This talk explores the question "What are humans doing?" While many pursue wealth, fame, and worldly achievements, the speaker argues these are not true goals. As humans, our time is brief between birth and death, so we should reflect carefully on how to spend our lives. Real goals lead to well-being and happiness now and in future lives, such as developing wisdom and virtue through spiritual practice. However, most people are mistaken about what really constitutes wholesome and unwholesome actions. A Buddha is needed to teach the difference and awaken us from this ignorance.
This talk explores the question "What are humans doing?" While many pursue wealth, fame, and worldly achievements, the speaker argues these are not true goals. As humans, our time is brief between birth and death, so we should reflect carefully on how to spend our lives. Real goals lead to well-being and happiness now and in future lives, such as developing wisdom and virtue through spiritual practice. However, most people are mistaken about what really constitutes wholesome and unwholesome actions. A Buddha is needed to teach the difference and awaken us from this ignorance.
This document provides instructions for developing mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati) through three key points:
1) Anapanasati involves focusing concentrated awareness on the inhalation and exhalation of one's breath, known as "mindfulness of breathing".
2) Mindfulness refers to awareness or the ability to focus single-pointed attention, such as being aware that one is reading while reading a newspaper.
3) By focusing exclusively on the breath, one can develop this ability to concentrate the mind and be fully present with each inhalation and exhalation.