At that time I reflected on this and have found it to be true from that day up until the present.
Goodness must be found within. As soon as I saw this,
that feeling of wanting to run away disappeared.
In later times, whenever I had that desire arise I let it go.
Whenever it arose I was aware of it and kept my awareness on that.
Thus I had a solid foundation.
Wherever I lived, whether people condemned me or whatever they would say,
I would reflect that the point is not whether they were good or bad.
Good or evil must be seen within ourselves. However other people are, that's their concern.
Don't go thinking, ''Oh, today is too hot,'' or, ''Today is too cold,'' or, ''
Today is....'' Whatever the day is like that's just the way it is.
Really you are simply blaming the weather for your own laziness.
We must see the Dhamma within ourselves, then there is a surer kind of peace.
So for all of you who have come to practice here,
even though it's only for a few days, still many things will arise.
Many things may be arising which you're not even aware of.
There is some right thinking, some wrong thinking... many, many things. So I say this practice is difficult.
Even though some of you may experience some peace when you sit in meditation,
don't be in a hurry to congratulate yourselves.
Likewise, if there is some confusion, don't blame yourselves.
If things seem to be good, don't delight in them, and if they're not good don't be averse to them.
Just look at it all, look at what you have. Just look, don't bother judging.
If it's good don't hold fast to it; if it's bad, don't cling to it. Good and bad can both bite, so don't hold fast to them.
The practice is simply to sit, sit and watch it all.
Good moods and bad moods come and go as is their nature.
Don't only praise your mind or only condemn it, know the right time for these things.
When it's time for congratulations then congratulate it, but just a little, don't overdo it.
Just like teaching a child, sometimes you may have to spank it a little.
In our practice sometimes we may have to punish ourselves, but don't punish yourself all the time.
If you punish yourself all the time in a while you'll just give up the practice.
But then you can't just give yourself a good time and take it easy either.
That's not the way to practice. We practice according to the Middle Way.
What is the Middle Way? This Middle Way is difficult to follow,
you can't rely on your moods and desires.
Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is practice.
If you do think this way then quickly change your thinking!
Steady practice is having the attitude of practice while standing, walking, sitting and lying down.
When coming out of sitting meditation, reflect that you're simply changing postures.
If you reflect in this way you will have peace.
Wherever you are you will have this attitude of practice with you constantly,
you will have a steady awareness within yourself.
Those of you who, having finished their evening sitting, simply indulge in their moods,
spending the whole day letting the mind wander where it wants,
will find that the next evening when sitting meditation
all they get is the ''backwash'' from the day's aimless thinking.
There is no foundation of calm because they have let it go cold all day.
If you practice like this your mind gets gradually further and further from the practice.
When I ask some of my disciples, ''How is your meditation going?''
They say, ''Oh, it's all gone now.'' You see?