Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful

is what has been chanting in my mind for the last hour or so.

So beautiful these teachings. So beautiful my Teacher. Such joy and bliss!! Such love and admiration is in my heart tonight. Such inspiration!

I understand the love that Ram Dass received from his teacher Maharaj-ji as he described in the documentary film, Ram Dass Fierce Grace. It is a brilliant, pure kind of love, that brings tears to my eyes.

All I needed to know in my Teacher's talk tonight was this:

Ignorance is at the root of the chain of causes and conditions that lead to suffering. Ignorance (or wrong knowing) is caused by the defilements (namely greed, anger and delusion). The defilements are calmed by concentration practice.

This is why I practice meditation. This is why I long to practice more and more. This is why I am going on a week long retreat in July. Samadhi. Freedom!