Part of tag cluster Right Mindfulness in key topic The Noble Eightfold Path
Subsumes: Four Foundations of Mindfulness (cattāro satipaṭṭhānā)
Subtags: Mindfulness of body, Mindfulness of feeling, Mindfulness of mind, Mindfulness of dhammas, Ardency, Clear comprehension, Mindfulness
47 excerpts, 6:54:52 total duration
“Can you clarify (and simplify!) the four frames of reference? I have read Ven. Thanissaro’s book and it’s pretty challenging to remember from one paragraph to the next as it is so wonderfully dense. In particular, four frames especially as it pertains to mindfulness of breathing? Thank you!” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness ] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Reference: Right Mindfulness by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro
2014 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 6, Excerpt 20
“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?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness ] [Consciousness] [Proliferation] // [Right Mindfulness ] [Ardency] [Thai] [Hinduism] [Clear comprehension] [Seclusion]
Sutta: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta [Right Mindfulness ]
Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 431: The relationship between sampajañña and pañña. [Discernment]
Definition of mindfulness from P. A. Payutto: “That quality of mind which draws the objects of the senses into the heart.” [P. A. Payutto] [Sense bases] [Heart/mind]
Quote: “It’s like this.” — Ajahn Sumedho [Ajahn Sumedho]
Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 3, Excerpt 9
“Could you clarify “the body in the body?”” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Mindfulness of body] [Right Mindfulness ] // [Translation] [Pāli] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Direct experience] [Self-identity view] [Elements] [Proliferation] [Perception]
References: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 91; Right Mindfulness by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro.
8. “I’m not sure in the context of this retreat when to be resting simply with the four foundations of mindfulness and when to be reciting metta phrases. Can you please advise as to how/when to skillfully move from one practice to the other?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Goodwill] [Mantra] // [Emotion] [Sloth and torpor] [Mindfulness of body] [Calming meditation] [Discernment]
Sutta: MN 19: Dvedhāvitakka Sutta [Directed thought and evaluation] [Skillful qualities]
4. “What is the difference between mindfulness, bare attention, and clear comprehension? Can you flesh out the word understanding?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Direct experience] [Clear comprehension] // [Right Effort] [Discernment] [Right Mindfulness] [Ardency] [Investigation of states] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Greed] [Aversion]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta
1. “Could you elaborate on how the Four Foundations of Mindfulness are analogous to the first jhāna? How does this differ from second jhāna?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Jhāna] [Gradual Teaching] // [Directed thought and evaluation]
4. “Could you say more about the positive causal process that is the opposite of paticcasamuppada?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [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]
6. “Ajahn Chah and other Thai Ajahns emphasize this quality of steady practice. Ajahn Chah showed this was the way to solve the dillema of desire being both the root of all suffering and a necessary ingredient to being able to practice at all....It seems the main obstacle to achieving steady practice is the variability of that part of my awareness that is supervising what is going on....How does one cultivate self-supervision?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Desire] [Self-reliance] [Postures] [Continuity of mindfulness ] // [Mindfulness of body ] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Quote: “The body is like a mirror for the different moods and state of the mind as we’re experiencing things.” [Similes] [Mindfulness of mind]
Follow-up: “I try to practice body awareness when my mind is being supervised...” [Long-term practice] [Ajahn Sucitto]
Sutta: MN 10 Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta [Right Mindfulness]
5. “In your ānāpānasati talks, you talk about sikkhita, defined as…to train, and to learn from. I’m not sure how active to be because when I train, I have a goal in mind, but when I learn from…I’m more relaxed and open to what is revealed. Similar, today with mindfulness defined as…looking after something, I’m not sure how to point the compass without coming from self view. Thank you.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Right Effort] [Self-identity view]
2. “With all of many excellent frames of reference the Buddha has given us to understand our experience, it can be confusing to know which to use when! Do you recommend training systematically or letting ones intuition be as their guide? Thank you.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Intuition]
11. “Should I focus on one object of mindfulness at a time or can I be mindful of all 4 at one time? Thank you!” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] // [Proliferation] [Simplicity] [Happiness]
20. “Can you clarify (and simplify!) the four frames of reference? I have read Ven. Thanissaro’s book and it’s pretty challenging to remember from one paragraph to the next as it is so wonderfully dense. In particular, four frames especially as it pertains to mindfulness of breathing? Thank you!” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness ] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Reference: Right Mindfulness by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro
[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). Offered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ceremony/ritual] [Dependence] [Mindfulness] [Right Mindfulness] [Eightfold Path]
[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). Offered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ardency] [Clear comprehension] [Mindfulness] [Right Mindfulness]
3. “Is mindfulness of the body fabricating a wholesome mental image of the body as opposed to an unwholesome image? But how can we know the body in any way other than vedanā?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Mindfulness of body] [Visualization] [Feeling] // [S. N. Goenka] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Postures] [Clear comprehension] [Right Mindfulness] [Calming meditation] [Insight meditation] [Delusion] [Characteristics of existence]
Quote: “The availability of insight is through stepping back from the assumptions that we make, whether it’s around the body or feeling or mind or the sense of self.” [Relinquishment]
[Session] [Right Mindfulness]
Reading: Right Mindfulness pp. 8-12. [Right Mindfulness]
Reading: Iti 34: Ardour. [Ardency]
1. Comment: Venerable Analayo points out that present moment awareness and remembering the past are not mutually exclusive. [Present moment awareness] [Ven. Analayo] [Right Mindfulness]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
References: Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization by Venerable Analayo, Chapter 3; “On some definitions of Mindfulness,” Rupert Gethim, Contemporary Buddhism Vol. 12, No. 1, May 2011.
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.
3. “Could you clarify the last two foundations of mindfulness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of mind] [Mindfulness of dhammas] [Right Mindfulness] // [Heart/mind] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Emotion]
4. “Could you clarify “the body in the body?”” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Mindfulness of body] [Right Mindfulness ] // [Translation] [Pāli] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Direct experience] [Self-identity view] [Elements] [Proliferation] [Perception]
References: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 91; Right Mindfulness by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro.
[Session]
Reading: Right Mindfulness pp. 12-14. [Right Mindfulness]
Reading: AN 10.58: Roots.
Reading: SN 51.15: The Brahmin Uṇṇabha.
[Session] Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 14-21. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness]
1. Comment: The phrase “ancestral territory” [mentioned in SN 47.6] doesn’t carry oomph for (non-Native) Americans. Contributed by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Culture/West] [Culture/Native American] [Right Mindfulness]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Technology] [History/America]
2. “Why is the intellect not included in the five cords of sensual pleasure?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sense bases] [Sensual desire] [Right Mindfulness] // [Culture/West] [History] [Culture/Thailand] [Craving]
Sutta: SN 47.6-7.
Follow-up: “Are the pīti and sukha of samādhi considered mano (intellect) states?” [Rapture] [Happiness] [Concentration] [Aversion]
3. “Why doesn’t the passage (SN 47.7) mention obsession with painful objects?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Desire] [Aversion] [Right Mindfulness]
4. “Could it be that the five cords of sensual pleasure need an outside stimulus to be activated while the mind is an internal frame of reference?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sensual desire] [Sense bases] [Heart/mind] [Right Mindfulness] // [Craving] [Concentration]
Sutta: MN 137: Replacing sensual pleasure with the pleasure of samādhi.
[Session] [Right Mindfulness]
Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 21-22.
Reading: AN 4.245: Training.
Reading: Sn 1.4: The Farmer Bhāradvāja.
1. “If you observe that you are angry, do you use effort to abandon anger or just watch it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aversion] [Right Effort] [Right Mindfulness]
2. “Does the term mindfulness always imply right mindfulness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Right Mindfulness] // [Abhidhamma] [Aggregates]
Reference: Right Mindfulness p. 21-22
4. “What is a plowshare? ...So mindfulness is both the goad and the plowshare?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Similes] [Right Mindfulness]
Reference: Sn 1.4: The Farmer Bhāradvāja
5. “How does mindfulness relate to choice?” (continuing the anger question) Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volition] [Aversion] [Mindfulness] [Right Effort] [Right Mindfulness] // [Discernment] [Language]
6. Comments by Abhayagiri Saṅgha about the nature of practice. [Forgiveness] [Similes] [Aversion] [Right Mindfulness]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Habits] [Idealism] [Patience] [Ajahn Chah] [Goodwill] [Long-term practice]
Comment: Patience remind me of going through deep grief. Contributed by Beth Steff. [Grief]
7. Quote: “Do you still have anger?” “Yes, but I don’t take it.” — Ajahn Dune. Quoted by Debbie Stamp. [Ajahn Dune] [Aversion] [Right Mindfulness]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Arahant]
Follow-up: “Do we know if the Buddha had anger?” [Buddha] [Tipiṭaka]
Comment: Māra came to the Buddha many times after the Buddha’s enlightenment. Contributed by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Māra] [Buddha/Biography]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Idealism] [Culture/West]
[Session] [Right Mindfulness]
Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 23-24.
Reading: AN 4.41: Concentration. [Concentration]
1. “What are the rewards for the skillful monk?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [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]
2. Outline of AN 4.41 Samādhibhāvanā: Four types of concentration. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [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]
[Session]
Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 24-28. [Right Mindfulness] [Right Concentration]
Reading: MN 19: Dvedhavitakka Sutta, Two Kinds of Thought.
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.
[Session] [Right Mindfulness] [Right Concentration]
Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 28-31.
Reading: SN 47.40: Analysis.
3. “What does Ajahn Geoff mean by “frames of reference?”” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Right Mindfulness]
5. “How does the general sense of awareness fit into the jhana factors?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Jhāna] [Present moment awareness] // [Clear comprehension] [Right Mindfulness]
[Session] [Right Mindfulness] [Right Concentration]
Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 31-34.
Reading: SN 47.4: At Sālā.
Reading: Iti 90: Foremost Faith.
4. “What does “know the mind as mind; know feeling as feeling” mean?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Relinquishment] // [Proliferation]
Comment: Self-view forms around the feeling from sense contact. [Sense bases] [Contact] [Feeling] [Self-identity view]
Sutta: MN 18: Madhupiṇḍika Sutta, The Honeyball.
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volitional formations] [Perception]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta. [Mindfulness of breathing]
1. “In Right Mindfulness, Ajahn Ṭhānissaro focuses on how the first three tetrads apply to high states of concentation. How can these be useful in more mundane levels of meditation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Jhāna] // [Investigation of states] [Rapture] [Volitional formations] [Heart/mind]
Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 137: Five levels of pīti.
1. “Can you speak about when to use which aspects of satipatthāna?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Right Effort]
[Session] Reading: Chapter 2, “The Method of Developing Calm” in The Natural Character of Awakening by Chao Khun Upāli, p. 30-39. Read by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Right Mindfulness]
[Session] [Right Mindfulness]
Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 109-112.
Reading: SN 51.20: “Analysis.”
[Session] [Right Mindfulness]
Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 112-113.
Reading: MN 44, Cūḷavedalla Sutta, The Shorter Series of Questions and Answers.
Reading: AN 8.63: “In Brief.”
Reading: MN 101: Devadaha Sutta, At Devadaha.
Reading: AN 8.81: “Training.”
3. “Are the Four Frames of Reference the same as the Four Foundations of Mindfulness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Translation] // [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro]
[Session] [Right Mindfulness] [Concentration] [Formless attainments]
Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 113.
Reading: AN 4.94: “Concentration.”
Reading: AN 9.36: “Jhāna.”
[Session] [Right Mindfulness]
Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 113-115.
Reading: MN 101: Devadaha Sutta, At Devadaha (Right Mindfulness p. 43).
Reading: MN 95: Cankī Sutta, With Cankī.
25. “In concentration, you’re aware of one object. If in that state you become aware of pleasure, does that mean you’ve already left jhāna?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Concentration] [Unification] [Happiness] [Right Mindfulness] [Jhāna] // [Self-identity view] [Discernment] [Clinging]
11. Comment: In mindfulness of breathing, you feel the breath throughout the body. This suffusion is similar in jhāna. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of body] [Jhāna]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness]
Suttas: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta
1. “What are the general similarities and differences between the practice of ānāpānasatiand satipaṭṭhāna? Are they the same practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta
1. “As inspiration for the rest of us, would you please talk about some of your milestone insights over your years of practice and what kept you going over the years, especially when you hit roadblocks?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life/Motivation] [Long-term practice] // [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Ajahn Chah] [Impermanence] [Right Mindfulness] [Self-identity view]
Sutta: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta
28. “Is there a way to measure concentration, mindfulness, and awareness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Right Concentration] [Present moment awareness] // [Tranquility] [Happiness]
5. “Can I be aware of my mind states while I am aware of my breath? It doesn’t seem so.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of mind] // [Right Mindfulness]
9. “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?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness ] [Consciousness] [Proliferation] // [Right Mindfulness ] [Ardency] [Thai] [Hinduism] [Clear comprehension] [Seclusion]
Sutta: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta [Right Mindfulness ]
Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 431: The relationship between sampajañña and pañña. [Discernment]
Definition of mindfulness from P. A. Payutto: “That quality of mind which draws the objects of the senses into the heart.” [P. A. Payutto] [Sense bases] [Heart/mind]
Quote: “It’s like this.” — Ajahn Sumedho [Ajahn Sumedho]
4. Comment: That [MN 19.8] feels like it goes to the Four Foundations of Mindfulness of knowing when the mind is here, knowing what’s happening to the body. [Right Mindfulness] [Mindfulness of body] [Directed thought and evaluation]
10. “Is there a reason why mindfulness is number seven in the Path?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Eightfold Path] // [Right View] [Right Effort]
7. “Have you done much memorization practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Learning] // [Eightfold Path] [Pāli] [Right Mindfulness] [Chanting] [Energy]
6. “Do the Four Iddhipādas apply to the way we develop sammā sati and sammā samādhi?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Bases of Success] [Right Mindfulness] [Right Concentration] [Monastic life] // [Progress of insight]
3. “You spoke of experiencing the breath and experiencing feelings and mind. Are you suggesting that we experience the mind knowing the breath or when it’s doing other things?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of feeling] [Mindfulness of mind] // [Right Mindfulness] [Volitional formations] [Conditionality]
Suttas: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta; MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta [Right Mindfulness]
4. “Is the fourth foundation of mindfulness as simple as, for example, with the third foundation I identify aversion, and then in the fourth foundation I identify aversion as a hindrance?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of dhammas] [Mindfulness of mind] // [Āgama] [Sutta] [Hindrances] [Four Noble Truths] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Progress of insight]
Suttas: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta; MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta [Right Mindfulness]
Reference: Satipaṭṭhāna Perspectives by Bhante Analayo (commercial)
6. “In practicing mindfulness day-to-day, which category of mindfulness is most important at varying times? Body, feelings, mind, or dhammas?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Everyday life] [Right Mindfulness] // [Continuity of mindfulness]