(A lively talk, in Lao dialect, given to the Assembly of newly-ordained Monks at Wat Pah Pong on the day of entering the Rains Retreat, July 1978) [18]
Breathe in... breathe out... just like that. Even if others are "standing on their heads"[19] that”s their business. Don”t bother your head over it. Just concentrate on breathing in and out, just know your breath, that”s enough. Nothing else. Just know when the air comes in and goes out, or you can say to yourself; "BUD" on the in-breath, "DHO" on the out-breath.[20] Take this as your subject of awareness. Just do it like that for now. When the air comes in, you know it; when it goes out, you know it. Then your mind will be peaceful, not disturbed, not restless. Just the air going in and out, continuously.
In the beginning, keep it this simple, nothing fancy. However long you may sit, if you”re "sabai"[21] or peaceful, you”ll know within yourself. If you keep at it, the breath becomes refined and softer, the body becomes soft (relaxed), the mind becomes soft -- that”s worth having! Go ahead, let it happen naturally. Sitting "sabai," firm in meditation, not in a daze, not drowsy or nodding off, everything becomes effortless. Now you”re peaceful! Then as you”re getting up: "Wow, what was that
" You can”t stop thinking of that peace.
Then we follow through by keeping constant clear mindfulness,[22] knowing ourselves. Whatever we say, whatever we do, going here, going there, going on alms-round, washing our bowls or eating, we know what it is we are doing. We have mindfulness, staying steady. Just keep on doing it like this! Whatever it”s time to do, do it with constant mindfulness.
And walking meditation: take a straight path between two trees, about seven or eight full armspans. Walking”s the same as sitting Samadhi. Collect yourself, resolve that now you”re going to get into this meditation and calm down your mind so that clear mindfulness will be strong enough to arise. As to methods, some will start by spreading Metta (loving-kindness) to all living creatures for protection. Go ahead, the chicken-hearted need various approaches!
Begin with your right foot first. Take a good step and walk, saying to yourself: "BUD-DHO, BUD-DHO..." with your footsteps. Keep your attention right there with your feet the whole time. If you feel restless, stop till peaceful, then step again. Knowing the beginning, middle and end of the path, and know when you”re walking back. Know where you are continuously!
So that”s the method. You can do walking meditation. Some people will say: "Walking back and forth like that is looney!" But there”s a lot of wisdom in walking meditation, you know. Walk back and forth. If you”re tired, stop. Turn your attention inwards and bring your mind to rest by calmly being aware of your breath.
Then become aware of one more thing, your alternating postures. Standing, walking, sitting, lying down, we keep changing positions. We can”t only stand, only sit, or only lie down! We live using all these postures, thus we must develop awareness in each and every position and make them useful.
Go ahead and do it! It”s not easy. But, to put it simply: It”s as if you take this glass and put it here for two minutes, then put it there for two minutes. Move it from here to there every two minutes. Just an example, but do it like this with concentration. In watching your breath it”s the same; you do it until you doubt and suffer and that”s when wisdom can arise. Some people will say: "What
Moving a glass back and forth like that is nutty, not useful! Are you crazy
" Never mind, just do it. And don”t forget, two minutes not five minutes. Concentrate! It”s all in the doing.
Same with watching your breath. Sit up balanced in the cross-legged posture, right leg resting on…
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