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Abhayagiri 2013 Winter Retreat

Dhammānupassanāsatipaṭṭhāna: The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness

Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, and Ajahn Jotipālo

Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, Redwood Valley, California

January 1 to March 31, 2013


And how does a bhikkhu abide contemplating dhammas as dhammas? Here a bhikkhu abides contemplating dhammas as dhammas in terms of the five hindrances....in terms of the five Khandhas....in terms of the six sense bases....in terms of the seven factors of enlightenment....in terms of the Four Noble Truths.” – Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (MN 10)


Introductory Talks – Ajahn Pasanno, January 7 – January 22

The Five Hindrances – Ajahn Pasanno, January 23 – February 2

The Five Khandhas – Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, February 5 – February 28

The Six Sense Bases – Ajahn Pasanno, March 1 – March 10

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment – Ajahn Jotipālo, March 13 – March 18

The Four Noble Truths – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, March 21 – March 28

Sources

Acknowledgments and Notes


Introductory Talks

Establishing Mindfulness – Ajahn Pasanno, January 7, 2013

Ajahn Pasanno reflects at the beginning of the retreat on what is helpful to establish in the mind during a period of formal practice. Drawing on the distinction of wholesome and unwholesome dhammas he brings together the topics of the Five Hindrances, Mindfulness, Clear Comprehension, and the putting forth of effort.

The Five Hindrances – Ajahn Pasanno, January 9, 2013

The attention to bringing the mind to the freeing of the hindrances is essential. Ajahn Pasanno reflects on the Five Hindrances and recalls various metaphors and tools the Buddha suggests for understanding and working with the hindrances.

Relinquishing the Hindrances - Ajahn Pasanno, January 10, 2013

Bringing the theme of the Five Hindrances to focus again, Ajahn Pasanno offers more advice for working with the hindrances and focuses on the positive qualities that we can turn to to enable relinquishing of the hindrances.

Carefully Attending to the Object – Ajahn Pasanno, January 13, 2013

Beginning with the Buddha’s metaphor of the skilled cook who carefully watches what his king prefers in order to gain favor. Ajahn Pasanno relates the importance and methods of relating to the meditation object in the framework of what works and what doesn’t work.

Practicing in Accordance with Dhamma – Ajahn Pasanno, January 14, 2013

Ajahn Pasanno reflects on the importance of practicing dhamma in accordance with dhamma and how this subtle, but important shift in our intention is a key to right practice.

Question and Answer 1 – Ajahn Pasanno, January 14, 2013

A short question and answer session following the morning’s reflection.

Mindfulness Directed at the Body – Ajahn Pasanno, January 15, 2013

Ajahn Pasanno explains the Buddha's similes for spreading well-being and awareness throughout the body and describes mindfulness of breathing in terms of inclusive awareness.

Readings on Ajahn Chah Day – Ajahn Pasanno, January 16, 2013

To commemorate the Ajahn Chah's 21st death anniversary, Ajahn Pasanno reads three talks on meditation from The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah:Tranquility and Insight”, “The Path in Harmony”, and “The Place of Coolness.”

Kor Wat as a Basis for Practice – Ajahn Pasanno, January 17, 2013

Reflecting on a question, Ajahn Pasanno talks about the usage of Kor Wat, translated “protocols” or ways of relating to requisites and the community, as a basic tool for training mindfulness and circumspection.

The Four Noble Truths – Ajahn Pasanno, January 18, 2013

Ajahn Pasanno reflects on the basic teaching of the Four Noble Truths and how investigating and contemplating dukkha enables us to see our habits and conditioning and the obstacles to practice.

Question and Answer 2 – Ajahn Pasanno, January 21, 2013

Ajahn Pasanno answers questions regarding recollection of the Buddha, comfort and discomfort in breath meditation, and investigation (dhamma-vicaya) during meditation.

Satipaṭṭhana Overview Readings – Ajahn Pasanno, January 22, 2013


Readings on The Five Hindrances

The Five Hindrances 1 – Ajahn Pasanno, January 23, 2013

The Five Hindrances 2 – Ajahn Pasanno, January 24, 2013

The Five Hindrances 3 – Ajahn Pasanno, January 25, 2013

The Five Hindrances 4 – Ajahn Pasanno, January 28, 2013

The Five Hindrances 5 – Ajahn Pasanno, January 29, 2013

The Five Hindrances 6 – Ajahn Pasanno, January 30, 2013

The Five Hindrances 7 – Ajahn Pasanno, January 31, 2013

The Five Hindrances 8 – Ajahn Pasanno, February 1, 2013

The Five Hindrances 9 – Ajahn Pasanno, February 2, 2013


Readings on The Five Khandhas

The Five Khandhas 1 – Ajahn Pasanno, February 5, 2013

The Five Khandhas 2 – Ajahn Pasanno, February 6, 2013

The Five Khandhas 3 – Ajahn Pasanno, February 7, 2013

From The Five Aggregates: A Study Guide by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu

The Five Khandhas 4 – Ajahn Pasanno, February 8, 2013

From The Five Aggregates: A Study Guide by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu

The Five Khandhas 5 – Ajahn Pasanno, February 9, 2013

The Five Khandhas 6 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, February 12, 2013

The Five Khandhas 7 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, February 13, 2013

The Five Khandhas 8 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, February 4, 2013

The Five Khandhas 9 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, February 15, 2013

The Five Khandhas 10 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, February 17, 2013

The Five Khandhas 11 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, February 20, 2013

The Five Khandhas 12 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, February 21, 2013

The Five Khandhas 13 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, February 22, 2013

The Five Khandhas 14 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, February 24, 2013

The Five Khandhas 15 – Ajahn Pasanno, February 27, 2013

The Five Khandhas 16 – Ajahn Pasanno, February 28, 2013


Readings on The Six Sense Bases

The Six Sense Bases 1 – Ajahn Pasanno, March 1, 2013

The Six Sense Bases 2 – Ajahn Pasanno, March 2, 2013

The Six Sense Bases 3 – Ajahn Pasanno, March 3, 2013

The Six Sense Bases 4 – Ajahn Pasanno, March 4, 2013

The Six Sense Bases 5 – Ajahn Pasanno, March 7, 2013

The Six Sense Bases 6 – Ajahn Pasanno, March 8, 2013

The Six Sense Bases 7 – Ajahn Pasanno, March 9, 2013

The Six Sense Bases 8 – Ajahn Pasanno, March 10, 2013


Readings on The Seven Factors of Enlightenment

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment 1 – Ajahn Jotipālo, March 13, 2013

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment 2 – Ajahn Jotipālo, March 14, 2013

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment 3 – Ajahn Jotipālo, March 15, 2013

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment 4 – Ajahn Jotipālo, March 16, 2013

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment 5 – Ajahn Jotipālo, March 17, 2013

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment 6 – Ajahn Jotipālo, March 18, 2013


Readings on The Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths 1 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, March 21, 2013

The Four Noble Truths 2 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, March 22, 2013

The Four Noble Truths 3 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, March 24, 2013

The Four Noble Truths 4 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, March 25, 2013

The Four Noble Truths 5 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, March 28, 2013

From In the Buddha's Words by Bhikkhu Bodhi

The Four Noble Truths 6 – Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, March 29, 2013 (not recorded)


Sources

All readings from the Pāli Canon come from the Wisdom Publications editions unless otherwise noted.


Analayo Bhikkhu, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, Windhorse Publications, 2003, pdf.

Bodhi, Bhikkhu, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Saṁyutta Nikāya, Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2000.

——, In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pāli Canon, Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2005.

——, The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Aṅguttara Nikāya, Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2000.

Chah, Ajahn, The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, Harnham, UK: Aruna Publications, 2011, pdf.

——, Food for the Heart: The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2002.

Gunaratana, Bhante, The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English, Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2012.

Mendis, N.K.G., ed., The Questions of King Milinda: An Abridgement of the Milindapañha, Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society, 1993.

Ñāṇamoli, Bhikkhu and Bhikkhu Bodhi, The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikāya, 3rd. ed., Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2005.

Ñanaponika Mahathera, Buddhist Dictionary, 4th ed., Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society, 1980, pdf online.

Pasanno, Ajahn and Ajahn Amaro, The Island: An Anthology of the Buddha's Teachings on Nibbāna, Redwood Valley: Abhayagiri Monastic Foundation, 2009 pdf.

Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (Geoffry DeGraff), The Buddhist Monastic Code I, pdf online.

——, "The Five Aggregates: A Study Guide", Access to Insight, 12 February 2012, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/khandha.html html.

——, The Mind Like Fire Unbound, pdf online.

——, Skill in Questions, pdf.

——, Wings to Awakening: An Anthology from the Pali Canon, pdf online.

Walshe, Maurice, The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Dīgha Nikāya, Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1995.


Acknowledgments and Notes

Special thanks to Michael Dries-Coons for help with audio editing and compression.