I used to be rather calm, but since I started meditating, all kinds of strange feelings have come up. What does this mean?

Lama Ole’s answer:

Always think that everything you experience is for the benefit of all beings. Then whatever comes up is useful. There are people who have three times as many thoughts as you; but by learning how the traffic moves, you can help them. As my student, you can always tell yourself, “Everything pleasant is a blessing! Everything difficult is a purification—a liberation that teaches me to help others!” With this, you are always on the right path.

Also make it clear to yourself that the problem wasn’t there before, that it is changing constantly now, and that it will dissolve again later. Then you can look at it with inner distance and develop compassion for those who take problems like that seriously.

I often daydream for a long time. When I notice that I’m doing it, I try to focus on my work but it is hard for me to get really clear in my head. What does this mean?

Lama Ole’s answer:

For you it is certainly good to do a lot of practical work—to stay on the ground and not be pulled away. You found the right methods through your intuitive wisdom.

Forcing oneself to do something very precisely, here and now, is probably the best antidote against floating away, especially if one is very dreamy. Okay, if one has just fallen in love then dreaming is all right. But for general life, dreaming is not so meaningful. Instead it’s better to pull yourself together a bit and do what’s in front of your nose. One day you will break the old habit, and then any daydreams will be inspiration, fascination—everything will be interesting.

This is a case where one shouldn’t use any mantras, because with mantras one also lifts off. That’s why mantras are good against disturbing emotions.

Once when I helped someone who was injured, I experienced being completely focused and did exactly the right things without thinking. Is this some kind of higher awareness?

Lama Ole’s answer:

I would say that the state in which one is aware on multiple levels at the same time is the highest state of awareness. If you do exactly what is needed in a situation in a beyond-personal way—without thinking about time, about what you should feel or whether you should be afraid—then you will see that all your powers and abilities will come to the surface.

You’ll manage to do things you didn’t know you could do. Those who don’t work with their mind always want to hold on to something or push away something else. But in the moment of authentic action, one does what’s in front of one’s nose. And afterwards, when reflecting on the experience, one sees it was done with joy and power. But in the moment, the action itself was important.

Disturbing emotions are the only thing to be wary of during a spontaneous, effortless act; there must be no anger and no aversion. If there really is no disturbing feeling, then one will do what benefits others and what is right. There is no doubt about that.