Dharma Talk Cloudless skyline in the 100th Seven-Day Retreat

On the fifth day in the 100th Seven-Day Retreat of Sep. 10th, 2023 Nun Doctor Thich Nu Hue Hoa (Lecturer of Vietnam Buddhist University in HCMC) came to main hall 1 of Dharma Wheel Building to preach a dharma talk named Cloudless skyline.

The nun taught about the methods of practice and the realms that a Buddhist practitioner can achieve.

-  The practitioners who abandon desires, evils... attains and resides in the First meditation, and then the joy being born because of leaving desires. Giving up desires is the quit of greed; giving up evils means abandoning the ignorance' seeds; leaving from desire is to purify body karma, abandoning unwholesome deeds is to purify mind karma.

- The practitioner eliminates seeking, thinking down etc.,... attains and abides in the Second Meditation; the 2nd meditation is the joy and happiness produced by concentration.

- The practitioners leave joy, abide in letting go with mindfulness and awareness; the body receives the joy that the Saints call letting go in joyfulness, then attains and abides in the Third Meditation.

- The practitioners let go and destroy the joy and sorrow that he has felt before, then attains and abides in the Fourth Meditation without suffering and happiness, which means letting go of thoughts, and attains purity.

Each practitioner has their own way of practicing: following their breath, chanting mantras, mindfully reciting Buddha's name, etc. Regardless of the method, it is a way to bring the mind to a state of calm and tranquility but cultivators should not be attached to different methods. When we reach the state of the Fourth Meditation, it is equivalent to a heavenly flower falling and opening its buds which means the skyline is cloudless.

In order to achieve certain levels, practitioners should practice giving up desires, control the mind, practice diligently, and do good deeds; generate compassion, apply what learnt from the retreat to daily life, and spread peaceful energy to those around us. When reciting Buddha's name, we must remember to think and learn the Buddha's conduct: think like Buddha thinks, speak like Buddha said, live mindfully, practice in all work; always live wisdom and responsibly towards ourselves, family and society.

After that, the nun spent another 15 minutes answering questions from Buddhists from the practice issue, and the lecture topic.

Thanks to the sermon, listeners have a better grasp and choose the appropriate way to achieve the desired results.

Pictures recorded: