Bite-Sized Dhamma

The Heart of Cultivating Mindfulness in Daily Life

The mind spins through all six sense doors. Trying to track each one—“Now the mind is seeing form”—you can’t keep up. It sees for a flash, then it’s hearing sound. The mind is too fast for that. So adjust the method. When the eye sees something, notice the change in the heart. You see a beautiful flower—delight arises. Know that delight. This one mind knows it. You hear a bird sing—it’s lovely. Joy arises. Know the joy. That’s practice.

Let the senses function normally. Let them encounter the world. But when contact stirs a shift in the heart—be aware. This is the heart, the key, the secret of cultivating *sati* in daily life. It lies in reading the heart—not in forcing yourself. Not in avoiding sights, sounds, smells, tastes. No need to run. Let contact happen as it naturally does. But when it does, and the heart shifts— If happiness arises, know it. If suffering arises, know it. If wholesome or unwholesome states arise, know them.

Stop Seeking Happiness Like a Mangy Dog

Nibbana is the supreme happiness. There is no other happiness that can compare to peace. And what is called peace is Nibbana. Nibbana is the ultimate peace. If we want to have a happy life, we shouldn’t act like a mangy dog. A mangy dog feels itchy here, so it runs to another place. Then it starts itching again, so it runs again. Our constant wandering in search of happiness from the external world is just like the behavior of a mangy dog. But we shouldn’t criticize them, because people in the world haven’t had the opportunity to listen to the Dhamma, to practice the Dhamma, or to experience the Dhamma. They still need to run around because they think it’s the best thing for them. We shouldn’t judge them, because we were once like that too. As we accumulate merit, listen to the Dhamma, practice the Dhamma, and understand the Dhamma, our lives will gradually lead to true peace.

Perseverance in Dhamma Practice

We’ve been in the Cycle of Birth and Death for so long and came across many different Lords Buddhas, because of this fluctuating nature. If we don’t fight, then we keep allowing those defilements to drag ourselves along by our desires. We must fight and endure hardships first, then we can find comfort later. I can tell you from experience, once you keep practicing, the results are immense. It is a happiness like no other, a happiness that arises from within. It’s not just calmness but a deep inner peace. The mind becomes naturally tranquil, and within that tranquility, happiness overflows while the mind is not addicted to it. If the mind is content, it means it hasn’t attained the ultimate goal yet. It still needs more practice. There’s no free lunch. Dhamma operates under the law of karma. Whatever effort we put in, that’s the result we’ll get. There are no shortcuts.

Understand suffering thoroughly to end desire

The five aggregates are not us, but also that they’re suffering. They suffer because they’re impermanent, under pressure to break down, and uncontrollable. This is seeing suffering according to the noble truth, not general suffering. The one who sees suffering according to the noble truth clearly is the arahant. As they see suffering clearly, Samudaya is extinguished and Nirodha (Nirvana) immediately appears when there’s no desire (taṇhā). Desire is extinguished when the mind understands suffering clearly. When there’s no desire, the mind reaches Nirvana. It’s the moment of noble path. Nirvana is the state without desire.

Law of Kamma

The world has always been chaotic, even at the international level. There really has never been peace. Problems are a part of the world. Currently, conflicts are everywhere; this is normal. There are conflicts among politicians, government officials, teachers, police forces, and even monks; this is normal. When you hear the news, take care of …

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Be mindful of the mental formations

In our practice, we must remain mindful of mental formations. Our minds are in constant fabrication, concocting happiness, suffering, good, and evil. If we are not mindful, mental formations will overpower our minds. When they concoct happiness, we get lost in enjoyment. When they concoct suffering, we become anxious and sad. When they concoct wholesomeness, …

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Rules of Dhamma Practice

At the moment, there’s a Chinese course with over 100 Chinese people attending. Learning Dhamma feels like when you cannot see the wood for the trees. Sometimes it feels really difficult, but in reality, it’s just so basic. It’s all just a simple thing, yet many people have to practice diligently. Back when I studied …

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Observing Phenomena

Observing Phenomena Watching all of you seated both inside and outside this room, including those joining us on Zoom, I notice a shared condition, where you are engrossed in fabrication. You cannot tell that your minds constantly engage in fabrication in various ways. When you yearn for the good, you fabricate tranquility, manipulating the mind …

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