady effort in spiriitual life are good takeaways for me from this retreat.
And certainly, using imagination and a willingness to question my disappointments or even anger or indignation plus cultivating the ability to empathise and sympathise will help in my my path of practice.
The subtle peace and knowledge gain from the retreat has followed me even after I left the place. The sense of gentleness is comforting.
Back in this world, there will be distractions and challenges to maintaining this and the path of practice. For sure I will be mindful and continue to try.
