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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 31: Breath Meditation Condensed – Feb. 17, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “Breath Meditation Condensed” from An Unentangled Knowing by Upasikā Kee Nanayon, pp. 29-36. Read by Tan Khemako.


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1. “I recall hearing about some aspects of the korwat at Upasika Kee’s center, do you know any of those particular details?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Protocols] // [Medicinal requisites] [Vegetarianism]


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2. “Was it a women only center or separated between men and women?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Women in Buddhism]


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3. “Do you think all those rules were written down like Ajahn Chah regulations?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Protocols] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Pah Pong]


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4. “Did she have any well-known disciples that went on to do other things?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon]


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5. “It’s interesting with vegetarianism, some follow that and there are others that don’t?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Vegetarianism] [Buddha/Biography] [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Gunha] [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] // [Protocols]


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6. “Do you think the vegetarian choice at certain centers and monasteries relates to different temperaments or personalities?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Vegetarianism] [Personality] // [Ajahn Gunha] [Simplicity] [Killing] [Wat Pah Nanachat]

Comment by Ajahn Cunda: At Abhayagiri when people ask, we tell them we prefer vegetarian. [Abhayagiri]


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7. “My guess is they were not smoking at Upasika Kee’s, is that right?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Smoking] // [Health care]


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8. “When she is talking about the mind at normalcy, her description is having the meditation object always at least in the background, constantly in awareness, being aware of the mind-state and also doing whatever you are doing, walking, washing dishes etc. Her emphasis is on cultivating it so this is something that you would be doing twenty-four hours a day. When Ajahn Chah spoke of normalcy of the mind, did he describe it in the same way?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Mindfulness of mind] [Ajahn Chah] // [Discernment] [Happiness] [Unification]


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9. Comment: She talks about within this state of normalcy constantly contemplating the three characteristics of all phenomena occurring in awareness. To me that sounds like juggling a bunch of things! [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Conditionality]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Discernment]


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10. Comment: So the ability to hold the meditation object, go through your daily routines, keep an eye on the mind tone, and watch the stress flavor of all arising phenomenon seems like a fairly advanced practice state to arrive at and maintain twenty-four hours a day. [Continuity of mindfulness ] [Everyday life] [Mindfulness of mind] [Suffering]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno: It’s a great option if you don’t want to suffer. [Cessation of Suffering] [Happiness]


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11. “She talks about making a story out of denying your defilements. Does the story of having fun denying your defilements come from that space of dwelling in that state of continuous mindfulness, or does continuous mindfulness come about from going through the suffering of forcing yourself not to enjoy anything?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Unwholesome Roots] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Conditionality] // [Discernment]

Quote: “Relinquishment isn’t so much a giving up something that we have but enjoying the non-moving to get or trying to make.” [Relinquishment] [Cessation of Suffering] [Not-made-of-that]

Simile: Learning to drive or walk. — Ajahn Kaccāna. [Similes]


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12. “What do you mean when you say try something and note “it’s not working” or “it is working?” How do you know it’s not just another defilement sneaking in and saying “this isn’t working?”” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Effort] [Unwholesome Roots] // [Clear comprehension] [Happiness] [Habits]


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13. “Is that where when one isn’t meditating per se but where virtue would come in to inform whether we have slipped or not?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Virtue] // [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Ajahn Chah] [Conscience and prudence] [Similes] [Spiritual friendship]

Quote: “The defilements have their wisdom also.” — Ajahn Chah [Unwholesome Roots] [Discernment] [Delusion]


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14. “She talks about virtue being the other hand of discernment in the meditation experience, and whenever discernment discerns stress, virtue is what lets go of the cause of stress, that virtue does the disbanding of it. Is virtue an unusual word to use there?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Virtue] [Discernment] [Cessation of Suffering] [Dispassion] // [Pāli] [Conscience and prudence] [Ajahn Chah]

Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 14: Many levels of sīla. [Commentaries] [Eightfold Path]


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15. “When the habit pattern of defilement is so strong, and even with the mind seeing the suffering, still the mind says, “I’m not going to give that up,” do you have any suggestions for softening that, for working with that?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Habits] [Unwholesome Roots] [Clinging]

Response: “No, just keep suffering.” [Suffering]


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16. Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo: In this talk, Upasika Kee goes through dependent origination and emphasizes catching it at sense-contact. I’ve always been taught that it’s feeling where you can break it. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Dependent origination] [Contact] [Mindfulness of feeling]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Desire] [Mindfulness] [Investigation of states]


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17. “You were talking about the positive aspect of relinquishment, and that’s what will motivate giving up, that positive aspect of giving up and letting go. When it’s painful giving up and you give up, you can say, ‘Wait, I’m just focusing on the negative aspect of giving up, I need to switch my mind to the benefits of relinquishment?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relinquishment] [Suffering] [Appropriate attention] // [Self-identity view] [Clinging] [Humor] [Humility]


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18. Discussion about where there may be regret and longing linked to giving up something, although on reflection after relinquishment it can then feel like a non-event, no big deal. [Clinging] [Relinquishment] [Cessation of Suffering]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 32: Venerable Father – Feb. 18, 2014

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[Session] Reading: Readings from Venerable Father by Paul Breiter (commercial), pp. 28-36, 37-45, and 52-54. Read by Ajahn Pesalo.


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1. “What became of Venerable Araññabho?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Disrobing] [Chithurst]


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2. “Did Venerable Araññabho stay at Wat Pah Nanachat?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Wat Pah Pong]


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3. “How long did Venerable Varapañño spend in robes?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Paul Breiter] [Disrobing] // [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Chah] [Wat Pah Pong]

Story: “I need a lawyer!”

Comment by Ajahn Pesalo: Even living for years in close proximity to Ajahn Chah isn’t enough to guarantee people will remain in robes.

Response by Ajahn Pasanno.


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4. “How do monks treat intestinal worms?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Health care] [Sickness] [Killing]


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5. “Was there much coming and going between Wat Pah Pong and Wat Pah Nanachat?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Pah Pong] [Wat Pah Nanachat]


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6. Ajahn Pasanno tells how he went to Wat Pah Nanachat to make a bowl stand but got sick with scrub typhus. An extended discussion ensues. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Monastic crafts] [Sickness] // [Rains retreat] [Joseph Kappel] [Kittisaro]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 33: From the Darkness to the Light – Feb. 19, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “From the Darkness to the Light,” unpublished talk by Ajahn Liem in Krooba Ajahn. Read by Ajahn Sudhīro.


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1. “Did you participate in massage sessions with senior monks besides Luang Por Chah?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Upatakh]


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2. “How does one incline the mind towards recollecting one’s own good actions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Virtue ] [Merit] [Aversion] [Gladdening the mind] // [Emotion] [Feeling] [Kamma] [Investigation of states] [Vajrayāna]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 34: The Skill of Release – Feb. 20, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “By Way of Introduction” and “Why Meditate?” from The Skill of Release by Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo pp. 1-3 and pp. 20-31. Read by Ajahn Suhajjo.


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1. “Can you reflect upon Ajahn Lee’s positive approach to the nutriments?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo] [Nutriment] [Sutta]


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2. “Which of the three unwholesome roots is most prominent when the mind is lazy?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Energy] [Unwholesome Roots] [Sloth and torpor] // [Delusion]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 35: River and Ocean and Collected Teachings – Feb. 21, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “River and Ocean” and “Collected Teachings” from Mae Chee Kaew: Her Journey to Spiritual Awakening and Enlightenment by Ajahn Dick Sīlaratano pp. 206-207 and pp. 231-242. Read by Tan Khantiko.


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1. “Is bhavataṇhā both the desire to exist and the desire to be a certain way?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Becoming] // [Self-identity view]


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2. “Is vibhavataṇhā the thought, “I am this way and I don’t want to be this way?”” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Craving not to become]


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3. “How do the kilesas relate to the concept of the shadow?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Western psychology] [Unwholesome Roots] // [Characteristics of existence] [Self-identity view] [Mae Chee Kaew]


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4. “I seem to make a virtue of laziness and don’t quite believe the teachings about doing without food and sleep. Do you have any advice for me?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sloth and torpor] [Ascetic practices] // [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities]


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5. “Could say more about seeing the unwholesomeness or shadow?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unwholesome Roots] // [Mindfulness] [Idealism] [Delusion]


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6. Comment: There can be this view that the enlightened mind doesn’t have any thoughts or defilements. It’s just perfectly clear and stable and there’s nothing going on. [Liberation] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Unwholesome Roots] [Concentration]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno: Clear and stable and nothing going on are two different things.

Follow-up: “Does the enlightened mind not have any unwholesome thoughts or does it just not pick up unwholesome thoughts?” [Unskillful qualities] [Proliferation] [Clinging] [Cause of Suffering]

Story: A palmist looks at Ajahn Chah’s hands. [Ajahn Chah] [Aversion] [Personality]


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7. The character of Ajahn Chah and his relatives. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Personality] [Aversion] [Humor] // [Leadership]

Recollection: Ajahn Chah’s older brother had the same personality. [Family]


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8. Comment by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Ajahn Chah’s brother didn’t have an inferiority complex. [Ajahn Chah] [Family] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy]


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9. A retreatant expresses appreciation for the concept of non-stickiness. [Gratitude] [Release] [Nibbāna]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Idealism] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Personality] [Mae Chee Kaew] [Language]


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10. Story: Ajahn Ñaniko meets Ajahn Mun’s nephew. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Mun] [Family]


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11. “Ajahn Chah distinguished between the peaceful mind and the mind that has appeased the kilesas. But when the kilesas are present, is it useful to be peaceful about them?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Concentration] [Unwholesome Roots] [Tranquility] // [Suffering] [Delusion]


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12. A retreatant expresses appreciation for Upasika Kee Nanayon’s exhortation to be honest with ourselves. [Unwholesome Roots] [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Truth] [Gratitude]

“You can lie to the entire world if you like, but you must never lie to yourself.” – Mae Chee Kaew: Her Journey to Spiritual Awakening and Enlightenment by Ajahn Dick Sīlaratano, p. 235. [Mae Chee Kaew] [False speech]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Culture/West]


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13. “Can you recommend any practices to develop honesty with ourselves?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Truth] [Delusion] // [Unwholesome Roots] [Direct experience]

Quote: “You can’t take yourself too seriously. That’s really deadly.” [Humor] [Self-identity view]

Quote: “Do we have to sweep all of this?” “No, just sweep what’s in front of your broom.” [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Cleanliness]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 36: The Middleness of the Middle Way – Feb. 24, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “The Middleness of the Middle Way” from Samaṇa by Ajahn Mahā Boowa, pp. 127-134. Read by Anagārika J.R..


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1. Reading: Unpublished talk on peace by Ajahn Piak given to Wat Pah Nanachat monks going to Dtao Dum. Read by Anagārika J.R..


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 37: Paticca-Samuppada: Practical Dependent Origination – Feb. 25, 2014

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[Session] Reading: Paticcasamuppāda: Practical Dependent Origination by Ajahn Buddhadāsa, selections from pp. 22-45. Read by Debbie Stamp.


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1. “Could you describe ways to work with delighting and wanting around the pleasure of food?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Food ] [Craving] [Happiness] [Unattractiveness] [Disenchantment] // [Elements] [Mindfulness of body] [Clinging] [Impermanence] [Dependent origination]

Sutta: AN 5.208: The benefits of chewing toothwoods. [Cleanliness]


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2. “How should we relate to the Buddha’s statement that sensual pleasure is to be feared?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sensual desire] [Sense bases] [Fear] // [Culture/West] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy]

Sutta: MN 66.19: Sensual pleasure is to be feared.


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3. “Could you reflect on how Ajahn Buddhadāsa portrays mindfulness and ignorance as opposites?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Mindfulness] [Ignorance] // [Dependent origination]


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4. “Could you say more about the positive causal process that is the opposite of paticcasamuppada?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dependent origination] [Conditionality] [Mindfulness] // [Skillful qualities] [Right Mindfulness] [Factors of Awakening]

Sutta: SN 12.23 Upanisa: Dukkha is a cause for faith. [Suffering] [Faith]

Sutta: AN 10.61 Avijjā: The Five Hindrances are a cause for ignorance. [Hindrances] [Ignorance]


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5. “When I look at neutral objects, dullness often arises. Is this suffering?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Feeling] [Contact] [Sloth and torpor] [Unskillful qualities] [Suffering] // [Craving not to become] [Delusion] [Ignorance] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension]

Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo: Lack of desire is not enlightenment. [Desire] [Liberation]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 38: Following the Footsteps of Enlightened Beings – Feb. 26, 2014

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1. Reading: “A Short Biography” from No Worries by Ajahn Liem pp. 101, 104-115. Read by Beth Steff.


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2. Reading:Following the Footsteps of the Enlightened Beings,” a talk by Ajahn Liem at an Australian Sangha Association conference. Read by Beth Steff.


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3. “Was there a time in Thai history when meditation was a routine part of childhood education?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [History/Thai Buddhism] [Children] [Learning] [Meditation] // [Three Refuges] [Chanting] [Right View]

Reflection: Ajahn Liem’s mother and sister were nuns with similar demeanor. [Ajahn Liem] [Family] [Mae Chee] [Wat Pah Pong] [Personality]


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4. Story: Trying to wash Ajahn Liem’s cup. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Ajahn Liem] [Ajahn Jotipālo] [Upatakh]


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5. Recollection: Ajahn Liem leads by example. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno.


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6. “Is Ajahn Liem continuing to take care of his health?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Liem] [Health] // [Medicinal requisites] [Food] [Health care]


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7. “Does Ajahn Liem attend morning and evening pūjā?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Liem] [Pūjā] // [Culture/Thailand] [Wat Pah Pong]

Story: Ajahn Liem silently walks around and looks at the monks during morning pūjā. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko.

Follow-up: “Did Ajahn Chah go to morning and evening pūjā?” [Ajahn Chah]

Follow-up: “In the early years of Wat Ban Tad, was it always practice on your own?” [Wat Pah Ban Tat] [Thai sects] [Ajahn Tongrat] [Ajahn Baen]

Story: Too many monks skip pūjā to massage Ajahn Liem. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Upatakh]

Recollections: Bhante Gunaratana comes to morning pūjā early. Recounted by Ajahn Jotipālo and Beth Steff. [Bhante Gunaratana]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 39: Interview with Luang Por Koon – Feb. 27, 2014

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1. Ajahn Pasanno introduces Ajahn Koon and Twigs and Branches of the Bodhinyana. [Dhamma books] [Ajahn Koon]


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2. Reading: Interview with Ajahn Koon in Twigs and Branches of the Bodhinyana. Read by Ajahn Pasanno.


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3. Story: Ajahn Tongrat walks past a pregnant woman and says, “Oh, there’s a really good monk in your stomach there.” Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Tongrat] [Ajahn Koon] [Almsround]


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4. Recollection: Ajahn Chah didn’t let Western monks stay with Ajahn Koon since it was close to the Laos border. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Military] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism] // [Ajahn Koon] [Ajahn Anando]


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5. Story: Ajahn Chah prevents supporters from bringing Ajahn Sumedho special food. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Food] [Ajahn Chah]


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6. “Were there short periods of time when you lived with Luang Por Koon?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Koon] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Wat Keuan] [Ajahn Puriso]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 40: The Natural Character of Awakening – Mar. 2, 2014

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1. Introduction to The Natural Character of Awakening and Chao Khun Upāli. Teaching by Ajahn Jotipālo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Chao Khun Upāli] [Ajahn Mun] [Forest versus city monks]

Story: Ajahn Mun takes on the role of abbot at a city temple out of respect for Chao Khun Upāli’s request. [Abbot]


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2. Reading: The Natural Character of Awakening by Chao Khun Upāli, pp. 58-67. Read by Ajahn Jotipālo.


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3. “Do you have any advice for monks taking on additional practices (āditthanas)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Determination] [Ascetic practices ] // [Appropriate attention] [Virtue] [Sense restraint] [Unwholesome Roots] [Middle Path]


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4. “What is the distinction Chao Khun Upāli makes between lokuttara discernment and higher discernment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Chao Khun Upāli] [Discernment] [Impermanence] [Aggregates] [Suffering] [Cause of Suffering] // [Commentaries] [Ajahn Chah] [Study monks]


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5. “What is the difference between abandoning craving and realizing the abandoning of craving?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Impermanence] [Aggregates] [Cause of Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering] // [Commentaries] [Doubt] [Relinquishment] [Concentration] [Gladdening the mind] [Desire] [Becoming] [Non-return] [Right View]

Sutta: SN 56.11 Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. [Four Noble Truths]

Sutta: MN 121 Cūḷa Suññata Sutta: The Shorter Discourse on Emptiness [Emptiness]

Quote: “The characteristic of cessation is not just ending something and annihilating [it], but it’s being willing and able to stop. The nature of the mind is that it doesn’t like to stop. And it’s [through] that not stopping that we keep creating that sense of me.” — Ajahn Pasanno [Cessation] [Nature of mind] [Self-identity view]


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6. “How many Somdets and Chao Khuns are there at any given time?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [History/Thai Buddhism] [Monastic titles] // [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Liem]


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7. “What’s the Thai for ‘Supreme Patriarch’?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai] [Monastic titles]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 41: Steady Practice – Mar. 3, 2014

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1. Reading: Background of the talk “Steady Practice” from Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 818. Read by Ajahn Ahiṃsako.


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2. Recollection: Background of Wat Keuan. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Keuan] // [Ajahn Chah] [Monastic titles] [Environment] [Ajahn Puriso] [Military] [Animal]

Story: Ajahn Chah ordains a group of university students and takes them to Wat Keuan. [Temporary ordination]


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3. Reading: “Steady Practice” from Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, pp. 277-290. Read by Ajahn Ahiṃsako.


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4. “How do you balance Ajahn Chah’s instruction to put away the books with the desire to study and understand the teachings?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Learning] [Sutta] [Study monks] // [Culture/West] [Faith] [Doubt]


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5. “Did Ajahn Chah ever tell a student to study?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Learning ] // [Eightfold Path] [Study monks] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]

Quote: “These are not absolute statements. When Ajahn Chah says something, he’s pointing. He just doesn’t work that way. And we take it as an absolute.” [Teaching Dhamma] [Proliferation]

Story: Ajahn Chah monks who became study monks. [Ajahn Bunjong] [Ajahn Mahā In]


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6. “Ajahn Chah and other Thai Ajahns emphasize this quality of steady practice. Ajahn Chah showed this was the way to solve the dillema of desire being both the root of all suffering and a necessary ingredient to being able to practice at all....It seems the main obstacle to achieving steady practice is the variability of that part of my awareness that is supervising what is going on....How does one cultivate self-supervision?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Desire] [Self-reliance] [Postures] [Continuity of mindfulness ] // [Mindfulness of body ] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Mindfulness of breathing]

Quote: “The body is like a mirror for the different moods and state of the mind as we’re experiencing things.” [Similes] [Mindfulness of mind]

Follow-up: “I try to practice body awareness when my mind is being supervised...” [Long-term practice] [Ajahn Sucitto]

Sutta: MN 10 Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta [Right Mindfulness]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 42: The Dhamma-Truth of Samatha-Vipassana for the Nuclear Age – Mar. 4, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “The Dhamma-Truth of Samatha-Vipassana for the Nuclear Age” from Key to Natural Truth by Ajahn Buddhadāsa pp. 111-131. Read by Ajahn Ñāṇiko.


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1. Ajahn Pasanno describes the atmosphere of Cold War fear. [Fear] [Politics and society] [Military] // [Culture/West] [Amaravati] [Ajahn Sumedho]


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2. Comment about the purpose and function of the path. Contributed by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Eightfold Path] [Cessation of Suffering] [Concentration] [Discernment]

Responses by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Right View] [Relinquishment] [Self-identity view]


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3. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko on Ajahn Buddhadāsa’s use of analogies. [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Similes] [Suffering]


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4. Quote: “The take-away bit of the forest teachers or ethos is that we have everything within us....They are coming at it from all different angles, but the underlying thread is that theme of relying on and refining capabilities that we actually have. Sīla, samādhi, and pañña are not external to us.” — Ajahn Pasanno [Thai Forest Tradition ] [Self-reliance] [Eightfold Path]


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5. “How does one work with dullness and drowsiness in sitting meditation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sloth and torpor] [Posture/Sitting] // [Hindrances] [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Ajahn Chah] [Posture/Walking] [Culture/Natural environment] [Posture/Standing] [Continuity of mindfulness]

Sutta: AN 7.58 Capala Sutta: “Are you nodding, Moggallana?” [Great disciples]

Story: Ajahn Pasanno walks in the forest without a flashlight to dispel drowsiness. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Dtao Dum] [Devotion to wakefulness]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 43: Straightening Out Your Views – Mar. 5, 2014

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1. Background informatin about Ajahn Suwat. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Suwat] // [Ajahn Fun] [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Dune]


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2. Reading: “Straightening Out Your Views” from Fistful of Sand & The Light of Discernment by Ajahn Suwat, pp. 48-51. Read by Ajahn Kassapo.


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3. Ajahn Pasanno asks Ajahn Pesalo for more information about Ajahn Suwat. [Ajahn Suwat] // [Death] [Wat Buridat] [Sickness]


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4. “Where is Wat Buridat?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Pesalo. [Wat Buridat] // [Ajahn Suwat] [Wat Metta] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Insight Meditation Society]


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5. “Did Ajahn Mahā Boowa always praise the dtuaṅga practices?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ascetic practices] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Ajahn Mun] // [Qualities for non-decline]

Story: Ajahn Mun tells Ajahn Mahā Boowa to stop sweeping when he is sick with malaria. [Sickness] [Ardency] [Attachment to precepts and practices]

Story: Ajahn Mahā Boowa takes on the dtok bhat practice, but Ajahn Mun puts food in his bowl. Told by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Almsfood] [Conceit]

Story: Ajahn Pasanno meets a monk who didn’t need to sleep. [Devotion to wakefulness] [Sense restraint] [Concentration]

Story: Pa Auk Sayadaw didn’t sleep during a Rains Retreat. [Pa Auk Sayadaw]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 44: Ajahn Chah: The Tudong Years – Mar. 6, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “1946-1954: The Tudong Years” from the draft biography of Ajahn Chah. Read by Ajahn Cunda.

Reference: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 44.


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1. Story: Ajahn Chah asks Ajahn Mun whether he should reordain as a Dhammayut monk. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Mun] [Thai sects]


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2. Ajahn Pasanno gives more information about the cremation ground story. [Ajahn Chah] [Personality] [Postulants]


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3. “Did the pakow who accompanied Ajahn Chah to the cremation ground ever ordain?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Postulants]


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4. Comments about the cremation ground story and the draft biography of Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Dhamma books]


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5. “Are the boundaries between Dhammayut and Mahanikai breaking down?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai sects] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Vinaya]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 45: Ajahn Chah: A Simple Monk – Mar. 7, 2014

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[Session] Reading: “A Simple Monk” from the draft biography of Ajahn Chah. Read by Ajahn Kaccāna.

Reference: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 73. (The draft biograpy contains many details not in the final text.)


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1. “Is samwat a Thai word for saṁvega?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai] [Spiritual urgency]


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2. “How common is burial as opposed to cremation in Thailand?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Culture/Thailand] [Funerals] // [Death] [Suicide] [Ghost] [Rebirth]

Story: A person killed by a gunshot wound doesn’t realize that he is dead.


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3. “Why are dead children buried?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Death] [Children] [Culture/Thailand]


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4. “When and why did Ajahn Chah talk about his past?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Teaching Dhamma] // [Stories]


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5. “Did Ajahn Chah say, “I’m such a good teacher because I had so many defilements?”” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Teaching Dhamma] [Unwholesome Roots]

Story: Ajahn Chah explains that he had a lot of defilements to work with. [Ajahn Viradhammo]


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6. “Did Ajahn Chah use asubha practice during his battle with lust?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Sensual desire] [Unattractiveness] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Impermanence] [Patience] [Conditionality]

Reference: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 81.