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[Session] Note: This session follows a period of small-group discussions.
1. Comment: As our group spoke, our different perspectives converged on objects of the mind and how we meet them. [Mindfulness of dhammas]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
2. Comments about the ways our work affects us. [Work] [Commerce/economics] // [Depression] [Unskillful qualities]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Human] [Appropriate attention]
3. “Everyone in our group is struggling with issues about livelihood. Does anyone here feel their livelihood is in tune?” Answered by Ajahn Yatiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Work] [Idealism] // [Contentment] [Eightfold Path] [Kamma]
Quote: “Maybe it would be better phrased ‘Right-enough livelihood.’” — Ajahn Karuṇadhammo [Right Livelihood]
Story: An upright career police officer in Thailand transfers in and out of a corrupt assignment. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Community] [Crime] [Corruption] [Family] [Precepts]
Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: Even monks face moral dillemas. [Monastic life] [Vinaya]
5. “What is your take on satisfaction, being in tune, and stagnation?” [Contentment ] [Energy] [Ardency ] // [Skillful qualities] [Discernment] [Buddha/Biography] [Spiritual search] [Right Effort]
Sutta: AN 2.5: Effort and noncontentment with wholesome states.
Story: The Thai government made it illegal for monks to teach contentment. [History/Thai Buddhism] [Monastic life] [Teaching Dhamma]
Comment about the simile of the lute. [Middle Path] [Similes]
Sutta: AN 6.55: Soṇa Sutta
6. “Regarding the lute simile (AN 6.55), I notice that even properly tuned instruments gradually creep out of tune. Is finding the balance a lifelong effort?” [Middle Path] [Right Effort] [Similes] [Long-term practice]
Comment about the need to put work into perspective. [Work] [Culture/West]
7. Comment about the Buddha developing skills after enlightenment. [Buddha/Biography] [Liberation] [Learning]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Vinaya] [History/Early Buddhism]
1. “Could you tell us how you became a monk?” [Ordination] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life/Motivation] // [Culture/Thailand] [Meditation]
Quote: “I stumbled into it.” [Monastic life]
2. Comment: It’s not so easy to let go of people who have been in my life forever to cultivate new friendships. [Relinquishment] [Spiritual friendship]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Judgementalism] [Virtue] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Views]
3. “Why is discernment a better word for wisdom?” [Discernment ] [Translation] // [Pāli] [Etymology]
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]
5. Meditation instruction: Walking meditation instructions. [Posture/Walking] [Spiritual friendship] // [Continuity of mindfulness] [Tranquility]
1. “The Buddha said ‘One is expected to cultivate the path when you meet noble friends.’ How much responsibility do we need to take for this?” [Spiritual friendship] [Association with people of integrity] [Volition]
2. [When talking about the qualities for developing the Eightfold Path, seclusion, cessation, and dispassion.] “Could you distinguish between cessation and dispassion?” [Eightfold Path] [Progress of insight] [Cessation] [Dispassion] // [Pāli] [Etymology]
3. “Could you give the Pāli words for dispassion, cessation, and maturing? Also the word you used with otappa?” [Pāli] [Dispassion] [Cessation] [Release] [Conscience and prudence] // [Seclusion]
1. “What do we do at the monastery? What happens on a daily basis?” [Monastic routine ] [Abhayagiri]
2. Comment: The more we become like monks and nuns, the more we will be helping the climate change situation. [Monastic life] [Environment]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Simplicity] [Contentment] [Generosity] [Human]
3. “Can you give some suggestions on dealing with betrayal in relationships?” [Relationships] [Sexual misconduct] [Trust] // [Spiritual friendship] [Faith] [Virtue] [Generosity] [Discernment] [Judgementalism] [Monastic life]
Sutta: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 46: The Highest Blessings (Mangala Sutta, SN 2.4)
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
5. “What is the role of emotion in our practice?” [Emotion] [Feeling] // [Faith] [Compassion] [Generosity] [Four Noble Truths] [Relinquishment] [Discernment]
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]
7. “Given the situation in Burma with Buddhist monks fomenting violence against Muslims, how do you determine whether to respond to that vocally or publically?” [History/Other Theravāda traditions] [Conflict] [Politics and society] [Monastic life] [Islam] [Right Speech] [Media] // [Military]
8. “I appreciate your emphasis on clarity, stability, and spaciousness. How does concentration relate to these?” [Clear comprehension] [Unification] [Spaciousness] [Concentration ] // [Pāli] [Thai] [Etymology] [Tranquility] [Happiness] [Rapture] [Conditionality]
Suttas: AN 10.3: Virtuous Behaivor; AN 6.10 Mahānāma [Virtue]
Quote: “The way my mind worked before was, ‘Boy, when I get my concentration together, I’m going to be happy...’” [Ajahn Pasanno]
Quote: “The happy mind is easily concentrated.” [Hindrances] [Relinquishment] [Knowledge and vision]
9. “For me, the practice starts with concentration to get to a place of well-being. Is there a missing piece here?” [Concentration] [Happiness] // [Cultural context] [Generosity] [Precepts] [Culture/West] [Western psychology] [Meditation]
Quote: “It is helpful to get a picture of the whole path and realize how integrated and mutually nourishing those path factors are.” [Eightfold Path] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]
10. “When we say right Eightfold Path, is there any general rule to tell what is right, what is wrong?” [Eightfold Path] [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities] // [Unwholesome Roots]
11. “How is the path like a traffic circle?” [Eightfold Path] // [Conditionality]
1. “You spoke about recognizing that when the mind goes off into busyness that there’s not just that particular quality. Could you talk more about this?” [Tranquility] [Proliferation] // [Appropriate attention] [Impermanence] [Knowing itself] [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Chah] [Clinging] [Suffering]
2. “You said that starting with chanting can help focus the mind. But I find myself daydreaming while chanting.” [Chanting] [Tranquility] [Proliferation] // [Pāṭimokkha] [Energy]
Story: An elderly woman chants the Dhammacakka Sutta every day. [Ageing]
3. “How do we deal with the frustration that arises after repeatedly catching the busy mind?” [Tranquility] [Proliferation] // [Perfectionism]
1. Comment: Even though I’ve seen the fruit of awareness in and of itself many times, the doubt is still so deeply embedded that there is not that place of letting go. [Knowing itself] [Doubt] [Clinging] [Relinquishment] [Tranquility] [Proliferation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Faith]
Reference: “Goal-Oriented and Source-Oriented Practice,” Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Pasanno, August 10, 2013.
2. Comment: I have found your saying ‘Just don’t make a problem of it.’ very helpful. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Cessation of Suffering] [Tranquility] [Proliferation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
3. “In the suttas, if you recognize a defilement like ill-will, you need to do something about it. How can we reconcile this with the Ajahn Chah teaching you just read (‘Receiving Visitors’ in In Simple Terms)?” [Sutta] [Right Effort] [Ajahn Chah] [Tranquility] [Proliferation] // [Discernment]
Quote: “Practice is really easy. If the defilements come at you high, you duck, and if they come at you low, you jump over them.” — Ajahn Tongrat [Ajahn Tongrat] [Unwholesome Roots]
4. “Is there a state of the calm mind when you’re not thinking about anything or is meditation more about reflecting?” [Directed thought and evaluation] [Recollection] [Tranquility ] [Proliferation] // [Concentration] [Restlessness and worry] [Perfectionism] [Ardency]
5. “Sometimes the mind becomes peaceful, but a squiggle of restlessness often arises around 45 minutes when the meditation usually ends. What should I do with this habit?” [Restlessness and worry] [Habits] [Tranquility] [Proliferation] // [Aversion] [Noting] [Happiness]
6. “Is it possible to replace the busy thoughts with more positive thoughts you’re trying to cultivate?” [Directed thought and evaluation] [Tranquility] [Proliferation]
7. “How can we understand the last practice in MN 20 of gritting the jaw, etc.? I don’t think this will work for me.” [Tranquility] [Proliferation]
8. Comment: When someone says they can’t meditate because they try to settle their mind and they realize how busy it is, I’ve encouraged them that now they are seeing the reflective quality of how their mind works. [Appropriate attention] [Tranquility] [Proliferation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
9. “What attitude should we take when observing things so we don’t objectify them or make it stressful?” [Perception] [Knowing itself] [Appropriate attention] [Suffering] [Tranquility] [Proliferation] // [Direct experience]
1. “Thank you for your talk. Can you flesh out: ‘dispassionate about what?’ Also, trying to encourage dispassion along with arousing energy.” [Dispassion ] [Energy] // [Craving] [Sense bases] [Form] [Emotion] [Contentment] [Tranquility]
Quote: “When there’s a coolness towards the world around one, that frees up a lot of energy for directing attention to what’s actually useful and beneficial.” [Discernment]
2. “Is it possible for an arahant to have seemingly negative thoughts and speech?” [Arahant] [Unskillful qualities]
3. “Can you talk about how to work with infidelity.” [Relationships] [Sexual misconduct]
4. “Thank you for the wonderful teachings...Can you further discuss dispassion and nonattachment in the context of the ‘middle way.’ (particularly for a layperson in a loving relationship)” [Relationships] [Dispassion]
5. “I notice that when my mind is drifting I don’t feel physical pain but when ‘present’ pain comes to the fore. Suggestions?” [Pain]
6. “What do you think about the bed here? I believe its against the 8th precept.” [High and luxurious beds]
1. “I have seen both monastics and laypeople start getting ill after they became serious about practice. Can you relate this to your talk today? (whether such illness is karmic. Etc.)” [Sickness] [Kamma]
2. “Could you clarify the difference between perception (sanna), mental formations (sankara) and conscousness (vinnana)?” [Perception] [Volitional formations] [Consciousness]
3. “Can you talk about neither-painful-nor-pleasant feelings and the benefits of being with this boringness?” [Neutral feeling] [Mindfulness of feeling]
4. “Could you please talk about different places in the chain of dependent origination can be broken?” [Dependent origination]
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]
6. “Reflecting on your talk earlier about letting go...Wondering if you can speak about maintaining a practice during retreat and also in ‘normal’ life under circumstances (where one has to make many important decisions).” [Relinquishment] [Meditation retreats] [Lay life]
7. “During meditation when thoughts come and want to engage me...is there a point or sign or a warning that can be seen before I get lost?” [Restlessness and worry]
8. “Dear Ajahn Pasanno, Thank you for all the guidance and encouragement. The past months have been very busy...I am now noticing lots of patterns of tension in my body which make the breath an unpleasant object to stay with. Any advice?” [Mindfulness of body] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Suffering]
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]
10. “Could you clarify whether having more than one meditation object is a help or a hindrance?” [Meditation/General advice]
11. “Thank you for your uplifting and encouraging talks. My husband died 6 months ago. Could you give suggestions for how to contemplate anicca and anatta in the context of his life, illness, and death?” [Impermanence] [Not-self] [Sickness] [Death] [Relationships]
12. “Is there a distinction between dispassion and equanimity?” [Dispassion] [Equanimity]
13. “Thank you for your wonderful teaching. Q: How to identify and deal with ‘Panca upadana’ in daily life?” [Clinging] [Aggregates]
14. “Ajahn, Its seems like the first couple of days all hindrances attack to a point where I opened my eyes this morning meditation and thought: ‘How did I get here?...Can you please comment.” [Hindrances] [Meditation retreats]
1. “Is body scan as a meditation practice done in the Ajahn Chah tradition? Is there a sutta where the Buddha talks about it?” [Body scanning] [Ajahn Chah lineage] [Sutta]
2. “Is there something in the body that will help you identify the defilement of delusion?” [Mindfulness of body] [Delusion ] // [Self-identity view]
3. “If one has read the Majjhima Nikaya, what text of the Pali canon do you recommend reading next?” [Learning] [Sutta] [Tipiṭaka]
4. “I’m having trouble integrating some of the teachings in the context of preparing to have a child...How might one be fully open to the lightness and joy surrounding birth while remaining deeply aware of these other truths of existence?” [Family] [Birth] [Characteristics of existence]
5. “Sorry, I missed something. Did you say that instead of dwelling on our hindrances and getting depressed, we could instead work with the Factors of Enlightenment to brighten the mind? What are the Factors you would suggest?” [Factors of Awakening] [Gladdening the mind]
6. “Can you please give perspective on thoughts/feelings of inadequacy and comparison to others?” [Guilt/shame/inadequacy]
7. “Can you please talk about qualities (physical sensations) one would experience in different Jhana sates?” [Jhāna]
8. “Are there harmful states of concentration? How would you potentially go down the wrong path? Is there a question you could ask yourself?” [Right Concentration] [Wrong concentration]
9. “About a year ago, I was bullied and sexually harassed by a married male coworker...Any guidance as to how I can work with this and move beyond it?” [Abuse/violence] [Sexual misconduct] [Work] // [Goodwill]
10. “Would you please elaborate on mental formations and volition.” [Volitional formations] [Volition]
11. “Once I aspired to open my mind beyond this conditioned world. Now I mostly try to be at ease with my limitations. Am I forgetting something important?” [Stages of awakening] [Unconditioned] [Contentment]
12. “Some monks have told me I’m selfish for being so focused on release. They say I should help others more. What are your thoughts?” [Release] [Selfishness] [Generosity]
13. “What are the 4 stages of Enlightenment? What defilements have the four Noble Beings shed?” [Stages of awakening] [Fetters]
14. “Could you please expand on compassionate seclusion in interactive daily life (both on and off retreat)?” [Seclusion] [Compassion]
15. “Thank you Luang Por for your time and teachings. I would like to hear more about the idea of restraint (especially in regards to raising a teenager).” [Family] [Sense restraint] [Children]
16. “Would you please talk a bit about karma in past lives...I’m asking for future karmic results an preventing negative ones.” [Kamma] [Rebirth]
17. “How do you teach noting/labeling in meditation?” [Noting]
18. “I was interested to hear the definition of mental formations as volitional...Could you help me reconcile (random and unbidden thoughts) with volitionality?” [Volitional formations]
19. “What suggestions do you have when thoughts of transgression of sila arise. I cannot change the past, but I have regrets.” [Precepts] [Restlessness and worry]
20. “Please explain the inner workings of right intention and its karmic effect.” [Right Intention] [Kamma] [Volition]
1. “Please explain again: When one restores concentration by focusing on the in-and-outtake of the breath, is one using the vinnana/consciousness of the grasping mind?” [Mindfulness of breathing] [Concentration] [Consciousness] [Clinging]
2. “During retreats I sometimes have dreams in which my actions are unskillful. Does one eventually keep the precepts even in dreams?” [Precepts] [Dreams]
3. “‘Like exercise makes the body strong, inner stillness makes the mind strong.’ Why stillness and not awareness?” [Calming meditation] [Tranquility] [Present moment awareness]
4. “It has been a few years since my last retreat. May I request a reminder on how to practice metta mediation on oneself...I seem to have forgotten.” [Goodwill]
5. “Would you please give an example of how wholesome qualities can condition unwholesome qualities?” [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities] [Conditionality]
6. “I feel like a kid whose father has told a story and there is more to tell...Please father do tell (about non-complicated thoughts etc.).” [Proliferation]
7. “I have a hard time ending or letting go of relationships after they no longer serve me or prove to be unskillful people...Is this attachment to person or aversion/ fear etc of the unknown?” [Relationships] [Relinquishment] [Clinging] [Fear]
8. “How do you decrease the times an obsessive thought arises in the mind?...What is obsession anyways?” [Restlessness and worry] [Proliferation]
9. “I’ve been sitting on this question...It has to do with dispassion, shedding, simplifying and being easily satisfied on the one end of the spectrum and being engaged and active in the world...How can one practice shedding internally but still be responsive and engaged regarding the suffering from environmental and social issues?” [Politics and society] [Environment] [Dispassion] [Contentment] [Renunciation]
10. “Could you please explain again the differences between sanna, sankara, and vinnana? I’m still not getting it.” [Perception] [Volitional formations] [Consciousness]
11. “Is there an obligation to reconcile with family before your death or theirs (especially when family has been particularly unskillful towards us)?” [Family] [Death] [Forgiveness]
12. “What is meant by ‘fools’...the Buddha’s definition of a fool.”
13. “Is there anything skillful about crying, the flow of tears?” [Grief]
14. “How does one reconcile the apparent complete lack of control that is experienced in meditation...with the apparent need to control one’s circumstances off the cushion. Is it possible to live with complete non-contention and still have an organized life?” [Everyday life] [Meditation] [Volition] [Non-contention]
1. “What is the funeral protocol for monks? What about non-monastics in the West?” [Funerals] [Monastic life] [Lay life]
2. “Over the last couple of years, I’ve been noticing that memory retention isn’t quite what it used to be...In your experience, has meditation practice helped sharpen the memory?” [Memory] [Ageing] [Meditation]
3. “I’ve been reflecting on ‘no-self’ and it hasn’t quite been resonating. Instead it feels like daunting abstraction. Can you suggest a simple way to approach this?” [Not-self]
4. “I saw one of your new publications ‘Don’t Hold Back.’ Why did you choose this title? The chapter on chanting answered many questions I had.” [Dhamma books] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Chanting]
5. “Funeral and memorial services are not only important for those left behind, but maybe important for the new traveler in afterlife. Could you say more about supporting a dead person? What kind of support and how long? Years? Does ‘human support’ matter or does ‘karma’ of each individual ‘take care of it’?” [Funerals] [Death] [Rebirth] [Kamma]
6. “I found your explanation of the theme of ‘constancy’ in practice as a constancy in keeping a bright and awake mind more helpful and do-able than a constancy in keeping to one meditation object as is sometime taught. Could you please say more.” [Right Effort] [Gladdening the mind] [Unification]
7. “Would you please comment on ‘The Highest Blessings’ where is reads: ‘Avoiding those of foolish ways...and cherishing family.’ What if family members engage in foolish ways like addiction to alcohol and one can not always avoid them? Can one cherish one of foolish ways?” [Family] [Spiritual friendship] [Intoxicants]
8. “It seems that every year I expect less from myself at a retreat. It seems also, by and large, that every year retreat becomes easier, happier, and more peaceful. Would you say this is because: 1) I am getting wiser? 2) I am abandoning all intentions? or 3) I am running out of hormones?” [Long-term practice ] [Meditation retreats] [Happiness] // [Spaciousness]
9. “Where do the Brahma-Viharas fit into the 4 Noble Truths?’” [Four Noble Truths] [Divine Abidings ] // [Eightfold Path] [Right Intention]
10. “Thank you for the most profound expository discourse on Ananpanasati...How do you practice it? Do you memorize it and note all the aspects (tick them off and get a certificate)?” [Mindfulness of breathing]
11. “Is the pursuit of peace, cessation, stillness any different from any other pursuit or desire?” [Tranquility] [Cessation] [Desire]
12. “Can you please speak about dealing with physical pain during a sit (particularly back pain and headaches)?” [Pain] [Posture/Sitting]
13. “It seems like the ‘Reflection on the 32 Parts’ of the body is missing several parts...Is it meant to be comprehensive? Or is it just the ugly bits?” [Unattractiveness]
14. “Please explain which comes first birth or becoming for example with anger or any feeling or character?” [Birth] [Becoming] [Ill-will]