Teachings of a Buddhist Monk #1
Buddhist monk's teachings and life story.
John Pulleyn reads from John semedo's book on Buddhist teachings during Rohatusu sesshin.
John Pulleyn was born in Seattle in 1934, studied Chinese and History, and later became a meditation novice in Thailand.
John Pulleyn became a disciple of John Cha and remained under his guidance for 10 years before establishing a forest monastery for Western monks in England.
Buddhist monk's path to enlightenment despite challenges.
John Pulleyn meets a remarkable monk, John Semedo, in Thailand, who is covered in bees yet remains peaceful.
Young monk struggles with doubts and fever in remote Thai temple.
John Pulleyn realized he was creating his own suffering, committed to monk's life, and found clarity and peace.
Buddhist teachings and desire.
John Pulleyn struggled through early meditation sessions, wishing for a way out, but later discovered wisdom beyond states and conditions under his teacher John Shah.
John Pulleyn emphasizes the importance of mindfulness in the present moment.
John Pulleyn explains that desire is like fire, causing suffering when grasped, and that egotistic desire is the root cause of suffering in life.
Pulleyn compares humans to monkeys, highlighting the ingrained habit of clinging to desire and the need to let it go to find peace.
Ignorance, education, and spiritual growth.
John Pulleyn: Westerners are ignorant, selfish, and deluded, believing in concepts without understanding reality.
John Pulleyn shares stories of spiritual seekers who prioritize intellect over morality or concentration, highlighting the importance of balancing wisdom and morality.
Mindfulness and meditation practices.
John Pulleyn suggests that retreats are valuable only if used to investigate suffering and the mind, not just to escape for a few days.
Mindfulness is being aware of the present moment, without preferences or distractions.
John Pulleyn seeks solitude in a remote cave in Thailand to escape demanding Western monks.
Buddhist teachings and inner peace.
John Pulleyn wanted to escape the world and find tranquility on a remote island, but his foot became severely infected and he was forced to spend the rains retreat in a monastery on the mainland.
Despite his initial disappointment and resentment, Pulleyn contemplated his attitude and decided not to seek tranquility anymore, instead embracing a practice of no preferences and returning to his role as a translator and teacher at what pa Pong.
John Pulleyn finds peace through mindfulness, recognizing impermanence of all conditions.
John Pulleyn emphasizes the importance of being at peace with oneself and accepting the impermanence of life.
He encourages listeners to let go of their ego and agenda, and be fully present in the moment.
