Retreats.

I have been asked to speak about the need to sit intensive vipassana retreats in the style of Pure Dhamma, and as this is my life and the only reason to leave my small monastery to travel to other countries, I will say a few words.

In classical and traditional Dhamma teaching it is understood that there is a necessity to commit to the training fully, to see, know, understand and ultimately be free from the desire and fear based movements of mind. The insidious manifestation of ‘self’.

No matter how much modern spirituality will sell the notion of instant results with very little effort, our view and more, our direct experience of students from other traditions, does not support this. If everything presented as Dhamma was understood so easily the world would be a very different place. Knowing about Dhamma is not the same thing at all as knowing Dhamma directly.

This training on retreat is simple but demanding, and far beyond rituals, guru worship, spiritual sound bites and indulgence in emotion or intellectual speculation. Although our sitting and walking practices are established in a loving supportive environment the work itself requires discipline and determination to be at peace with the mind and allow the old story of our past (karmic influences) that color every aspect of our life, to arise in a mental atmosphere of unconditional acceptance and so be seen, known and finally released harmlessly into the universe. This is known as the Visuddhimagga, the Path of Purification.

This is the work that only we can do, but more it is the work that needs to be done to be at peace in life and everything it presents. We do not see the world as it is, we see the world as we are. How can we be free if we only cover our old story with a new one? 

Therefore it is said that the true Dhamma path is only for the brave, and more, there is no time to waste. Life is short and uncertain and if we don’t awaken in this very lifetime, when will we do it?

There is the story of the hermit who left his hermitage to meet the Buddha, who was in the town collecting alms food when they met.

“Please,” said the hermit, “give me a teaching.”

“Friend, “ replied the Buddha, “this is not the time. Please come back in an hour.”

The hermit was resolute in his demand. “An hour,” he exclaimed, “who knows what can happen in an hour. You might be dead, or I might be dead, either way I don’t receive Dhamma from you, so I ask you again, please give me a teaching.”

The Buddha was so impressed by this sense of urgency that he stopped his activity and gave the hermit his teaching.

For those who consider themselves to be on the Dhamma path as a disciple or student, this is an attitude to cultivate.

Retreats are important, but only you can know that for yourself. Excuses to stay at home or do something else may sound plausible in the moment, but in the end it is each one of us that meets the consequence of what we prioritize.

 

May all beings be happy.