Meditation (bhāvanā)
Subtopics: Meditation/General advice, Right Effort, Right Concentration, Meditation/Techniques, Calming meditation, Insight meditation, Recollection, Postures, Meditation retreats, Meditation/Results, Meditation/Unusual experiences, Long-term practice
65 excerpts, 4:14:41 total duration

Events (1) All excerpts (66) Questions about (28) Answers involving (18) Stories (12) Quotes (6) Readings (2)

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 8 – Apr. 28, 2001

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[Session] Reading: “Meditation” from Living Dhamma by Ajahn Chah, pp. 50-53. Read by Ajahn Jitindriyā. [Meditation]

“Cultivate the tree right from the seed.” [Similes] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]

“To practice in a way that’s peaceful means to place the mind neither too high or too low, but at the point of balance.” [Middle Path] [Ajahn Chah]

“So many teachers, so many teachings.” [Teachers] [Doubt] [Meditation/Techniques]

“Where there is knowing, there is no need to think.” [Knowing itself] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Tranquility] [Mindfulness] [Discernment] [Proliferation]

“Resolve that right now is the time for training the mind and nothing else.” [Ardency] [Determination] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Body scanning] [Relinquishment] [Sense restraint]

“Sometimes there may be doubt, so you must have sati, to be the one who knows, continually following and examining the agitated mind.” [Continuity of mindfulness] [Restlessness and worry] [Heedfulness] [Concentration] [Feeling]

Simile: Chicken in a coop.


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

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8. Ajahn Chah emphasized sīla and precepts when teaching in the West. Recollection by Joseph Kappel. [Virtue] [Five Precepts] [Teaching Dhamma] [Culture/West] [Ajahn Chah] // [Communal harmony] [Meditation] [Sensual desire] [Long-term practice]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 12 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. “What is the daily schedule like?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro and Joseph Kappel. [Monastic life] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Amaro] [Joseph Kappel] [Chanting] [Meditation] [Almsround] [Work] [Abhayagiri] [Teaching Dhamma] [Upatakh]


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

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3. “When I went to stay with Luang Por Chah, he said, ‘Don’t read anything.’” Recollection by Ajahn Sumedho. [Learning] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Abhidhamma] [Rains retreat] [Meditation]


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 24 – Apr. 29, 2001

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2. Guided meditation offered by Ajahn Sundarā. [Meditation] // [Posture/Sitting] [Body scanning] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Present moment awareness]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 31 – Apr. 29, 2001

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3. Question related to age and ordination (audio unclear). Answered by Ajahn Sumedho. [Ordination] [Older monks] [Ajahn Chah] // [Culture/Thailand] [Meditation] [Mae Chee] [Relationships] [Liberation] [Culture/West]

Story: A doctor ordains later in life. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Health care]


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

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9. The sea of faith: Ajahn Chah’s funeral. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Faith] [Funerals] [Ajahn Chah] // [Meditation] [Chanting] [Almsfood]


Metta Retreat, Session 2 – Sep. 10, 2008

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2. “What happens when someone carefully builds the fire, but it turns into a forest fire–uncontrollable–and the person experiences mania, delusions, and paranoia? What is the spiritual treatment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mental illness] [Delusion] // [Precepts] [Association with people of integrity] [Generosity] [Becoming] [Medicinal requisites] [Thai] [Work]

Quote: “One of the first spiritual treatments is to get them to stop meditating.” [Meditation]

Recollection: Ajahn Pasanno learned by experience that meditation is not a panacea. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Meditation] [Wat Pah Nanachat]


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4. “If one were to become a monastic at Abhayagiri, how would one go about it? What are the day-to-day activities of a monk? What do I need to know and consider before making such a commitment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Abhayagiri] // [Sequence of training] [Saṅgha decision making] [Mentoring] [Chanting] [Meditation] [Work] [Seclusion] [Shelter] [Cleanliness] [Building projects] [Robes]


Metta Retreat, Session 4 – Sep. 12, 2008

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14. “Do you think being introduced to Buddhism guided you to the contemplative life or would you have become a monk in any tradition?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life] [Spiritual traditions] // [Meditation]

Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s aunt remembers that he said he wanted to be a priest when he was young.


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17. “What is the difference between ‘meditating on’ versus ‘contemplating’ or just thinking about something. Can you give some examples how one may skillfully meditate on something versus unskillfully? What does saṅkhāra mean?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Recollection] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Skillful qualities] [Volitional formations] [Pāli] // [Concentration] [Progress of insight] [Self-identity view] [Aggregates]

Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 11: A passage to arouse urgency.


Recollections of Ajahn Chah, Session 4 – Sep. 19, 2010

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1. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Context of Ajahn Chah’s early efforts at meditation. [Meditation] [Ajahn Chah] // [Thai sects] [Ajahn Mun] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]


Tudong Stories at Spirit Rock, Session 3 – Jun. 2, 2011

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7. Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s tudong practice. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Seclusion] [Tudong] // [Meditation] [Sickness] [Ajahn Amaro] [Abhayagiri] [Patience]


Right Livelihood, Session 1 – Apr. 21, 2013

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29. Story: The head of Lalanka Water invites monks to stay above his office and teach the employees. Told by Ajahn Yatiko. [Work] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Teaching Dhamma] [Right Livelihood] // [Lunar observance days] [Eight Precepts] [Meditation] [Dhamma discussion] [Respect]

Story: The ultra-competent assistant who wants to ordain. [Monastic life/Motivation]

Story: The king’s assistant who dives into the water to get 20 pounds of gold (DN 17).


The Whole of the Path: The Fruits of Spiritual Friendship, Session 1 – Jun. 22, 2013

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1. “Could you tell us how you became a monk?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ordination] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life/Motivation] // [Culture/Thailand] [Meditation]

Quote: “I stumbled into it.” [Monastic life]


The Whole of the Path: The Fruits of Spiritual Friendship, Session 3 – Jun. 22, 2013

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1. “What do we do at the monastery? What happens on a daily basis?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Abhayagiri] // [Chanting] [Meditation] [Work] [Food] [Questions]


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9. “For me, the practice starts with concentration to get to a place of well-being. Is there a missing piece here?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Concentration] [Happiness] // [Cultural context] [Generosity] [Precepts] [Culture/West] [Western psychology] [Meditation]

Quote: “It is helpful to get a picture of the whole path and realize how integrated and mutually nourishing those path factors are.” [Eightfold Path] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]


Abhayagiri Monastic Retreat 2013, Session 4 – Nov. 26, 2013

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14. “How does one reconcile the apparent complete lack of control that is experienced in meditation...with the apparent need to control one’s circumstances off the cushion. Is it possible to live with complete non-contention and still have an organized life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Everyday life] [Meditation] [Volition] [Non-contention]


Abhayagiri Monastic Retreat 2013, Session 5 – Nov. 27, 2013

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2. “Over the last couple of years, I’ve been noticing that memory retention isn’t quite what it used to be...In your experience, has meditation practice helped sharpen the memory?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Memory] [Ageing] [Meditation]


Abhayagiri Monastic Retreat 2013, Session 8 – Nov. 30, 2013

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13. “Also, What are the 4 aspects of bhavana that you mentioned?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation]


New Year, New Life, Session 1 – Dec. 16, 2013

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1. “I see what you’re saying about the hindrances, but it seems like that’s everything I called my life....So you’re saying keep on working at it and it [the mind] gets used to focusing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances] [Proliferation] [Meditation] // [Mindfulness] [Goodwill] [Recollection/Virtue] [Recollection/Generosity] [Gladdening the mind]


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2. “What do you think about the idea of secular Buddhism? Earlier you spoke about bhāvanā versus meditation, that meditation is not a useful translation [of bhāvanā]. Do you think secular Buddhism is useful or not?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Secular Buddhism] [Meditation] // [Human] [Suffering] [Cultural context] [Buddhist identity] [Culture/West] [Learning]

Quote: “Anything is useful if it’s picking up the actual teachings of the Buddha and applying [them] in a skillful way.” [Eightfold Path] [Skillful qualities]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 24 – Feb. 6, 2014

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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 27 – Feb. 11, 2014

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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 – Feb. 12, 2014

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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. [Meditation] [Fierce/direct teaching]

Story: Ajahn Karuṇadhammo advises Iris Landsberg to recollect “sorrowless, spotless, secure.” Told by Ajahn Kaccāna. [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 38 – Feb. 26, 2014

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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]


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]


Death and Dying, Session 1 – May. 9, 2014

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11. “Is there a meditation practice to use with someone who is dying?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Death] // [Faith] [Simplicity] [Happiness] [Recollection/Death] [Ageing] [Sickness]

Story about Ram Dass’s dying mother: “Richard, shut up!” [Ram Dass] [Fear] [Restlessness and worry]


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

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14. “I can’t imagine not having meditation as part of this practice. How does Buddhism exist without it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [History] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Ceremony/ritual] [Generosity] [Faith] [Devotional practice]


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15. “A list of ten misconceptions about Buddhim in Tricycle magazine included ‘All Buddhists meditate.’ It said that historically this wasn’t true. Is this accurate?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [History] [Culture/West] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Monastic life] [Lay life] [Devotional practice] [History/Thai Buddhism]


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16. Comment about Asian and Western Buddhist perspectives regarding meditation and other aspects of practice encountered at Abhayagiri Monastery. [Cultural context] [Culture/West] [Meditation] [Devotional practice] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Ajahn Chah] [Abhayagiri]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Learning]


Thai Forest Tradition, Session 2 – Jun. 14, 2014

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4. “Does the current interest in meditation in Thailand extend to the villages around forest monasteries as well as urban areas?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Culture/Thailand] [Meditation] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Pong] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Lunar observance days] [Festival days]


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5. “So the whole country [Thailand] meditates?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Culture/Thailand] [Meditation] [Thai Forest Tradition]


Thai Forest Tradition, Session 3 – Jun. 14, 2014

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6. Comment: I appreciate Ajahn Liem saying, ‘I didn’t make much of it.’ It’s a contradiction between being very active and not being active at the same time. [Ajahn Liem] [Middle Path] [Thai Forest Tradition]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relinquishment] [Meditation] [Concentration] [Proliferation] [Nature of mind] [Faith]


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

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1. “What is Abhayagiri’s daily schedule?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri] // [Chanting] [Meditation] [Work] [Almsround]


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21. “How do you not objectify this awareness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Knowing itself] [Mindfulness] [Proliferation] // [Four Noble Truths] [Suffering] [Relinquishment] [Investigation of states]

Quote: “If you objectify awareness, you’re going to suffer.” [Nature of mind]

Quote: “These Four Noble Truths are not an endpoint, they are something that you’re internalizing and using in your meditation practice and in your daily life.” [Meditation] [Everyday life]


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 32 – Feb. 21, 2015

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2. “Why did the Buddha ask the monk to develop meditation in many ways [in AN 8.63]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Meditation/General advice] [Buddha/Biography] // [Directed thought and evaluation] [Rapture] [Happiness] [Equanimity] [Jhāna] [Calming meditation] [Cessation of Suffering]

Recollection: Ajahn Chah would rarely label meditation states. [Ajahn Chah]


The Middle Way of Not-Self, Session 2 – May. 27, 2015

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13. “Is bhavadiṭṭhi the same word as cultivation (bhāvanā)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Becoming] [Views] [Meditation] [Pāli] [Not-self] // [Etymology]


Desire or Aspiration, Session 1 – Jun. 14, 2015

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9. “Could you speak to how we sink into a place and you lift yourself with brightness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Gladdening the mind] // [Concentration] [Meditation] [Language] [Spaciousness]


Buddhist Identity in the Modern World – Aug. 15, 2015

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13. “Should someone who follows the five precepts and meditates but has their own faith and belief call themselves a Buddhist?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Five Precepts] [Meditation] [Faith] [Spiritual traditions] [Buddhist identity] // [Dhamma] [Truth] [Eightfold Path] [Happiness]


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18. Story: A woman likes Buddhist teachings and principles, follows the precepts, and meditates, but hates when people identify with this and call themselves Buddhist. Told by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Dhamma] [Precepts] [Meditation] [Aversion] [Buddhist identity] [Clinging] [Self-identity view]


Jhāna: A Practical Approach, Session 3 – Oct. 10, 2015

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5. “Is jhāna only in meditation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Jhāna] // [Right Concentration]

Quote: “Only farangs [Westerners] go into meditation rock climbing! Does he contemplate the Four Noble Trurths?” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Culture/West] [Recreation/leisure/sport] [Meditation] [Four Noble Truths] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Relinquishment]


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6. “If there isn’t an intention, [meditation] isn’t useful for the goal?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Volition] [Jhāna] // [Volitional formations] [Kamma]


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9. “Isn’t rapture and joy a sensual pleasure?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Rapture] [Happiness] [Sense bases] [Jhāna] // [Dhamma] [Virtue] [Generosity] [Compassion] [Recollection/Virtue]

Quote: “You can actually give yourself permission to enjoy the meditation.” — Ajahn Pasanno [Meditation]


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10. “I meditate. Pleasure arises, and I enjoy that. Does that mean it’s Dhamma practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Happiness] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Jhāna] // [Investigation of states] [Feeling] [Mindfulness of mind]


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19. Quote: “There are a lot of confusing views and opinions about jhāna and meditation. It’s helpful to ask, ‘What’s the Buddha actually say? How does he put it?’ I have a lot more faith in him than in a lot of what’s out there.” — Ajahn Pasanno [Meditation] [Faith] [Views] [Buddha] [Jhāna]


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23. “When we drop directed thought and evaluation, do we drop the object of our concentration and just abide in mindfulness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Directed thought and evaluation] [Concentration] [Mindfulness] [Meditation] [Jhāna] // [Knowing itself]


Jhāna: A Practical Approach, Session 4 – Oct. 10, 2015

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5. “Is the purpose of jhāna aand meditation to build up the strength of the mind so we will be able to contemplate the Four Noble Truths?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Heart/mind] [Four Noble Truths] [Jhāna] // [Calming meditation] [Insight meditation]

Sutta: AN 4.170: In Conjunction


Suttas You've Never Heard Of, Session 1 – Jun. 25, 2016

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6. “With development (bhavana), is one able to shape the course of sickness or heal oneself to a degree?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Sickness] [Health] // [Happiness] [Medicinal requisites]

Comment: I’ve been reflecting on how AN 5.48 applies to environmental and collective well-being–engaging without the expectation that actions will have a certain result. [Environment] [Politics and society]

Response [History/Thai Buddhism]


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8. Comment: Michael Olds translates sutta as ‘magical spell.’ The format, repetition, and structure of the suttas has a certain potency. When I read the suttas after meditating, it’s completely different. [Sutta] [Psychic powers] [Meditation]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha] [Teaching Dhamma]


Suttas You've Never Heard Of, Session 2 – Jun. 25, 2016

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6. Story: Ajahn Pasanno visits the elderly Cambodian monk Mahāgossānanda who has Alzheimer’s disease. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Preah Mahāghosānanda] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Sickness] // [Dalai Lama] [Divine Abidings] [Ajahn Chah] [Heart/mind]

Quote: “That thing you learn in meditation—that you don’t lose.” — Ajahn Fuang [Ajahn Fuang] [Meditation] [Liberation]

Story: A monk known for psychic powers visits Ajahn Chah’s sick room and reports: “You don’t have to worry about Ajahn Chah. His heart is so bright.” [Psychic powers] [Dependent origination] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Lunar observance days]


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

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2. Reading: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 40-41: Ajahn Chah’s father’s dying request [Parents] [Death] [Monastic life/Motivation] [Ajahn Chah] // [Culture/Thailand] [Meditation]


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7. Comment: The essence of Ajahn Chah’s teaching was virtue and Right View. [Teaching Dhamma] [Virtue] [Right View] [Ajahn Chah] // [Meditation] [Mindfulness] [Concentration]


The New Ajahn Chah Biography, Session 3 – Apr. 21, 2018

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3. Comment: I’m trying to move away from the concept of formal and informal practice. It’s just how I’m practicing in practice this moment. [Continuity of mindfulness] [Meditation] [Present moment awareness] [Everyday life]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ardency] [Tranquility] [Middle Path] [Eightfold Path]


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16. “These readings give the sense that the Northeastern Thai Isan culture is the soil that supports the living tradition. Are there cultural attitudes or ingredients that would be helpful for laypeople in addition to the key things of sīla and Right View?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Culture/Thailand] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Culture/West] [Virtue] [Right View] // [Generosity] [Meditation] [Precepts] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Happiness]


Chanting, Session 1 – Jun. 2, 2018

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1. Recollection: Ajahn Mun chants for an hour before meditating. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mun] [Meditation] [Devotional practice] [Chanting]


The Path of Practice, Session 1 – Jun. 15, 2019

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8. Story: The cook assigned to look after Ajahn Pasanno doesn’t understand what he can and needs to eat. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Dtao Dum] [Almsfood] [Food] // [Industry] [Meditation] [Energy] [Health] [Patience] [Culture/Natural environment]


The Path of Practice, Session 2 – Jun. 16, 2019

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10. “I find a lot of meditation time is taken up with psychoanalyzing aand thinking, ‘Oh, this is a discovery!’ What is the line between realizing that you’re caught again?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Western psychology] [Directed thought and evaluation] // [Mindfulness of feeling] [Proliferation] [Clear comprehension]


Love, Attachment, and Friendship, Session 1 – Oct. 12, 2019

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1. “Do you feel metta is to be developed or do you feel metta is just an outcome of your life and your practice?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Goodwill] [Right Effort] [Conditionality] // [Meditation] [Precepts] [Calming meditation] [Suffering] [Aversion] [Appropriate attention] [Gratitude]


Love, Attachment, and Friendship, Session 2 – Oct. 12, 2019

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3. Comment: Practicing meditation, keeping precepts, and developing metta for myself help me love others more and more, but it isn’t easy. [Goodwill] [Meditation] [Precepts]


Developing Skill in Reflective Meditation, Session 1 – Dec. 1, 2019

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6. “Bhāvanā means ‘bring into being.’ How do I balance this with making the mind clear or peaceful?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Tranquility] [Calming meditation] [Recollection] // [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Contentment] [Insight meditation] [Sloth and torpor] [Patience]


Honoring the Buddha: The Mahāparinibbāna Sutta – Apr. 25, 2021

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10. Comment by Ajahn Pasanno: Throughout the whole teaching (DN 16) there is the sense of the ordinary and the transcendant together all the time. [Conventions] [Unconditioned] [Sutta] [Buddha/Biography] // [Nature of mind] [Ceremony/ritual] [Precepts] [Meditation] [Devotional practice] [Middle Path] [Release]

Sutta: Aniccā vata saṅkhārā... (SN 6.15) [Cessation] [Happiness] [Recollection/Peace]


Tea Time Q&A with Ajahn Pasanno – May. 16, 2021

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8. “Any advice to guide me after retirement? How to get rid of the fear of death?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ageing] [Fear] [Death] // [Happiness] [Merit] [Generosity] [Virtue] [Meditation] [Mindfulness]


Abhayagiri Kaṭhina 2021, Session 1 – Nov. 3, 2021

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4. “You spoke about the teachings and the training. What is the training for a lay practitioner other than the Five Precepts?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Dhamma] [Vinaya] [Lay life] [Five Precepts] // [Meditation] [Communal harmony] [Right Livelihood] [Family] [Work] [Politics and society] [Spiritual friendship]