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Dream Within a Dream, Awakening Within a Dream, Mother Within a Dream
In the situation of losing electricity after a storm, enduring cold and illness, we can still suffer less by transforming our mind: understanding that many people are making efforts to restore the power generates gratitude, and at the same time, “creating clouds and making sunlight” means generating our own inner energy. Practitioners need to store up three precious sources of energy—1) mindfulness, 2) concentration, 3) insight—like saving firewood for rainy days, and practice sitting meditation, walking meditation, eating meditation, and mindful breathing even in times of peace, so that life becomes clearer and happier.
Stable mindfulness and concentration give rise to joy and happiness, but only insight can pierce through the veil of delusion and bring liberation (vimukti) from fear and anxiety. All great happiness depends on the quality of mindfulness, concentration, and insight, because insight is the light of salvation, not a favor or grace. The Buddha’s path places emphasis on practice in order to realize that body and world are but illusions, progressing from the “first dream” to the “second dream” and transcending both. At the same time, the new Five Mindfulness Trainings will be composed based on the four kinds of nutriments (edible food, sense impressions, volition, and consciousness) to guide mindful consumption, including guidance on using the Internet, and will be officially announced after the three-month retreat.