Skillful qualities (kusalā dhammā)
Skillful qualities
Alternative translations: Wholesome qualities
Subtags: Middle Path, Eightfold Path, Four Noble Truths, Aids to Awakening, Bases of Success, Faculties, Factors of Awakening, Divine Abidings, Treasures, Perfections, Progress of insight, Stages of awakening, Heedfulness, Spiritual search, Gratitude, Merit, Forgiveness, Contentment, Trust, Courage, Humility, Dignity, Non-contention, Self-reliance
71 excerpts, 4:41:14 total duration

All excerpts (71) Most relevant (31) Questions about (20) Answers involving (46) Stories (1) Quotes (7) Texts (2)

Metta Retreat, Session 5 – Sep. 13, 2008

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12. “The near enemy to equanimity is aloofness. Can you offer clues on how to differentiate between these in oneself?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Equanimity ] [Discernment] // [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities] [Aversion] [Present moment awareness]

Quote: “Tuning into kusala/akusala sorts things out really quickly.” [Skillful qualities]

Sutta: AN 3.65: Kālāma Sutta


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

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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 58 – Mar. 28, 2014

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7. Quote: “The art of the pause.” — Ajahn Sucitto. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Sucitto] [Pace of life ] // [Discernment] [Skillful qualities]


2015 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 7 – Nov. 27, 2015

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6. “Can you give me some ideas for antidotes to restlessness? So far the best I have is to give myself a set time and not move one iota from sitting or standing. Another is not to fight it but use it for imaginative contemplation.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Restlessness and worry ] [Determination] [Recollection] // [Perfections] [Patience] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Happiness] [Mindfulness of body] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Tranquility]

Quote: “It’s the continuity of wholesome mental states that allows the mind to become settled and steady.” [Skillful qualities]


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

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9. “I like the translations ‘conscience’ and ‘concern’ for hiri and otappa. Having done unskillful actions in the past that create suffering, and being aware of the tendency to personalize, how can it be over and done?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Treasures] [Conscience and prudence ] [Unskillful qualities] [Suffering] [Kamma] [Self-identity view] // [Four Noble Truths] [Divine Abidings]

Quote: “As a human being, I have the opportunity to learn from the past and move on to skillful action in the future. I don’t have to be like a dog that barfs stuff up and goes back and eats it again.” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Human] [Learning] [Skillful qualities] [Similes]

Quote: “The not-self refrain, ‘This is not me, this is not mine, this is not what or who I am,’ is not an abdication of responsibility but an understanding, ‘This is the way I can put things down and move on, move past the things that are still creating suffering.’” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Not-self] [Relinquishment]

Suttas: SN 42.8 The Conch Blower; AN 3.100: A Lump of Salt.


Madison Insight Retreat 2023, Session 2 – Oct. 14, 2023

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19. “When one moves through the world with compassion and lovingkindness, how does one avoid feeling depleted? In a world of ‘individuals,’ most take more than they give and to always be giving can be exhausting.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Compassion] [Goodwill] [Selfishness] [Generosity] [Depression] // [Not-self] [Four Noble Truths] [Cause of Suffering]

Quote: “When we are attentive to freedom from suffering, there’s an inexhaustible well of goodness there.” [Cessation of Suffering] [Skillful qualities]


28th Anniversary Practice and Study Day, Session 4 – Jun. 1, 2024

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1. “How do you deal with a friend who has commited suicide and the despair and grief that comes with that? How do you support a friend who has feelings of seeking annihilation and wanting to kill themselves?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suicide] [Depression] [Grief] [Craving not to become] // [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Compassion] [Suffering] [Language] [Cessation of Suffering] [Fear]

Quote: “Compassion is a skillful or beautiful response to the suffering of the world.” [Skillful qualities]