Mindfulness (sati)
Parent topics: Faculties, Right Mindfulness, Factors of Awakening, Foundations of Mindfulness
77 excerpts, 7:15:25 total duration

All excerpts (81) Questions about (31) Answers involving (37) Stories (4) Quotes (3) Readings (2)

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

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19. “What is the difference between pīti and sukha?” [Rapture] [Happiness] // [Continuity of mindfulness] [Concentration] [Jhāna] [Tranquility] [One pointedness] [Mindfulness]

Simile: A traveller through a desert learns of an oasis (pīti) then drinks and bathes at the oasis (sukha) (Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 139). [Similes]


Recollections of Ajahn Chah, Session 5Ajahn Pasanno – Sep. 19, 2010

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2. The monks' requisites sustain our livelihood and are a focal point for our cultivation of mindfulness and attention. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Requisites] [Almsbowl] [Mindfulness] // [Robes]


Recollections of Ajahn Chah, Session 8Ajahn Pasanno – Sep. 19, 2010

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1. Guided meditation: Resolve right now is the time for training the mind and nothing else. From "The Key to Liberation" by Ajahn Chah. [Calming meditation] [Proliferation] [Determination] [Ajahn Chah] // [Mindfulness] [Discernment] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Body scanning] [Relinquishment] [One pointedness] [Restlessness and worry] [Concentration] [Present moment awareness] [Clear comprehension] [Impermanence] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Sense restraint]

Quote: “Sitting and walking meditation are in essence the same, differing only in the posture used.” [Posture/Sitting] [Posture/Walking]

Simile: Chicken in a coop. [Similes]

Simile: Mindfulness, clear comprehension, and wisdom are like three workers lifting heavy planks. [Mindfulness]


Recollections of Ajahn Chah, Session 10Ajahn Pasanno – Sep. 19, 2010

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3. Reading: Catching a Lizard. [Similes] [Ajahn Chah] // [Meditation/General advice] [Sense restraint] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension]


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4. Reading: One Seat. [Similes] [Ajahn Chah] // [Mindfulness] [Buddho mantra] [Volitional formations]


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

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4. “When I'm mindful, then I become more aware of suffering. I could just go into story and not know that I'm suffering, so why would we choose to become aware of the suffering?” [Mindfulness] [Suffering] [Proliferation] // [Cessation of Suffering] [Clinging]

Quote: “The flavor of the end of suffering—I like that.”


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

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4. “Can the practice be used in a punitative or punishing way?” [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] // [Culture/West] [Habits] [Clear comprehension] [Craving not to become]

Quote: “Having a human mind...it's amazing how perverse it can be sometimes.” [Human] [Unwholesome Roots]

Story: Ajahn Pasanno can't translate guilt into Thai. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Translation] [Culture/Thailand] [Suffering]

Quote: “All you need to do is create a cage of mindfulness around [unskillful habits].” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Sense restraint] [Mindfulness] [Unskillful qualities] [Similes]

Follow-up: “What about letting the tiger go instead of keeping it in a cage?”

Follow-up: “What about the case when one feels one is the tiger trapped in a metaphorical cage. How to escape?” [Liberation] [Perception] [Self-identity view] [Spiritual friendship]


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5. “If sati or mindfulness is the cage, what is the use of samatha?” [Similes] [Mindfulness] [Calming meditation] [Concentration] [Unwholesome Roots] // [Tranquility] [Discernment] [Relinquishment]


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6. “Could you tell of your personal experience with a tiger?” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Animal] [Tudong]

Story: Ajahn Pasanno hears and smells a tiger while doing walking meditation. [Dtao Dum] [Culture/Natural environment] [Posture/Walking] [Fear] [Death] [Impermanence] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension]

Sutta: MN 4: Fear and Dread


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

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10. Quote: “It all comes back to that simple quality of mindfulness. From the mindfulness, then the different qualities of practice that we need to rely on are cultivated.” [Mindfulness] [Faculties] [Tudong] // [Concentration] [Thai] [Translation] [Discernment] [Perfections]

Quote: “The base and foundation is the mindfulness. Being the knowing is always the foundation, and then the mind is able to become still, become settled, become steady.” [Mindfulness] [Knowing itself]

Recollection: "It's rare that Ajahn Chah would use [the Pāli term] pañña on its own. More often than not, he would use satipañña, which is mindfulness and wisdom together." [Ajahn Chah] [Pāli] [Mindfulness]


Brightening the Mind, Session 1Ajahn Pasanno – Aug. 19, 2012

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4. “What is the difference between mindfulness, bare attention, and clear comprehension? Can you flesh out the word understanding?” [Mindfulness] [Direct experience] [Clear comprehension] // [Right Effort] [Discernment] [Right Mindfulness] [Ardency] [Investigation of states] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Greed] [Aversion]

Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta


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

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4. Comment: Contemplating the devas opens my mind to waking up. [Liberation] [Deva] [Recollection/Devas]

Response by Ajahn Yatiko. [Mindfulness] [Energy] [Proliferation] [Depression] [Sutta] [Culture/Natural environment]


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

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8. “How do we know when to ask for directions on the path as opposed to just continuing farther? What would we ask?” Answered by Ajahn Yatiko. [Questions] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Gradual Teaching] // [Suffering] [Discernment] [Conditionality] [Faith]

Sutta: SN 12.23: Suffering is the cause of faith.

Follow-up: “What about when things are pleasant, but we're not headed in the right direction?” [Happiness] [Mindfulness] [Deva] [Relinquishment]

Sutta: MN 75: Simile of the leper. [Similes]

Sutta: SN 56.35: Stream entry after 100 years. [Stream entry] [Four Noble Truths]


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

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4. “Can you say more about the practice of awareness of arising and ceasing in relation to discernment and right view?” [Becoming] [Cessation] [Mindfulness] [Discernment] [Right View] // [Impermanence] [Ajahn Chah] [Conditionality] [Self-identity view] [Happiness] [Mindfulness of mind] [Patience]

Reading from an unnamed recent Ajahn Chah book. [Relinquishment] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]

Quote: “I don't teach you guys much. Just be patient.” — Ajahn Chah


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

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9. “In letting go of thoughts that habitually arise from negative self-criticism or from past trauma defenses, how do we ask these powerful mental states to not overwhelm our mindfulness?” [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Mindfulness]


New Year, New Life, Session 1Ajahn Pasanno – 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?” [Hindrances] [Proliferation] [Meditation] // [Mindfulness] [Goodwill] [Recollection/Virtue] [Recollection/Generosity] [Gladdening the mind]


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4. “Could you talk about contemplation in meditation? You mentioned earlier about using methods; my understanding is that they help one to calm the mind. How does one get into the state of contemplation without disturbing that calm state of mind?” [Recollection] [Calming meditation] [Insight meditation] [Characteristics of existence] // [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Cessation of Suffering] [Desire] [Bases of Success]


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5. “You said you have to adjust and think about contemplating. But how can you do that in your working time?” [Right Effort] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Discernment] [Everyday life] // [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] [Happiness] [Recollection]

Quote: “In daily life, in contact with the world, do you still breathe?” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Mindfulness of breathing]

Follow-up: “Could you give some examples? In Bangkok, there is lots of news that makes people crazy and divisive. When you see this news, you feel upset and angry.” [News] [Conflict] [Aversion] [Right Speech] [Politics and society] [Proliferation]

Quote: “I don't care. Not in the sense that I don't think it's serious or that it's not a problem. But I don't care in the sense that I don't want to be getting involved in whatever side people are working themselves up about, because the problem is much deeper than that. We have to pay attention to the deeper problem, both in the human condition and politically.” [Human]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 21Ajahn Pasanno – Feb. 3, 2014

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6. “Could that “quality of knowing” be a variation on the teaching of sati-sampajañña, mindfulness and clear comprehension?” [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] // [Discernment]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 31Ajahn Pasanno – Feb. 17, 2014

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16. Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo: In this talk, Upasika Kee goes through dependent origination and emphasizes catching it at sense-contact. I've always been taught that it's feeling where you can break it. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Dependent origination] [Contact] [Mindfulness of feeling]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Desire] [Mindfulness] [Investigation of states]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 35Ajahn Pasanno – Feb. 21, 2014

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5. “Could say more about seeing the unwholesomeness or shadow?” [Unwholesome Roots] // [Mindfulness] [Idealism] [Delusion]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 37Ajahn Pasanno – Feb. 25, 2014

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3. “Could you reflect on how Ajahn Buddhadāsa portrays mindfulness and ignorance as opposites?” [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Mindfulness] [Ignorance] // [Dependent origination]


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4. “Could you say more about the positive causal process that is the opposite of paticcasamuppada?” [Dependent origination] [Conditionality] [Mindfulness] // [Skillful qualities] [Right Mindfulness] [Factors of Awakening]

Sutta: SN 12.23 Upanisa: Dukkha is a cause for faith. [Suffering] [Faith]

Sutta: AN 10.61 Avijjā: The Five Hindrances are a cause for ignorance. [Hindrances] [Ignorance]


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5. “When I look at neutral objects, dullness often arises. Is this suffering?” [Feeling] [Contact] [Sloth and torpor] [Unskillful qualities] [Suffering] // [Craving not to become] [Delusion] [Ignorance] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension]

Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo: Lack of desire is not enlightenment. [Desire] [Liberation]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 48Ajahn Pasanno – Mar. 12, 2104

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2. “Would you be willing to talk about the difference between mindfulness, bare knowing, and the one who knows?” [Mindfulness] [Direct experience] [Knowing itself] // [Buddha] [Clear comprehension] [Thai] [Discernment] [Ardency] [Seclusion] [Cessation of Suffering]

Sutta: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 51Ajahn Pasanno – Mar. 17, 2014

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1. “Sometimes I will see a bit of greed come up, I apply an antidote, for example, if its craving, apply some asuba; but it seems to exacerbate it–do you have any encouragement or similes from Ajahn Chah?” [Unwholesome Roots] [Right Effort] [Meditation/Results] [Ajahn Chah] // [Investigation of states] [Patience]

Simile: Putting a tiger in a cage. [Similes] [Mindfulness] [Discernment]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 58Ajahn Pasanno – Mar. 28, 2014

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4. “With the succinct teaching “know and let go,” I notice a tendency in the mind to go through the motions of that without really being able to enter into it – what do I do about that?” [Mindfulness] [Relinquishment] [Truth] [Perfections]


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5. “In my desire to get to the “heart of it” I find part of my mind really wants this, but another part of my mind is not going along with the program. How do I keep myself on the Path?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Desire] [Simplicity] [Volition] // [Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering] [Impermanence] [Cessation] [Upasikā Kee Nanayon]

Follow-up: “The experience of arising and disbanding isn't yet practical for me. I need something more operational.” [Tranquility]

Simile: Making a fire flare up or die down (SN 46.53). — Ajahn Pasanno. [Factors of Awakening] [Energy] [Mindfulness]


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

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10. “The suttas say 'The wise protect their diligence as their greatest treasure.' How does one protect one's diligence?” [Heedfulness] [Ardency] [Death] // [Sickness] [Mindfulness] [Discernment] [Mindfulness of mind] [Right Effort] [Happiness] [Spaciousness]


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23. “In Vajrayāna you visualize a column of light and going out the top of your head in preparation for death. Is there a related practice in this tradition?” [Vajrayāna] [Visualization] [Recollection/Death] [Theravāda] [Death] // [Tranquility] [Mindfulness]

Reference: "Our Real Home" in Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 145.


Thai Forest Tradition, Session 2Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo – Jun. 14, 2014

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8. Quote: “There's only two things you have to do in practice: know and let go.” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Mindfulness] [Knowing itself] [Relinquishment] [Thai Forest Tradition]


Mindfulness of Breathing, Session 2Ajahn Pasanno – Oct. 26, 2014

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1. “Could you translate sati as recognizing?” [Mindfulness] [Translation] [Pāli] [Mindfulness of breathing]


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

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18. “How do we take refuge in awareness (Buddho) in daily life?” [Buddha] [Recollection/Buddha] [Knowing itself] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Everyday life] // [Precepts] [Mindfulness] [Discernment] [Recollection] [Clear comprehension] [Right Effort] [Seclusion] [Nature of mind] [Proliferation] [Culture/Thailand]

Sutta: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta

Note: In the answer to this question, Ajahn Pasanno equates awareness with mindfulness.

Quote: “The literal meaning of Buddho is 'the one who knows,' but it's also being the one who knows, where you have the opportunity for us to be that knowing.”


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20. “So why can awareness be the place where we take refuge?” [Knowing itself] [Mindfulness] // [Proliferation] [Three Refuges]


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21. “How do you not objectify this awareness?” [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]


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22. The values of the Thai Forest Tradition. [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Knowing itself] [Mindfulness] [Recollection/Buddha] [Four Noble Truths] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Tate] [Ajahn Mun] [Heart/mind] [Three Refuges]

Quote: “Pay attention to the difference between the mind and the objects of mind.” — Ajahn Mun [Nature of mind] [Moods of the mind] [Discernment]


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 1Ajahn Pasanno – Jan. 6, 2015

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[Session] Dhamma talk: After the Abhayagiri community begins the retreat with the ceremony of taking dependence, Ajahn Pasanno explains the meaning of dependence, the importance of mindfulness, and how mindfulness connects with the eightfold path. He explains how to look after both oneself and others with mindfulness using the Simile of the Acrobat (SN 47.19). [Ceremony/ritual] [Dependence] [Mindfulness] [Right Mindfulness] [Eightfold Path]


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 2Ajahn Pasanno – Jan. 7, 2015

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[Session] Dhamma talk: Ajahn Pasanno reflects upon the question: “What kind of effort do we need to conform with what the Buddha means by mindfulness?” He answers in terms of the four aspects of right effort, the seven qualities of Dhamma the Buddha taught to Upali (AN 7.79), and the Buddha's description of how he crossed the flood (SN 1.1). [Right Effort] [Mindfulness] [Dhamma]


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 3Ajahn Pasanno – Jan. 8, 2015

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[Session] Dhamma talk: The commentary explains sampajañña (clear comprehension / alertness) as clear comprehension of purpose, suitability, domain, and non-delusion. Ajahn Pasanno describes how each of these factors relate to the practice of mindfulness. [Clear comprehension] [Mindfulness]


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 4Ajahn Pasanno – Jan. 9, 2015

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[Session] Dhamma talk: Cautioning against trusting our assumptions about the nature of mindfulness, Ajahn Pasanno reviews several key passages in the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (MN 10). [Ardency] [Clear comprehension] [Mindfulness] [Right Mindfulness]


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 14Ajahn Pasanno – Jan. 23, 2015

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2. “How can one be mindful of the beginning of thought?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Kaccāna and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Directed thought and evaluation] [Mindfulness] [Right Mindfulness] // [Appropriate attention] [Perception] [Proliferation]

Comments about observing proliferating thoughts. [Conditionality] [Right Effort] [Restlessness and worry] [Mindfulness of mind]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Feeling]

Sutta: MN 118 Ānāpānasati Sutta.


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 17Ajahn Pasanno – Jan. 26, 2015

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2. “Does the term mindfulness always imply right mindfulness?” [Mindfulness] [Right Mindfulness] // [Abhidhamma] [Aggregates]

Reference: Right Mindfulness p. 21-22


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4. “What is a plowshare? ...So mindfulness is both the goad and the plowshare?” [Mindfulness] [Similes] [Right Mindfulness]

Reference: Sn 1.4: The Farmer Bhāradvāja


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5. “How does mindfulness relate to choice?” (continuing the anger question) [Volition] [Aversion] [Mindfulness] [Right Effort] [Right Mindfulness] // [Discernment] [Language]


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 18Ajahn Pasanno – Jan. 29, 2015

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1. “What are the rewards for the skillful monk?” [Monastic life] [Skillful qualities] [Right Mindfulness] // [Happiness] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] [Concentration]

Sutta: SN 47.8: Simile of the skillful cook. [Similes] [Similes]

Story: Ajahn Mun criticizes Ajahn Mahā Boowa for developing meditation like a tree stump. [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Admonishment/feedback]


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2. Outline of AN 4.41 Samādhibhāvanā: Four types of concentration. [Concentration] [Right Mindfulness] // [Psychic powers] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] [Liberation] [Outflows] [Perception of light] [Impermanence] [Aggregates]

Comment about the difference between the third and fourth developments of concentration. [Conditionality]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view]


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 33Ajahn Pasanno – Feb. 22, 2015

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5. “Related to the need to emerge from neither-perception-nor-non-perception and cessation of perception to contemplate the five khandhas [in AN 9.36], don't some of the commentaries imply that that's what you do with first jhāna; that insight is not possible even in first jhāna?” [Formless attainments] [Aggregates] [Insight meditation] [Commentaries] [Jhāna] // [Views]

Recollection: Ajahn Chah emphasized that every step of the way there has to be awareness. Awareness has to form the basis of the whole practice. [Ajahn Chah] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] [Right Concentration] [Right View]


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8. “Do you have to emerge from jhāna to contemplate the characteristics of the aggregates?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Jhāna] [Insight meditation] [Aggregates] // [Mindfulness] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Knowing itself]

Sutta: AN 9.36: “Jhāna.”

Quote: “Contemplation gets really good when you stop thinking.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Directed thought and evaluation]


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9. Comment: Sometimes I find applying awareness exhausting. [Mindfulness] [Sloth and torpor]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tranquility] [Faith]


The Middle Way of Not-Self, Session 1Ajahn Pasanno – May. 27, 2015

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4. “Are the skillful means for dealing with not-self aas easy as know and let go?” [Mindfulness] [Relinquishment] [Not-self] // [Discernment] [Truth]


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6. “I've heard the teaching that if you watch your kilesas in samādhi, they tend to subside. Sometimes you watch your sakkāya-diṭṭhi and it's not going away. What to do?” [Unskillful qualities] [Mindfulness] [Concentration] [Cessation] [Not-self] [Self-identity view] // [Impermanence] [Suffering]


Jhāna: A Practical Approach, Session 1Ajahn Pasanno – Oct. 10, 2015

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1. “Could you clarify the difference between mindfulness and concentration?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Mindfulness] [Concentration] // [Nature of mind] [Pāli] [Translation]

Follow-up: “You said earlier that mindfulness always comes before concentration, but based on what you just defined, I would think it would be the opposite.” Aswered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness]


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

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20. “What's the difference between directed thought and mindfulness?” [Directed thought and evaluation] [Mindfulness] [Jhāna]


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21. “When it says neither pleasant nor unpleasant, is this neutral?” [Feeling] [Neutral feeling] [Jhāna] // [Mindfulness] [Pāṭimokkha]


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22. “So the rapture and joy has dropped away between second and third jhāna?” [Rapture] [Jhāna] // [Happiness] [Mindfulness] [Equanimity]


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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?” [Directed thought and evaluation] [Concentration] [Mindfulness] [Meditation] [Jhāna] // [Knowing itself]


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

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7. “Would you please speak a little bit more about “mindfulness” and the “sati” factor, since it seems to me that most, if not all, things register in consciousness. For example, “discursive” thoughts are registered in consciousness just as thoughts and we are aware of the thoughts themselves. What distinguishes “mindfulness” from lack of mindfulness during this process?” [Mindfulness] [Consciousness]


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

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6. “Is there a difference between mindfulness and awareness?” [Mindfulness] [Present moment awareness]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 7Ajahn Pasanno – Nov. 25, 2016

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9. “Was sati, vedana, jhana part of the religious climate current at the Buddha’s time? How revolutionary was he seen to be then? Do we know?” [History/Early Buddhism] [Buddha/Biography] [Mindfulness] [Feeling] [Jhāna]


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14. “The term “sati”. What does it mean? Does it mean mindfulness?” [Mindfulness]


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17. “Would you say more about the ardent, purifying aspect of mindfulness?” [Mindfulness] [Ardency]


Two Kinds of Thought and the Removal of Distracting Thoughts, Session 1Ajahn Pasanno – Jun. 4, 2017

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1. “The term 'sense consciousness' is used in the morning chanting, but I didn't hear that [in MN 19]. When the Buddha recognizes a thought and puts it into a certain bin, this seems like a step beyond sense consciousness.” [Consciousness] [Sense bases] [Investigation of states] [Directed thought and evaluation] // [Mindfulness]


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

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3. “After a long time in practice trying to order thoughts around, which hasn't been so fruitful, there's been an experiment: trying to observe even when thoughts are really spinning, just bringing an awareness and let them spin. If there's a strong sense of watching, where does that fit in [to MN 20]?” [Directed thought and evaluation] [Proliferation] [Present moment awareness] // [Mindfulness] [Tranquility]


Two Kinds of Thought and the Removal of Distracting Thoughts, Session 3Ajahn Pasanno – Jun. 4, 2017

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5. “Where does allowing the thought to be there for a little bit come in? For example, if you're thinking about a past event that means something to you, and you're trying to stop it, and all of a sudden you realize, 'Oh, it's okay. This is meaningful to you.' And it really loses power.” [Present moment awareness] [Directed thought and evaluation] // [Ill-will] [Craving not to become] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension]


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9. Comment: It's so hard not to identify with the contents of the mind, to not make it me and mine. Realizing how useless so many of my thoughts are helps. [Self-identity view] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Suffering] [Disenchantment] [Directed thought and evaluation]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Pāli]

Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Not-self] [Humility]


Teen Weekend 2017Ajahn Pasanno – Sep. 2, 2017

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28. “What precepts don't most people know about that have a big effect on your life?” [Monastic life] [Vinaya] // [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Requisites] [Mindfulness]


The Teaching and the Training, Session 1Ajahn Pasanno – Mar. 12, 2018

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5. “Can you talk about skillful means to become more sensitive to the nuances of monastic training?” [Monastic life] [Dhamma] [Vinaya] // [Requisites] [Mindfulness] [Respect for elders] [Upatakh]


The Teaching and the Training, Session 6Ajahn Pasanno – Mar. 22, 2018

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1. “How does upatakhing fit into our training and what can we learn from it?” [Upatakh] [Vinaya] [Respect for elders] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Culture/Thailand] [Conceit] [Generosity] [Protocols] [Discernment] [Mindfulness]

Vinaya: Cv 8: Vattakkhandhaka - Protocols

Story: Ajahn Lee upataks Ajahn Mun. [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo]


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

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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]


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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]


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

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5. Story: Ajahn Pasanno's mother notices that he chants in tune. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Family] [Chanting] // [Almsfood] [Mindfulness]


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

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6. “How do you handle physical sensations like an itch during meditation?” [Meditation/General advice] [Contact] // [Mindfulness] [Patience] [Pain]


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18. “Before we relinquish the self, there needs to be a recognition of what's going on. I often realize this minutes or hours later. Any suggestions for this initial step of noticing?” [Relinquishment] [Self-identity view] [Mindfulness] // [Investigation of states] [Mindfulness of feeling] [Cessation] [Spaciousness]


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19. Comment: I have one of these thinking minds, and over the years I'm learning more and more to just watch where my thoughts go. I'm getting more comfortable with that. At the same time, I've heard teachings that as you improve your concentration on the primary object, your mindfulness increases as well. [Directed thought and evaluation] [Mindfulness] [Concentration]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Language] [Generosity] [Conditionality] [Desire] [Craving]

Quote: “The same word that is translated as concentration in English, when it's translated in Thai, is 'the firm establishing of the mind.' That has a different feel to it.” [Translation] [Thai]


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

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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 3Ajahn Pasanno – Oct. 12, 2019

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4. “There are teachings about different levels of generosity (e.g. AN 7.49). Are there similar teachings about love or attachment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Generosity] [Goodwill] [Clinging] // [Dhamma] [Desire] [Teaching Dhamma] [Aggregates] [Mindfulness] [Relationships] [Spaciousness]


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8. “Could you say some more about the process of change?... You can have a big tool kit and apply it with the best of intentions. Sometimes magical things happen, and sometimes nothing happens.” [Right Effort] [Conditionality] [Right Intention] [Progress of insight] // [Goodwill] [Relinquishment] [Ajahn Chah] [Impermanence] [Long-term practice] [Learning] [Dependent origination] [Not-self] [Mindfulness]


Stanford Community Dhamma DiscussionAjahn Pasanno – Apr. 25, 2020

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7. “In what way are qualities and effects viral? Are right perception, right speech, right thought, and right action also viral?” [Media] [Online community] [Perception] [Right View] [Right Speech] [Right Action] // [Abhayagiri] [History/Western Buddhism] [Mindfulness] [Skillful qualities] [Happiness] [Tranquility] [Trust] [Human]


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

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6. “Are there any mindful techniques that can be used during the transition from the old self to the new high vibrational self?” [Mindfulness] [Self-identity view] // [Suffering] [Becoming] [Relinquishment]


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


Abhayagiri Kaṭhina 2021, Session 1Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Ñāṇiko – Nov. 3, 2021

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5. “Could you speak more about how to prevent feelings from becoming aversion or desire? How does this relate to Dependent Origination?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Feeling] [Aversion] [Craving] [Dependent origination] // [Arahant] [Buddha] [Pain] [Mindfulness] [Birth] [Impermanence] [Happiness] [Direct experience] [Proliferation] [Master Hsuan Hua]

Story: Ajahn Pasanno breaks his pelvis in Thailand. [Ajahn Pasanno]