All excerpts

46 events, 279 sessions, 2309 excerpts, 129:51:55 total duration

Most common tags:
Ajahn Chah (581)     Ajahn Pasanno (237)     Suffering (190)     Monastic life (173)     Relinquishment (160)     Culture/Thailand (146)     Self-identity view (139)     Discernment (135)     Happiness (135)     Teaching Dhamma (135)    

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Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 10: Detachment within Activity – Jan. 19, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “Detachment Within Activity” from Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, pp. 291-304. Read by Ajahn Kovilo.


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1. “What degree of pīti and sukha is necessary to establish the first jhāna?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rapture] [Happiness] [Jhāna] // [Hindrances] [Unification] [Directed thought and evaluation]


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2. “Do the underlying tendencies still exist in first jhāna?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unwholesome Roots] [Jhāna] // [Concentration]


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3. “When Ajahn Mahā Boowa says that the peaceful mind is the gathering place for the defilements, are these the underlying tendencies?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Concentration] [Unwholesome Roots] // [Knowledge and vision] [Relinquishment] [Delusion] [Stages of awakening]


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4. “What are the three kinds of seclusion? What is upadhiviveka?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Seclusion] // [Clinging] [Self-identity view] [Aggregates] [Becoming]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 11: Direct Route to the End of All Suffering – Jan. 20, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “The Direct Route to the End of All Suffering” from Arahattamagga Arahattaphala by Ajahn Mahā Boowa, pp. 9-23. Read by Tan Pamutto.


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1. “Ajahn Chah took Ajahn Mahā Amon and Ajahn Sumedho to visit Luang Ta Mahā Boowa and Ajahn Kaew. What happened?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Mahā Amorn] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Khao] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Simplicity]

Story: Ajahn Chah turned on a tape recorder, but the only part of the conversation that was recorded was when Ajahn Kaew farted. [Technology] [Psychic powers]

Note: A partially similar story appears in Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 189.


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2. “Do you have any advice for working with pain?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pain] // [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Investigation of states] [Meditation/Techniques] [Direct experience]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 12: Unshakeable Peace – Jan. 21, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “Unshakeable Peace” from Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, pp. 427-439. Read by Tan Khemako.


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1. “Where was this Dhamma talk given?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Mahā Amorn] [Dhamma books] [Study monks]


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2. “Luang Ta Mahā Boowa often says, “You kill the kilesas” whereas Ajahn Chah in this talk [”Unshakeable Peace”] speaks of the path doing battle with the kilesas. Is this just the translation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Ajahn Chah] [Unwholesome Roots ] [Eightfold Path] [Teaching Dhamma]

Recollection: When Ajahn Chah would use personal pronouns, he often used we as opposed to you. [Language] [Naturalness]


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3. “Is this talk a response to the vipassanā movement in Thailand?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Calming meditation] [Insight meditation] [Culture/Thailand] [Mahasi Sayadaw] // [Study monks] [History/Thai Buddhism] [Jhāna] [Formless attainments] [Psychic powers]


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4. “Is the samatha versus vipassanā debate still active in Thailand?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Calming meditation] [Insight meditation] [Culture/Thailand] [Views] // [Ajahn Chah]

Sutta: AN 6.46 Cunda Sutta: Study monks versus meditation monks. [Study monks]


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5. “When is it useful to determine to stick with a single practice, even when it doesn’t seem to work, instead of exploring other options?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/General advice] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Pain] // [Suffering] [Right Effort] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Mindfulness of mind] [Discernment] [Direct experience] [Self-identity view]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 13: Khandavimutti and Samangidhamma – Jan. 22, 2014

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[Session] Reading: Khandhavimutti and Samangidhamma by Ajahn Mun, translated by Ajahn Paññavaḍḍho, p. 29-40. Read by Ajahn Pesalo.

Alternative translations: Bhikkhu Khemasanto, Ajahn Thanissaro.


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1. “Why is sañña often translated as perception?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Translation] // [Thai] [Recollection] [Aggregates]

Sutta: MN 43.5 Mahāvedalla Sutta: Conjoined not disjoined.


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2. “Have you heard of sañña and saṅkhara being translated as short-term and long-term memory?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Volitional formations] [Translation]


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3. “Do we have a copy of Khandhavimutti and Samangidhamma in Thai?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mun] [Thai] [Artistic expression]

Note: Ajahn Ṭhānissaro has published an edition of Khandhavimutti and Samangidhamma which includes the poem in Thai, but it does not appear to be available online.


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4. “What does “the longing for the good is the cause of the trouble” mean?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mun] [Craving] [Skillful qualities] [Right Effort] // [Eightfold Path] [Aggregates] [Liberation] [Self-identity view] [Virtue] [Relinquishment] [Jhāna] [Ignorance] [Cause of Suffering]

Story: Sixth Patriarch Sutra: “No mirror, no dust.”

Recollection: Ajahn Chah taught you could grasp at either samut (the conventional) or vimut (the transcendant). [Ajahn Chah] [Conventions] [Unconditioned] [Clinging] [Discernment]


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5. Comment: This reminds me of the phrase “possessing goodness.” [Self-identity view] [Virtue]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno: “The relinquishment doesn’t negate the need for cultivation of goodness.” [Conceit] [Right Effort] [Relinquishment]


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6. “Is this similar to the Buddha’s teaching to let go of the path?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eightfold Path] [Relinquishment] // [Ajahn Chah] [Not-made-of-that] [Right Effort] [Ajahn Mun] [Thai]

Sutta: SN 1.1 Oghataraṇa: Crossing the Flood.


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7. Recollection: Ajahn Pasanno describes Ajahn Mun’s skillful use of language. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mun ] [Thai] [Language] [Artistic expression] [Teaching Dhamma]

Reference: Venerable Ācariya Mun Bhūridatta Thera: A Spiritual Biography by Ajahn Mahā Boowa [Fierce/direct teaching]

Reference: Regarding the photo in Abhayagiri’s Dhamma Hall: “This is the most warm and fuzzy picture of Ajahn Mun.”
Photograph of Ajahn Mun


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 14: Visions of a Samaṇa – Jan. 25, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “Visions of a Samaṇa” from Samaṇa by Ajahn Mahā Boowa pp. 11-12, 16-17, 18-25. Read by Ajahn Ṭhitapañño. Translated by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro.


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1. Brief biography of Ajahn Mahā Boowa. Teaching by Ajahn Ṭhitapañño. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa]


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2. Ajahn Pasanno describes the title “Luang Ta.” [Monastic titles] [Older monks] // [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Thai]


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3. “When Luang Ta Mahā Boowa says he’s looking for a sign or vision, what does he mean by that?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Nimitta] [Deva] // [Culture/Thailand] [Culture/West] [Dreams] [Determination]

Story: Ajahn Tiradhammo asks Ajahn Chah what event convinced him that he was on the path to liberation. [Ajahn Tiradhammo] [Ajahn Chah] [Dhamma books] [History/Thai Buddhism] [Liberation]


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4. “Did any of the Western monks go to Ajahn Chah to ask about their dreams?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Dreams] // [Ajahn Pasanno]


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5. “Was the biography compiled from what Luang Ta wrote or stories from his students?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [History/Thai Buddhism] [Dhamma books]

Story: Ajahn Mahā Boowa types Dhamma books and writes letters to practitioners. [Technology] [Teaching Dhamma]


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6. “Do you have any information about what the Level 3 Pāli includes?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Learning] [Pāli] [History/Thai Buddhism] // [Ajahn Chah] [Commentaries]

Story: P.A. Payutto passes the ninth level Pāli studies as a novice. [P. A. Payutto] [Novices] [Ordination] [Royalty]


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7. “What do monks do with Pāli study levels?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Learning] [Pāli] [Culture/Thailand] [Types of monks] // [P. A. Payutto]

Story: Tan Chao Khun Prayoon Dhammacitto, the head of the Buddhist University in Bangkok, visits Wat Pah Nanachat. [Chao Khun Prayoon] [Thai sects] [Wat Pah Nanachat]

Story: Ajahn Mahā Adisak, a ninth-degree Pāli scholar, spends a year at Amaravati. [Ajahn Mahā Adisak] [Amaravati] [Ajahn Sumedho]

Story: He found it difficult to translate Ajahn Amaro’s teachings to Westerners into Thai. [Ajahn Amaro] [Culture/West] [Translation] [Dhamma books]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 15: Unshakeable Peace – Jan. 26, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “Unshakeable Peace” (continued) from Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, pp. 453-471. Read by Ajahn Sudhīro. [Ajahn Chah]


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1. “Was Ajahn Chah talking about samādhi or stream entry when he spoke about “not going backwards”?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Concentration] [Stream entry] [Ajahn Chah]


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2. “Did Ajahn Chah tend to emphasize certain Dhammas for Westerners and for Thais?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Teaching Dhamma] [Culture/West ] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah]


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3. “Was Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo’s experience of being pushed unusual for Western monks?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Culture/West] [Ardency] [Ajahn Chah] [Suffering]

Jack Kornfield’s recollections of Ajahn Chah at Insight Meditation Society. Recounted by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Jack Kornfield] [Insight Meditation Society] [Meditation retreats]


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4. “Before Ajahn Chah had his stroke how many branch monasteries were there at that time?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Ajahn Chah]


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5. “Was Ajahn Chah involved in training the abbots of those monasteries?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Abbot] [Mentoring] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Tam Saeng Pet] [Wat Pah Nanachat]


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6. “Was the tradition of a monk going to another monastery in their third rains happening in Ajahn Chah’s time?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sequence of training] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Ajahn Chah]


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7. “Did Ajahn Chah ever have to use any especially powerful methods of pushing people away when the time came for them to go somewhere else?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Fierce/direct teaching] [Ajahn Chah] // [Respect]

Story: The unpopular branch monastery. [Wat Pah Supattaram] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Building projects] [Abbot] [Fasting]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 16: A Higher Training – Jan. 27, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “A Higher Training” from Fighting for Freedom Within by Ajahn Wanchai pp. 25-38. Read by Ajahn Suhajjo.


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1. “All the Thai Forest Masters give very clear presentations of how they were attaining/finding peace of mind. Is there much written about how Bangkok was reacting when these Masters were saying “attainment is possible?” How were the Thai Masters answering?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Progress of insight] [Types of monks] [Liberation] // [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo] [Royalty]


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2. “What were the interesting practices you used so that you would get up as soon as you woke up?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Devotion to wakefulness ] // [Mindfulness of body] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Sitter's practice]


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3. “Did Ajahn Chah talk about how to approach the nimitas?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Nimitta] // [Proliferation]


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4. “Could it be useful if the object is clear, stable, and peaceful and keeps coming back?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nimitta] // [Proliferation]


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5. “With investigating sleep, it seems sleeping less is an effect from good meditation practice rather than a cause; is it because there is less proliferation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Devotion to wakefulness] [Conditionality] [Proliferation] // [Craving not to become] [Sloth and torpor] [Habits] [Ardency] [Energy]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 17: Fearless Warrior Spirit and Blessing of a Lifetime – Jan. 28, 2014

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[Session] Reading: Chapters “Fearless Warrior Spirit” and “Blessing of a Lifetime” from Mae Chee Kaew: Her Journey to Spiritual Awakening and Enlightenment by Ajahn Dick Sīlaratano, pp. 33-49. Read by Tan Khantiko. [Mae Chee Kaew]


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1. “I am curious about ways to know if one is lying to oneself and what to do?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Truth] [Delusion] // [Suffering] [Discernment] [Bases of Success]

Recollection: Ajahn Chah said the fastest way to enlightenment is to look directly at the mind, point your finger, and say “Liar!” [Ajahn Chah] [Liberation] [Proliferation]


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2. “There are photos of Luang Ta Mahā Boowa looking very fierce and also photos of him looking very joyful, laughing, and the same with Ajahn Chah, a bit more stern I’d say. Do you think the same could be said of Ajahn Mun, not that there are photos but there could have been?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Ajahn Chah] [Happiness] [Ajahn Mun] [Technology] // [Culture/Thailand]

Quote: “Those farangs, they really like teeth.” — Ajahn Chah [Culture/West]


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3. “What about Luang Por Dune, he looks so mellow; was he ever animated?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Dune] [Personality] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/Thailand] [Humor]

Reference: Gifts He Left Behind by Ajahn Dune.


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4. Ajajn Pasanno talks about a senior Thai Ajahn talking about his trip to the US. [Humor] // [Conditionality] [Food]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 18: The Spirit of a Warrior and Kor Patipada – Jan. 29, 2014

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1. Reading: “The Spirit of a Warrior,” unpublished talk by Ajahn Dtun in Krooba Ajahn. Read by Anagārika J.R..


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2. Reading: “Aiming to Look After the Kor Patibat,” unpublished talk by Ajahn Baen. Read by Anagārika J.R..


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3. “In the reading there was a lot of emphasis on solitude. Here we have a lot of time for that especially right now with our Winter Retreat, but we also have a lot of responsibilities and engagement in community. How would you recommend us balancing the two or using them to help each other?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Seclusion] [Abhayagiri] [Community] [Work] [Personality] // [Culture/Thailand] [Culture/India] [Ajahn Chah] [Unwholesome Roots] [Discernment] [Generosity] [Culture/West] [Self-identity view]


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4. “Do you have any advice about how to hold a particularly strong “fighting spirit” teaching, like Ajahn Dtun?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Fierce/direct teaching ] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Dtun] // [Culture/Thailand] [Ardency] [Right Effort] [Restlessness and worry] [Heedfulness] [Discernment] [Goodwill]

Sutta: AN 1.49: The mind is radiant.

Quote: “If you invite visitors into your home [the mind] and they just make a mess, then you want to close the door on them before they come in. You can’t be too polite.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Similes] [Unwholesome Roots]


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5. “I got more a sense of metta from Ajahn Dtun than warrior spirit?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Dtun] [Goodwill] [Fierce/direct teaching] // [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Spiritual urgency]


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6. Story: Ajahn Dtun unexpectedly manifests goodwill towards Ajahn Ñāṇiko. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Dtun] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Goodwill] // [Abbot] [Malas]


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7. “I have another question about balance. LP Baen encouraged his monks to admonish each other, but Ajahn Chah said to put 90% of your attention on your self and only 10% on other people?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Baen] [Admonishment/feedback] [Ajahn Chah] // [Culture/Thailand] [Culture/West]

Quote: “If someone criticizes you, then you should raise your hands in añjāli and say ‘Sadhu!’ because you don’t have to hire them to do it for you!” — Ajahn Chah [Respect] [Gratitude]


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8. “Isn’t there a story about when Ajahn Chah wanted to give feedback to a senior monk and he waited 20 or 30 years?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Admonishment/feedback] [Right Speech] // [Ajahn Baen] [Vinaya] [Protocols] [Cleanliness]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 19: Pure and Simple – Feb. 1, 2014

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1. Dedication of the reading to Iris Landsberg. [Lay life] [Death]


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2. Recollection: Brief biography of Upasika Kee Nanayon. Recounted by Debbie Stamp. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Lay life] [History/Thai Buddhism] // [Seclusion] [Community]


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3. Reading:Reading the Mind” from Pure and Simple, by Upasika Kee Nanayon, pp. 163-177. Read by Debbie Stamp.


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4. “What Pāli word do you think Ajahn Geoff is translating as thought formations?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli] [Translation] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] // [Volitional formations] [Thai]


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5. “In another Ajahn Geoff translation, I have seen him use “supposings” or “fashionings.’ Is that the same word?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Translation] [Thai] // [Conventions] [Ajahn Chah] [Liberation]


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6. “Did Upasika Kee focus on vedana more than other things or was that just in this chapter?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Feeling] // [Insight meditation]


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7. “During her lifetime did she have a lot of followers?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Community] // [Animal]


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8. “Would it be possible to give a working definition of saṅkhāra? It seems that saṅkhāra is used by different people in different ways.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volitional formations] [Aggregates] // [Conditionality] [Form]

Reference: Abhayagiri Chanting Book, p. 23: “All conditions are impermanent.”


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 20: Ajahn Dtun Questions and Answers – Feb. 2, 2014

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1. Ajahn Dtun’s visit and Iris Landsberg. Recollections by Beth Steff.

Quote: “In the morning, a health friend. In the evening, a wisp of cremation smoke.” — unnamed Chan master. [Death] [Recollection/Death]


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2. Reading: Unpublished Q & A session from Ajahn Dtun’s 2013 visit to Canada. Read by Beth Steff.


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3. “I’m interested in the theme mentioned of the body and mind being separate from each other. The questioner asks ‘Don’t they have influence on one another?’ I’m curious about how to reflect on that.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Form] [Nature of mind] // [Ajahn Chah] [Sickness] [Knowing itself]

Story: Ajahn Chah retreats into the peace and stability of the mind to cope with a lung infection.


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 21: Kondañña Knows – Feb. 3, 2014

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1. Background information about Paul Brieter and Being Dhamma. [Paul Breiter] // [Ajahn Chah] [Translation] [Dhamma books]


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2. Reading: “Kondañña Knows” from Being Dharma by Ajahn Chah (commercial) pp. 151-168. Read by Ajahn Pasanno.


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3. “The worldly winds appear quite distinct from each other, but status and praise seem closely related. Why?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Worldly Conditions] [Blame and praise] [Fame and disrepute]


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4. “A stream-enterer is said to come back no more than seven lifetimes. Why the number seven?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stream entry]


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5. “It’s interesting that he equates the extreme of self mortification to aversion, ill-will, and pushing away.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Middle Path] [Aversion] [Ill-will] // [Ajahn Chah] [Desire] [Ajahn Liem] [Relinquishment] [Arahant] [Idealism]


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6. “Could that “quality of knowing” be a variation on the teaching of sati-sampajañña, mindfulness and clear comprehension?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] // [Discernment]


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7. Reflection about the Buddha saying, “Māra, I see you!” Contributed by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Buddha/Biography] [Māra]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno about the definition of an arahant being “one who is far from defilements” and insight into not self. [Ajahn Chah] [Not-self] [Stream entry] [Self-identity view]

Sutta: MN 123 Acchariya-abbhūta Sutta: Wonderful and Marvelous.


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 22: Steps Along the Path – Feb. 4, 2014

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[Session] Reading: Steps Along the Path by Ajahn Thate pp. 3-12. Read by Ajahn Jotipālo.


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 23: Looking Within – Feb. 5, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “Looking Within” from Me and Mine by Ajahn Buddhadāsa pp. 69-77. Read by Ajahn Ñāṇiko.


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1. “Do you recall when Ajahn Buddhadāsa died?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] // [Translation]


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2. Ajahn Ñaniko speaks about the time Luang Por Liem spent at Suan Mokh. [Wat Suan Mokkh] [Ajahn Liem]

Recollection: The Thai translations in the Wat Pah Pong chanting book come from Ajahn Buddhadāsa. [Chanting] [Wat Pah Pong] [Thai] [Translation] [Ajahn Buddhadāsa]

Recollection: Ajahn Liem reads and comments on the monthly poem in the Ajahn Buddhadāsa calendar. [Artistic expression]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 24: Gifts He Left Behind – Feb. 6, 2014

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1. Format of Gifts He Left Behind by Ajahn Dune.


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2. Reading: Gifts He Left Behind by Ajahn Dune: Introduction. Read by Ajahn Ahiṃsako.


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3. Story: The Queen invites the best neurosurgeons to help Ajahn Chah in a special suite in Chulalongkorn Hospital. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Sickness] [Royalty] [Health care] // [Saṅgha decision making]

Story: Ajahn Dune occupies the suite after Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Dune]


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4. Reading: Gifts He Left Behind by Ajahn Dune: Biographical Sketch and pp. 105-109, 1, 3, 6-9, 11-12, 15-19, 77. Read by Ajahn Ahiṃsako.


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5. “Ajahn Pasanno, did I hear correctly the other day that you met Luang Por Dune?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Dune] // [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Wat Burapha] [Personality] [Teaching Dhamma]


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6. “His monastery is quite loud, isn’t it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Dune] [Wat Burapha] [Seclusion]


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7. Reading: “Its Easy if You are not Attached,” Gifts He Left Behind by Ajahn Dune, p. 77. Read by Ajahn Ahiṃsako. [Ajahn Dune] [Wat Burapha] // [Rains retreat]

Quote: “It’s the nature of light to be bright; it’s the nature of noise to be loud.” [Contact ] [Sense restraint] [Discernment]


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8. “I was reading that Reverend Heng Sure found that his meditation object was particularly bright and clear when he was around his teacher Master Hua. I wondered if you experienced anything like that when you paid respects to various Ajahns?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rev. Heng Sure] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Meditation] // [Conscience and prudence] [Respect for elders]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 26: The Principle of the Present – Feb. 10, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “The Principle of the Present,” Straight from the Heart by Ajahn Mahā Boowa, pp. 129-149. Read by Ajahn Cunda.


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 27: In the Shape of a Circle – Feb. 11, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “In the Shape of a Circle,” Still, Flowing Water by Ajahn Chah p 77. Read by Ajahn Kaccāna.


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1. “With your meditation object, when you turn to contemplate it in terms of the three characteristics: anicca, dukkha and anatta, and that doesn’t come up, does that mean you need to stabilize the mind more to see the object more clearly?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Disenchantment] [Characteristics of existence] [Concentration] // [Self-identity view] [Knowledge and vision] [Relinquishment] [Dhamma]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 28: Mindfulness of Death – Feb. 12, 2014

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[Session] Reading: Mindfulness of Death by Ajahn Plien, pp. 1-20. Read by Ajahn Ṭhitapañño.


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1. “Was Ajahn Plien a disciple of Ajahn Lee’s?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Plien] [Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo] // [Ajahn Waen]


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2. “In the Pure Land tradition, there are practices that prepare one for death. Are there are specific recommendations that yourself or Ajahn Chah would give for preparation for that last moment before death?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pure Land] [Ajahn Chah] [Death] [Recollection/Death] // [Buddho mantra]

Story: Family members try to encourage a drunkard to recollect “Arahaṃ“ in his last moments. [Mantra] [Humor]

Story: Ajahn Chah’s response to Paul Breiter’s desire to teach meditation to dying people. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Paul Breiter] [Meditation] [Fierce/direct teaching]

Story: Ajahn Karuṇadhammo advises Iris Landsberg to recollect “sorrowless, spotless, secure.” Told by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Recollection]

Sutta: Sn 2.4: Maṅgala Sutta (English chanting translation).

Story: A couple asks Master Hua what kind of dog they should get. [Master Hsuan Hua] [Animal] [Rebirth]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 29: Reflections about Wat Pah Pong – Feb. 13, 2014

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1. Information about Twigs and Branches of the Bodhinyana and the sections that Ajahn Kovilo reads. [Ajahn Chah lineage] [Ajahn Chah] [Dhamma books] // [Translation] [Ajahn Jundee] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Sumedho]


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2. Reading: Reflections about Wat Pah Pong by Ajahn Toon from Twigs and Branches of the Bodhinyana. Read by Tan Kovilo.


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3. “Was there some consistency around how Ajahn Chah taught monks in a large community and how he taught monks in a small community? It sounds like when there were eleven monks he was very involved.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Monastic life] [Mentoring] // [Ageing]


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4. “Was Ajahn Jun around when you were training?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Jun] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Liem] [Ajahn Boon Choo]

Story: Ajahn Sumedho gets upset at Ajahn Chah for not admonishing lax monks. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Admonishment/feedback]


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5. Story: Ajahn Jayasaro spends a Rains Retreat with Ajahn Koon. Told by Ajahn Cunda. [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Ajahn Koon] [Novices]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Personality]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 30: Ordination: Going Forth – Feb. 16, 2014

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1. Introductory comments by Ajahn Pasanno and Tan Pamutto clarify some of the terms in the reading.


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2. Reading: “Ordination: Going Forth” from The Ways of the Peaceful by Ajahn Liem pp. 23-33. Read by Tan Pamutto.