Saṅgha (Monastic community)
Renunciant practice / Monastic life / Saṅgha
Part of tag cluster Saṅgha in key topic The Three Refuges
Glosses: Monastic community
Also a subtag of Three Refuges
Subtags: Fourfold Assembly, Communal harmony, Principles of Cordiality, Monastery organizational structure, Saṅgha decision making, Abbot
See also: Recollection/Saṅgha
58 excerpts, 5:02:40 total duration

All excerpts (58) Most relevant (44) Questions about (27) Answers involving (12) Stories (8) Quotes (6)

Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 4 – Apr. 28, 2001

Download audio (2:16)
3. Quote: “He made sense out of monasticism.” — Ajahn Sumedho [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Vinaya ] [Dhamma] [Trust]


Download audio (10:24)
8. Ajahn Chah made me look at myself. Teaching by Ajahn Sumedho. [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Posture/Sitting] [Pain] [Aversion] [Admonishment/feedback] [Humor] [Patience] [Goodwill] [Discernment] [Contentment] [Cessation] [Happiness] [Saṅgha] [Views] [Relinquishment]

Quote: “Your practice now is patience.” — Ajahn Chah

Story: Ajahn Chah chats for hours after Pāṭimokkha. [Idle chatter] [Judgementalism]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 5 – Apr. 28, 2001

Download audio (3:13)
3. Quote: “Ajahn Chah was a wonderful teacher, but more important, he was a trainer. He trained people how to live.” — Ajahn Pasanno [Teaching Dhamma] [Monastic life] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Ajahn Chah]

Story: Māghā Pūjā at Wat Pah Pong. [Festival days] [Lunar observance days] [Wat Pah Pong] [Meditation] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Lay life] [Saṅgha]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 11 – Apr. 28, 2001

Download audio (1:42)
9. Reflection by Joseph Kappel: Jumping off the Saṅgha ocean liner. [Saṅgha] [Similes] [Joseph Kappel] [Disrobing] // [Faith] [Five Precepts] [Ajahn Chah]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 14 – Apr. 28, 2001

Download audio (0:47)
8. Ajahn Chah encouraged us to work as Saṅgha, as community. Recollection by Ṭhānissarā. [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] // [Culture/West] [Aversion]


Download audio (0:45)
9. Story: Ajahn Chah visits the Chithurst community and asks, “Is the community getting on well?” – “Yes.” – “Well there’s not going to be much wisdom here then, is there?” Told by Ṭhānissarā. [Chithurst] [Saṅgha] [Communal harmony] [Discernment] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Sumedho]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 16 – Apr. 28, 2001

Download audio (6:00)
5. Story: “Sumedho, Wat Pah Pong, is it suffering?” Told by Ajahn Sumedho. [Wat Pah Pong] [Suffering] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Lunar observance days] [Work] [Monastic crafts] [Aversion] [Cleanliness]

Quote: “To want something that’s not present, something you don’t have, is suffering.” [Craving] [Cause of Suffering] [Culture/Natural environment] [Saṅgha] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Culture/West]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 17 – Apr. 28, 2001

Download audio (8:37)
2. “My life has been hugely impacted by Ajahn Chah, his teachings, and the spiritual family he introduced me to.” Reflection by Kittisaro. [Gratitude] [Teaching Dhamma] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] // [Happiness] [Teachers] [Learning] [Respect for elders] [Meditation retreats] [Body scanning] [Conceit] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Goodwill] [Humility] [Mentoring]

Story: Ajahn Chah sniffs around like a dog. [Kittisaro] [Similes] [Humor] [Mindfulness of breathing]

Quote: “He gave me a practice path that goes on and on to this day.” [Eightfold Path]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 19 – Apr. 28, 2001

Download audio (3:25)
4. Story: Half a million people attend Ajahn Chah’s funeral. Told by Ajahn Sundarā. [Funerals] [Ajahn Sundarā] [Ajahn Chah] // [Food] [Free distribution] [Meditation] [Stupas/monuments] [Chanting]

Quote: “The heart of [Ajahn Chah’s] teaching is the ability to bring people together.” [Teaching Dhamma] [Saṅgha] [Community]

Story: The cremation pyre catches fire and number 16 wins the lottery. [Humor]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 31 – Apr. 29, 2001

Download audio (2:23)
1. “Why was Ajahn Chah not allowed to ordain monks and ostracized?” Answered by Ajahn Sumedho. [Ordination] [Ajahn Chah] // [History/Thai Buddhism] [Monastic titles] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Saṅgha]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 32 – Apr. 29, 2001

Download audio (10:14)
3. Ajahn Chah’s illness: his last teaching. Reflection by Paul Breiter. [Sickness] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Paul Breiter] [Health care] [Grief] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Respect for elders] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] [Upatakh] [Almsfood] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 34 – Apr. 29, 2001

Download audio (10:29)
3. Story: Ajahn Chah’s failing heath and Rains Retreat at Tam Saeng Pet. Told by Joseph Kappel. [Sickness] [Health care] [Rains retreat] [Wat Tam Saeng Pet] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Lodging] [Seclusion] [Generosity] [Joseph Kappel]

Story: “Pabakkaro, make me a Communist.” [Culture/Natural environment] [Medicinal requisites] [Contentment] [Sensual desire]

Story: Venerable Pabakkaro attends to Ajahn Chah. [Upatakh] [Humility]

Story: Ajahn Chah visits the branch monasteries for the last time. [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Vinaya] [Saṅgha]


Download audio (1:41)
5. Caring for Ajahn Chah. Reflection by Joseph Kappel. [Sickness] [Health care] [Ajahn Chah] // [Joseph Kappel] [Compassion] [Gratitude]

Quote: “It helped the community prepare for his death and offer gratitude.” [Saṅgha] [Death] [Generosity]


Download audio (4:27)
8. Ajahn Chah’s time of illness was a gift to the Saṅgha. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sickness] [Generosity] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] // [Bodhisattva] [Renunciation] [Communal harmony]

Ajahn Chah’s emphasis on Saṅgha was unique. [Saṅgha] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Teachers] [Conflict] [Personal presence] [Three Refuges]

Quote: “People in the world are attached to status. People in the religion are attached to their views.” — Thai saying [Monastic life] [Views] [Saṅgha decision making]


Download audio (0:59)
10. Surrender, dignity, honesty: Qualites of Ajahn Chah. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relinquishment] [Dignity] [Truth] [Ajahn Chah] // [Saṅgha] [Funerals]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 35 – Apr. 29, 2001

Download audio (2:55)
4. Recollection: The June 2000 Saṅgha Meeting discusses allowable sweets and protecting Ajahn Chah’s name. Recounted by Ajahn Sumedho. [Wat Pah Pong] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making] // [Ajahn Sumedho] [Seclusion] [Personality] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Medicinal requisites] [Technology]


Download audio (3:00)
6. Recollection: The June 2000 Saṅgha Meeting concludes in harmony. Recounted by Ajahn Sumedho. [Wat Pah Pong] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making] [Communal harmony] [Ajahn Chah] // [Views] [Harsh speech] [Asking forgiveness ceremony] [Three Refuges] [Culture/West]

Quote: “Luang Por Chah wasn’t giving us views and opinions....[He gave] us all a confidence in the unspoken unity of our humanity.” [Faith] [Human]


Metta Retreat, Session 1 – Sep. 9, 2008

Download audio (12:30)
4. “As a guilt-ridden American, how do you respond to personal mistakes without guilt?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Culture/West] [Great disciples] // [Saṅgha] [Conscience and prudence] [Pāli] [Skillful qualities] [Self-identity view] [Respect] [Perception] [Virtue] [Buddha]

Story: A monk falsely accuses Sāriputta (AN 9.11). [Forgiveness]


Metta Retreat, Session 4 – Sep. 12, 2008

Download audio (4:23)
1. “Realized beings abound these days. Care to comment? When the conditions are conducive and the inquiry is in earnest, is it possible to wake up quickly?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stages of awakening] [Saṅgha] [Progress of insight] [Ardency] [Conditionality] // [Patience] [Ajahn Pasanno]

Quote: “Buddhism hasn’t come to America yet.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Culture/West] [Insight Meditation Society]


Metta Retreat, Session 5 – Sep. 13, 2008

Download audio (7:27)
13. “In your opinion, why do you think Mogallana is portrayed in the scriptures as mostly an idiot/unwise and Sariputta is portrayed as wise?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tipiṭaka] [Great disciples] // [Psychic powers] [Saṅgha] [Conflict] [Mahāyāna] [Personality]

Quote: “But Ānanda, since when has Anuruddha been involved in disciplinary issues in the midst of the Saṅgha?” AN 4.243 [Saṅgha] [Vinaya]

Story: Moggallāna sees a yakkha clobber Sāriputta. Ud 4.4 [Non-human beings]


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

Download audio (7:20)
3. Story: A group of military generals ask Ajahn Chah to bless amulets to create a kitchen fund. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Amulets] [Ajahn Chah] [Military] [Almsfood] [Wat Pah Pong] // [Culture/Thailand] [Saṅgha decision making] [Festival days] [Almsbowl] [Stupas/monuments]

Quote: “The Buddha set up the foundation 2,500 years ago with just one baht.” — Ajahn Chah [Buddha] [Saṅgha]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 5 – Jan. 12, 2014

Download audio (3:04)
7. “Did the Dhammayut/Mahanikai differences matter to serious practice monks?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai sects] [Monastic life] // [Pāṭimokkha] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Baen] [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 52 – Mar. 18, 2014

Download audio (2:58)
1. Recollection: Saṅgha gatherings at Wat Pah Pong on Ajahn Chah’s birthday. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Pah Pong] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] // [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Protocols] [Meditation]

Recollection: Inspecting almsbowls after the meal to see if there was any food left. [Almsbowl] [Food]


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

Download audio (5:02)
15. “Living in the West, chances are most of us will die in a hospital, which could be quite chaotic. Any advice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Culture/West] [Health care] [Death] // [Spiritual friendship] [Community] [Saṅgha]

Story: The Abhayagiri community attends to a dying lay supporter. [Abhayagiri]

Comments about hospitals contributed by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.


Thai Forest Tradition, Session 1 – Jun. 14, 2014

Download audio (1:20)
17. “One of the great gifts I’ve received over the last few years spending more time with the Bhikkhu Saṅgha is a sense of devotion, how it opens the heart. Is there a Pāli word or teaching around that principle?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Devotional practice] [Saṅgha] [Gratitude] [Pāli] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Faculties] [Faith] [Energy]


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

Download audio (6:18)
2.Ajahn Lee’s biography contrasts the lives of city and forest monks. Is the lifesytle here (Abhayagiri) similar to the dhutaṅga monks?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo] [Forest versus city monks] [Abhayagiri] [Ascetic practices] // [Vinaya] [Saṅgha] [Culture/Thailand] [Learning] [Merit] [Nibbāna]


Download audio (2:37)
12. “What is the ordination process of someone who wants to become a monk?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sequence of training] [Ordination] // [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making]


Download audio (3:20)
13. “Is the decision to ordain a novice by democratic vote?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sequence of training] [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making] // [Vinaya] [History/Early Buddhism]


Download audio (2:05)
15. “How often does the community reject someone who wants to go forth?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sequence of training] [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making] // [Vinaya]


Teen Weekend 2017 – Sep. 2, 2017

Download audio (11:45)
1. “What meaningful impact do Buddhist monks have on the community?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Community] [Saṅgha] // [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abhayagiri]

Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first visit to Wat Pah Pong. [Wat Pah Pong] [Saṅgha]


Download audio (6:37)
2. “How closely do you and the other monks live together?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Chah] [Communal harmony] [Vinaya] [Seclusion] [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand]


Download audio (5:42)
29. “Do monastics talk with each other about the precepts they have broken or having wrong thoughts?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Vinaya] [Saṅgha] [Christianity] // [Pāṭimokkha] [Confession] [Rains retreat] [Learning] [Abhayagiri] [Faith]


The Teaching and the Training, Session 4 – Mar. 20, 2018

Download audio (6:57)
1. “What is the role of mentors and teachers in learning to use the monastic form skillfully?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Teachers] [Mentoring] [Vinaya ] [Monastic life] // [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] [Wat Pah Pong] [Teaching Dhamma] [Long-term practice] [Ajahn Pasanno]


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

Download audio (11:26)
1. “How does upatakhing fit into our training and what can we learn from it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [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]


Download audio (14:59)
2. “I assume at Abhayagiri the upatakh sleeps in his own dwelling place? (in contrast to the previous story of Ajahn Lee)” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri] [Upatakh] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Sickness] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Other Thai monastics]


Download audio (11:36)
3. “What is the value of living in community?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Self-identity view] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Tongrat] [Views] [Requisites] [Not handling money]


Download audio (8:59)
5. Comment: It’s important for the Saṅgha to look after all members in terms of sickness and ageing. [Sickness] [Ageing] [Death] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism]

Vinaya: Kd 8.26.1-8: The Monk with Dysentery [Buddha/Biography]


The Teaching and the Training, Session 7 – Mar. 23, 2018

Download audio (6:46)
3. “Can you talk about Ajahn Chah’s use of bowing, communal pūjās, and chores?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Monastic routine] [Chanting] [Saṅgha] [Monastic life] [Work] [Bowing] // [Becoming] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Respect for elders]

Story: A Westerner asks Ajahn Chah, “Why do we bow?”


Download audio (2:50)
4. “Can you clarify what “field of merit” means?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Saṅgha] [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Generosity] [Recollection/Generosity] [Monastic life] [Merit]


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

Download audio (5:57)
1. “Ajahn Chah encouraged his monks to all come together for communal chores and stay until the chores are finished. Why is that?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Work] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Communal harmony] [Relinquishment] [Clinging] [Culture/West]


Download audio (2:04)
2. “What does morning pūjā contribute?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Chanting] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Devotion to wakefulness]


Download audio (1:47)
3. “Will practice as a group help us in solitude?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Seclusion] [Meditation/General advice] [Community] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha]


Download audio (2:37)
4. “How do we balance solitude and communal aspects of practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Seclusion] [Community] [Meditation/General advice] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Ajahn Pasanno]


Download audio (1:00)
5. Comment: Some deep-seated patterns may be more visible to others than ourselves. [Community] [Outflows] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aversion] [Self-identity view]


Download audio (2:47)
6. “Is there a place to point out others’ difficulties?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Admonishment/feedback] [Right Speech] [Community] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Ajahn Chah] [Teaching Dhamma]


Download audio (6:02)
7. “What is the role of admonishement? How do we admonish skillfully?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Admonishment/feedback] [Right Intention] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Respect for elders]

Story: Ajahn Amaro waits a year before giving feedback. [Ajahn Amaro]


Download audio (1:47)
8. “Does the proper timing of admonishment depend on the severity of the offense?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Admonishment/feedback] [Vinaya] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha]


Download audio (2:17)
9. “When and how should one respond to offenses of middling severity?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Admonishment/feedback] [Vinaya] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha]


Download audio (1:15)
10. “I’ve heard that someone asked Ajahn Chah if he could read his students’ minds. He replied that he didn’t need to; he just watched how they walked in the door and bowed. Do you get a feel for this over time?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Psychic powers] [Teaching Dhamma] [Mindfulness of body] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] [Bowing]


Download audio (2:13)
12. “Have you found it necessary to recommend psychotherapy or medication for monks who have deep-seated ruts of suffering?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Western psychology] [Suffering] [Long-term practice] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Ajahn Pasanno]


Download audio (1:12)
15. “Does the stability of monastic community help prevent spiritual bypassing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Spiritual bypass] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha]


Download audio (0:28)
16. Comment: When one visits different monasteries and sees the same thing happening over and over, it’s harder to believe “It’s not me.” [Delusion] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha]


Download audio (5:05)
17. “Abhayagiri’s daily and yearly schedule provide a good balance of individual and communal practice. How did this happen?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Seclusion] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [History/Western Buddhist monasticism]


The Teaching and the Training, Session 10 – Mar. 28, 2018

Download audio (6:00)
10. “What role does spending time at other monasteries play in our training?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Abhayagiri] // [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Saṅgha]


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

Download audio (2:59)
10. “Did you mention what the trancendent truth of the Saṅgha was?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Saṅgha] [Truth] [Three Refuges] // [Eightfold Path] [Stages of awakening] [Conventions] [Chanting] [Recollection/Saṅgha]


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

Download audio (8:38)
3. Comment: Coming out af a long-term relationship where someone was killed in an accident after 42 years, the way you presented the disadvantages and advantages of a conventional loving relationship was perhaps a little light on the advantages. [Relationships ] [Death] // [Monastic life/Motivation] [Gratitude] [Long-term practice] [Suffering] [Courage]

Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Saṅgha] [Saṃsāra] [Spiritual urgency]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha/Biography] [Ageing] [Rebirth] [Treasures]

Reference: AN 4.55: Nakula’s mother and father aspire to see each other in this life and the next.


Living in a Changing Society – Aug. 23, 2020

Download audio (7:20)
1. “Ajahn Chah was ill for the last ten years of his life. How could he endure that and why did this take place?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Sickness] // [Perfections] [Teaching Dhamma] [Saṅgha] [Death] [Monastic teachers] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Upatakh] [Generosity]


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

Download audio (21:54)
1. “You have so much community-building experience. Can you talk about what you have found challenging or effective in this? How did Ajahn Chah build community?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Community] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] // [Saṅgha] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Virtue] [Trust] [Communal harmony] [Compassion] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah lineage] [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Sequence of training] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abhayagiri] [Eightfold Path] [Learning]

Sutta: MN 48: Kosambiya Sutta [Principles of Cordiality] [Goodwill] [Generosity] [Right View]

Story: Ajahn Pasanno pays respects to Ajahn Chah: “If you want to stay here, you have to stay at least five years.”

Quote: “The whole path of the Buddha is a path of learning, of education.”