Cattāri Brahmavihārā

This weekend I had the opportunity to co-host a Dhamma talk and meditation session with Ven. Suddhāso and I hope it will be the first of many. I am so fortunate to be in the position note where I am regularly meeting with bhikkhus to hear them teach and spend time with them. But, today’s post really isn’t about that at all. Rather it has to do with a question I posed to the venerable concerning my own practice.

I asked specifically about buddho practice and he shared his interpretation of the techniques as one which brings about clarity by means of frustrating the discursive mind. As such he reminded me of a fact that I have already known but was sweeping under the rug: there is nothing special about the word buddho. It holds no magical power being what we imbue it with and I practiced with it enough to know that, as much as I would wish it otherwise, it does not have the same affective oomph as some other words. So, I have made the choice to switch to the word “peace” and, although it will eventually be worn down to the point of meaninglessness, for now it produces an instant sense of warmth and wellbeing. Wish me luck and I’ll let you know how it goes.