Living in a Changing Society – Dealing with Fear, Stress, and Worry and Cultivating Kindness, Patient Endurance, and Harmony
Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko
Upāsikā Day, Aug. 23, 2020
Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in Redwood Valley, California
13 excerpts, 1:04:44 total duration
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Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko – Aug. 23, 2020 Download audio (4:01:35)

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1. [2:20:35] “Ajahn Chah was ill for the last ten years of his life. How could he endure that and why did this take place?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Sickness] // [Perfections] [Teaching Dhamma] [Saṅgha] [Death] [Monastic teachers] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Upatakh] [Generosity]


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2. [2:28:10] “I lead two Zoom sessions a week and am running out of material. Can you suggest guided meditations from this tradition?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Teaching Dhamma] // [Trust] [Dhamma books] [Amaravati] [Self-reliance]


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3. [2:35:14] “If you get the mind empty, you get everything.’ How to understand this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Emptiness] // [Self-identity view]


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4. [2:36:31] “How to overcome rejection by your spouse and move on and not hang on to the hope that he will come back some day?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Relationships] [Family] // [Self-reliance] [Goodwill]


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5. [2:43:14] “How can we recognize and know the present moment more clearly?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Present moment awareness] // [Mae Chee Kaew] [Relinquishment] [Kamma]


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6. [2:47:40] “Is there something called fierce compassion in the Theravāda tradition? If so, how is that different from resentment or anger?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Fierce/direct teaching] [Compassion] [Theravāda] [Ill-will] [Aversion] // [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Suffering] [Teaching Dhamma] [Admonishment/feedback] [Spiritual bypass] [Ajahn Chah]

Story: Ajahn Chah calls newly-arrived Tan Pasanno lazy. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Chanting]


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7. [3:10:16] “Why is turning the left side of your body to the Buddha disrespectful? How does one disregard another person in a skillful way to remove resentment? (AN 5.161)” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Respect] [Ill-will] // [Goodwill] [Culture/India] [Culture/Thailand] [Theravāda]


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8. [3:15:46] “How is it possible to not eat after noon while remaining active in everyday life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eating after noon] [Renunciant practice] // [Fear] [Food] [Health]


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9. [3:19:09] “How do we overcome unpleasant mental or physical feelings in the present moment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Feeling] [Present moment awareness] // [Aversion] [Fear] [Suffering] [Goodwill] [Ajahn Sumedho]

Sutta: DN 22: Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta [Mindfulness of feeling]


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10. [3:25:46] Comment: I had a stroke 3 1/2 months ago, and the health professionals say I can’t do this or that. I find this frustrating. [Sickness] [Health] [Aversion]

Response by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Dhamma] [Recollection/Dhamma] [Recollection]


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11. [3:30:13] Comment: I meditate much better kneeling than lying in bed. [Posture/Sitting] [Posture/Lying down]

Response by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Viradhammo]


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12. [3:31:42] “What is the difference between emptiness, nothingness, and space? How can I use colors to develop the mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Emptiness] [Kasiṇa] // [Self-identity view] [Relinquishment] [Conceit] [Middle Path] [Etymology] [Not-self] [Elements] [Tranquility] [History/Early Buddhism] [Culture/West]


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13. [3:40:14] “How to balance the practice of removing attachments but maintain responsibilities of caregiving to children or ageing parents?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Clinging] [Relinquishment] [Family] [Parents] [Ageing] // [Gratitude]