Here’s a 58-min recorded video (222MB .mp4 - Tip: tap-and-hold to “Download link”, or right click to “Save Link As…“).

Topics:

  • Bhava, becoming, future rebirth, views, attitudes, decisions, mindfulness, meditation, use of the senses, the analogy of “frog mindfulness”, the analogy of the sheaf of barley, the analogy of Vepacitti’s bonds, conceit, conceiving, “not greater than, not lesser than, not equal to either”, morality, fault-finding, prejudice, racism


Sutta References:

  • 35.248 - “The Sheaf of Barley”

    And there Vepacitti remained bound by his limbs and neck. That is, until he thought, ‘It’s the gods who are principled, while the titans are unprincipled. Now I belong right here in the castle of the gods.’ Then he found himself freed from the bonds on his limbs and neck. He entertained himself, supplied and provided with the five kinds of heavenly sensual stimulation.

    But when he thought, ‘It’s the titans who are principled, while the gods are unprincipled. Now I will go over there to the citadel of the titans,’ he found himself bound by his limbs and neck, and the five kinds of heavenly sensual stimulation disappeared.

    That’s how subtly Vepacitti was bound. But the bonds of Māra are even more subtle than that. When you conceive, you’re bound by Māra. Not conceiving, you’re free from the Wicked One.

Pāḷi References:

Upcoming residential meditation retreat that I’ll be teaching at Brahmavihara Monastery, Malacca, Malaysia, July 12-20, 2025:

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