DHARMA

In upcoming episodes, there will be an invitation to listeners to follow a link so that they can begin to practice meditation with Master Heng Chang’s guidance. In this episode, Chris and Master Chang go deeper into the discussion about the subconscious, and how, through the practice of meditation, one can slowly peel back the layers of illusion. We are all in continuous realities of illusion. Through meditation, we unfold the process of peeling back the layers of these illusions more and more. Einstein discovered that every atom is 99% empty space. In this sense, everything is empty space. In this sense, quantum physicists now realize that solid mass is actually just illusion. Relativity understands that we are all caught up in our own illusions. Individuals can only see things from their own viewpoints and perspectives. As we practice the vertical path, through meditation, we begin to understand the thousands upon thousands of different views which each of us as individuals hold. We begin to recognize that we are all attached to our views and will often go to great lengths to protect them. A central teaching in Buddhism is learning how to have increasing empathy and compassion. We can begin to see that the Heart of Compassion is just One, no matter the level of practice that one may have reached. The main lesson in Buddhism is for us to practice how to love, and how to express that love. We must realize that we cannot change the way people see things. Rather, we begin to see that there are so many views, and our practice is to simply learn to be more loving, empathetic, and compassionate. “Bud” from the word Buddha means “awakened”. The universe will always knock us out of our illusions in one way or another and will help us to wake up. If we are wanting to practice this path, the first steps are to accept illusion, our own and others, and then to grow beyond all views. In the Buddhist way of training intuition, one begins to see that others’ views are related to their own emotional, social, and environmental experiences, etc. Ultimately, the best that we can do is to always keep transcending all the views. This process of continually transcending is the essence of Prajna (wisdom), and our practice is to keep opening up to the infinity of that wisdom. ---- For classes and more information on Master Heng Chang (Thay Hang Truong): www.compassheart.com Contact us via email: info@compassheart.com Soundtrack: A New Beginning from Bensounds.com

Many people wonder about intuition and how it can be understood. Others ask about what the Buddhist perspective is on this. Intuition is actually a big topic in Buddhism. It is referred to as wisdom, which is also known as Prajna. According to Buddhism, there is the idea that some things are innate within all of us. These are love, intellect or knowing, and intuition. With regards to knowledge and intellect, one has to study and focus on a topic. Intuition on the other hand is not a logical or linear process. Rather, it allows people to simply know certain things without going through any kind of logical steps. There are a few ways that intuition can manifest. In some cases, it can manifest as a “complete knowing”. When someone sees the “complete picture of something”, this is referred to as the Wisdom of Totality in Buddhism. Another way that intuition can develop is through studying and going deep into one topic. For intuition to grow, or to be activated, one needs three things: One is to be mostly calm and have a quiet mind. Another is that it requires one to have a broad vision. In this way, the practice of visualization can be a very helpful way to active it. Lastly, you have to be able to let go of the thinking mind, which is also sometimes referred to as the monkey mind. In studying Buddhism, one can learn about the three layers of consciousness and the meaning of each. Through the practice of meditation, one can work on all three realms of consciousness, and activate deep intuition by settling the mind through the breath while also relaxing the body, as well as through visualization and finally letting go. ---- For classes and more information on Master Heng Chang (Thay Hang Truong): www.compassheart.com Contact us via email: info@compassheart.com Soundtrack: A New Beginning from Bensounds.com

In this episode, Master Heng Chang introduces listeners and viewers to the Temporary Home Leaving Program, which is coming up in November/December 2022, in preparation for the World Peace Gathering. In this program, people have the opportunity to temporarily live as mendicants, as temporary nuns, and monks. Those who join this program have the opportunity to practice deeply on the vertical path, that of altruism, and of going deep into the ocean of their own mind, rather than be engaged in everyday, and horizontal, life. The Western notion of subconscious is referred to in Buddhism as Storage consciousness, or Alaya consciousness. Essentially, this refers to all that is in the basement of our consciousness, in the darkness. This consciousness is always there as an energetic seed which may awaken and manifest in the future when the conditions are propitious. This is also called cause and effect. The Buddha spent some time by the banks of the Ganges River in India. He taught that the river never reveals what is running underneath, in the deep current under the surface. The water is always flowing in the river, but you can never fathom that bottom of it. Alaya consciousness is much the same. In modern psychology, there is an emphasis on looking at the past as a means to heal what is in the subconscious. In Buddhism, the idea is to shine the light from the upper realms into the lower ones. This can be done in the practice of meditation. While Buddhism doesn’t use the same terms as does modern psychology, essentially it is the ego that builds the basement, and therefore cannot help to clear it up. Through meditation, one can activate the intuition, or what is referred to as Prajna wisdom, and learn to look at things in the basement without getting involved in it. The lesson is to learn to be intuitive without getting involved in things. When we shine the light in this deep undercurrent, then we can be free. Buddha literally translates as “Enlightened or Awakened”. Therefore, Buddha means “one who enlightens or awakens”. This is the same as looking from the Buddha Mind, and from the Knowing that is deep within each of us. The Buddha taught that it is like we are in a dream, and our job is to awaken from that dream state, so that we can be liberated and free from the darkness that is the Alaya consciousness. ---- For classes and more information on Master Heng Chang (Thay Hang Truong): www.compassheart.com Contact us via email: info@compassheart.com Soundtrack: A New Beginning from Bensounds.com

So many topics in science seem to relate to Buddhism. Neuroplasticity and Relativity are two such examples of science that are proving what Buddhist spiritual tradition seems to have known for millennia. The consciousness behind this concept of neuroplasticity in Buddhism has to do with always looking at things from a fresh perspective, or what is called the Beginner’s Mind in Zen tradition, or more precisely “the mind that always begins”, like that of a child. Through the practice of visualization in meditation, we have the ability to create new pathways within the neurons of the brain, and this is related to neuroplasticity. Einstein’s theory of relativity is another way to better understand Buddhist philosophy. He was able to see that things are always in motion, that energy and material are ultimately one, and the interplay of these in the universe are evident in the light and the darkness, with all the colours in between. This is evident in the constant motion of the sun and the planets as well. How do Buddhists see time in terms of relativity? In Buddhist tradition, time is seen as circular rather than linear, and therefore a central understanding of karma is not to get too fixed or transfixed on anything. Ultimately, we are all connected in the circular passing of time, and within multiple lifetimes, both past and future. In a healthy spiritual (Buddhist) practice, this allows us to move on very quickly. One example of this is that we can learn to always begin anew and make friends out of enemies. ---- For classes and more information on Master Heng Chang (Thay Hang Truong): www.compassheart.com Contact us via email: info@compassheart.com Soundtrack: A New Beginning from Bensounds.com

Why is it important to be right here in the present moment? Often, we regret things from our past. We have negative feelings, memories or traumas that hold us back. We have to be trained to be right here in the moment. It is common for us to get stuck on the negative past or project into the uncertain future. While we do both, it is more common for us to stay stuck in the past. Buddhists always look forward, yet to be in the moment also encompasses looking at the past while also building a good plan for the future. The Buddha taught us to be aware of the whole path: “Stay in the Now and be Free”. We can, however, get stuck with this notion of being in the now, while still hanging on to things from the past. In meditation, we activate a sense of intuition, and in this way, we can begin to see the past right here. The tendency to hold on to the past is caused by the vulnerable ego, which keeps us from being in the ever-present light, and the True Mind which doesn’t have a history. In meditation, we learn to rise beyond and above all things that move. The first thing we learn is to connect to the ever-present with the light that is within us. We begin to see the past clearly, but not get stuck. Getting stuck has to do with the part of our brain that is very irrational. Here in the midbrain, inside the limbic system, emotional memories can take us into the past. The structure of our meditation is not to deny these memories but to rise above and to connect with the ever-present, and the deep intuition. We learn to look at the past without getting caught up in the pain, and without projecting into the future. The ever-present light can be experienced by any normal being without training. This is often activated at the time of the death experience. Meditation can also help to activate this as well, where you can see all the trauma and difficulties in your past without grasping at it. If you follow the structure of meditation, it will help you to stay very stable. The function of the ever-present light is to help you to see through the vulnerable ego, the sense of self, and to integrate toward the ever-growing awareness, compassion, and light. This will help you to transform the ego from attachment and the web of darkness and help you to realize the ever-present light. TL;DR Being in the moment, rather than living in the past or future is something that we can learn to do in meditation. ---- For classes or more information on Master Heng Chang (Thay Hang Truong): www.compassheart.com Contact us: info@compassheart.com Soundtrack: A New Beginning from Bensounds.com

How does someone learn more about Buddhism? Alternately, how does one know whether they are aligned with and share the philosophy of Buddhism? A central theme in Buddhism is to be free of all labels. Being a Buddhist at heart is to uncover everything that is already within you. Like air itself, everyone has the Buddha Nature that resides within them. This can be activated in many contexts and situations in our lives. By simply being kind and open toward ourselves and others is an example of Buddhism. Another central theme in Buddhism is forgiveness. Can we let go and accept things within ourselves and others? The path to be a Buddhist is the path to recognize what is already within our very nature and deep consciousness. Join us in this episode as we find out more from Chris St. Hilaire and Master Chang! Don’t forget to subscribe and comment to let us know what other topics you would like them to discuss! ---- For classes and more information on Master Heng Chang (Thay Hang Truong): www.compassheart.com Contact us via email: info@compassheart.com Soundtrack: A New Beginning from Bensounds.com