Compassion (karuṇā)
Parent topic: Divine Abidings
70 excerpts, 5:25:04 total duration

All excerpts (71) Questions about (35) Answers involving (26) Stories (2) Quotes (6) Readings (2) Texts (2) References (1)

Metta Retreat, Session 3Ajahn Pasanno – Sep. 11, 2008

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3. “The lovingkindness chant includes 'May I abide in freedom from affliction.' Why is affliction not included in the wish for all beings?” [Goodwill] [Chanting] // [Divine Abidings] [Compassion]

Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 41.


Metta Retreat, Session 4Ajahn Pasanno – Sep. 12, 2008

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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.” [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]


Recollections of Ajahn Chah, Session 11Ajahn Pasanno – Sep. 19, 2010

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8. Reading from the draft biography: Ajahn Chah's ability to draw people in and respond with compassion. [Personal presence] [Compassion] [Generosity] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Tam Saeng Pet] [Rains retreat] [Sickness] [Almsround] [Teaching Dhamma] [Similes] [Upatakh]

Reference: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 705


Tudong Stories at Spirit Rock, Session 1Ajahn Pasanno – Jun. 2, 2011

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4. Story: Ajahn Chah asks Ajahn Sumedho if he might go back to America as a monk. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Culture/West] [Monastic life] [Tudong] // [Almsfood] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism]

Quote: “You mean to say there are no kind people in America?” — Ajahn Chah to Ajahn Sumedho [Compassion]


The Gradual Training, Session 2Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Yatiko – Oct. 20, 2012

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9. “Can you speak more about the impermance of goodness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Impermanence] [Virtue] [Gradual Teaching] // [Conditionality] [Happiness] [Compassion] [Fear] [Suffering] [Clinging]

Sutta: AN 8.39: Five great gifts which give freedom from fear. [Generosity] [Five Precepts]

Quote: “The basis of Right View is knowing that this cup is a broken glass.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Right View]


Right Livelihood, Session 1Ajahn Pasanno – Apr. 21, 2013

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16. “Some people want to help but find themselves in situations in which profit dictates the priorities. How can they protect their integrity in such situations?” [Compassion] [Health care] [Commerce/economics] [Right Intention] [Right Livelihood] // [Learning] [Idealism] [Requisites] [Happiness]

Story: Ajahn Karuniko studies engineering, then quits a job in the arms industry to become a monk. [Military] [Monastic life/Motivation]


Right Livelihood, Session 2Ajahn Pasanno – Apr. 21, 2013

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4. Comment about the motivations of trying to fix the world versus compassion. Contributed by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Idealism] [Compassion] [Suffering]


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

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4. “If my sister has unwholesome friendships, how can I help her redirect these?” [Family] [Spiritual friendship] // [Compassion] [Judgementalism] [Right Intention] [Right Speech] [Admonishment/feedback]

Story: An Abhayagiri monk skillfully conveys concerns to his father. [Abhayagiri]


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

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5. “What is the role of emotion in our practice?” [Emotion] [Feeling] // [Faith] [Compassion] [Generosity] [Four Noble Truths] [Relinquishment] [Discernment]


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6. Comment: I find that the experience of uncertainty and loss can give rise to compassion. [Impermanence] [Grief] [Compassion]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right View] [Emotion] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ardency]


Abhayagiri Monastic Retreat 2013, Session 2Ajahn Pasanno – Nov. 24, 2013

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5. “Thank you for the wonderful dhamma talk on the 5 reflections! Could you please talk about compassion in caregiving for themselves and for others.” [Recollection] [Compassion] [Health care]


Abhayagiri Monastic Retreat 2013, Session 3Ajahn Pasanno – Nov. 25, 2013

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14. “Could you please expand on compassionate seclusion in interactive daily life (both on and off retreat)?” [Seclusion] [Compassion]


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

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26. “If a family member who has passed turns into a hungry ghost, how might one help them when they're in that realm?” [Family] [Rebirth] [Ghost] [Compassion] [Death] // [Merit]

Sutta: AN 10.177: Jāṇussoṇī

Follow-up: “Does it work the same way if the person hasn't made much merit?” [Kamma] [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities] [Human]


Death and Dying, Session 2Ajahn Yatiko, Jeanne Daskais and Debbie Stamp – May. 9, 2014

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7. Comment by Jeanne Daskais: The reflection on kamma has helped me watch this person [my stepmother] disappear through the course of Alzheimer's disease and other loss. [Kamma] [Sickness] [Grief] [Death] // [Recollection/Virtue] [Compassion] [Right Speech]


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

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16. “May I ask for your secret? [Why is Abhayagiri monastic training so often successful?]” [Sequence of training] [Abhayagiri] [Monastic life] // [Theravāda] [Simplicity] [Vinaya] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah] [Middle Path] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism] [Right Effort] [Compassion]


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25. “So what about the Bodhisattva practice?” [Bodhisattva] // [Theravāda] [Mahāyāna] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Generosity] [Ajahn Chah] [Upatakh] [Teaching Dhamma]

Sutta: AN 4.17-20: Practice that benefits self, others, both or neither.

Quote: "What are the mind states of an enlightened being?" "Only compassion." — Ajahn Mahā Boowa [Arahant] [Compassion] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Wat Pah Nanachat]


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26. “What are the practicalities of metta practice? How does it relate to compassion?” [Goodwill] [Compassion] // [Theravāda] [Divine Abidings] [Etymology]


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27. “Ajahn Amaro writes about transforming the energy of sense contact into compassion and metta. How does this work?” [Ajahn Amaro] [Contact] [Compassion] [Goodwill] // [Aversion] [Relinquishment] [Four Noble Truths] [Happiness]


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28. “What are the natural inclinations that can lead to well-being and peace?” [Nature of mind] [Happiness] [Tranquility] // [Aversion] [Right Effort] [Compassion]


2014 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 5Ajahn Pasanno – Nov. 26, 2014

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16. “Was the fire sermon a “teaching moment” of hyperbole? I love to take photographs, for example, and it helps me engage much more deeply with the world outside my skull. And it fills me with rapture, compassion, and joy! Does the Buddha's recipe for liberation truly entail cutting off this experience of beauty? Where's the Theravada equivalent to the Zen “suchness” —the awe of life and its ephemerality? Thank you!” [Dispassion] [Impermanence] [Suchness] [Recreation/leisure/sport] [Liberation] [Compassion] [Happiness]

Sutta: SN 35.28: Ādittapariyāya Sutta


2014 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 7Ajahn Pasanno – Nov. 28, 2014

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4. “Thank you for talking about the nun who got enlightened the other day. Also thanks to Debbie for her talk! As a female myself, I find it inspirational hearing stories about women on the path. Most teachers, well-known disciples, the Buddha himself, were males, so at times I struggled to connect to the teachings. It felt too mind-focused, too “male” (as more women in my view connect through the heart, or at least I do). I see a lot of heart and compassion in the Dhamma now and I am learning more about women in Buddhism. It would be great to hear more stories about them in Dhamma talks and perhaps one day even have a guest nun visit and give a talk. Thank you.” [Women in Buddhism] [Compassion] [Women's monastic forms]


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6. “How is compassion (karuṇā) is different from loving-kindness (mettā)? Is compassion similar to empathy? I am also wondering if it means you feel the pain of the person you feel compassion for.” [Goodwill] [Compassion]


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 19Ajahn Pasanno – Jan. 30, 2015

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1. “How does cruelty differ from ill will?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Ill-will] // [Goodwill] [Compassion] [Right Mindfulness] [Concentration] [Right Effort]

Sutta: MN 19: Dvedhavitakka Sutta, Two Kinds of Thought.


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 47Ajahn Karuṇadhammo – Mar. 17, 2015

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2. Discussion about kamma and the results of kamma. Led by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Kamma] [Conditionality] [Feeling] // [Abuse/violence] [Abhidhamma] [Ajahn Chah] [Vajrayāna] [Sickness] [Compassion] [Culture/India] [Equanimity] [Disasters] [Christianity]

Quote: “Too much Dhamma.” — Ajahn Buddhadāsa. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Buddhadāsa]

Sutta: AN 4.77 Acinteyya: "Vexation or madness."

Story: Ajahn Chah to Ajahn Munindo: "If it wasn't supposed to be this way, it wouldn't have been this way." Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Munindo] [Self-pity]

Thai saying: "That's as far as their merit takes them." [Culture/Thailand] [Death] [Merit] [Thai]


On Pilgrimage and Tudong, Session 4Ajahn Pasanno – Apr. 25, 2015

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15. Story: Ajahn Pasanno's tudong in India with Ajahn Jayasaro. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Culture/India] [Tudong] // [Impermanence] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Not handling money] [Hinduism] [Islam] [Shelter] [Trust] [Almsround] [Visiting holy sites] [Compassion] [Devotional practice]

Story: An Indian Kshetriya notices that Ajahn Pasanno's etiquitte matches his training. [Vinaya] [Buddha/Biography]

Story: Ajahn Jayasaro tries to explain cricket to Ajahn Pasanno. [Recreation/leisure/sport]


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

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5. “I'm not sure how to be with close friends or family members who out of a desire to avoid pain and find happiness engage in self-destructive behaivor that also harms those around them.” [Family] [Spiritual friendship] [Unskillful qualities] [Craving] [Compassion] // [Discernment]

Sutta: Maṅgala Sutta: Don't associate with fools.


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10. “Any advice for cures for burnout? I'm in a helping profession and feel depleted and exhausted. I need help getting the balance between giving and receiving.” [Depression] [Work] [Health] [Generosity] [Compassion] // [Culture/West] [Idealism] [Commentaries] [Selfishness]

Quote: “Compassion in the English language means 'to suffer with.' If you end up suffering with too much, you end up burnt out.” [Compassion] [Language] [Suffering]

Quote: “Don't think you're a ten-wheeled dump truck when all you are is a wheelbarrow.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah]

Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 291: Classical cultivation of goodwill and compassion, first to yourself. [Goodwill] [Compassion]

Quote: “Our ability to be with others and to help and to give is dependent on our being kind and compassionate to ourselves.” [Compassion] [Spiritual friendship] [Self-reliance]


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11. “Is sexuality and wanting an intimate connection with another considered a negative desire?” [Sensual desire] [Relationships] [Desire] [Unskillful qualities] // [Food] [Clear comprehension] [Compassion] [Selfishness] [Discernment] [Precepts] [Trust]

Quote: “It's not so much a matter of thwarting desire, but understanding how desire works so we can build those bonds of trust and care.” [Compassion]


Buddhist Identity in the Modern WorldAjahn Pasanno – Aug. 15, 2015

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3. “Is there a way to get involved in controversial political issues and still maintain a correct [audio unclear]?” [Politics and society] [Compassion] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Environment] [Buddhist identity] // [Learning] [Corruption] [Divine Abidings] [Depression] [Ill-will] [Equanimity]

Reference: The Heart of the Revolution by Noah Levine. [Compassion]


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4. “Why did Jīvaka ask whether a virtuous lay follower is practicing for themselves or others (AN 8.26)?” [Great disciples] [Lay life] [Virtue] [Compassion] [Buddhist identity] // [Culture/India] [Lunar observance days] [Teaching Dhamma]

Vinaya: Kd 2.1.1: Origin of Lunar Observance Days.


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15. “Can you say more about how living up to cultural expectations can be skillful?” [Conscience and prudence] [Skillful qualities] [Buddhist identity] // [Killing] [Sense restraint] [Clear comprehension] [Compassion] [Malicious speech] [Right Speech]


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16. “If you know of an abusive situation and both the abuser and victim are stuck in it, how do you hold this? How to encourage them to follow this path?” [Abuse/violence] [Compassion] [Buddhist identity] // [Cessation of Suffering]

Quote: “You plant seeds of possibility. You can't make the seeds grow, but you can plant the seeds.” [Similes]


Jhāna: A Practical Approach, Session 2Ajahn Karuṇadhammo – Oct. 10, 2015

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1. “What do you do when things like knee pain arise?” [Meditation/General advice] [Pain] [Aversion] [Hindrances] // [Compassion]


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

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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]


2015 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 8Ajahn Pasanno – Nov. 28, 2015

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14. “Is it possible to meditate on forgiveness for someone who died many years ago? Does forgiveness reach that person on some level, or is it more a matter of showing compssion towards myself?” [Forgiveness] [Compassion]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 3Ajahn Pasanno – Nov. 21, 2016

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6. “Would you have some suggestions on working with shame? As an emotion, it feels very “sticky” and probably the hardest one for me to work with. It seems like it is deeply rooted in my mind (probably thanks to Christianity). Is it true that Thai people have an easier time with it than westerners? Is an antidote to shame self-compassion?” [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Culture/Thailand] [Culture/West] [Compassion]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 4Ajahn Pasanno – Nov. 22, 2016

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3. “What is the difference between loving kindness and compassion? How can one evoke/manifest them if he/she never experienced them before?” [Goodwill] [Compassion]


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10. “Would you please talk a little bit about determination versus compassion in meditation? For example, as long sittings can cause pain and legs to go numb, when is it good to use determination to power through? And when is it good to have compassion for the body and also not cause damage to the body, so that it can be healthy for long-term practice?” [Determination] [Compassion] [Pain]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 6Ajahn Pasanno – Nov. 24, 2016

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14. ““There is a crack in everything. That’s where the light gets in” Leonard Cohen Lots of cracks out there. Lots of potential for awakenings and wise compassionate action. Do you agree? If so, where do you see the light emerging? In what arenas? Where would you focus your energy if you were not a monk?” [Compassion] [Activism] [Right Action]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 8Ajahn Pasanno – Nov. 26, 2016

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17. “Yesterday when you spoke of women’s ordination in California, I thought of the nuns at Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery who left the Thai Forest Tradition to ordain as nuns. As a woman who has felt a strong calling to the monastic life, I feel a painful split in my heart between the love I have for the Thai Forest Tradition that has changed my life, and its seemingly uncompassionate regard for women wishing to live the Holy Life. It leaves me with a profound feeling of hurt and “less-than” mana. I have to believe that the Buddha, who revolutionarily taught against the caste system, would not want me to feel like second class member of the human race when trying to live a life in his example. I have tried bringing self compassion to this felt sense of my heart breaking, but the pain seems to get worse with the association of the teachers of the Thai Forest tradition who showed me the dharma and yet follow this “anti-nun" rule. Would you share some words of healing to help my heart and restore my faith in this tradition that has so profoundly changed my life?” [Women's monastic forms] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Women in Buddhism] [Compassion] [Faith]


Two Kinds of Thought and the Removal of Distracting Thoughts, Session 2Ajahn Pasanno – Jun. 4, 2017

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4. “When you go into your body to feel the underlying emotion behnd a thought, what happens when the bodily feeling is so uncomfortable taht you really don't want to feel it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Mindfulness of body] [Emotion] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Suffering] [Aversion] [Fear] // [Recollection/Buddha] [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Recollection/Virtue] [Faith]

Follow-up: “It seems really difficult to think of Dhamma or the refuges while in such a wrapped-up state. I don't know if I could do that.” [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Visualization] [Goodwill] [Compassion]


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15. “My friend is having anxiety about her pregnancy issues. These are understandable but not helpful for her well-being. Do you have any recommendations for dealing with legitimate fears?” [Restlessness and worry] [Health] [Birth] [Fear] // [Visualization] [Goodwill] [Compassion]

Follow-up: “Would this go under the category of taking a smaller peg? (MN 20 method one)” [Directed thought and evaluation]


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16. Comment: My experience with method five [of MN 20] is that it works when the mind doing the crushing is compassion mind, wisdom mind. [Directed thought and evaluation] [Compassion] [Discernment] [Right Intention]

Responses by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.


Practice in a Global ContextAjahn Pasanno – Aug. 12, 2017

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4. “I'm left with a deep sadness about the state of the world. I suppose that's no different than struggling with sadness about the human condition?” [Grief] [Suffering] [Human] [Politics and society] // [Compassion] [Depression] [Desire] [Right Effort] [Disenchantment] [Conventions]


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9. “Some of my suffering in the current situation comes from feeling compassion with regard to specific suffering that I'm aware of and not acting in response to it. What are helpful stories to frame a patient, long-term effort to effect change?” [Suffering] [Compassion] [Patience] [Long-term practice] [Politics and society] [Kamma] [Activism] [Views] // [Association with people of integrity] [Right Effort]

Quote: “And just because one doesn't see results doesn't mean one shouldn't do something....To put the causes into something–that's the only way that change is going to happen.” [Conditionality]


The Teaching and the Training, Session 8Ajahn Pasanno – Mar. 26, 2018

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11. “When is it skillful to try to help people who are suffering?” [Compassion] [Suffering] [Teaching Dhamma]


The Teaching and the Training, Session 9Ajahn Pasanno – Mar. 27, 2018

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7. “What is the importance of the brahmavihārās in balancing out dhutaṅga practices?” [Divine Abidings] [Monastic life] [Ascetic practices] // [Recollection/Buddha] [Gladdening the mind] [Attachment to rites and rituals] [Discernment] [Compassion] [Learning] [Arahant]


The New Ajahn Chah Biography, Session 1Ajahn Pasanno – Apr. 21, 2018

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[Session] Ajahn Pasanno introduces the Ajahn Chah Compilation Video and Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro. [Ajahn Chah] [Dhamma books] // [Goodwill] [Compassion] [Personal presence] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism]

Reference: The Ajahn Chah Compilation Video on YouTube

Reference: The Buddha Comes to Sussex (BBC, 1979) on Youtube [History/Western Buddhism] [Cittavivieka]

Reference: The Mindful Way (BBC, 1977) on YouTube [Wat Pah Pong]


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1. Quote: “One of the main characteristics of Luang Por Chah was his loving kindness and compassion.” — Ajahn Liem [Ajahn Liem] [Ajahn Chah] [Goodwill] [Compassion] // [Personal presence] [Equanimity]


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

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4. Reading: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 582: "Out of Compassion" [Compassion] [Ajahn Chah] // [Gratitude] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Teaching Dhamma] [Family]


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8. “Kataññu-katavedi refers to receiving kindness and the recognition of the gift of kindness. How are w to understand cultivating the intention to offer kindness to others?” [Gratitude] [Compassion] [Generosity] [Ajahn Chah] // [Happiness] [Mindfulness of feeling] [Aversion] [Contact] [Spaciousness] [Direct experience]

Story: Villagers ask Ajahn Chah how he can teach Westerners when they don't speak Thai. [Culture/West] [Language]

Quote: “Dhamma is the language of experience.” — Ajahn Chah [Dhamma]


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11. “Is refining the Five Precepts sufficient for lay practice to be transformative?” [Five Precepts] [Lay life] [Ajahn Chah] // [Vinaya] [Mindfulness] [Right Intention] [Relinquishment] [Compassion] [Truth]


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12. “What can you offer dying people who didn't have the opportunity to engage in Buddhist practice?” [Death] [Compassion] // [Listening] [Patience] [Tranquility] [Equanimity] [Fear] [Right Speech] [Chanting]


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

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11. “What is the best way to navigate the people that we love that have unskillful behaivors but we don't want to cut out of our lives?” [Family] [Spiritual friendship] [Unskillful qualities] // [Compassion] [Patience] [Truth] [Aversion] [Admonishment/feedback]


Chanting, Session 1Ajahn Pasanno – Jun. 2, 2018

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8. “Can we approach chanting as praying for someone in a difficult situation?” [Christianity] [Devotional practice] [Family] [Health] [Chanting] // [Skillful qualities] [Compassion] [Right Intention] [Merit] [Abhayagiri] [Nature of the cosmos]


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

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13. “Could you say something about the fact that extreme hardship exists in the world?” [Poverty] [Compassion] // [Culture/Thailand]

Sutta: AN 4.162: Modes of Practice

Sutta: AN 8.2: Worldly Winds [Worldly Conditions]

Vinaya: The famine in Verañjā (BuPj 1.2.1, Brahmali translation) [Buddha/Biography]

Recollection: The vast majority of 20th century Thai meditation masters are from the Northeast. They come from a region and area of great difficulty. [History/Thai Buddhism] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Patience] [Energy] [Faith]

Recollection: More Westerners came to study with Ajahn Chah than Central or Southern Thais. [Ajahn Chah] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism]


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15. “Was there specific advice from the Buddha to the monks about [advising a dying person]?” [Monastic life] [Death] // [Sickness] [Compassion] [Goodwill]

Vinaya: Kd 26.7: Attributes of a carer. [Compassion]


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

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4. “What about animal euthanasia?” [Animal] [Euthanasia] [Killing] // [Compassion] [Sickness] [Ageing]


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5. “Years ago I considered the Buddha someone wbo practiced harm reduction. But having worked in the field, I've started to have a lot of conflict around when people request paraphanelia to help them use [drugs]. The idea is to keep them alive, but now it's become very complicated because people are still dying. Is this a violation of right livelihood? Could you speak about wisdom and compassion?” [Intoxicants] [Health care] [Death] [Right Livelihood] [Discernment] [Compassion] [Gratitude] // [Right Intention] [Crime] [Politics and society]

Quote: “As a person who is trying to help, you have to learn harm reduction to yourself.” [Compassion] [Depression]


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12. “Could you talk about the difference between experiencing an unpleasant feeling and perpetuating an unpleasant feeling?” [Feeling] [Discernment] [Cessation of Suffering] // [Compassion] [Mindfulness] [Patience] [Suffering]

Simile: Two arrows (SN 36.6).


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

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2. “Let's say there's someone causing harm and I wish them well-being. But in their mind, the harm they are causing brings them well-being. What kind of well-being am I wishing for them?” [Goodwill] [Compassion] [Generosity] // [Divine Abidings]


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

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6. Comment: On Love by Ajahn Jayasaro equates love to non-violence, both inward and outward. [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Goodwill] [Compassion] // [Tranquility]


Developing Skill in Reflective Meditation, Session 2Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno – Dec. 1, 2019

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10. Comment: I'm going to recollect this day, and your kindness in teaching, and the people who planned the Upāsikā Day. [Gratitude] [Teaching Dhamma] [Compassion] [Recollection/Generosity] [Recollection] [Faith]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhidhamma]


Stanford Community Dhamma DiscussionAjahn Pasanno – Apr. 25, 2020

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2. “What advice do you have for students or graduates hoping to progess on the Noble Path towards Nibbāna while a student or in the workplace?” [Eightfold Path] [Nibbāna] [Learning] [Work] [Lay life] // [Human] [Discernment] [Compassion] [Generosity] [Perfectionism] [Desire] [Suffering] [Politics and society] [Simplicity] [Environment] [Depression] [Restlessness and worry] [Skillful qualities] [Community]


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4. “Apart from social distancing, what are other ways to behave compassionately during this time when there's so much physical distance between us?” [Pandemic] [Health] [Compassion] // [Generosity] [Online community] [Grief]


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8. “You mentioned that ruminating on how one would like to change the world or the conditions around oneself can be a source of needless suffering. But there are times when one does want to work to change the world or the way society is organized for the sake of lovingkindness and alleviating suffering. How do we engage with those desire for change in a skillful way?” [Politics and society] [Suffering] [Desire] [Goodwill] [Compassion] [Skillful qualities] [Activism] // [Conditionality] [Self-identity view] [Conflict] [Poverty] [Judgementalism] [Aversion] [Culture/Thailand] [Environment] [Idealism]

Quote: “If one is going to commit oneself to change, one has to get used to looking at things from a big perspective, a perspective of 'How do we include rather than exclude?'” [Community]

Quote: “You want to approach a particular problem with an open a mind as possible and then see who might be willing and able to help.”


Living in a Changing SocietyAjahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko – Aug. 23, 2020

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6. “Is there something called fierce compassion in the Theravāda tradition? If so, how is that different from resentment or anger?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Fierce/direct teaching] [Compassion] [Theravāda] [Ill-will] [Aversion] // [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Suffering] [Teaching Dhamma] [Admonishment/feedback] [Spiritual bypass] [Ajahn Chah]

Story: Ajahn Chah calls newly-arrived Tan Pasanno lazy. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Chanting]


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

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6. “In your guided meditation, devotion to the teachings really touched me. Could you say more about this?” [Devotional practice] [Recollection/Dhamma] [Generosity] [Compassion] [Sutta] [Buddha/Biography] // [Faith] [Cultural context] [Respect] [Gratitude] [Culture/Thailand] [Three Refuges] [Relinquishment] [Release]


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

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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?” [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 [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.”


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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?” [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.”


Q&A at Sudhana CenterAjahn Pasanno – Jul. 12, 2023

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1. “In reference to the fragrance of the flower....There are many roses in the courtyard across the street....Why do we cultivate beauty? Where does beauty arise from?” [Beauty] // [Clinging] [Happiness] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Empathetic joy] [Unconditioned]

Sutta: MN 37: Sabbe dhamma nalam abhinivesaya. (Nothing whatsoever should be clung to.)

Story: Ajahn Pasanno's mother sends his old letters to Abhayagiri. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Abhayagiri]

Recollection: Ajahn Chah was unshakeable in the midst of all the things that were happening around him and responded warmly and compassionately to the people around him. [Ajahn Chah] [Equanimity] [Compassion] [Family] [Monastic life/Motivation]