49 events, 298 sessions, 2485 excerpts, 138:56:56 total duration
Most common tags:
Ajahn Chah
(608)
Ajahn Pasanno
(270)
Suffering
(208)
Abhayagiri
(202)
Monastic life
(186)
Relinquishment
(176)
Culture/Thailand
(152)
Discernment
(149)
Self-identity view
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Teaching Dhamma
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1. Comment: Thank you for the opportunity to re-take my precepts. I found Ajahn Pasanno’s inquiry questions regarding fixed views very useful. [Gratitude] [Five Precepts] [Views]
2. “What is the origin of asking a question three times?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Questions] [Teaching Dhamma] [Sutta] [Buddha/Biography]
Sutta: AN 4.42: Questions
3. “Did vibhavatanha arise in any of the monks at the loss of the Buddha? How do we notice vibhavatanha in practice, and what is a wise and compassionate response?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Craving not to become ] [Death] [Grief ] [Sutta] [Buddha/Biography] // [Stream entry] [Stages of awakening] [Recollection/Dhamma] [Three Refuges] [Precepts] [Spiritual friendship] [Devotional practice] [Suffering]
Sutta: DN 16: Mahāparinibbāna Sutta [Nibbāna]
Story: The funeral of a close Wat Pah Nanachat supporter. [Funerals] [Wat Pah Nanachat]
4. “What was the name of the rinpoche you referred to earlier?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Trulshik Rinpoche] [Ajahn Pasanno]
5. “What was the sutta you mentioned in regard to Ananda’s question ‘What do we do about women?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Women in Buddhism] [Great disciples] [Sensual desire] [Sutta] [Buddha/Biography]
Suttas: DN 16: Mahāparinibbāna Sutta; SN 35.127: Bhāradvāja
6. “In your guided meditation, devotion to the teachings really touched me. Could you say more about this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Devotional practice] [Recollection/Dhamma ] [Generosity] [Compassion] [Sutta] [Buddha/Biography] // [Faith] [Cultural context] [Respect] [Gratitude] [Culture/Thailand] [Three Refuges] [Relinquishment] [Release]
7. “When the Buddha accepted the meal from Cunda, did he know what the consequences would be, and if so, why do you think he did that?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Food] [Sickness] [Death] [Sutta] [Buddha/Biography]
Sutta: DN 16: Mahāparinibbāna Sutta
8. Comment: Devotion is what keeps rituals from becoming empty motions. [Devotional practice] [Ceremony/ritual]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Bowing]
9. Comment: The Mahāparinibbāna Sutta (DN 16) brings the Buddha’s quest full circle. [Sutta] [Buddha/Biography]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ageing] [Sickness] [Death]
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]
1. “You have so much community-building experience. Can you talk about what you have found challenging or effective in this? How did Ajahn Chah build community?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Community] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] // [Saṅgha] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Virtue] [Trust] [Communal harmony] [Compassion] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah lineage] [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Sequence of training] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abhayagiri] [Eightfold Path] [Learning]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambiya Sutta [Principles of Cordiality] [Goodwill] [Generosity] [Right View]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno pays respects to Ajahn Chah: “If you want to stay here, you have to stay at least five years.”
Quote: “The whole path of the Buddha is a path of learning, of education.”
2. “How to balance the tension between the warrior energy (taking action), the awareness of the perfection of all that is, and the weariness and humility that leads through this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Effort] [Present moment awareness] [Disenchantment] // [Suffering] [Discernment] [Fear] [Human] [Gladdening the mind] [Aversion] [Recollection] [Nature of mind] [Tranquility]
Sutta: AN 1.296-305: The Ten Recollections
Quote: “The happy mind is easily settled.” [Happiness] [Concentration]
3. “Please offer ideas on ways Dhamma meditation communities can strike a balance between beginners and experienced meditatiors.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation groups] [Teaching Dhamma] [Lay teachers] [Long-term practice] // [Generosity] [Cleanliness]
4. “Our community is mostly virtual. Since we’re not together taking care of a shared environment, can you suggest other ways of building community?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Community] [Online community ] // [Dhamma discussion]
5. “How to reach the state of peace and serenity when we’re just human beings and we strive to be good people?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tranquility] [Equanimity] [Human] [Virtue] // [Happiness] [Generosity] [Association with people of integrity] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Hindrances]
Sutta: DN 2: Sāmaññaphala Sutta - Fruits of the Holy Life
Quote: When asked about his attainments as a monk, “I’m just really happy about all the things I didn’t do.” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Stages of awakening] [Monastic life] [Sense restraint]
6. “Are there any mindful techniques that can be used during the transition from the old self to the new high vibrational self?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Self-identity view] // [Suffering] [Becoming] [Relinquishment]
7. “Your advice to leaders in the conflicts of 2021 in terms of the leaders themselves and how they can inspire their teams and communities?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Leadership] [Conflict] [Community] // [Trust] [Generosity] [Compassion] [Listening] [Ajahn Chah]
Quote: “Leadership always comes by example.”
Quote: “[Ajahn Chah] never asked us to do something that he himself wasn’t doing.”
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]
9. “Is it true that consciousness, the universal energy in all living organisms, exists within us and outside of us? Is it everywhere?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Consciousness] [Nature of mind] [Nature of the cosmos] // [Clinging] [Proliferation]
1. Story: In 1995, the Saṅgha in England finally gives permission for a more permanent monastic residence in California. Master Hua offers Ajahn Sumedho 125 acres in Redwood Valley the next day. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Saṅghapāla] [Elders' Council] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Abhayagiri] // [Deva]
2. Story: Ajahn Pasanno offers to help Ajahn Amaro with the California monastery project. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Abhayagiri] // [Chithurst] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Saṅgha decision making]
3. The property next door: “You can either buy it or forget it.” [Abhayagiri] // [Saṅghapāla] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support]
4. Stories: The day before Abhayagiri opened; Ajahn Pasanno moves to Abhayagiri. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Festival days] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Abhayagiri] // [Saṅghapāla] [Wat Pah Nanachat]
5. Story: Abhayagiri’s first kutis. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Lodging] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Building projects]
6. Recollection: Generous contributions in the early days of Abhayagiri. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Lay supporters] [Generosity] [Abhayagiri] // [Lodging] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo]
7. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Abhayagiri: a place of safety. [Fear] [Abhayagiri] // [Pāli] [Realms of existence] [Culture/West] [Competitiveness] [Abuse/violence]
8. Story: The original Abhayagiri Monastery. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri (Sri Lanka)] [History/Sri Lankan Buddhism ] // [Theravāda] [Mahāyāna] [Commentaries] [Study monks] [Conflict] [Royalty] [Stupas/monuments] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Abhayagiri]
Reference: The Path to Freedom (Vimuttimagga), translated by Bhikkhu Ñāṇatusita
9. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Our warm relationship with the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas ] [Communal harmony] [Abhayagiri] // [Master Hsuan Hua] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Non-contention]
Story: Ajahn Sumedho is invited to teach from Master Hua’s Dhamma seat. [Teaching Dhamma]
Recollection: The first days of Wat Pah Nanachat. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno]
10. Story: Ajahn Liem declares that the Abhayagiri’s Reception Hall will last at least 150 years. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Liem] [Building projects] [Lodging] [Abhayagiri]
11. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Ajahn Sumedho was a catalyst for Abhayagiri to happen. [Ajahn Sumedho ] [Abhayagiri] // [Western Ajahn Chah lineage] [Elders' Council]
Quote: “You should appreciate all that Ajahn Sumedho has done. He’s been the tank that has prepared the way for all the rest of you.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Respect for elders] [Similes]
Comment by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Ajahn Sumedho is the most senior American bhikkhu in the world.
12. Comment: These days Ajahn Sumedho is on fire teaching Dhamma. [Ajahn Sumedho ] [Teaching Dhamma] // [Amaravati] [Ageing]
Quote: “He’s not talking a lot about the details. He’s talking about the essence. It’s very beautiful.” [Liberation] [Knowledge and vision] [Simplicity] [Proliferation]
Note: As of mid-2024, Ajahn Sumedho continues to give weekly Dhamma talks available on Amaravati’s YouTube channel.
13. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Ajahn Chah is the inspiration for all of us. [Ajahn Chah] [Faith] // [Respect for elders] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Knowing itself] [Teaching Dhamma] [Simplicity]
Quote: “If buffaloes can learn, surely these farangs [foreigners] can learn.” — Ajahn Chah. [Western Ajahn Chah lineage]
1. Story: Anagārika Lief requests to become a novice. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Postulants] [Abhayagiri] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Sequence of training] [Lunar observance days] [Ajahn Amaro]
1. “How do I put the Four Noble Truths into practice in daily life?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Four Noble Truths] [Everyday life] // [Discernment] [Suffering] [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Cause of Suffering]
2. “Can you talk more about the shift from feeling unsafe to feeling safe?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Fear] // [Knowing itself] [Suffering] [Pandemic]
Quote: “Being alive has many inherent risks.” [Characteristics of existence] [Impermanence]
3. “In living with others, we tend to stick with our perceptions, causing potential conflict with them. How can we accept others as they are and be able to live with others harmoniously?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Perception] [Conflict] [Communal harmony] // [Goodwill] [Judgementalism] [Generosity]
4. “How should a person cope with loneliness without having to rely on other things/people/contact?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Loneliness] // [Seclusion] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Discernment] [Present moment awareness]
5. “What is the attitude to have towards others who are not on the path but are close family members?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Family] // [Judgementalism] [Respect]
6. “How can you hold appreciation and gratitude and not lose an awareness of dukkha and understanding of dukkha?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Gratitude] [Noble Truth of Suffering] // [Cessation of Suffering]
7. “Returning to the knowing’ was described as aware, awake, and bright. I understand aware and awake. Is the brightness something that comes up naturally because of lack of kilesas or something that the mind is lifted to?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Knowing itself] [Conditionality] [Unwholesome Roots] [Gladdening the mind]
8. “In the ‘Verses of Sharing and Aspiration’ (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 33), what is the threefold bliss?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Happiness] // [Health] [Nibbāna] [Deva]
9. “Could you suggest some inquiry questions to contemplate and investigate the wisdom practice of equanimity?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Recollection] [Discernment] [Equanimity] // [Kamma] [Judgementalism]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 55.
10. “For the next 25 years, what will be the leading light for the direction of Abhayagiri? Is there any collective vision?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] // [Building projects] [Lodging]
11. “What could I to to help myself fear death less?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Fear ] [Death] // [Virtue] [Restlessness and worry] [Truth] [Stream entry] [Impermanence] [Recollection/Death] [Present moment awareness] [Recollection/Virtue] [Self-identity view]
1. Recollection: The idea that Ajahn Pasanno would leave Wat Pah Nanachat never occured to us. Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Ajahn Sudanto] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Jun] [Funerals] [Upatakh]
2. Recollection: Ajahn Pasanno advices Ajahn Sudanto to stay in Thailand for his navaka training. Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Sudanto] [Sequence of training] [Abhayagiri]
3. Reflection by Ajahn Sudanto: I wanted to contribute to establishing something in America out of enormous gratitude for what was offered in Thailand to me and my peers. [Ajahn Sudanto] [Gratitude] [Monastic life] [Abhayagiri] // [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Simplicity]
4. Recollection: Abhayagiri looked like a Buddhist trailer park. Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Lodging] [Abhayagiri]
5. Reflection by Ajahn Sudanto: The frequency of teachings and level of Dhamma practice is uncommon even among Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries. [Teaching Dhamma] [Abhayagiri ] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Chah monasteries]
6. Story: Ajahn Pasanno invited Ajahn Sudanto to return to Abhayagiri in 2002, where he spends most of the next 12 years. Told by Ajahn Sudanto. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Sudanto] [Tudong] [Abhayagiri]
Quote: “Twenty-five years on, we’re still building the monastery. It’s a bit like a cathedral project.” [Building projects]
7. Reflection by Ajahn Sudanto: Part of the original vision [for Abhayagiri] was to establish a place for Saṅgha in America. [Saṅgha] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Abhayagiri]
8. Reflection by Ajahn Sudanto: The time I spent here and gave to this project [Abhayagiri] is a substantial blessing in my life. [Merit] [Generosity] [Ajahn Sudanto] [Abhayagiri] // [Suffering]
9. Recollection: My first encounter with the Thai Forest Tradition. Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Ajahn Sudanto] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Wat Pah Nanachat]
10. Recollection: “It would be a lot nicer in a forest in America.” Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Culture/Natural environment] [Geography/Thailand] [Abhayagiri] // [Weather] [Temple Monastery]
11. Recollections of early Abhayagiri monks. Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Sudanto] [Internet]
12. Reflection by Ajahn Sudanto: Abhayagiri is off to a good start. [Abhayagiri] // [Pandemic] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Older monks] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Dalai Lama]
13. Quote: “If you really want to pay homage to me, do the practice.” — The Buddha. Quoted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Buddha ] [Devotional practice ] [Meditation] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Chah] [Cessation of Suffering] [Saṅgha]
Sutta: DN 16.5: Mahāparinibbāna Sutta.
1. Story: Ajahn Sumedho’s early visits to California. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Abhayagiri] // [Jack Kornfield] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Amaravati]
2. Reflection by Ajahn Amaro: Affinities between the communities of Ajahn Sumedho and Master Hsuan Hua. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Master Hsuan Hua ] // [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas] [Mahāyāna] [Vinaya] [Ascetic practices] [Elders' Council] [Abhayagiri]
Story: Master Hua invites Ajahn Sumedho to help conduct an ordination ceremony at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. [Ordination]
Story: Ajahn Sumedho invites Master Hua to the English monasteries.
3. Story: The formation of Saṅghapāla Foundation in December 1988. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Saṅghapāla] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Sumedho]
4. Story: Ajahn Sumedho visits the Bay Area in 1990 and chooses Ajahn Amaro to lead the California project. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Amaro] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Sundarā]
5. Story: Ajahn Amaro leads a series of temporary California vihāras. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Amaro] [Abhayagiri] // [Saṅghapāla] [Elders' Council] [Disrobing]
6. Story: In May 1994, the English Saṅgha Trust gives Ajahn Amaro permission to start looking for property in California. Master Hua offers 125 acres of forest in Mendocino County the next day. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Elders' Council] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Abhayagiri] [Generosity] // [Amaravati] [Ajahn Viradhammo]
7. Story: Ajahn Amaro visits the Abhayagiri property for the first time. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Amaro] [Lodging] [Culture/Natural environment] [Abhayagiri] // [Master Hsuan Hua] [Funerals] [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas] [Lay supporters] [Simplicity] [Holy Tranfiguration Monastery]
8. Story: Buying the property next to the land Master Hua donated. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Saṅghapāla] [Commerce/economics] [Generosity] [Lodging] [Abhayagiri] // [Lay supporters] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Amaro]
9. Story: Moving onto the Abhayagiri land. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Lodging] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Postulants] [Ajahn Amaro] [Saṅghapāla] [Lay supporters]
10. Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s involvement in the Abhayagiri project. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Abbot] [Abhayagiri] // [Forest versus city monks] [Humility] [Ajahn Amaro] [Personality] [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas] [Hua tou] [Three Conditions Monastery] [Communal harmony]
11. Serendipitous generosity in the early days of Abhayagiri. Recollections by Ajahn Amaro. [Lay supporters] [Generosity] [Abhayagiri] // [Buddha images] [Building projects] [Lodging]
12. Quote: “Ajahn, maybe if you just taught Theravāda Buddhism, that would be great.” — A Saṅghapāla board member to Ajahn Amaro. Quoted by Ajahn Amaro. [Saṅghapāla] [Ajahn Amaro] [Theravāda ] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/West] [Spiritual traditions] [Monastic life] [Idealism]
Quote: “It wasn’t sensible to try to be all things to all people.”
13. Quote: Abhayagiri ethos: “We all live in the forest. Everyone’s in a kuti.” — Ajahn Amaro. [Lodging] [Culture/Natural environment] [Abhayagiri] // [Amaravati] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Weather]
Quote: “Mindfulness of the body is an absolute necessity.” [Mindfulness of body]
14. Quote: “We’re not about doing retreats. We’re a community.” — Ajahn Amaro speaking about Abhayagiri. [Community] [Meditation retreats] [Abhayagiri] // [Culture/Natural environment]
15. Shedding, impermanence, and not-self: Reflections on moving to Amaravati by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Amaro] [Impermanence] [Not-self] [Amaravati] [Abhayagiri] [Relinquishment] // [Lodging] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Travel] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Spaciousness]
Quote: “Die before you die.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Death]
Quote: “The tone and flavor of Dhamma is bittersweet.” [Dhamma] [Grief] [Happiness]
16. Reflection by Ajahn Amaro: Do you miss Abhayagiri? [Ajahn Amaro] [Grief] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Relinquishment] [Nibbāna] [Ajahn Sumedho]
Sutta: Snp 5.11: The island you cannot go beyond.
1. “How do you avoid falling in the trap of caring about something/someone too much and becoming attached to that something/someone?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Compassion] [Clinging] // [Suffering] [Equanimity] [Goodwill] [Generosity] [Bases of Success] [Desire] [Self-identity view] [Craving] [Cessation of Suffering]
2. “How do we overcome regret and remorse associated with not being able to do good or meet our loved ones at the time of passing away?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Restlessness and worry] [Merit] [Death] [Pandemic] [Grief] // [Goodwill] [Self-identity view] [Discernment] [Determination]
3. “I struggle to find meaning in life....I struggle to find what to do during my days and what to do in the future in terms of career or lifestyle....What would be your advice for someone who feels lost as to what to do next in his/her life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Purpose/meaning ] [Sickness] [Work] [Depression] // [Right Effort] [Generosity] [Virtue] [Kamma] [Happiness] [Clear comprehension]
4. “I struggle with restlessness. I always want to be doing something, and I often end up doing several things at the same time so it’s draining and not enjoyable. It’s very difficult to stop, and when I stop, I don’t know what to do, so I might grab my iPhone, clean stuff....Could you talk about restlessness and how to do nothing if that’s actually possible?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Restlessness and worry ] [Pace of life] [Technology] // [Volition] [Mindfulness of mind] [Simplicity] [Present moment awareness] [Impermanence]
5. “Why do we forget past lives?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rebirth] [Memory]
6. “A question about Dogenji’s teaching: ‘To study the Buddha Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things. When actualized by myriad things your body and mind as well as the bodies and minds of others drop away. No trace of enlightenment remains, and this no trace continues endlessly.’ Can you reflect on this teaching from the Theravāda Thai Forest Teachings?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dōgen] [Zen ] [Eightfold Path] [Not-self] [Liberation] [Theravāda] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Knowledge and vision] [Four Noble Truths] [Self-identity view] [Relinquishment] [Aggregates] [Proliferation] [Discernment] [Compassion]
Quote: “Everything is teaching us. Everything is a manifestation of Dhamma and truth.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Dhamma] [Truth] [Suchness]
7. “I’m lucky not to have any obligations such as taking care of a family, making money, working, etc., but I don’t know what to do with my life....Always wondering what to do with my life is a bit tough. How would you suggest I approach the situation?...How do you figure out what to do with your life when you have too much freedom?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Purpose/meaning] [Work] // [Culture/West] [Right Effort] [Conceit] [Generosity]
See also Question 3 in this same session.
8. “In our worldly life we always have expectations on things that we do. What would be the best way for us to change this habit and do everything without expectations?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Everyday life] [Desire] [Craving] [Habits] // [Impermanence] [Bases of Success] [Skillful qualities] [Right Effort]
9. “Does Luang Por Pasanno know what happened to Ajahn Visuddhi or Christine Lee?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Disrobing]
1. Recollection: Evolution of the Wan Phra all-night vigil at Abhayagiri. Recounted by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abhayagiri] // [Robes] [Pūjā]
2. Story: Ajahn Ñāṇiko’s first all-night sit. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Pūjā] [Sloth and torpor]
3. Story: Ajahn Pasanno teaches Chi Gong on Wan Phra after the 3 am pūjā. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Chi Gong] [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Health]
4. Recollection: A day building the chedi at Wat Pu Deng Dang. Recounted by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Building projects ] [Stupas/monuments] [Work] [Wat Pu Deng Dang] // [Ajahn Mahā Suporn] [Ajahn Jayanto] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Liem] [Medicinal requisites] [Merit]
5. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Transplanting the wonderful energy of Thai Buddhism to Abhayagiri. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Abhayagiri ]
6. Recollection: The annual January gathering at Wat Pah Pong. Recounted by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Chah Remembrance Day] [Wat Pah Pong] [Abhayagiri] // [Lodging] [Food] [Stupas/monuments] [Communal harmony]
7. Recollection: The Community of Abhayagiri Lay Ministers sets up a food stall at Wat Pah Pong. Recounted by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [CALM Group] [Ajahn Chah Remembrance Day] [Wat Pah Pong] [Food] [Abhayagiri]
8. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Practice doesn’t have to be grim. [Eightfold Path] [Ardency] [Perfectionism] [Abhayagiri] // [Happiness] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]
Recollection: Old video footage of Abhayagiri. [Mae Chee Sansanee] [Kaṭhina]
9. Quote: “When you go to Thailand, you will realize how American you are.” — Ajahn Pasanno or Ajahn Amaro. Quoted by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]
10. Recollections of almsround and learning Thai at Wat Pah Nanachat. Recounted by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Almsround] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Learning] [Thai]
Quote: “If you want to learn something, recite it every morning on almsround.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]
11. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Ajahn Liem’s ethos regarding building projects: creating a secluded place to practice. [Ajahn Liem] [Lodging] [Building projects] [Seclusion] [Meditation] // [Eight Precepts] [Generosity] [Sutta]
12. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: The purpose of monastic facilities. [Lodging] [Monastic life] // [Human] [Idealism] [Culture/Natural environment] [Sequence of training] [Rains retreat]
13. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: The pulse of the year at Abhayagiri and the annual Vassa Vinaya studies. [Monastic life] [Rains retreat] [Vinaya] [Learning] [Abhayagiri ] // [Protocols] [Not handling money] [Kaṭhina] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Meditation retreats]
1. “When everything goes the way you want and you are about to retire, but you feel a subtle, barely detectable dissatisfaction, and you’re not sure why. What specific things should you do besides ordaining and becoming a monk?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Suffering ] [Lay life] [Retirement] // [Saṃsāra] [Clinging] [Cause of Suffering] [Relinquishment]
Advice from an aged elder: “I think you should follow the Eightfold Path.” — Bhante Dharmawara [Bhante Dharmawara] [Eightfold Path] [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas] [Health care]
2. “What would be the most difficult thing if you were to go back to lay life? What would be the most enjoyable, fun, nice thing about lay life?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Lay life] // [Disenchantment] [Happiness]
3. “What would you advise someone living a lay life with no intention of becoming a monk?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Lay life ] // [Dhamma] [Spiritual friendship]
4. “Do you notice a difference in monks and their practice or the monastery depending on the country or region they are living in?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Monastic life] [Cultural context] // [Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Culture/West]
5. “I was reading somewhere about the Buddha, the Awakened, bright with splendor day and night. How do dream states inform our awakening?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Buddha] [Liberation] [Dreams]
6. “How do we protect ourselves from others taking advantage of our kindness and generosity? Some people consider our meekness and humility as weak and try to intimidate or bully us. I just freeze during such times, unable to say anything, thinking it may worsen the situation.” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Abuse/violence ] [Goodwill] [Generosity] [Humility] // [Discernment]
7. “Is it fine to give with the understanding of the law of cause and effect, thinking that this generosity will bring benefit to the recipient now as well as it will benefit us in the future in a similar way?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Generosity] [Kamma] [Volition] [Ageing] // [Recollection/Generosity]
Sutta: AN 4.77: Imponderables. [Commerce/economics]
8. “How do you deal with anger?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Aversion ] // [Sense restraint] [Right Speech] [Mindfulness of body] [Proliferation] [Spaciousness] [Patience] [Goodwill]
9. “How to forgive a person who has hurt and done very wrong things to you?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Forgiveness ] [Abuse/violence] // [Aversion] [Memory] [Mindfulness of body] [Kamma] [Spiritual friendship] [Proliferation]
See also the previous question, “How do you deal with anger?”
10. “I am taken by the idea of volition. Can one enter volition without judgement?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Volition] [Judgementalism] // [Kamma] [Killing]
11. “How to deal with self-blame due to losing a loved one to suicide?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Suicide] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] // [Volition] [Proliferation] [Relinquishment] [Western psychology] [Forgiveness]
Quote: “People who commit suicide leave their skeletons in other people’s closets.” — Steven Levine.
12. “Is the ‘knowing’ awareness, presence, consciousness? Can you say more about this?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Knowing itself] [Consciousness] [Nature of mind] // [Mindfulness of breathing] [Knowledge and vision] [Four Noble Truths] [Heart/mind] [Sense bases]
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