In this talk Venerable Thubten Monlam shares how contemplations learned during a recent retreat have significantly impacted her spiritual practice.
These reflections include acknowledging the realities of aging, sickness, and death, and understanding one’s ownership of karma.
These insights have helped Monlam connect with the pervasive conditioning of unsatisfactoriness and cultivate gratitude for everyday experiences.
By letting go of attachments to pleasure, she recognizes the shared human experience of impermanence.
Thubten Monlam emphasizes the importance of recognizing the impermanence of life’s ups and downs, which has enhanced her compassion and understanding for others.
She highlights the role of mindfulness and kindness in addressing negative emotions and cravings, which perpetuate the cycle of existence.
By challenging negative thoughts and perceptions, Venerable Monlam underscores the significance of virtuous actions and mental states in achieving happiness.
Additionally, Venerable Monlam reflects on the experience of tiredness and unsatisfactoriness, suggesting a shift in focus from self-centered experiences to compassionate actions for others.
She suggests that this method can boost motivation and lay the groundwork for future joy.
Although it may be difficult, investigating dissatisfaction is seen as liberating, enabling Thubten Monlam to remain dedicated to her objective of improving her mindset to assist others in doing the same.
