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1. Comment: I notice a connection between a person who is preparing for transition and going though agonal breathing. It’s one breath per minute or two, and it’s relaxed. [Death] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Release] [Clinging] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “You have to keep letting go until there is no remainder.” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Liberation]
2. “I’ve had the experience on retreat of getting to slow, shallow breathing and panicked because I couldn’t find the breath. Could you say more about just going to the knowing?” [Meditation/Unusual experiences] [Tranquility] [Fear] [Knowing itself] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Mindfulness of body] [Investigation of states] [Nimitta] [Faith]
3. “I have a hard time breathing normally due to congestion and athsma. How does one get past the initial fear, ‘I just can’t breath. How am I going to do this?’” [Health] [Fear] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Mindfulness of body] [Body scanning] [Tranquility]
4. “At what point in your meditation do you shift to knower or witness?” [Meditation/Techniques] [Knowing itself] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Investigation of states] [Happiness] [Tranquility] [Calming meditation] [Insight meditation] [Doubt] [Desire]
5. “At times during my meditation, my body acts funny, leaning to one side or the other or spinning. What causes this? Is it a good or bad sign?” [Meditation/Unusual experiences] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Kamma] [Teachers] [Mindfulness of body] [Rapture]
6. “When I practice mindfulness of breathing, thought arises. Do I want to eliminate thinking?” [Right Concentration] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Proliferation] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Nature of mind] [Self-identity view] [Discernment] [Mindfulness of mind] [Investigation of states] [Relinquishment]
7. Comment: My mind will fill with chatter, stuff I’m not interested in. What I’ve come to do is just say, ‘This is a chaotic mind.’ [Proliferation] [Mindfulness of mind] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
8. “How do you keep the self from coming up if this is an interesting thought to follow?” [Self-identity view] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Conditionality] [Aggregates] [Knowing itself]
9. “Sometimes there will be sponaneous verbal recollection of Dhamma. Is this skillful?” [Recollection/Dhamma] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Relinquishment] [Proliferation]
10. “I get stuck with subtle unpleasant moods. Any advice?” [Clinging] [Feeling] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Mindfulness of body] [Goodwill] [Continuity of mindfulness]
1. “Could you translate sati as recognizing?” [Mindfulness] [Translation] [Pāli] [Mindfulness of breathing]
3. Comment: I tend to make things harder for myself. I come up with some big projections. [Proliferation] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Teaching Dhamma] [Simplicity] [Buddha]
4. “[Question unclear] Is modulating a good way to describe working with the breath?” [Mindfulness of breathing]
6. “Modulating the breath seems more sublte than controlling it. Does this relate to where you put your attention as it grows?” [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Kamma] [Directed thought and evaluation]
7. “How often do you employ mindfulness of breathing in daily life? How much volition are you still using?” [Everyday life] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Volition] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Mindfulness of body]
8. “How can we balance happiness and ease with the desire to accomplish something using meditation techniques?” [Meditation/General advice] [Happiness] [Desire] [Middle Path] // [Recollection/Dhamma] [Hearing the true Dhamma]
9. “Sometimes I’ve been sitting a long time and am too tired to keep sitting, walk, or stand. Any suggestions?” [Postures] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Sloth and torpor] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Pain] [Posture/Standing]
10. “When you contemplate, ‘Who is thinking? Who is breathing?’ how does thid differ from thinking? Why doesn’t it generate more thought?” [Hua tou] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Proliferation] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Insight meditation] [Tranquility] [Restlessness and worry]
Quote: “The mind can still think and be peaceful. What a concept!”
1. “What is Abhayagiri’s daily schedule?” [Abhayagiri] // [Chanting] [Meditation] [Work] [Almsround]
2. “Ajahn Lee’s biography contrasts the lives of city and forest monks. Is the lifesytle here (Abhayagiri) similar to the dhutaṅga monks?” [Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo] [Forest versus city monks] [Abhayagiri] [Ascetic practices] // [Vinaya] [Saṅgha] [Culture/Thailand] [Learning] [Merit] [Nibbāna]
3. “What are the connotations of “dhutaṅga monk?” Is it a slur?” [Forest versus city monks] [Ascetic practices] // [Tudong] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Pasanno]
4. Story: Ajahn Ñāṇiko’s tudong up the California coast. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Tudong] [Abhayagiri]
Reference: “Circles of Blessing: Our Redwood Tudong“
5. “Did they (Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Tan Pamutto) have backpacking gear?” [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Tudong] [Abhayagiri] [Shelter]
6. Story: The two-month tudong to Pacific Hermitage [Tudong] [Abhayagiri] [Pacific Hermitage] // [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Almsround]
7. “So it’s pretty rare to get food every day when you’re on a walk?” [Tudong] [Almsround] // [Impermanence]
8. “Do you have to educate the local people about almsround when you go on tudong?” [Tudong] [Almsround] // [Robes] [Culture/West] [Not handling money]
9. “How does tudong help you on the spiritual path?” [Tudong] // [Simplicity] [Craving] [Teaching Dhamma] [Faith]
10. “Is there a requirement for monks in the Forest Tradition to walk tudong?” [Thai Forest Tradition] [Tudong] // [Ascetic practices] [Ajahn Chah] [Restlessness and worry]
Story: Ajahn Chah tells a monk to pack his gear and walk tudong within Wat Pah Pong.
Story: Ajahn Chah lets a restless three-Vassa Western monk go tudong. [Teaching Dhamma]
11. “Can bhikkhshunis walk tudong?” [Bhikkhunī] [Tudong] // [Vinaya] [Sīladharā] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism] [Christianity]
12. “What is the ordination process of someone who wants to become a monk?” [Sequence of training] [Ordination] // [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making]
13. “Is the decision to ordain a novice by democratic vote?” [Sequence of training] [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making] // [Vinaya] [History/Early Buddhism]
14. “What happens after five years?” [Sequence of training] [Abhayagiri]
15. “How often does the community reject someone who wants to go forth?” [Sequence of training] [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making] // [Vinaya]
16. “May I ask for your secret? [Why is Abhayagiri monastic training so often successful?]” [Sequence of training] [Abhayagiri] [Monastic life] // [Theravāda] [Simplicity] [Vinaya] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah] [Middle Path] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism] [Right Effort] [Compassion]
17. “Do American monks have a culture shock when they visit Thailand?” [Monastic life] [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand] // [Wat Pah Nanachat]
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.”
19. “So being the one who knows, you don’t have to react to dislike and like?” [Recollection/Buddha] [Knowing itself] [Aversion] [Greed]
Quote: “The difference between an awakened mind and an unawakened mind is that the unawakened mind keeps following likes and dislikes. An awakened mind can see that arise, establish itself, and pass away. The mind is the same.” [Nature of mind] [Stages of awakening] [Impermanence] [Cessation]
20. “So why can awareness be the place where we take refuge?” [Knowing itself] [Mindfulness] // [Proliferation] [Three Refuges]
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]
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]
23. “Is the peaceful mind your home?” [Nature of mind] [Tranquility] // [Proliferation] [Suffering]
24. “Ajahn Mun’s biography describes a constant fierce vigilance, watching the mind. But meeting you guys, you’re so peaceful and calm. How does this work in terms of practice?” [Ajahn Mun] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Right Effort] [Tranquility] // [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Culture/Thailand] [Dhamma books] [Teaching Dhamma]
Quote: “Any great teacher is not monochromatic.” [Buddha] [Arahant]
Sutta: AN 4.243: “But Ānanda, when has Anuruddha ever concerned himself with disciplinary issues in the midst of the Saṅgha?” [Great disciples] [Personality]
25. “So what about the Bodhisattva practice?” [Bodhisattva] // [Theravāda] [Mahāyāna] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Generosity] [Ajahn Chah] [Upatakh] [Teaching Dhamma]
Sutta: AN 4.17-20: Practice that benefits self, others, both or neither.
Quote: “What are the mind states of an enlightened being?” “Only compassion.” — Ajahn Mahā Boowa [Arahant] [Compassion] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Wat Pah Nanachat]
26. “What are the practicalities of metta practice? How does it relate to compassion?” [Goodwill] [Compassion] // [Theravāda] [Divine Abidings] [Etymology]
27. “Ajahn Amaro writes about transforming the energy of sense contact into compassion and metta. How does this work?” [Ajahn Amaro] [Contact] [Compassion] [Goodwill] // [Aversion] [Relinquishment] [Four Noble Truths] [Happiness]
28. “What are the natural inclinations that can lead to well-being and peace?” [Nature of mind] [Happiness] [Tranquility] // [Aversion] [Right Effort] [Compassion]
29. “The Buddha teaches to end suffering, but from the ordinary person’s view, cultivating the practices of forest monks is also suffering. Who is right?” [Buddha] [Suffering] [Ascetic practices] // [Four Noble Truths] [Faith] [Investigation of states] [Happiness] [Feeling]
Quote: “The teaching of the Buddha isn’t about language....The teaching of the Buddha is the language of experience.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Language] [Dhamma] [Direct experience]
1. “In what cases, if any, is it useful to try to assess whether stream entry has occurred? Or is this question best left aside?” [Stream entry]
2. “How should I repay your kindness, the immense kindness of the Buddha?” [Gratitude] [Buddha]
3. “Is walking meditation as “good” as sitting meditation. Can one achieve the level of undistractedness that one needs to be able to investigate the human experience? Or is it part of the bigger picture of mindfulness / or seven full days to experience stream entry?” [Posture/Walking] [Posture/Sitting] [Insight meditation] [Stream entry]
4. “Thank you for your talk on mindfulness today—very helpful. I’ve been practicing for a long time (and have even had a few insights that made big impressions on me) and while my sila has definitely improved, my mindfulness is a priority and I might have a tad more wisdom, my mind looks for ways to suffer. Sometimes I feel like a total failure as a Buddhist. I understand that letting go of identity view is the answer, but how? What am I missing?” [Long-term practice] [Suffering] [Self-identity view]
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.” [Right Mindfulness] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Right Effort]
6. “It appears that walking is far more comfortable than sitting these days, but I have never found it to be that settling for my mind. Please offer some advice on how to get “the most” out of walking meditation.” [Posture/Walking]
7. “In the context of deep love—like between spouses or between parent and child—what is the application of the concept of non-attachment? What does it mean?” [Family] [Relinquishment] [Relationships]
8. “A scientist—popular, interesting—said as parting shot to his audience, “don’t trust the senses,” i.e., we’d still think the world flat, and that the sun actually rises and sets, if we trusted the sensory world. Your thoughts on clear comprehension via “sense-doors?” The “just-rightness” of it all. I wonder if we still thought the world flat and the sun to rise whether we might care for it.” [Sense bases] [Science] [Clear comprehension]
9. “How does one work with the vedanā and neutral sensations?” [Mindfulness of feeling] [Feeling] [Neutral feeling]
10. “If unwholesome thoughts arise and it creates fear and a repeating pattern, what is the best method for breaking the patterns? For instance, mettā meditation replacing the fear or attention with something else? Thank for the inspiration.” [Fear] [Goodwill] [Unskillful qualities] [Volitional formations]
1. “On “The Discourse on Setting in Motion the Wheel of The Dhamma,” toward the end it says, “my knowledge and vision of reality of regarding the Four Noble Truths, in their three phases and twelve aspects.” What are the “three phases and twelve aspects?” Thanks for your teachings.” [Four Noble Truths] [Knowledge and vision]
2. “In the chant on “The Buddha’s Words on Loving Kindness,” what does the line that says “unburdened with duties” mean? Does it mean that we are to not have duties, or that we do not feel burdened by them, or does it mean something else? Thank you!” [Work] [Chanting]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 37
3. “This has happened a few times only but I’m puzzled, please help. When my mind was very calm, a sudden sort of energetic feeling is all over the body and my spine feels very cold. And then suddenly I have a flash of memory from childhood of drowning in the tank in our backyard. On a different occasion I saw the dead putrefied face of an old woman, horrific, mouth wide open. How do I deal with all this? I get a shock and concentration stops, sometimes sending shivers.” [Meditation/Unusual experiences] [Concentration] [Rapture] [Recollection/Death]
4. “You spoke about “training the heart” over the last couple of days. Could you tell more what “heart” actually means from the point of practice? Thanks you.” [Mindfulness of mind] [Heart/mind]
5. “I didn’t totally understand the difference between the mind and mental qualities in regards to the four foundations. Would you elaborate?” [Mindfulness of mind] [Mindfulness of dhammas]
6. “You mentioned that asubha practice can cool sensual desire. But what if what you are attracted to is not so much a physical thing but an attraction of the heart—of good qualities you see. What cools the heart if you are hooked?” [Unattractiveness] [Dispassion] [Clinging]
7. “How often and for how long do you recommend practicing meditation at home? Daily, twice a day, 45 minutes, 30 minutes? Thank you!!!” [Meditation/General advice]
8. “How do you know if sloth and torpor are present or if you’re just plain tired? When is it better to rest the mind or the body than to meditate?” [Sloth and torpor]
9. “For all the monastics individually—when was the last time something made you really angry, and if you don’t mind sharing, what was it? Just trying to feel the humanness within the robes. Thanks.” [Aversion] [Monastic life]
10. “Thank you for so many wonderful teachings. I am contemplating cessation and would like to hear more about the cessation of the body-death. I have been with a few beings as they have died, 1 human and a few pets. Is the manner of death important to having a “good” rebirth? Does being afraid or suffering a great deal affect the next life directly or is the experience of death just added to ones overall karma?” [Death] [Rebirth] [Cessation] [Fear] [Suffering] [Kamma] // [Stream entry]
11. “Is it possible to post a list of the focuses of the 16 steps? It would be a helpful resource for the remainder of the retreat.”
12. “Its been years since I needed to do so much laying down meditation. My back is not cooperating this retreat. Can you refresh my memory on tricks to not fall asleep? Eyes open feels as if I struggle to maintain it.” [Posture/Lying down] [Sloth and torpor]
13. “Regarding the anussatis, how does one recollect or contemplate the devas?” [Recollection/Devas]
14. “Regarding the 1st precept of non-killing / non-harming, what to do on a practical / decision level regarding something like termites? I sold my last house because I didn’t want to fumigate, but I can’t keep moving to avoid killing termites / ants that eat at a house. Thank you for your compassion and explanation.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Killing] // [Abhayagiri]
15. “The problem of extremes. Yesterday, pīti. This morning, the horrors of the bait and craving for annihilation in all their ugliness. Then, pīti again. The only thing I’ve figured is to back off from meditation when things get too extreme. Any other suggestions?” [Meditation/General advice] [Rapture] [Craving not to become]
1. “During my meditation, I can occasionally calm the mind to the point where it seems devoid of thought. It is temporary, like a door opening. How should I use this opportunity? Concentrate on the breath? Wait for thoughts to arise and watch them? Explore / investigate a topic that is causing my suffering? Other? With gratitude.” [Tranquility] [Meditation/General advice] [Concentration]
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.” [Right Mindfulness] [Intuition]
3. “Can you please speak a little more about the process of bringing in a wholesome, brightening reflection into meditation? This morning you spoke about using directed thought / evaluation to explore the primary object (breath) then bringing in the “brightening” object. In this way, the attention shifts back and forth from breath to “brightening” object? Should one use this reflection often? Always? Please speak about this process. Thank you.” [Directed thought and evaluation] [Gladdening the mind] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Recollection]
4. “I’ve enjoyed practicing with connecting the breath to whatever is conditioning the mind. Twice however, when evaluating, I’ve come across something new: a plain, white, fizzy, barrier. It’s not un-friendly and I can feel a faint tug from whatever is behind it but that’s as far as I get. Have my saṅkhāra’s developed a new stealth technology? Are they allowed to do that? Any advice on how to proceed (or secret passwords)? Gratefully appreciated.” [Mindfulness of breathing] [Meditation/Unusual experiences] [Volitional formations]
5. “As I understand it, it is rare and fortunate to have a human birth because of the amount of suffering in the human realm that may lead one to practice to end suffering. On the other hand, devas have less suffering. Therefore they would be less motivated to practice to end suffering, correct? If so, would it not be better for one to wish oneself and others to be reborn in the human realm if one aspires full liberation?” [Human] [Deva] [Rebirth] [Liberation] [Suffering]
6. “When you described pīti yesterday, it was different than how I think of it. Sometimes, I get a feeling of a great, expansive happiness like the realization that this practice actually works. It’s exciting and empowering but I’m not jumping up and down. It’s a combination of the mind settling and opening. Is that a cousin of pīti? Does pīti only happen in meditation?” [Rapture]
7. “Thank you for these wonderful teachings. I understand that “citta” is both the heart and mind but my felt experience is often so different. My mind is often crabby and critical and down right mean, at least to me, but my heart is soft and sweet and easily moved. In fact, my mind can make my heart cry! Please help with this dilemma. Much mettā.” [Nature of mind] [Heart/mind] [Judgementalism]
8. “I know parting with loved ones is a natural course of life, but deep sadness and grief arises when I reflect on that. Could you instruct on how to work with this grief? Is there a level of understanding when there is no grief? Thank you!” [Grief]
9. “1. What is meant by “releasing” the mind? Releasing it from any hindrance? Can you place illustrate with examples? 2. How is “calming mental fabrication” different from “releasing the mind?” Any examples to illustrate? 3. When mental fabrication causes a bodily or verbal fabrication such as in anxiety or sensual desire, it it too late to breathe and calm fabrications?” [Mindfulness of breathing] [Tranquility] [Volitional formations] [Release]
10. “How do you use mindfulness of breathing when are doing a recollection? Do you first use mindfulness of breathing to settle the mind / body and then turn your attention to the recollection? Is the awareness of breathing in the background?” [Mindfulness of breathing] [Recollection]
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!” [Right Mindfulness]
12. “You mentioned “inner confidence…” can you describe it in more detail and the ways to cultivate it? Respectfully.” [Jhāna] [Faith] [Self-reliance]
14. “Could you please speak a bit about karma and volition? For instance, if an unwholesome thought such as anger, or fear arises or wants to arise of its own accord in the mind, does one get unwholesome karma? Or is the bad karma produced only through the grasping or rejection of it? Or is bad karma produced only if action is taken? Or are different kinds of karma produced for thought vs. action?” [Kamma] [Volition]
15. “Please talk about 1) whole-body breathing 2) choice-less awareness. Thank you Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo for wonderfully helpful talks.” [Mindfulness of breathing] [Relinquishment]
16. “Is contemplating the heart center a form of the second foundation of mindfulness?” [Mindfulness of feeling]
17. “How does one work with ones own judgments that come up so often during the meditation practice? (They are mostly judgments of myself, for not getting there…)” [Judgementalism] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy]
18. “I have enjoyed the mindfulness instruction and Dhamma talks very much. When talking about the main subject in English, could you also please use the equivalent word in Pali? For words such as “the Four Noble Truths,” “hindrances,” and “the Four Foundations of Mindfulness,” etc.”
1. “How refined should the practice of being sensitive to the entire body be? Say, should I be able to sense my earlobe or liver? I find it hard to sense the body when it gets calm. Is it normal or is it a lack of discernment?” [Mindfulness of body] [Mindfulness of breathing]
2. “It’s my first time listen to Ajahn Ñāniko. What have you done to him Luang Por?” [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]
3. “Would you say more about the meaning of merit? Are there other words or definitions in English? Thanks again for your teachings.” [Merit]
4. “I find the mind especially distractable during meal times. Partly this reflects longstanding habits of talking, reading, listening to news, etc, while eating. In the retreat context, it’s also due to the heightened “social” aspect of meal time (even though in silence). Can you give some suggestions for staying more present and mindful while eating? A deep bow of gratitude for your wonderful teachings…” [Food] [Habits] [Meditation retreats] [Present moment awareness]
5. “A Buddhist teacher explains as I understand it, that the first three factors of enlightenment are causes and the last four are the effects. And that a meditation practitioner therefore works on the first three (with right view) and the last four will follow in time. Please comment. Thank you.” [Factors of Awakening] [Right View]
6. “What is a stream enterer? Can a stream enterer go back? Are there lay people who attain stream entry and remain in lay life?” [Stream entry] [Lay life] // [Stages of awakening] [Great disciples]
Written question in Thai: ขอโอกาสกร้าบพระเดชพระคุณหลวงพ่อ ถาม คําถาม Q: Stream enterer คืออะไร? การมุ่สู่โสดาปัตติผล? หรือการมุ่งสู่นิพพาน? Q: นอกจาก นางวิสาขา มหาอุบาสิตแล้ว มีฆราวาส/lay person คนใดบ้างที่เป็นเพียงคนธรรมดาไม่ได้ออกบวช แต่สามารถบรรลุโสดาปัตติผลได้? Q: ผู้ฏิบัติที่ยังมีสามี/ภรรยา สามารถจะมีวาสนาสั่งสมบุญบารมีเพือให้บรรลุสุ่โสดาปัตติผลได้ไหม? โดยที่ไม่ต้องเลิกร้าง/แยกเตียงกับคู่ครอง ขอแนวทางคิคด้วย [Question in Thai]
Reference: The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro
7. “Regarding yesterdays teaching that rebirth is happening every moment, could you give instructions on how to discern the preceding step, becoming (bhavanga)? Would you consider transition from sleep into an awakened state being as “rebirth” and whether there is becoming manifesting upon waking up?” [Rebirth] [Becoming]
8. “Do the monks at Wat Pah Pong chant “Chinnabunchon?” Would you show how to chant it?” [Wat Pah Pong] [Chanting]
9. “I have an autoimmune disorder of undiagnosed origin. I was wondering if it was worth this precious time of practice to send mettā and thoughts of healing to the body. If so, how do you recommend approaching it? Also, is this compatible with seeing this ailment as a heavenly messenger (and as a contemplation of the body’s demise)? As symptom management reduces it to a mild physical irritation should I also contemplate unpleasant feelings? Or is it best to just stay grounded in the breath and mettā and not risk proliferation. Much gratitude.” [Sickness] [Mindfulness of feeling] [Recollection/Death] [Proliferation] [Goodwill]
11. “Is it a good remedy to sit with eyes open when afflicted with sloth and torpor? Standing? Any other ideas?” [Sloth and torpor] [Posture/Standing]
12. “What is the English translation of the meal time blessing? Thank you.” [Gratitude] [Chanting]
13. “The last two 3:30pm sittings have been challenging. Restless body and proliferating mind. I guess it’s my time of day for anxiety. I use several techniques—mettā, 32 body parts, watch my long breaths—and by the time the bell rings, my internal landscape has changed. Thank you all for your teachings. Now, my question. I am still very attached to my husband and children. I don’t want to relinquish the intimacy I share with my husband. I will suffer when they are gone. How do I reconcile this practice of relinquishment with the reality that I am a wife, mother and householder? With love.” [Gratitude] [Family] [Lay life] [Relinquishment]
14. “My relationship with my kids can be so contentious and draining—so different than I thought it would be. How can I love and train them even though it seems they were born to resist these things?” [Family] [Conflict]
15. “Although in reasonable condition, I am realizing that fear / anxiety of death / non-becoming is pervasive in the background of my daily life. Does the Buddha speak to that which continues after the body dies? Other than the five recollections and contemplating impermanence, does he offer guidance on how to best prepare to greet ones own death? Thank you so much.” [Recollection/Death] [Rebirth] [Impermanence] [Fear]
16. “Can you please talk a bit about samatha meditation and its uses for calming a very agitated or restless mind and how one might go about finding a “disk of earth” or an object of suitable color? Do they sell these somewhere? Amazon? Thank you for your explanation.” [Calming meditation] [Kasiṇa]
17. “I am wondering if Buddha spoke about what part of us reincarnates. Is it possible to remember our past lives? Thank you.” [Rebirth] [Psychic powers]
18. “The other day when I was meditating, my heart started beating very fast. Then I got really cold and my body started shivering. I started breathing very deep to calm the body down but still couldn’t control the shaking. At times like this, is it better to stop and take care of the body or keep meditating through it? Thank you.” [Meditation/Unusual experiences]
19. “Can you provide a reference as to where this printed version of the 16 stages of ānāpānasati comes from? Author, publication?”
20. “The delusional gravity of the mind has grown stronger as I have aged. I can space out now like never before! Do you have suggestions for cutting through this spacey delusion?” [Delusion] [Ageing]