Tag cluster: Saṅgha
Part of key topic The Three Refuges
Includes tags: Saṅgha, Recollection/Saṅgha
See also: Monastic community

All excerpts (72) Most relevant (56) Questions about (31) Answers involving (16) Stories (10) Quotes (7)


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 4 – Apr. 28, 2001

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3. Quote: “He made sense out of monasticism.” — Ajahn Sumedho. [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Vinaya ] [Dhamma] [Trust]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 5 – Apr. 28, 2001

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3. Quote: “Ajahn Chah was a wonderful teacher, but more important, he was a trainer. He trained people how to live.” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Teaching Dhamma] [Monastic life] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Ajahn Chah]

Story: Māghā Pūjā at Wat Pah Pong. [Festival days] [Lunar observance days] [Wat Pah Pong] [Meditation] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Lay life] [Saṅgha]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 11 – Apr. 28, 2001

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9. Reflection by Joseph Kappel: Jumping off the Saṅgha ocean liner. [Saṅgha] [Similes] [Joseph Kappel] [Disrobing] // [Faith] [Five Precepts] [Ajahn Chah]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 14 – Apr. 28, 2001

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8. Ajahn Chah encouraged us to work as Saṅgha, as community. Recollection by Ṭhānissarā. [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] // [Culture/West] [Aversion]


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9. Story: Ajahn Chah visits the Chithurst community and asks, “Is the community getting on well?” – “Yes.” – “Well there’s not going to be much wisdom here then, is there?” Told by Ṭhānissarā. [Chithurst] [Saṅgha] [Communal harmony] [Discernment] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Sumedho]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 16 – Apr. 28, 2001

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5. Story: “Sumedho, Wat Pah Pong, is it suffering?” Told by Ajahn Sumedho. [Wat Pah Pong] [Suffering] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Lunar observance days] [Work] [Monastic crafts] [Aversion] [Cleanliness]

Quote: “To want something that’s not present, something you don’t have, is suffering.” [Craving] [Cause of Suffering] [Culture/Natural environment] [Saṅgha] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Culture/West]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 17 – Apr. 28, 2001

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2. “My life has been hugely impacted by Ajahn Chah, his teachings, and the spiritual family he introduced me to.” Reflection by Kittisaro. [Gratitude] [Teaching Dhamma] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] // [Happiness] [Teachers] [Learning] [Respect for elders] [Meditation retreats] [Body scanning] [Conceit] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Goodwill] [Humility] [Mentoring]

Story: Ajahn Chah sniffs around like a dog. [Kittisaro] [Similes] [Humor] [Mindfulness of breathing]

Quote: “He gave me a practice path that goes on and on to this day.” [Eightfold Path]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 19 – Apr. 28, 2001

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4. Story: Half a million people attend Ajahn Chah’s funeral. Told by Ajahn Sundarā. [Funerals] [Ajahn Sundarā] [Ajahn Chah] // [Food] [Free distribution] [Meditation] [Stupas/monuments] [Chanting]

Quote: “The heart of [Ajahn Chah’s] teaching is the ability to bring people together.” [Teaching Dhamma] [Saṅgha] [Community]

Story: The cremation pyre catches fire and number 16 wins the lottery. [Humor]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 34 – Apr. 29, 2001

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3. Story: Ajahn Chah’s failing heath and Rains Retreat at Tam Saeng Pet. Told by Joseph Kappel. [Sickness] [Health care] [Rains retreat] [Wat Tam Saeng Pet] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Lodging] [Seclusion] [Generosity] [Joseph Kappel]

Story: “Pabakkaro, make me a Communist.” [Culture/Natural environment] [Medicinal requisites] [Contentment] [Sensual desire]

Story: Venerable Pabakkaro attends to Ajahn Chah. [Upatakh] [Humility]

Story: Ajahn Chah visits the branch monasteries for the last time. [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Vinaya] [Saṅgha]


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5. Caring for Ajahn Chah. Reflection by Joseph Kappel. [Sickness] [Health care] [Ajahn Chah] // [Joseph Kappel] [Compassion] [Gratitude]

Quote: “It helped the community prepare for his death and offer gratitude.” [Saṅgha] [Death] [Generosity]


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8. Ajahn Chah’s time of illness was a gift to the Saṅgha. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sickness] [Generosity] [Saṅgha ] [Ajahn Chah ] // [Bodhisattva] [Renunciation] [Communal harmony] [Saṅgha decision making]

Ajahn Chah’s emphasis on Saṅgha was unique. [Saṅgha ] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Teachers] [Conflict] [Personal presence] [Three Refuges]

Quote: “People in the world are attached to status. People in the religion are attached to their views.” — Thai saying. [Monastic life] [Views]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 35 – Apr. 29, 2001

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4. Recollection: The June 2000 Saṅgha Meeting discusses allowable sweets and protecting Ajahn Chah’s name. Recounted by Ajahn Sumedho. [Wat Pah Pong] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making] // [Ajahn Sumedho] [Seclusion] [Personality] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Medicinal requisites] [Technology]


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6. Recollection: The June 2000 Saṅgha Meeting concludes in harmony. Recounted by Ajahn Sumedho. [Wat Pah Pong] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making] [Communal harmony] [Ajahn Chah] // [Views] [Harsh speech] [Asking forgiveness ceremony] [Three Refuges] [Culture/West]

Quote: “Luang Por Chah wasn’t giving us views and opinions....[He gave] us all a confidence in the unspoken unity of our humanity.” [Faith] [Human]


Metta Retreat, Session 3 – Sep. 11, 2008

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12. “What does it mean – the four pairs, the eight kinds of noble beings – in the recollection of the Sangha?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Chanting] [Stages of awakening] // [Commentaries]

Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 27: Recollection of the Saṅgha


Metta Retreat, Session 4 – Sep. 12, 2008

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1. “Realized beings abound these days. Care to comment? When the conditions are conducive and the inquiry is in earnest, is it possible to wake up quickly?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stages of awakening] [Saṅgha] [Progress of insight] [Ardency] [Conditionality] // [Patience] [Ajahn Pasanno]

Quote: “Buddhism hasn’t come to America yet.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Culture/West] [Insight Meditation Society]


Metta Retreat, Session 5 – Sep. 13, 2008

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13. “In your opinion, why do you think Mogallana is portrayed in the scriptures as mostly an idiot/unwise and Sariputta is portrayed as wise?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tipiṭaka] [Great disciples] // [Psychic powers] [Saṅgha] [Conflict] [Mahāyāna] [Personality]

Quote: “But Ānanda, since when has Anuruddha been involved in disciplinary issues in the midst of the Saṅgha?” AN 4.243 [Saṅgha] [Vinaya]

Story: Moggallāna sees a yakkha clobber Sāriputta. Ud 4.4 [Non-human beings]


Recollections of Ajahn Chah, Session 5 – Sep. 19, 2010

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3. Story: A group of military generals ask Ajahn Chah to bless amulets to create a kitchen fund. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Amulets] [Ajahn Chah] [Military] [Almsfood] [Wat Pah Pong] // [Culture/Thailand] [Saṅgha decision making] [Festival days] [Almsbowl] [Stupas/monuments]

Quote: “The Buddha set up the foundation 2,500 years ago with just one baht.” — Ajahn Chah. [Buddha] [Saṅgha]


Abhayagiri Monastic Retreat 2013, Session 6 – Nov. 28, 2013

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12. “In ‘Homage to the Sangha’ chant, what are the ‘Four pairs, the eight kinds of Noble Beings?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Stages of awakening]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 52 – Mar. 18, 2014

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1. Recollection: Saṅgha gatherings at Wat Pah Pong on Ajahn Chah’s birthday. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Pah Pong] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] // [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Protocols] [Meditation]

Recollection: Inspecting almsbowls after the meal to see if there was any food left. [Almsbowl] [Food]


Thai Forest Tradition, Session 1 – Jun. 14, 2014

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17. “One of the great gifts I’ve received over the last few years spending more time with the Bhikkhu Saṅgha is a sense of devotion, how it opens the heart. Is there a Pāli word or teaching around that principle?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Devotional practice] [Saṅgha] [Gratitude] [Pāli] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Faculties] [Faith] [Energy]


Questions and Answers with Dharma Realm Buddhist University – Nov. 18, 2014

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13. “Is the decision to ordain a novice by democratic vote?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sequence of training] [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making] // [Vinaya] [History/Early Buddhism]


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15. “How often does the community reject someone who wants to go forth?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sequence of training] [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making] // [Vinaya]


2014 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 3 – Nov. 24, 2014

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12. “You mentioned ‘inner confidence…‘ can you describe it in more detail and the ways to cultivate it? Respectfully.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-reliance] [Faith] // [Recollection/Buddha] [Human] [Recollection/Saṅgha ]

Sutta: MN 19: Two Kinds of Thought

Reflection: Ajahn Khao was a real human being. [Ajahn Khao] [Recollection/Saṅgha ] [Family] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho]


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 42 – Mar. 8, 2015

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1. Commentary on AN 11.11: “Mahānāma:” Using recollection to gladden and settle the mind. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Recollection] [Recollection/Buddha] [Recollection/Dhamma] [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Recollection/Virtue] [Recollection/Devas] [Gladdening the mind] [Calming meditation]


2015 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 3 – Nov. 23, 2015

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6. “Would you remind us what ‘the four pairs, the eight kinds of noble beings’ means and perhaps in a nutshell what is the English translation of the meal blessing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Stages of awakening] [Anumodanā]


Teen Weekend 2017 – Sep. 2, 2017

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1. “What meaningful impact do Buddhist monks have on the community?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support ] [Community] [Saṅgha] // [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Lunar observance days] [Abhayagiri]

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Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first visit to Wat Pah Pong. [Wat Pah Pong ] [Saṅgha] [Temporary ordination] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries]


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2. “How closely do you and the other monks live together?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Chah] [Communal harmony ] [Vinaya] [Seclusion] [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand] [Monastic routine]

Quote: “Human beings. Those are beings with issues.” — Ajahn Chah. [Human] [Conflict]


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29. “Do monastics talk with each other about the precepts they have broken or having wrong thoughts?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Vinaya] [Saṅgha] [Christianity] // [Pāṭimokkha] [Confession] [Rains retreat] [Learning] [Abhayagiri] [Faith]


The Teaching and the Training, Session 6 – Mar. 22, 2018

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1. “How does upatakhing fit into our training and what can we learn from it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Upatakh] [Vinaya] [Respect for elders] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Culture/Thailand] [Conceit] [Generosity] [Protocols] [Discernment] [Mindfulness]

Vinaya: Cv 8: Vattakkhandhaka - Protocols

Story: Ajahn Lee upataks Ajahn Mun. [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo]


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2. “I assume at Abhayagiri the upatakh sleeps in his own dwelling place? (in contrast to the previous story of Ajahn Lee)” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri] [Upatakh] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Sickness] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Other Thai monastics]


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3. “What is the value of living in community?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Saṅgha ] // [Self-identity view] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Tongrat] [Views] [Requisites] [Not handling money]


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5. Comment: It’s important for the Saṅgha to look after all members in terms of sickness and ageing. [Sickness] [Ageing] [Health care] [Death] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha ]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno.

Vinaya: Kd 8.26.1-8: The Monk with Dysentery [Buddha/Biography]

Recollections of Saṅgha members who have died. [Saṅgha ] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism]


The Teaching and the Training, Session 7 – Mar. 23, 2018

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3. “Can you talk about Ajahn Chah’s use of bowing, communal pūjās, and chores?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Monastic routine] [Chanting] [Saṅgha] [Monastic life] [Work] [Bowing] // [Becoming] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Respect for elders]

Story: A Westerner asks Ajahn Chah, “Why do we bow?”


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4. “Can you clarify what “field of merit” means?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Saṅgha] [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Generosity] [Recollection/Generosity] [Monastic life] [Merit]


The Teaching and the Training, Session 8 – Mar. 26, 2018

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1. “Ajahn Chah encouraged his monks to all come together for communal chores and stay until the chores are finished. Why is that?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Work] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Communal harmony] [Relinquishment] [Clinging] [Culture/West]


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2. “What does morning pūjā contribute?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Chanting] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Devotion to wakefulness]


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3. “Will practice as a group help us in solitude?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Seclusion] [Meditation/General advice] [Community] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha]


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4. “How do we balance solitude and communal aspects of practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Seclusion] [Community] [Meditation/General advice] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Ajahn Pasanno]


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5. Comment: Some deep-seated patterns may be more visible to others than ourselves. [Community] [Outflows] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aversion] [Self-identity view]


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6. “Is there a place to point out others’ difficulties [in the practice]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Admonishment/feedback] [Right Speech] [Community] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Ajahn Chah] [Teaching Dhamma]


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7. “What is the role of admonishement? How do we admonish skillfully?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Admonishment/feedback ] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Right Intention] [Goodwill] [Mentoring] [Respect for elders]

Vinaya: Kd 18.11.14, Kd 18.12.8: Mutual admonishment between teacher and student.

Story: Ajahn Amaro waits a year before giving feedback. [Ajahn Amaro] [Patience]

Quote: “Don’t admonish somebody before the meal.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]


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8. “Does the proper timing of admonishment depend on the severity of the offense?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Admonishment/feedback] [Vinaya] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha]


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9. “When and how should one respond to offenses of middling severity?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Admonishment/feedback] [Vinaya] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha]


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10. “I’ve heard that someone asked Ajahn Chah if he could read his students’ minds. He replied that he didn’t need to; he just watched how they walked in the door and bowed. Do you get a feel for this over time?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Psychic powers] [Teaching Dhamma] [Mindfulness of body] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] [Bowing]


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12. “Have you found it necessary to recommend psychotherapy or medication for monks who have deep-seated ruts of suffering?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Western psychology ] [Suffering] [Long-term practice] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Ajahn Pasanno]


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15. “Does the stability of monastic community help prevent spiritual bypassing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Spiritual bypass] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha]


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16. Comment: When one visits different monasteries and sees the same thing happening over and over, it’s harder to believe “It’s not me.” [Delusion] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha]


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17. “Abhayagiri’s daily and yearly schedule provide a good balance of individual and communal practice. How did this happen?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Seclusion] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [History/Western Buddhist monasticism]


The New Ajahn Chah Biography, Session 2 – Apr. 21, 2018

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10. “Did you mention what the trancendent truth of the Saṅgha was?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Saṅgha] [Truth] [Three Refuges] // [Eightfold Path] [Stages of awakening] [Conventions] [Chanting] [Recollection/Saṅgha]


Abhayagiri 25th Anniversary Retreat, Session 5 – Jun. 10, 2021

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10. “For the next 25 years, what will be the leading light for the direction of Abhayagiri? Is there any collective vision?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] // [Building projects] [Lodging]


Abhayagiri 25th Anniversary Retreat, Session 6 – Jun. 10, 2021

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7. Reflection by Ajahn Sudanto: Part of the original vision [for Abhayagiri] was to establish a place for Saṅgha in America. [Saṅgha] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Abhayagiri]


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13. Quote: “If you really want to pay homage to me, do the practice.” — The Buddha. Quoted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Buddha ] [Devotional practice ] [Meditation] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Chah] [Cessation of Suffering] [Saṅgha]

Sutta: DN 16.5: Mahāparinibbāna Sutta.


Abhayagiri 25th Anniversary Retreat, Session 18 – Jun. 14, 2021

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2. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: The Buddha laid down practical guidelines for monastics living in community. [Buddha/Biography] [Saṅgha] [Vinaya] [Protocols] [Communal harmony] // [Teaching Dhamma]


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4. Background to the sārāṇīyā dhammas: the quarrel at Kosambi. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Saṅgha] [Buddha/Biography] [Conflict] [Principles of Cordiality] [Communal harmony]

Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.


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10. Principle of Cordiality #6: Core aspects of Right View that lead to communal harmony: Our actions have consequences. We can change. Liberation is possible. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Principles of Cordiality] [Right View] [Saṅgha] [Kamma] [Communal harmony] [Right Effort] [Liberation] // [Judgementalism] [Habits] [Four Noble Truths]

Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.


Madison Insight Retreat 2023, Session 1 – Oct. 13, 2023

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5. “How does one know the difference between appropriate grieving and honoring the memory of a beloved versus clinging and attachment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Grief ] [Clinging] // [Cause of Suffering] [Self-identity view] [Spiritual urgency]

Recollection: Grieving for Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Recollection/Saṅgha]

Quote: “It’s that personalization of experience that gets us into trouble over and over again in different ways.” [Suffering]