About

The first monastery in the United States to be established by followers of Ajahn Chah, Abhayagiri was founded in 1996 in the mountainous forests of Mendocino County, California. The origins of the monastery can be traced to Northern California visits in the early 1980s by Ajahn Sumedho, Ajahn Chah's senior western disciple. In 1995, Venerable Master Hsüan Hua, the founding abbot of The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB) in Ukiah, offered 120 acres of CTTB-owned forested property in Redwood Valley. The first residents of Abhayagiri arrived June 1, 1996.

Dhamma Talks

Pre-1996

The Perfection of Intention

Luang Por Sumedho
From a cool, rational place we make the perfect intention to be free from all delusion

The Fire Sermon

Ajahn Amaro
The painful result of clinging to sense experience

Sex, Violence and the State of Grace

Ajahn Amaro
The powerful energies of sexual desire, and aggressiveness

1996

A Pilgrimage as Practice

Ajahn Thanasanti
Talk on applying skillful means to challenges faced while on pilgrimage.

1997

Mara's Temptations

Ajahn Amaro
The story of Mara's temptations

Desire and Tanha (Craving)

Ajahn Amaro
Wholesome desires and intention are necessary in practice

1998

Here or Gone

Ajahn Amaro
Similarities in different Buddhist tradtitions

Even the Mind Ends

Ajahn Brahm
Penetrating anicca, dukkha, anatta to the end

1999

On Turning 50

Luang Por Pasanno
Two realities: conventional and transcendent

Off the Wheel

Ajahn Amaro
What the Buddha didn't say about rebirth

2000

Cultivating Spritual Friendship

Ajahn Amaro
The internal and external aspects of Sangha

Dependent Origination (Part 2)

Luang Por Pasanno
The chain of causes and conditions leading to dukkha or freedom

Dependent Origination (Part 3)

Luang Por Pasanno
The chain of causes and conditions leading to dukkha or freedom

2001

Investigating GW Bush Mind

Ajahn Amaro
Investigation is a natural attribute of the mind

The Way Things Should Be: The Mantra of Ignorance

Ajahn Sundara
Compassionate endurance for the many faces of self

We are in the World

Ajahn Visuddhi

2002

Movement and Stillness

Ajahn Amaro
The stillness of stability is training the heart to rest in awareness

And Then...

Ajahn Sucitto
For contemplatives, our occupation is to generate space

Allowing Time to be Present

Luang Por Pasanno
No time to meditate is a perception

Suffering

Ajahn Jitindriya
Reflecting on dukkha, its cause and cessation

R_E_S_P_E_C_T

Luang Por Pasanno
Respect and reverence towards the cultivation of wholesome dhammas is standing in the presence of nibbana

2003

The Basis of Compassion

Ajahn Amaro
Core practices for cultivating compassion

Obstacles to Compassion

Ajahn Amaro
Misguided idealism and other obstaces to compassion

2004

Swimming in Shark-Infested Waters

Luang Por Pasanno

2005

Inside and Out

Ajahn Jayasaro
Abandonment of the hindrances is the first step to realization of the Dhamma

The World of Feelings

Ajahn Amaro
Step outside the content of thought and feeling and look at the process

The Present - The Window to the Knowing

Luang Por Pasanno
Use the mind's ingenuity to not be trapped by attachment

Accepting the Unbearable

Ajahn Amaro
How to deal with the "anger-eating" goblins that arise in our minds

The Well of the Buddha's Teachings

Luang Por Pasanno
Sustain and rejuvenate your practice with the well of the Buddha's teachings

2006

Contentment

Ajahn Amaro
The foundation of renunciation is contentment and gratitude

All Your Thoughts Are Garbage

Ajahn Amaro
Step back from the view that thought, feeling, perception is self

Do You Want My Toenails?

Ajahn Amaro
Use the form, conventions to look back at the heart

The Abs of Jello

Ajahn Amaro
Not self and self esteem

2007

Running Away from Phantoms

Ajahn Sucitto
Attention and intention in meditation

Living with Luang Ta Maha Boowa

Ajahn (Dick) Silaratano
Daily life with Luang Ta Maha Boowa

Ah So

Ajahn Amaro
The eight wordly concerns

2008

Small House and a Large Garden

Ajahn Sona
Going forth and right effort towards the beautiful

Challenging Conditions

Ajahn Candasiri
Self identity and the five aggregates

Mirror, Mirror...

Luang Por Sumedho
Be the knower of conditions, not the owner of them

Dhamma Talk at Tan Kaccāna's Bhikkhu Ordination

Reverend Heng Sure
Reflections on entering the holy life

2009

The Karaniya Metta Sutta

Luang Por Pasanno
Reflecting on Buddha's Karaniya Metta Sutta

Everyone Benefits, Nobody Loses Out

Luang Por Liem
A reflection on spiritual gratitude

Not a Belief System

Ajahn Jayasaro
Buddhism is an education system, not a belief system

The Gradual Path

Ajahn Karuṇadhammo
Even the conditioned perception of Nibbana for an instant is time well spent

Who is dying?

Ajahn Sona
What it means to be "dying" and its significance for the living

The Brahmaviharas: Bringing the Heart into the Present

Ajahn Metta
The four Brahmaviharas

2010

O.B.E...F.Y.I.

Ajahn Amaro
Accepting the abbotship of Amaravati and the view of not self

Where are you?

Ajahn Sucitto
How to approach the daunting virtues of patience, sense restraint and renunciation

The Relish of Becoming

Ajahn Amaro
Self view and the four aspects of right effort

2011

Recollections of Ajahn Chah

Luang Por Viradhammo
Recollections of Ajahn Chah

Parting Words

Luang Por Viradhammo
We are given the freedom to watch the way things are

Sacca

Ajahn Saññamo
Devote yourself to goodness

2012

Developing in Virtue

Luang Por Pasanno
The importance of virtue as a foundation for practice

Expectations

Ajahn Sudanto

There Is No Reason to Believe

Debbie Stamp
We are preparing for little deaths all the time

Anicca Dukkha Anatta

Luang Por Pasanno
The khandas have never been under our control

2013

This is How I Practiced

Tan Ajahn Dtun
Ajahn Dtun speaks about tudong, faith, food and daily practice

Cutting Out Attachment to the Body

Tan Ajahn Dtun
The importance of precepts and contemplation of the body

Where Body and Mind Meet

Ajahn Sucitto
The field of practice is where we can resolve the world

Authenticity and Freedom

Ajahn Yatiko
Ajahn Yatiko's reflections on his brother's life, values and suicide

Tomorrow, Who Knows, Death May Come

Ajahn Ñāniko
The reminder of death and the smallness of everyday difficulties

2014

A Rhythm of Nature

Luang Por Pasanno
The breath connects us to nature, not to our personality

Wisdom Is Available Every Moment

Luang Por Sumedho
The Four Noble Truths, awareness,personality,and the refuge of the Triple Gem

Wise Attention (Yoniso Manasikāra)

Luang Por Pasanno
Using wise application of thought to settle the mind

Dhamma Talk at the International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony

Luang Por Pasanno
A happy mind is easily concentrated, not the other way around

2015

Returning the Light

Ajahn Ahiṃsako
Bringing the mind back in to peaceful stillness

I Am of the Nature to Age

Ajahn Karuṇadhammo
When the khandas turn against us, is there a way out of suffering

Seclusion, Dispassion, Cessation, Relinquishment

Luang Por Pasanno
Four qualities of the heart to cultivate in all aspects of the path

Prepratory Investigations to Settle the Mind

Ajahn Karuṇadhammo
Metta and other reflections to uplift the mind before breath meditation

2016

No Matter How Far

Ajahn Jotipālo
The five hindrances as tools for wisdom

Daily Life Jhana

Ajahn Sucitto
Absorb. Could it be this simple?

An Integrated Path

Luang Por Pasanno
The Buddha's path has but one goal–liberation from suffering–and all the tools work together to this end.

From Slave of the Body to Freedom of Mind

Tan Ajahn Dtun
From deluded attachment to the body to pure knowing.

Pavarana

Pavarana Day 2010 Community Talks

Abhayagiri Saṅgha
End of Vassa reflections

Pavarana Day 2011 Community Talks (Part 1)

Abhayagiri Saṅgha
End of Vassa reflections

Pavarana Day 2011 Community Talks (Part 2)

Abhayagiri Saṅgha
End of Vassa reflections

Pavarana Day 2012 Community Talks

Abhayagiri Saṅgha
End of Vassa reflections

Pavarana Day 2014 Community Talks

Abhayagiri Saṅgha
End of Vassa reflections

Pavarana Day 2015 Community Talks

Abhayagiri Saṅgha
End of Vassa reflections

Tudong

Tudong in California

Ajahn Yatiko
Reflections about tudong from Abhaygiri to San Diego

Faith on Mississippi Tudong

Ajahn Jotipālo
The role of faith and metta practice on tudong

Sacred Uncertainty: Our West Coast Pilgrimage

Ajahn Ñāniko
The kindness of strangers on pilgrimage from Abayagiri to Pacific Hermitage

Standing at Markets: More Pilgrimage Tales

Ajahn Ñāniko
Patient endurance and faith in basic goodness

Circles of Blessing: Our Redwood Tudong

Ajahn Ñāniko
Two week tudong from Ft Bragg north to Avenue of the Giants with Tan Pamutto

Tudong Pilgrimage in Thailand

Luang Por Pasanno
Wandering through the jungle in Thailand as spiritual practice

Other

Dhamma Talk Request

Iris Landsburg
For many years, Iris Landsberg (1949-2014) graced Abhayagiri evening sittings with her beautiful Dhamma talk request.

The Highest Blessings

Abhayagiri Saṅgha
Chanting

Chanting for the Reception Hall

Luang Por Liem, et. al.
Chanting

Photos

1996-2006 Photos
1996-2016 Slideshow
2007-2016 Photos
Picture Boards

Abundant, Exhaulted, Immeasurable

By Luang Por Pasanno

Preview    or download    Epub Mobi PDF

Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend

On April 28-29, 2001, over 200 people gathered in Portola Valley to honor the life and teachings of Ajahn Chah.

Talks

Saturday Morning

Opening Chanting

Welcome and Reflection by Ajahn Chah

Legacy of Ajahn Chah by Ajahn Jitindriya

Opening Reflections by Ajahn Sumedho

Reflections by Ajahn Pasanno

Saturday Afternoon

Intro to Chant on Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha

Chanting on Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha

Ajahn Chah Reading

Early Life of Ajahn Chah by Ajahn Amaro

Reflections by Paul Breiter

Reflections by Joseph Kappel

Questions & Answers 1

Teachings to Marjorie - Ajahn Chah

Ajahn Chah's Teachings by Thanissara

Ajahn Chah's Teachings by Paul Breiter

Ajahn Chah's Teachings by Ajahn Sumedho

Ajahn Chah's Teachings by Kittisaro

Ajahn Chah's Teachings by Ajahn MahaPrasert

Ajahn Chah's Teachings by Ajahn Sundara

Questions & Answers 2 - Ajahn Chah's Teachings

Monastic Life and Rules

About Chithurst Monastery

Sunday Morning

Chanting

Guided Meditation Led by Ajahn Sundara

Ajahn Chah Teaching Read by Joseph Kappel

Sunday Afternoon

Reflections by Jack Kornfield

Metta Chant Led by Ajahn Sundara

Ajahn Chah Training by Kittisaro

Ajahn Chah Training by Paul Breiter

Ajahn Chah Training by Ajahn Sumedho

Question & Answer 5 - Ajahn Chah Training

Ajahn Chah Stories - Part 1

Ajahn Chah Stories - Part 2

Last Years Of Ajahn Chah's Life

Final Reflections by Ajahn Sumedho

Final Chant

Fearless Mountain

This is the 2006 documentary by Tony Anthony about the monks at the Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

June 4th – The Anniversary

Many people gathered at Abhayagiri on June 4th, 2016 to meet old friends, celebrate and share reflections.

Photos

Talks and Reflections

Opening Remarks by Ajahn Pasanno

Agenda

Reflections by Ajahn Maha Prasert

Reflections by Dharma Master Heng Lyu

Reflections by Dharma Master Heng Shun

Reflections by Father Damien

Reflections by Marc Lieberman

Reflections by Susan Barber

Reflections by Fred Kral

Reflections by Noel Brewer

Reflections by Peter Mayland

Reflections by Mark Sponseller

Reflections by Debbie Stamp

Reflections by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo

Reflections by Ajahn Amaro

Closing Remarks by Ajahn Pasanno

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Compilation Audio and Photos

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June 4th Audio and Photos

This file contains the audio and photos taken on June 4th, the day of the the anniversary. It does not include anything else.

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