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(Bell)

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(Bell)

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Dear Thay, dear Sangha,

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dear friends,

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I have two questions.

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I am a practitioner

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and I go to meditation
to find some peace.

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But I have not found it yet.

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In my life I try to live in mindfulness.

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I try to have hope in the practice.

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I have a difficult life
and I try to stay calm.

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But I am very affected by things
from inside and outside.

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I feel I am too weak
to take care of myself.

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It is the same with meditation.

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I try to meditate...

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I have experienced some times

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that there is always something
inside of me or outside that...

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I cannot concentrate on my breathing.

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I feel I am not succeeding at it.

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Some people say that
I am not ready to meditate.

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And I would like have some advice.

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My question is:

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What happens during meditation

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and what can I do
to progress in the practice?

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(Sr. Pine) Dear Thay,
our friend tries her best

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to practice mindfulness in daily life.

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But she feels she is
strongly affected and pushed

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by difficult situations.

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She is not able to maintain her peace.

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While practising sitting meditation

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she tries her best but she is not
capable to concentrate on her breathing

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because of everything that is happening
inside and outside her.

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One person suggested that
she may not be ready

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to practice meditation.

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She would like Thay
to guide her on her practice.

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For beginners there is
always that kind of feeling,

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that you cannot practice well.

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It is like playing tennis.

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You have to spend a few weeks
in order to get used to the game.

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The practice of meditation
is like that too.

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But if you enjoy it,

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you will learn very quickly.

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You think that meditation is
something hard to do.

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That is why you cannot enjoy.

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You 'have to' meditate,
you 'have to' breathe in and out.

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You have to sit still.

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You think that
it is something not pleasant.

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You have to force yourself to do it.

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And in that way,
you cannot advance easily.

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So the first thing is
to make it pleasant.

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Whether it is walking,
or breathing or sitting

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you have to learn
to make it pleasant.

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When it is pleasant you can
be with it much more easily.

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It can be nourishing and healing.

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And you will miss it if
you don't have the chance to do it.

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There are those of us
who need sitting,

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need breathing and need walking.

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We cannot be without these,

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because they bring us
relaxation, peace and joy.

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So the first thing is to try
to learn to meditate in such a way

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that the practice can be
pleasant, nourishing and healing.

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Not something you have to do.

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The second thing is that

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you have to be with a group
of practitioners, as you are a beginner.

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The collective energy of a sangha
will help you to practice better.

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You see that everyone is sitting
and enjoying breathing in and out.

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Everyone is making steps
happily, joyfully.

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Then you rely on the collective energy
of joy and mindfulness

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in order to breathe and walk.

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You need a sangha.

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You should learn to practice with a sangha

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to profit from the collective energy.

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(Bell)

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(Bell)