Is meditation about having fun?

Thay answers questions on 21 June 2014. Question 1

(Half bell)

(Bell)

Is meditating about having fun?

(Crowd laughs)

Dear Thay, our friend asked,
is meditating about having fun?

To meditate is to have fun.

(Crowd laughs)

Because if you know how to meditate,
meditation will be very pleasant.

If you do not know how to meditate,
it may be boring ...

or make you tired.

But if you know the art of meditation,
you enjoy sitting meditation,

you enjoy walking meditation,
you enjoy breathing in and out,

you don't have to suffer.

If you suffer during sitting meditation,
if you suffer during walking meditation,

if you suffer when you observe silence,

it means you don't know yet
how to meditate.

So, to meditate is to have fun also.

So Thay enjoys sitting,
Thay enjoys walking,

Thay enjoys breathing in and out,
Thay enjoys eating in silence,

and he does not suffer.

In fact, he enjoys it more,
doing these things with meditation.

It means, with mindfulness.

And many children
are capable of doing so.

During walking meditation,
the children seem to be very happy.

They do not talk and yet they don't suffer.
They enjoy they have silence.

They enjoy their steps
and they breath in and out.

And when they sit down with Thay,

they are very quiet.

And yet they don't suffer.

So you know meditation can go together
with joy and happiness and fun.

Good question.

(Crowd laughs)

(Half bell)

(Bell)