A Map of the Journey (Sayadaw U Jotika)

So much of our time is wasted because we are so unmindful.

An earnest meditator doesn't procrastinate.
Freedom really means knowing what is useful, what is beneficial and worthwhile,
knowing what is wholesome and what is unwholesome and choosing what is wholesome
, good and right and doing it whole heartedly.
You can be a musician and a good meditator.
You don't need to give up everything; you can give up just as much as you can.
We do not have a right to be cruel even to ourselves.
We cannot harm anybody without harming ourselves or without harming somebody els
e.
The person who really understands what meditation means, what mindfulness means,
has no timetable for meditation.
`I' is just an idea, you lose all that too.
Civilization is so disturbing.
Meditation is a kind of surrender.
Don't resist, don't control, just let go and be just an uninvolved observer.
pointillism
you can't get into the same river twice; but I would like to say that you can't even g
et into the same river once. Where is the river?
If you really get in touch with paramattha there is nothing to make you happy or
unhappy.
Meditation is not something that you do. Meditation is something that is happeni
ng naturally.
No matter how many changes in objects it does not matter, as long as you are awa
re of it, it is ok.
Nothing out there will make you feel fulfilled.
Every difficulty is an opportunity for learning and growing.
Our thinking process makes the sensations stronger.
Without mind you cannot experience anything at all.
We are conditioned to liking something; we are conditioned to not liking somethi
ng, and so, it is our conditioning.
Concepts, idea, names, are prisons,
Living the question is the right way to find the answer.
It is your life that gives you the answer; you cannot find real answers from boo
ks or from somebody else.
Between what we need and what we want there is a very big gap.
Actually, the burden of life is not so big; the burden of greed is bigger.
Learn to be more efficient, not just in one thing but in everything you do, and
the best way to be efficient is to be calm and peaceful.
Don't indulge in sleeping!
When you get to that depth of seeing and understanding, you'll find it very diffic
ult to find a good book to read. You'll find that many of the books written are ju
st thoughts.
Discerning What is the Path and What is Not the Path
You feel happy because you are totally detached. Detachment brings real happines
s. Attachment is a burden.
Most people mainly feel that when they get what they want then they feel happy.
Real happiness is, not wanting anything.
When mindfulness becomes very strong, you can be aware of a lot of things happen
ing at the same time, you are not trying to notice one or two objects anymore, y
ou are not trying to notice anything, you are not selecting the object, you are
just aware.
Dreaming is a sign that there is some sort of moha , something unconscious happe
ning;
I am not trying to do anything. I am not trying to get anywhere. I am not trying
to experience what I have experienced before; I am just trying to be aware of wh
at is happening now! This is very simple.
Make mistakes, learn from them, correct yourself and do the right thing. This is
the way we learn and grow.
It is o.k. to make mistakes! But don't keep on making the same mistakes again and
again.
Because something arising and passing away so quickly, how can you find any sati
sfaction, how can you rely or depend on it?
Death is not a solution. We cannot solve anything by dying.
The real insight has no fear.
Even thinking about Dhamma is a kind of dukkha.
Stopping the meditation is not the way to escape.
One very interesting and surprising thing is that when the potential Buddhas com
e to this tenth insight, they will stop here, they won't go on. And the ability t
o stop here is really amazing, that one will stop there and not cross over. Beca
use an Arahant does not become a Buddha!
Without painful experiences, we don't learn we don't grow up.
To be in touch with people is very important but it is also as important sometim
es to be on your own.
To be free from something, first we need to understand it, and to understand som
ething we need to look at it very carefully,
We'll die one day, and the best way to die is to be in that mental state, to accep
t the process completely, to pay total attention and to understand it, no resist
ance, and no fear!
Why are we afraid to die? Because we are attached, if we have no attachment ther
e will not be any fear.
Peacefulness in itself it is not a hindrance but attachment to it is a hindrance
.
We need a lot of courage to change. Without changing how can we really grow! If
we want to stay the same we cannot grow.
If you really don't want it you won't get it; you are getting it because you want it.
If we are worthy of it, we will get it.
Guilt is a prison; it traps you where you are.
When you want to meditate, first you must reflect on the fact that nothing is im
portant, let go.
There is no such thing as big anger, but small angers put together.
The enlightenment stage does not eradicate past, present and future defilements.
It eradicates the potential.
Preparation it is very important and in some ways we go through life preparing a
nd preparing; there is no end to preparation. Actually this preparation is also
our life.
Real life is here and now, thought is a prison we are in.
The great way is not difficult for those who have no preferences
Fill your stomach; don't listen to your tongue. Just listen to your stomach.
To be mindful is more important than just to be sitting or walking for a long ti
me.