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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 27

some clarity and centeredness, and carry this throughout respect, and listen to a teaching in person. They may ask
the day. Then chanting to gather a scattered mind in the questions if they have any doubts. There will always be
evening followed by another sitting. This would best also skillful pointers and reminders in these talks. Then, after
be supplemented by doing meditation retreats. Then you listening to the talks, we make efforts to integrate the
can ascertain whether the practice is really working or skillful suggestions offered into our daily lives.
not. Hopefully people see enough good results in their
practice to feel inspired to commit further. Hearing frequent reminders about what to cultivate and
what to abandon is very helpful and necessary. Modern
After practicing sincerely for some years there should practitioners are fortunate these days in that many
be more of a sense of having a calm center, an inner teachers from the Forest Tradition share their regular
refuge. And an ability to observe the mind with more teachings online. Listening to a couple of Dhamma
objectivity. With this comes less reactivity and more talks every week from your most trusted teachers will
choices with regards to what we think, say, and do. definitely support the process of training your mind.
With a foundation of generosity and ethics, such as
Within modern Buddhism today, we are not short of
keeping the five precepts, and frequent, consistent
traditions to follow, and it can be confusing for many
meditation, there should be some periods of
people. What’s your advice to someone interested
peacefulness within the meditation period. This peace
to practice Buddhism but not sure what tradition to
can be very nourishing and energizing.
initially follow?
Besides being a Theravāda monk, you also attend
regularly teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Yes, there is a lot more information available these
Lama who’s from the Tibetan tradition. What’s the days than previously. However, His Holiness the Dalai
common teachings connecting both traditions? Lama frequently says that the teachings contained

in the Theravāda tradition are the foundation of
Being generous and ethical is emphasised in both Buddhism. I also think that people should get a working
traditions. Committing to specific forms of mental understanding of the basic core teachings. Learn about
cultivation disciplines is also emphasised. The meditation the Four Noble Truths and how to develop the Four
practices may look different at first glance, but they are Foundations of Mindfulness. Develop some skills in
all for the purpose of generating more mindfulness, breath meditation and train in walking meditation
loving-kindness and compassion, brightening the etc. Become skilled at cultivating and maintaining
mind as well as weakening and ultimately uprooting mindfulness first. Then, if people wish to do deity
unwholesome qualities and tendencies. meditation practices such as those taught in the
Vajrayāna, or intensive mantra practices, they can add
His Holiness the Dalai Lama always emphasizes the these upon a solid foundation of understanding the
importance of mind training or lojong. How is lojong teachings and having some mindfulness and a capacity
or mind training practice understood or applied in to sustain attention.
our daily life from a Theravāda perspective?

Sometimes people do have a strong kammic affinity
There are many texts in the Tibetan tradition that explain with a certain tradition or practice due to practices done
skillful versus unskillful ways of thinking and behaving, in past lives. This tends to become clearer the more one
encouraging practitioners to train their minds to be practices. I am quite open minded and pragmatic, being
more noble and act with compassion and wisdom. In of the school of thought where if it seems to work, then
Thailand we have great scholars and profound texts and it’s good to embrace it. Whatever practices brighten the
treatises as well, but the Forest Tradition is largely an mind and lead to an increase in wholesome qualities, it
oral tradition. Traditionally, people visit the monastery is good to do those. But it is also important to have good
of their teacher or other monks or nuns who they teachers to check in with from time to time.