Citta - a child, an animal, a creature...

[@stefanvidenovic5095]

15:15 - This is precisely why true (truly useful) 'compassion' (Karuṇā) is neither a feeling nor based on feelings; it is not merely a simple empathy where you can align your emotional states with someone else's, mirroring them... Karuṇā is in the direction of understanding, freed from being conditioned and swayed by feelings. It is a very expansive state of mind that doesn't necessarily have to be colored by any particular emotion. This is why a parent, who does not follow their feelings (does not take them as a valid criterion for judgment), but instead acts from their understanding, does things that are genuinely good for the child (within the boundaries of a puthujjana, of course). And the main obstacle to Karuṇā is not a lack of empathy, but a filthy and untamed mind, mired in countless habits of craving, aversion, sensuality, fear, self-view, etc. That's why developing Brahmavihārās is done indirectly, through undoing all that filth, through the gradual perfection of Virtue. Not through a "compassion"/"kindness" meditation, which is effectively just a state of phantasizing. True Compassion is that which remains when you remove everything that's blocking it.

[@kzantal]

This type of practical content is very beneficial and inspiring. I find it more helpful than more deeply phenomenolpgical inquiries, which I find harder to relate to. After listening to a talk like this one, I feel clear, inspired and ready to tackle the work.

[@jaroslav6109]

Exactly what I think. It's much better to use today's language ,customs, and circumstances to teach. Just like Buddha used what was there in his time.

[@StanleyFamilyFun]

Good morning loving these new “the animal” studies

[@Spiritualjourney259]

Thank you Venerables for another talk looking forward to watching it.

[@CD-kl1dn]

Thanks Bhantes, it was important to hear that it can be beneficial to also give some space to the mind at times, and that one should be careful not to fall into duty by preferring non-action rather than questionning the state of mind, make a decision based on it and potentially have to face subsequent doubt

[@philalethes216]

The comparison of the citta with a child is so fruitful. Just the idea seems to have unlocked some new aspect of understanding for me in a flash. I've noticed that dhamma understanding often advances in little epiphanies like that.

[@hariharry391]

🙏

[@gumfun2]

Thank you! Is there information about ordaining as a monk here somewhere? I am interested

[@anka2361]

What is the relationship between sati and yoniso manasikara? It looks like its overlapse in many aspects and yoniso manasikara is something like function of sati, not sure. How is it, bhante? If is possible to answer or direction to some previous talk... 🙏