venerable at deer park

the venerable at deer park usually offers
a dharma talk during days of mindfulness
this morning, he was there to greet us
and shower us with the rain of dharma
stories and insights teachings
and writings - laughter and depth
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the venerable phuoc tinh (sp?)
does not speak so much english
he offers dharma talks in vietnamese
which are diligently translated into english
by one of the monastics
we are lucky for this support
even luckier to receive the teachings
from the venerable
he teaches right from the "source"
if you know what i mean
excited and fresh as ever
not wanting to stop
circulating progressively
encouraging us to release
and know
we are the awareness
and the not the feeling
we are the awareness
the energy of mindfulness
we are not happiness or sadness
frustration or this form
this perception, this feeling
we are not
we are the awareness that
exists perpetually observing
ourselves and this life
that is us
the freedom and space and wisdom
of not getting caught in the small mind
breathing and residing in big mind
buddhanature
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i won't even try and go into a summary
of today's dharma talk
if you have an opportunity to visit
deer park monastery in escondido, california
please make sure to spend a few hours listening
to the venerable offer his dharma of joy and liberation
it is a gift indeed
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and lastly
today's celebration included
the closing of the three month winter retreat
period for monastics and laypeople
it was very inspiring to see the lay praktisyoners
there who have been there for the entire three month
period praktising and understanding themselves better
in order to live in the world with greater peace and happiness
to offer this to their families, friends and communities
to offer their praktis of life to the world
.
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may conditions support
now or in the future
to attain a period of time
for me to praktis deeply
with the environment of a monastery
here in deer park
or somewhere else
wherever it will work
one week
one month
three months
periods of reflection and contemplation
reorientation to right livelihood
right thinking
living within the beautiful dharma
these are the conditions for my happiness
.
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peace to you in your praktis
the path of transformation
may your praktis be light and free
may your days be energized with awareness
may your breaths be deep and nourishing
.
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