This meditation, dhamma talk, comments, questions and responses was offered on September 12, 2026 for “Eastbay Dhamma” 00:00 - 5 PRECEPTS 07:12 - MEDITATION 27:50 - SUTTA STUDY AND DISCUSSION Sutta link: https://suttacentral.net/dhp179-196/en/buddharakkhita?lang=en&reference=none&highlight=false

The theme of this Sunday talk: Right effort, cultivating the skillful, and abandoning the unskillful. Luang Por reflects on right effort, and effort as a skill, rather than wholesome and un-wholesome, as it is sometimes referred to. Everything that arises, is natural, even a "murderous impulse". But whether we follow and cultivate it, is what is important. When the skillful is cultivated, we experience benefit for ourselves, and others, when the unskillful is followed and cultivated, it leads to harm, for ourselves and others. The practice of right effort then, lies, in first recognising fully, and discerning what is arising, and secondly, knowing how to follow the skillful, and abandon the unskillful.

Reflections on compassion, 20 minute guided meditation exploring various methods of compassion, followed by Q&A

Pain is unavoidable; suffering is what we add by resisting it. This talk traces that distinction through a rage-filled retreat, an ongoing war with invasive shrubs, and the near enemies — pity, overwhelm, "fierce compassion" — that masquerade as care while keeping suffering at arm's length.

Teachings and Guided Practice on practicing loving-kindness for oneself.