(Bell sound)
How can I be stable and live with a person who is not interested in spirituality?
I like very much the idea of being a Dharmacharya,
but he does not agree.
How can I practice to keep that aspiration?
(Sr Pine) I want very much to follow the Dharma practices,
the example of the mindfulness trainings,
but I live with a person who is not interested in the spiritual path.
So how can I practice to remain stable in that situation?
When you are lovable, when you are fresh,
when you are appreciated by the other person,
you have a chance that everything you do will be appreciated by him or by her,
because when we truly love a person, we love everything about that person.
That is a natural tendency.
And that is why the spiritual can be recognized in every act of daily life.
You do not need to say: 'This is spiritual.'
That will turn people off.
When you drink your tea mindfully, peacefully, happily,
and there is mindfulness, concentration and insight in you,
drinking tea is a very spiritual thing.
It radiates peace, happiness and joy.
And that is already spiritual.
You do not need to say: 'Well, I want to drink my tea spiritually.'
(Laughs)
You do not have to say that.
And the practice of the five mindfulness trainings
is like that too.
You do not need to say: 'I practice the mindfulness trainings.'
You just live according to the five trainings.
You practice without a name, but it is a real practice.
You are a Buddhist,
but you do not need to say that you are a Buddhist.
And you do not want to impose your way on him or her.
If you practice well, you are happy, you are fresh.
That is good enough.
One day the other person may ask: 'Darling, how could do you do it?'
'In such a situation I would not be able to act like you.'
And that is the time when you can share your practice formally.
But be the practice first, be the Dharma first.
And that is good enough.
And you draw him or her into the practice, one way or another.
Remember, do not try to impose your practice on him or her.
Do not practice too formally.
There are those who practice walking meditation in a very funny way.
They want to show that they are practicing walking meditation.
It looks not very natural at all.
(Laughter)
And there are those of us who walk very deeply and happily,
but they do not look too serious in the practice.
When you breathe in mindfully and joyfully,
you do not try to show other people: 'I am breathing in mindfully, you know.'
(Laughter)
'I am a good practitioner.'
(Laughter)
In Buddhism we have the expression 'practicing the non-practice',
'hanh vo hanh hanh', 'practice the non-practice'.
You do not need to have...
much appearance.
That way we can convey the essence of the practice better.
And if the other person wants to be happy, serene and peaceful,
he has a chance to learn.
(Bell sound)
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