Everyday Buddhism session 4 Buddha's Botany

Venerable Robina Courtin is known for her clear teaching, explaining the Buddhist approach to thinking and acting in terms we can understand.

Through examples that are relevant to our lives, she presents multiple ways we can put these ideas into practice.

Venerable Robina explains the beneficial actions of body, speech and mind we can adopt, and actions to avoid. She gives us ways to create positive new habits benefiting ourselves and those around us, and how to slowly - completely - rid ourselves of harmful, ancient, negative ones.

Q: I struggle to give loving kindness & forgiveness to my mum who lives with mental health challenges & anger what practice should I develop? (3:43)

Q: Knowing I have not demonstrated compassion in these moments what can I do to reduce my agitation & karmic imprint and forgive myself for not being able to not react (12:46)

Venerable Robina leading a short Vajrasattva purification practice:    • Venerable Robina Courtin Leads A Shor...  
Teachings on Vajrasattva and the four opponent powers:    • There's no karma that can't be purified!  

Q: My sister has been listening to your teachings on YouTube not being a Buddhist and being curious what would you suggest she should do to start a Buddhist practice (21:50)

Q: How important is meditation in our daily practice, what recommendations do you have for a lay person’s daily practice? (25:18)

Q: Can Buddhism be learnt from books? Or should you have a teacher? How do you you find right teacher for you? (28:18)

Q: I’m a performer and have been so inspired by Tina Turner- as an artist I always think that Art Practice is also a spiritual pursuit - (even though that may not be in the Sutras!) Tina practiced the mantra Nam Myho Renge Kyo’ from the Ringchen practice. I looked this up but could not find the Lotus Sutra in the fpmt website- but found it on the Rigpa website. However because of my Gelugpa lineage I don’t feel as connected- and a bit guilty looking elsewhere… (29:45)

Q: When you go into meditation and you think it is not successful (because there are so many thoughts coming up)... (34:03)

The real purpose of mediation is to become more familiar with your mind (48:00)

We do need relaxation; however, this meditation is not for relaxation - it is about ALERTNESS! (51:48)

Q: [Regret about not spending time on the cushion doing practice - But I do argue with my ego throughout my day] (54:29)

Q: Do we have to wait 9 months for Lama Zopa's rebirth? (58:49)

Q: Are we at a point where there can be a female reincarnation? (1:01:43)

Q: How to maintain enthusiasm when obstacles arise and how to embrace it when the obstacles are gone! (1:03:50)

Q: What to do when I'm in the classroom (as the teacher) and there is conflict and confrontation and I have to make a decision in the moment (1:08:31)

"the deepest most subtle attachment of all and the hardest to recognise" - Worry about what people think (1:10:15)

Q: My brother is a programmer and we were recently talking about AI. He told me that Google is experimenting with storing data on atoms. He tells me he believes they are making headway. If this happens AI will probably develop full consciousness. I thought about King of Prayers, on every atom is a Buddha field. Under these circumstances do you think from a Buddhist perspective that a conscience could enter an AI? It seems like a silly question but people really fear this. (1:12:17)

A short meditation on the breath with introduction to the posture (1:16:18)