Realms of existence
Parent topic: Nature of the cosmos
Subtopics: Deva, Human, Ghost, Animal, Hell
10 excerpts, 27:21 total duration

All excerpts (10) Questions about (6) Answers involving (3) Quotes (1)

Metta Retreat, Session 4 – Sep. 12, 2008

Download audio (7:58)
16. “I had an experience yeserday in which I may have seen a group of beings above us, particularly above you....I don’t think I’m crazy, but I’m very interested in what the Dhamma says about otherworldly/non-material beings.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Deva] [Goodwill] [Compassion] [Mental illness] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/Thailand] [Realms of existence] [Culture/Natural environment]

Recollection: Spirits at Wat Pah Nanachat would request Ajahn Pasanno to dedicate merit. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Funerals] [Ghost] [Merit]

Quote: “They always had to use an intermediary because I was thick, thick, thick.” [Psychic powers]

Story: Ajahn Plien declares Casa Serena free of ghosts. [Ajahn Plien] [Abhayagiri] [Rebirth]


Brightening the Mind, Session 2 – Aug. 19, 2012

Download audio (1:00)
1. “What would be a way to connect with the deva-like humans?” Answered by Ajahn Yatiko. [Human] [Deva] [Recollection/Devas] // [Realms of existence]


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

Download audio (3:23)
10. “In the article ‘Consciousnesses’ by Ajahn Lee, he talks about beings that inhabit the mind and body...What are your thoughts on this? When seeing unusual phenomena that can be interpreted in this way, what is a good course of action?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo] [Psychic powers] [Realms of existence]


Abhayagiri Monastic Retreat 2013, Session 7 – Nov. 29, 2013

Download audio (3:02)
17. “Is there a difference in doing a good deed for a monastic versus a lay-person in regards to generating merit? Can only humans create merit..devas..animals?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Kamma] [Merit] [Realms of existence]


Download audio (1:23)
29. “What is the ‘10,000 fold universal world system mentioned in The Discourse on Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Realms of existence]


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

Download audio (0:54)
22. “I read about the advice given to dying devas. Should more people know about the cosmological background of the Buddha’s teachings?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Deva] [Realms of existence] [Death]

Sutta: Iti 83: Five omens that appear when a deva is about to pass away. [Rebirth]


Download audio (2:50)
24. “If beings are reborn immediately, how does ritual [sharing of merit] benefit the person who has passed?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rebirth] [Ceremony/ritual] [Merit] [Death] // [Theravāda] [Realms of existence] [Goodwill]

Sutta: AN 10.177: Jāṇussoṇī


Download audio (5:06)
25. Comment: Merit is faith driven, so there aren’t any limitations to where that can take you, and it has real value. [Merit] [Faith] [Realms of existence] [Death]

Story: Two Thai doctors take temporary ordination to make merit to rejoin their deceased brother in a future life. [Culture/Thailand] [Monastic life/Motivation] [Temporary ordination] [Family] [Rebirth]

Story: The mother of a woman killed in a bus crash dedicates merit so that the dead woman will be reborn in the family. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ghost] [Relinquishment] [Ceremony/ritual] [Kamma] [Volition]

Quote: “We live in a fairly limited concept of the world; it’s very material in the West. There’s a lot more happening than what we can see.” — Ajahn Pasanno [Nature of the cosmos] [Culture/West] [Realms of existence]


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

Download audio (0:45)
3. Comment: I appreciate that AN 5.48 includes devas and Māra. [Deva] [Māra] [Realms of existence] [Sutta] [Human]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno.


Practice in a Global Context – Aug. 12, 2017

Download audio (1:00)
2. “What are spontaneously reborn beings? [in the context of Right View, e.g. MN 117]” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rebirth] [Realms of existence] [Right View] // [Deva] [Birth] [Ghost]