Source of Creation and the Cessation of Suffering

This talk was given on the 8th morning of an intensive 9 day retreat held on top of a mountain in the middle of Penang Island, Malaysia. Having done our morning chanting and the first session of sitting for the day, we could also hear the impassioned moslem call to prayer from several mosques faintly in the distance.  Incidently, the place where we were conducting our retreat had formerly been a Christian Brothers hermitage. The presence of multiple faiths literally hanging in the air, the lofty location of the centre as well as the lovely sense of stillness and introspection emanating from the sincere yogis, inspired me to offer some reflections pertaining to these quite profound subjects. Peoples’ minds had slowed down considerably over the course of the retreat and so the talk also moves quite slowly… it was offered perhaps more as a contemplation than as instruction. It is hoped that by listening to this short talk you may also share some of these timeless moments experienced by the yogis, whilst also recollecting the profound potential that we all innately possess.

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Ajahn Achalo

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