Triple Gem of the Nort‪h‬ Sathi

Bhante explains how meditation is this unique activity that allows us to develop the way we see ourselves.

He also explains how what we do in the meditation cushion can influence our lives beyond the meditation session:
• Looking inwards instead of at external things or people to improve ourselves
• Using humbleness and happiness as tools for continuous growth, and not just as mere thoughts or emotions

Bhante described how there are four characteristics of the mind that manifest during meditation:
• Mind doesn't know the distance
• Mind travels by itself
• Mind doesn’t have a body
• Mind is the most powerful controller of yourself

As part of this session Bhante also recommended a daily practice to follow: take care of your mind is an infant totally relying on you, without judgments or complaints about it; without caring about what comes to the mind whether good or bad, maintain your unconditional love as you would with an infant.

Bhante gives guidance on how to deal with the pressures of living during a pandemic by introducing the concept of Brahmavihara or "The Four Safe Houses". These include:
-- Metta - loving-kindness or benevolence
-- Karuna - compassion
-- Mudita - empathetic joy
-- Upeksa - equanimity

Bhante Sathi and attending meditations talk about their practice and experienced observations (from previous day instructed practice, about observing in which ways we tend to abuse our minds and bodies.

As a mindful person and a meditator, it’s important to understand why we do the things we do. It is also relevant to be conscious about whether this ‘things’ support and nurture our minds and bodies or instead they are unbeneficial for us.

Close observations of our daily routines and habits can help us identify and mindfully understand the reasons behind our behaviors and how to improve ourselves through our daily meditation practice and its application to the rest of our day.

Bhante Sathi speaks to the nature of the mind, to constantly have thought coming and going, and to actively observe those thoughts without engaging with them. As a beginner meditator, it’s easy to get distracted by the thought during meditation and get involved with those thoughts, but with practice we are able to become observers.

Cultivating awareness of how the mind works, it’s an active job; same as the farmer have to actively take care of the weeds to ensure the trees planted can grow. Practice mindfulness to cultivate and support the growth of love, compassion, kindness and stop supporting emotions like anger, frustration, fear.

Allow yourself to smile when thoughts come to your mind during meditation and just observe them and allow then to pass without engaging, without labeling them.

Sathi talks about how habits can control our life and suggests ways to catch those habits in action. He also talks about how the past can become our own personal movie. Mindfully you can notice this and not be caught up, reliving the past, but live in the present moment, one breath at a time.