These dates in the calendar, these events, these stories, symbolize or remind us of the fact that death can be transcended, that that is not the whole of the story and there is a way that the heart can free itself from the confines of birth and death.

In this Dhamma talk, Ajahn Amaro recalls the naming of Amaravati Monastery ('the deathless realm') by Luang Por Sumedho at the time of the fear of nuclear war in 1984, and compares it to the current fears of the Covid virus pandemic.

One significant aspect of compassion is expressed in the figure of Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva, who comes to us from the Northern Buddhist tradition. Guan Yin is the Chinese name for this great spiritual entity – the Sanskrit is Avalokiteshvāra and the Tibetan is Chenrezig – all these names have the same meaning: ‘The one who listens to the sounds of the world’.

This is a very good opportunity and I’m glad to be able to help out this way … particularly since about 25% of the population of the world is locked down, so they say. This is literally billions of people who are experiencing a retreat situation.

The first thing that comes to mind is to be looking at our own mind states and to be reflecting on how we feel about current conditions. Before we jump in and help other people or try and make them feel okay or to be encouraging or comforting, it's good to see where we're coming from.

These are frightening times. The uncertainty and stress in the air on account of the coronavirus pandemic is palpable and, at least for our human family, life as we know it has been radically disrupted.