Today's lunch with "Sifu SW"

My friend, SW will be retiring at end of the year and he has been preparing himself for the fateful day and will pursue his life interest. Recently, he gave me an autographed book from Ajahn Brahm which titled “ Emptiness and Stillness”. I thanked him for this book and enquired what he has learned from the Buddhist retreat with Ajahn in Penang.

He told me that the retreat was excellent and it was for 9 days and the selected participants was only 70 people. The main thing he learned from Ajahn Brahm from the retreat was “ Silent Meditation “ . He learned not to speak for 9 days including no hand gestures and the experience was deep and profound. It was just like meditating in a cave for 9 days without speaking. You stay, eat and sleep on the floor like a monk in a room filled with people. I have written an article that the act of listening is much more difficult than talking . My friend confirmed this experience and if we discipline our mind and speech, our thoughts will become clearer and our mind will become free. We have broken our mental habit as we often speak faster than we think So, without talking, we will be able focus on what other people are telling us and control our thoughts.

My friend, SW have been practicing the Silva Mind Control technique for many years and he has the necessary accreditation to teach. He practice meditation for at least an hour a day and he looks at ease with himself. He told me that we should search within our self what we actually need in our life. It is not just money but what is our life purpose and interest. We should try fulfill these wishes and to seek closure within ourself. This is not a difficult thing to understand as we are burden by so many daily thoughts and we are blurred and confused by them.

He also told me that it is better to do things for ourself instead of relying on other people. When we are of benefits to other people, they will swam around you but if you are of no benefits to them, they just disappeared. We have to be prepared and accept this reality. This understanding may also applicable to our family or children. If we do not give any benefits to our family or children or we became a burden to them, such reality could hit us hard.

The lunch was really a refreshing insight and it was an quite experience to share our thoughts and experience. I hope everyone of you could try the “ Silent Meditation” by not talking for one day. You will realized that it is very difficult and it is your mental habits which is controlling your life. Just gradually phase in the practice . Start with half an hour and stretch it to an hour and into two. In the end, you will realized that you have regained control of yourself instead of being a slave.

Namaste.