“Those who are selfish suffer here and suffer there; they suffer wherever they go. They suffer and fret over the damage they have done. But those who are selfless rejoice here and rejoice there; they rejoice wherever they go. They rejoice and delight in the good they have done.” – the Buddha
The first 10-day course as a long term server is over. Yesterday the last students left for the outside world. The remaining servers and I went to Omberg (Mount Om), located close to the center. We took a breath of fresh air as we gazed on the beauty of the vast flat countryside and the mighty lake Vättern (above picture).
Today the sense of calm has settled on Dhamma Sobhana. As the two other servers also staying here and I meditate alone the vibrations of metta keep flowing. I think of all the students we serve, how hard they strive and how much happier they will be. May they find peace.
Within me there is a growing awareness of anicca – inconsistency. Change, change, change. I’m slowly dissolving into vibrations. Of course I’m still here, but my perception is different. More realistic. I am no miracle worker. All I do is follow the laws of nature which are simple but difficult. Do good and refrain from doing evil. To be able to do this, purify the mind by meditating every day. Easy to understand in theory, hard to practice. Even harder to integrate with every day life. However, if you do live by the laws of nature, life will be simple and fruitful. Happy and peaceful. All you do is learn the true way of life, and so nature will take care of the rest.
It is such a privilege to serve here. So many opportunities to do good for myself and others. I wish all Vipassana meditators will realize this and come to serve, if only for a few days. It fills you with happiness as it takes you further on the path. Oh, the joy that follows with me where I go.
The center is such a wonderful gift. I am so thankful to those who have been struggling to get it going. Now I can take part. May I pass on an even better center to those who come after. May the light of dhamma and Dhamma Sobhana eradicate the darkness of ignorance.
May all beings be liberated.
It’s wonderful feeling to read your blog.
My wife and I have serve numerous courses during our 5 years of walking the path. I see it as the way to strengthen our faith in Buddha teaching.I am so happy to see the new students at the end of the courses. How much happier and how much peaceful they are. It’s a magical transformation that hard to express in words. Serving also help me to dissolve my ego. I experience the happy feeling of my ego being chipped away toward egolessness.
I have seen a lot of young persons like you walking the path. However it still surprise me because they are so young. I always thought that the only way you can truly understand Dhamma and have enough discipline to walk the path is when you experience suffering, the first leg of 4 Noble Path. When I’m at your age, I do not have such a wisdom. May be nowadays young people suffer so earlier.
Keep up the great work of spreading the Dhamma. You are on the right path. We shall cross path in the near future.
With Metta
Patrick Pham
We suffer from the day we are born. In life there is suffering all around. At my age I have experienced so much of it. Most of the time we suppress our feelings and so we loose awareness of the truth about the suffering. Craving is suffering, aversion is suffering. We are all subject to craving and aversion.
I am happy you are steadily walking on the path! It’s wonderful your wife is with you.
May you be peaceful.
Metta,
walkthepath