How to practice in the environment that is challenging you... ____________________________________ If you wish to support the Hillside Hermitage Sangha and this channel you are very welcome to do so via: www.hillsidehermitage.org/support-us

This is the main obstacle for whom are trying to keep the practice and percepts in ordinary living, May all be success in their practice 🙏☘️

When I started to keep the 5 precepts, I started to see who in my life is a true friend. Metta practice has helped me cultivate patience with those who cannot respect my practice, even when I had to be firm.

This is much harder in the western world.. feels like a hurricane of peer pressure and suffering

🙏

What was the progress that seemed to be, but was not?

The timing on this video. I'll be visiting my best friend of over 30 years soon and he doesn't know anything about my practice (We only see each other once every few years or so anymore) While I'm there, I'm going to be drinking even though it's the last thing I want to do. I abandoned sensuality, I practice sense restraint, I spend hours in jhana everyday but for the week I go see this guy I'm going to go back to being the buddy he's known all his life.

Do you have any mirrors at the HIllside Hermitage? Since if I would have a body like that I would love to see it every day in the mirror.

Going on 5 years of daily practice. Not much to say except it is all pointless. Any perceived progress is just more mind made nonsense.