Realms of existence
Nature of the cosmos / Realms of existence
Part of tag cluster Realms of existence in key topic Buddhist Perspectives on the World
Subtags: Deva, Human, Ghost, Animal, Hell
13 excerpts, 41:17 total duration

All excerpts (13) Most relevant (8) Questions about (6) Answers involving (5) Quotes (1)


Metta Retreat, Session 4 – 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.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Deva] [Goodwill] [Compassion] [Mental illness] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/Thailand] [Realms of existence] [Culture/Natural environment]

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

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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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30. “What is the ‘10,000 fold universal world system mentioned in The Discourse on Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Realms of existence]


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

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

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


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

Sutta: AN 10.177: Jāṇussoṇī


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

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

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

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


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

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3. Comment: I appreciate that AN 5.48 includes devas and Māra. [Deva] [Māra] [Realms of existence] [Sutta] [Human]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno.


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

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7. ““Teacher of Gods and Humans”. Can you talk about this? What Gods did the Buddha teach? What other beings did the Buddha teach?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Buddha] [Buddha] [Teaching Dhamma] [Deva] [Human] // [Realms of existence ] [Sutta] [Buddha/Biography] [Ajahn Chah]

Sutta: DN 21: Sakka’s Questions.

Sutta: Snp 2.4: Mangala Sutta (Chanting Book translation).

Vinaya: Kd 17.3.11: The Buddha subdues an enraged elephant. [Animal]

Story: Ajahn Chah describes the beings inhabiting Wat Pah Pong. [Wat Pah Pong] [Non-human beings]

Story: The head being acquires faith, listens to teachings, and temporarily takes on the Eight Precepts. [Faith] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Eight Precepts]


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

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1. “I was surprised to learn recently that there is a concept of hell in the suttas. Could you talk a bit about what Buddha meant by it and who goes there?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hell] // [Realms of existence] [Kamma]


Practice in a Global Context – Aug. 12, 2017

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


Abhayagiri 25th Anniversary Retreat, Session 1 – Jun. 9, 2021

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7. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Abhayagiri: a place of safety. [Fear] [Abhayagiri] // [Pāli] [Realms of existence] [Culture/West] [Competitiveness] [Abuse/violence]