Commentaries (aṭṭhakathā)
Skillful qualities / Seven Treasures / Learning / Commentaries 
49 excerpts, 3:20:13 total duration



Thanksgiving Retreat 2011, Session 7 – Nov. 25, 2011

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13. “Is the experience of Nibbāna (that is the cessation of all formations) the same for a stream enterer, once-returner, etc., or does the experience manifest differently depending on the level of realization? Do the suttas or commentaries touch on this subject? Any stories from the Forest Tradition related to it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nibbāna] [Stages of awakening] [Sutta] [Commentaries] // [Cessation] [Becoming] [Relinquishment]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2012, Session 7 – Nov. 23, 2012

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2. “You referred to the Visuddhimagga by Buddhagosa a few times this week. Is this a principle source of suttas and discourses? Would it be valuable for a layperson to study, assuming it has been translated into English?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Commentaries ] [Sutta] [Translation] // [Tipiṭaka] [History/Early Buddhism] [History/Sri Lankan Buddhism]

Reference: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli.


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 26 – Feb. 12, 2013

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3. Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna: In contrast to the commentary, Venerable Analayo describes the aggregates as a tool for getting free of suffering. [Commentaries] [Ven. Anālayo] [Cessation of Suffering] [Aggregates]

Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.


Abhayagiri Monastic Retreat 2013, Session 6 – Nov. 28, 2013

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7. “Was metta taught as a concentration earlier than Buddhaghosa? Also, how is it taught in the Thai Forest Tradition now?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Goodwill] [Commentaries] [Thai Forest Tradition]


The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Session 33 – Feb. 22, 2015

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5. “Related to the need to emerge from neither-perception-nor-non-perception and cessation of perception to contemplate the five khandhas [in AN 9.36], don’t some of the commentaries imply that that’s what you do with first jhāna; that insight is not possible even in first jhāna?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Formless attainments] [Aggregates] [Insight meditation] [Commentaries] [Jhāna] // [Views]

Recollection: Ajahn Chah emphasized that every step of the way there has to be awareness. Awareness has to form the basis of the whole practice. [Ajahn Chah] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] [Right Concentration] [Right View]


The Middle Way of Not-Self, Session 1 – May. 27, 2015

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1. “What are the commentaries? How do they know stuff that isn’t in the suttas?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Commentaries ] [Sutta] [History/Early Buddhism] // [History/Sri Lankan Buddhism] [Culture/Thailand] [Direct experience]


Western Disciples of the Thai Forest Tradition, Session 26 – Feb. 10, 2016

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2. ““Is Ajahn Ṭhānissaro the first voice in a couple thousand years to propose that the khandas may not be a self, or is he drawing from another tradition?”” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Commentaries] [Aggregates] [History] // [Buddha]