All teachings
36 events, 168 sessions, 337 excerpts, 23:45:26 total duration
3. Discussion about the importance of spiritual friendship. Led by Ajahn Pasanno. [Spiritual friendship] [Renunciation] [Happiness]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 46: The Highest Blessings (Maṅgala Sutta, Snp 2.4).
Ajahn Pasanno reflects on his intention in coming to America. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/West] [Perception of a samaṇa] [Abhayagiri]
3. Reflections by Ajahn Kaccāna and Ajahn Pasanno about Ajahn Sumedho and Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Chah] // [Habits] [Seclusion] [Monastic life/Motivation]
Story: Ajahn Sumedho becomes so fed up living with Westerners at Tam Seang Pet that he leaves. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Tam Saeng Pet] [Western Ajahn Chah lineage] [Tudong]
Description of Wat Tam Saeng Pet. [Culture/Natural environment]
1. Reflection by Bhikshu Heng Lyu: The relationship between Abhayagiri and The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. [Abhayagiri] [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas] // [Master Hsuan Hua] [Ajahn Sumedho]
Story: Master Hua invites Ajahn Sumedho to be the precept master for an ordination at The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas [Ordination] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Bhikshu Heng Lyu]
7. Reflections by Bhikshu Heng Shun about the friendship between The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and Abhayagiri. [Spiritual friendship] [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas] [Abhayagiri] // [Vinaya] [Vegetarianism]
1. Reflection by Father Damien: The friendship between Abhayagiri and Holy Transfiguration Monastery (Mount Tabor). [Spiritual friendship] [Abhayagiri] [Holy Transfiguration Monastery]
3. Reflection by Father Damien: Sharing the mountain together. [Holy Transfiguration Monastery] [Abhayagiri] // [Christianity] [Judaism] [God] [Ajahn Jotipālo] [Work]
3. Reflections by Noel Brewer on the growth of Abhayagiri. [Community] [Abhayagiri] [Gratitude] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Saṅghapāla]
1. Reflection by Peter Mayland: It takes a global village to create a monastery. [Saṅghapāla] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Generosity] [Abhayagiri]
2. Reflections by Peter Mayland on Buddhism and psychotherapy. [Western psychology] [Cessation of Suffering]
3. Reflection by Peter Mayland: I am loved by many people at Abhayagiri. [Goodwill] [Spiritual friendship] [Abhayagiri]
Sutta: SN 45.2: Half of the Holy Life.
4. Reflection by Peter Mayland: “No BS that I can note.” [Truth] [Spiritual traditions] [Abhayagiri]
Reference: The Four Noble Truths by Ajahn Sumedho.
4. Reflection by Debbie Stamp: The best investment I ever made. [Commerce/economics] [Abhayagiri] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] // [Spirit Rock] [Saṅghapāla] [Ajahn Amaro] [Gratitude]
2. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: What we take with us. [Ageing] [Death] [Memory ] // [Gratitude] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Goodwill]
1. Gratitude to Joseph Kappel. Reflection by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Amaro] [Joseph Kappel] [Gratitude] // [Wat Pah Nanachat]
2. Reflection by Ajahn Amaro: The qualities of the heart are what really matters. [Skillful qualities] // [Memory] [Impermanence]
Quote: “This is a broken glass.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]
10. Reflection by Ajahn Amaro: Abhayagiri 20 years later. [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Amaravati]
13. Reflection by Ajahn Amaro: The world of things we leave behind, but the qualities of the heart are the abiding refuge. [Relinquishment] [Skillful qualities] // [Abhayagiri] [Monastic life] [Faith] [Simplicity] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support]
6. “Please talk about fixed views and the nine conceits.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Views ] [Conceit ] // [Pāli] [Proliferation ] [Craving] [Self-identity view] [Cessation of Suffering] [Competitiveness] [Culture/West]
Teaching: The three papañcadhammas.
6. “Today there was a lot of rapturous energy during the sits. It started to get to be too much. How do I work with this? Do I let it take its course or do I try to ground it down?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rapture] // [Restlessness and worry] [Mindfulness of body] [Happiness]
Simile: A traveller through a desert learns of an oasis (pīti) then drinks and bathes at the oasis (sukha) (Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 139). [Similes]
2. Teaching: The Buddha symbolizes wisdom, compassion and purity in balance. Contributed by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha] [Discernment] [Compassion] [Virtue]
4. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Buddha images show the eyes open because Buddha literally means “awake.” [Buddha images] [Buddha]
8. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: In Theravāda culture, the Buddha is always a human being. [Buddha ] [Human] [Theravāda] // [Mahāyāna]
9. Reflections by Ajahn Pasanno on AN 3.136: “Whether a Buddha appears in the world or not....” [Characteristics of existence] [Buddha] // [Truth]
Quote: “Whether you’ve got a well or don’t have a well, there’s water in the ground.” [Ajahn Chah] [Similes]
10. The story of the Bodhisattva seeing the old person, the sick person, and the dead person isn’t in the scriptures. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha/Biography ] [Tipiṭaka] [Stories] // [Jātaka Tales] [Postulants]
Sutta: DN 14.2 ascribes this story to the previous Buddha Vipassī. [Previous Buddhas]
Sutta: Snp 3.1 describes the Bodhisattva’s going forth.
11. The time of the Buddha was a time of great change. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha/Biography] [History/Early Buddhism] // [Saṅgha decision making] [Spiritual traditions] [Views]
Sutta: DN 1: Brahmajāla Sutta.
Sutta: Snp 3.1: King Bimbisāra meets the Bodhisattva.
1. Reading: MN 26: The Noble Search. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha/Biography]
Reflections on the meaning of freedom. [Liberation] [Culture/West]
Reflections on the conditions suitable for Dhamma practice. [Culture/Natural environment] [Sense bases] [Energy]
Suttas: Ud 1.1-3: The Buddha’s reflections after awakening.
Sutta: MN 36.42: Awakening to the Four Noble Truths. [Four Noble Truths]
Sutta: SN 22.26: Benefit, drawback, and escape. [Aspects of Understanding]
Reference: Dhamma talk request, Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 124.
2. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Bowing to the Buddha is bowing to the qualities the Buddha manifested and recollecting those qualities in ourselves. [Bowing ] [Buddha images ] [Recollection/Buddha] [Recollection/Virtue]
2. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Ajahn Chah as a focus of devotion. [Ajahn Chah] [Devotional practice] // [Respect for elders] [Skillful qualities]
Quote: “Ajahn Chah was an exemplary being and incredible teacher, but that didn’t mean that you always agreed with him or that he was always just very nice to you all the time.” [Human]
Recollection: The annual Ajahn Chah remembrance day in January. [Ajahn Chah Remembrance Day] [Stupas/monuments]
3. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: The aspects of pūjā or devotion are an opportunity to nourish the roots of our practice. [Devotional practice ] [Pūjā] // [Sloth and torpor] [Energy]
5. Teaching: The Buddha’s first exclamation after his enlightenment evokes the sense of being free from saṃsāra. Contributed by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha/Biography] [Saṃsāra ] [Liberation] // [Proliferation] [Cessation] [Craving]
Sutta: Dhp 153-154 (Chanting Book translation).
6. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: When one holds to that which is true, it has a transformative quality. [Truth ] // [Three Refuges] [Protective chants]
Reference: Sacca-kiriyā-gāthā, Bhikkhu Manual, p. 95.
7. Teaching: The paramī are bright qualities that carry one across from confusion to peace. Contributed by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perfections ] [Etymology] // [Theravāda] [Mahāyāna] [Chanting] [History/Early Buddhism] [Buddha] [Liberation]
8. Teaching: There is no difference between the mind of enlightenment of a Buddha and anyone else who experiences awakening. Contributed by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha] [Arahant ] [Liberation] // [Perfections] [Personality]
9. Reflections by Ajahn Pasanno on the personalities of the great disciples. [Great disciples ] [Personality] // [Mindfulness] [Memory] [Buddha/Biography] [Perfections]
10. A detailed description of the paramī as qualities that can transform ourselves and others. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perfections ] // [Generosity] [Virtue] [Culture/West] [Renunciation] [Discernment] [Energy] [Right Effort] [Patience] [Ajahn Chah] [Truth] [Determination] [Goodwill] [Equanimity]
Story: Master Hsu Yun and the bandits. [Master Hsu Yun] [Stealing] [Bowing] [Tudong]
Sutta: SN 56.11.11: The Dhamma Eye: “All that has the nature to arise....”
11. Teaching: Mindfulness of breathing is the practice that the Buddha recommended most. Contributed by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Buddha/Biography]
Sutta: SN 54.11: The Buddha practices mindfulness of breathing while on retreat. [Meditation retreats]
12. Ajahn Pasanno encourages the recipients of the small Buddha images to chant and do ceremonies so that the images gain power to invoke wholesome qualities from the heart. [Buddha images] [Pūjā] [Skillful qualities] [Buddha]
3. Comment: Our group talked about what we use to deal with our thoughts, the Four Noble Truths, and perfectionism. [Four Noble Truths] [Directed thought and evaluation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno: “You can’t go wrong by coming back to the Four Noble Truths.”
Simile: The footprint of all animals fit within the footprint of an elephant. In the same way, all the teachings of the Buddha will fit into the Four Noble Truths. — Sariputta, MN 28 [Similes] [Teaching Dhamma] [Great disciples]
4. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: The common root of renunciation and compassion is the relationship to suffering. [Renunciation] [Compassion] [Suffering]
Reading: “The Balanced Way” by Bhikkhu Bodhi on accesstoinsight.org.
1. Reflections by Ajahn Pasanno on the origins of Ajahn Chah and his teachings. [Culture/Thailand] [Geography/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah] // [Thai Forest Tradition] [Poverty] [Human]
3. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Establishing relations with family and friends in Dhamma. [Family] [Spiritual friendship] [Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah would sometimes allow Westerners to ordain without their parent’s permission. [Ordination] [Parents] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism]
9. Reading: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 612-614 “Faith in the Triple Gem” Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Faith] [Three Refuges] [Ajahn Chah] // [Buddha] [Dhamma] [Truth] [Teaching Dhamma] [Lay life] [Recollection/Dhamma]
Simile: Digging a well — Ajahn Chah. [Right Effort] [Liberation]
1. “Do you find labelling helpful?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Noting] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Proliferation]
Simile: The hammer looking for nails everywhere.
12. “Could you talk about the difference between experiencing an unpleasant feeling and perpetuating an unpleasant feeling?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Feeling ] [Discernment] [Cessation of Suffering] // [Compassion] [Mindfulness] [Patience] [Suffering]
Simile: Two arrows (SN 36.6).
5. Simile: Sculpting different materials requires different tools. This practice is more molding than hammering. [Similes] [Right Effort]
Response by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Ajahn Amaro used to say, “The beatings won’t stop until morale improves.” At a certain point, you have to decide to stop. [Goodwill] [Ajahn Amaro] [Judgementalism] [Cessation]
3. “My natural tendency is to push the world away and to have the attitude that enjoyment is wrong. I’m working on trying to enjoy life. Do you have any ideas about this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Craving not to become] [Christianity] [Hinduism] [Ascetic practices] [Happiness] [Skillful qualities] // [Monastic life] [Ajahn Sucitto] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Culture/West]
The Rule of St. Benedict and Ajahn Sucitto’s talk “Fellow Worms.” [Humility]
Story: A BBC interviewer asks King Rama IX about original sin. [Media] [King Rama IX] [Culture/Thailand] [Nature of mind]
Causal processes leading to sāmadhi and dispassion have different starting points, but they all go through delight and happiness. [Conditionality] [Concentration] [Dispassion]
Quote: “Monks, do not be afraid of puñña.” — Iti 22. [Merit] [Fear] [Liberation]
Quote: “The happy mind is easily concentrated.”
7. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Abhayagiri: a place of safety. [Fear] [Abhayagiri] // [Pāli] [Realms of existence] [Culture/West] [Competitiveness] [Abuse/violence]
9. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Our warm relationship with the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas ] [Communal harmony] [Abhayagiri] // [Master Hsuan Hua] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Non-contention]
Story: Ajahn Sumedho is invited to teach from Master Hua’s Dhamma seat. [Teaching Dhamma]
Recollection: The first days of Wat Pah Nanachat. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno]
11. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Ajahn Sumedho was a catalyst for Abhayagiri to happen. [Ajahn Sumedho ] [Abhayagiri] // [Western Ajahn Chah lineage] [Elders' Council]
Quote: “You should appreciate all that Ajahn Sumedho has done. He’s been the tank that has prepared the way for all the rest of you.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Respect for elders] [Similes]
Comment by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Ajahn Sumedho is the most senior American bhikkhu in the world.
13. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Ajahn Chah is the inspiration for all of us. [Ajahn Chah] [Faith] // [Respect for elders] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Knowing itself] [Teaching Dhamma] [Simplicity]
Quote: “If buffaloes can learn, surely these farangs [foreigners] can learn.” — Ajahn Chah. [Western Ajahn Chah lineage]
3. Reflection by Ajahn Sudanto: I wanted to contribute to establishing something in America out of enormous gratitude for what was offered in Thailand to me and my peers. [Ajahn Sudanto] [Gratitude] [Monastic life] [Abhayagiri] // [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Simplicity]
5. Reflection by Ajahn Sudanto: The frequency of teachings and level of Dhamma practice is uncommon even among Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries. [Teaching Dhamma] [Abhayagiri ] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Chah monasteries]
7. Reflection by Ajahn Sudanto: Part of the original vision [for Abhayagiri] was to establish a place for Saṅgha in America. [Saṅgha] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Abhayagiri]
8. Reflection by Ajahn Sudanto: The time I spent here and gave to this project [Abhayagiri] is a substantial blessing in my life. [Merit] [Generosity] [Ajahn Sudanto] [Abhayagiri] // [Suffering]
12. Reflection by Ajahn Sudanto: Abhayagiri is off to a good start. [Abhayagiri] // [Pandemic] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Older monks] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Dalai Lama]
2. Reflection by Ajahn Amaro: Affinities between the communities of Ajahn Sumedho and Master Hsuan Hua. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Master Hsuan Hua ] // [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas] [Mahāyāna] [Vinaya] [Ascetic practices] [Elders' Council] [Abhayagiri]
Story: Master Hua invites Ajahn Sumedho to help conduct an ordination ceremony at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. [Ordination]
Story: Ajahn Sumedho invites Master Hua to the English monasteries.
15. Shedding, impermanence, and not-self: Reflections on moving to Amaravati by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Amaro] [Impermanence] [Not-self] [Amaravati] [Abhayagiri] [Relinquishment] // [Lodging] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Travel] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Spaciousness]
Quote: “Die before you die.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Death]
Quote: “The tone and flavor of Dhamma is bittersweet.” [Dhamma] [Grief] [Happiness]
16. Reflection by Ajahn Amaro: Do you miss Abhayagiri? [Ajahn Amaro] [Grief] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Relinquishment] [Nibbāna] [Ajahn Sumedho]
Sutta: Snp 5.11: The island you cannot go beyond.
5. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Transplanting the wonderful energy of Thai Buddhism to Abhayagiri. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Abhayagiri ]
8. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Practice doesn’t have to be grim. [Eightfold Path] [Ardency] [Perfectionism] [Abhayagiri] // [Happiness] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]
Recollection: Old video footage of Abhayagiri. [Mae Chee Sansanee] [Kaṭhina]
11. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Ajahn Liem’s ethos regarding building projects: creating a secluded place to practice. [Ajahn Liem] [Lodging ] [Building projects ] [Seclusion] [Meditation] // [Eight Precepts] [Generosity] [Sutta]
12. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: The purpose of monastic facilities. [Lodging ] [Monastic life] // [Human] [Idealism] [Culture/Natural environment] [Sequence of training] [Rains retreat]
13. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: The pulse of the year at Abhayagiri and the annual Vassa Vinaya studies. [Monastic life] [Rains retreat] [Vinaya] [Learning] [Abhayagiri ] // [Protocols] [Not handling money] [Kaṭhina] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Meditation retreats]
1. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: Conscious effort towards communal harmony beginning with the co-abbots. [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Abbot] [Communal harmony] [Leadership] // [Community] [Respect]
2. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: The Buddha laid down practical guidelines for monastics living in community. [Buddha/Biography] [Saṅgha] [Vinaya] [Protocols] [Communal harmony] // [Teaching Dhamma]
3. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: As Westerners, we have needed to put conscious care and effort into establishing how to live together in close quarters. [Abhayagiri] [Culture/West] [Community ] [Lodging] [Communal harmony ] // [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah]
4. Background to the sārāṇīyā dhammas: the quarrel at Kosambi. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Saṅgha] [Buddha/Biography] [Conflict] [Principles of Cordiality] [Communal harmony]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.
5. Principle of Cordiality #1: Lovingkindness and sensitivity in bodily action. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Principles of Cordiality] [Goodwill] [Right Action] [Communal harmony] // [Spaciousness] [Great disciples] [Protocols] [Clear comprehension] [Abhayagiri]
Suttas: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta; MN 128 Upakkilesa Sutta.
6. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: Lovingkindness in speech and the ethic of sharing circles at Abhayagiri. [Goodwill] [Right Speech] [Abhayagiri] [Sharing circles] [Communal harmony] // [Principles of Cordiality] [Ajahn Sudanto] [Listening] [Nonviolent Communication] [Conflict]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.
7. When and how to develop the mind of lovingkindness. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Principles of Cordiality] [Goodwill] [Heart/mind] [Communal harmony] // [Aversion] [Conflict] [Patience] [Spaciousness]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.
Quote: “Peaceful coexistence with the unpleasant.” — Ajahn Sumedho’s definition of patience. [Ajahn Sumedho]
8. Principle of Cordiality #4: Sharing requisites in common on a daily basis. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Principles of Cordiality] [Generosity] [Requisites] [Community] [Communal harmony]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.
9. Principle of Cordiality #5: Ethical behavior and respect. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Principles of Cordiality] [Vinaya] [Respect] [Communal harmony]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.
10. Principle of Cordiality #6: Core aspects of Right View that lead to communal harmony: Our actions have consequences. We can change. Liberation is possible. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Principles of Cordiality] [Right View ] [Saṅgha] [Kamma] [Communal harmony ] [Right Effort] [Liberation] // [Judgementalism] [Habits] [Four Noble Truths]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.
11. The first two reviewing knowledges of one who has made progress on the path: Freedom from the hindrances and serenity of mind. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Meditation/Results] [Hindrances] [Tranquility] [Communal harmony] // [Principles of Cordiality] [Right View] [Abhayagiri] [Conflict]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.
12. Reviewing knowledge #3: Complete confidence in the Buddha, Dhamma and Saṅgha. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Faith] [Three Refuges] [Communal harmony] // [Spiritual traditions] [Right View] [Liberation] [Abhayagiri] [Eightfold Path]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.
13. Reviewing knowledge #4: Immediately acknowledging our mistakes. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Confession] [Vinaya] [Communal harmony] // [Pāṭimokkha] [Abhayagiri]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.
14. Reviewing knowledge #5: Keeping in mind the purpose of engaged activities. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Work] [Communal harmony] // [Abhayagiri] [Leadership] [Meditation]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.
15. The last two reviewing knowledges: Listening to the Dhamma with eager ears and delighting in it. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Listening] [Gladdening the mind] [Dhamma] [Communal harmony] // [Abhayagiri]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.
16. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: Abhayagiri is a living tradition in a thread that goes back more than 2,500 years. [Teaching Dhamma] [Abhayagiri ] [Communal harmony] // [Gratitude] [Determination] [Culture/West]
17. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: How long will Abhayagiri last? [Abhayagiri] [Impermanence] [Communal harmony] // [Disasters]
1. “Is misery the absence of happiness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] [Happiness] // [Language] [Conditionality] [Pāli]
Derivation of dukkha: du = not good or not comfortable; kha = where the axle goes into the wheel.
Story: Driving a car with frozen wheels is dukkha. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Similes]
6. “Is there a right speed to silent walking?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Posture/Walking] // [Abhayagiri] [Postures] [Continuity of mindfulness]
Story: Jack Kornfield asks Ajahn Chah, “Whenever you teach walking meditation, you always teach the monks to walk slowly. But whenever you walk meditation, you walk really fast. [Ajahn Chah] [Jack Kornfield] [Teaching Dhamma] [Exercise]
Translations of sampajañña (clear comprehension) and its role in Dhamma practice. [Clear comprehension ] [Translation] [Mindfulness]
2. “In the Ānāpānasati Sutta there are many steps. Is there space in these to investigate the causes and conditions for greed, anger, and delusion?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Investigation of states] [Conditionality] [Unwholesome Roots] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Mindfulness of mind] [Heart/mind] [Calming meditation] [Hindrances] [Mindfulness of dhammas] [Impermanence]
Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Mindfulness of breathing is not a linear process. You have to work with what’s actually helpful.
6. “Could you give a Dhamma talk about the Five Aggregates?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aggregates] // [Cause of Suffering] [Body/form] [Feeling] [Perception] [Volitional formations] [Consciousness]
Simile: A dog tied to a post (SN 22.100). [Similes] [Self-identity view]
3. “Have you ever regretted choosing the monastic life? Has your mother ever thought you made a wrong choice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life/Motivation] [Doubt] [Parents] // [Gratitude] [Retirement] [Energy] [Mentoring] [Christianity] [Abhayagiri]
Reflections on leadership. [Leadership ] [Ajahn Chah] [Abbot] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Discernment]
Quote: “You can’t lead just by telling people what to do and they are going to obey. Forget it!” [Leadership ]
Quote: “Everybody else is a mirror for oneself if one is willing to learn in teaching or leading others.” [Leadership ] [Learning]
4. “Krishnamurti spoke of ‘effortless effort.’ Can you make sense of this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Krishnamurti] [Right Effort]
Reflection: Samma means right in tune. [Pāli] [Eightfold Path]
1. “What is the translation of sabbaṃ dukkhaṃ? The way you translate it seems psychological. In Sanskrit, dukkhaṃ means out of the cosmic flow of Dhamma. But perhaps dukkhaṃ is best left untranslated. If untranslated, does dukkhaṃ mean the same thing in Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] [Pāli] [Equanimity] [Dhamma] [Translation] [Advaita Vedanta] // [Thai] [Human] [Aggregates] [Clinging ] [Knowing itself] [Relinquishment]
Ancient etymology of dukkha: du = bad, unwanted, unpleasant, uncomfortable, not easy; kha = where the axle fits into the wheel. [Language] [History/Indian Buddhism]
Sutta: SN 56.11: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Chanting Book translation)
Teaching: The four forms of clinging. [Clinging ] [Sensual desire] [Impermanence] [Naturalness] [Happiness] [Neutral feeling] [Attachment to precepts and practices] [Views] [Doctrine-of-self clinging] [Not-self]
Quote: “Nibbāna is the reality of non-grasping.” — Ajahn Chah. [Nibbāna] [Cessation of Suffering]
1. Reflections by Ajahn Pasanno on 28 years. [Community] [Monasteries] [Abhayagiri] // [Saṅghapāla] [Lay supporters] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support]
Reflection: It’s the community and the people that really creates the monastery.
2. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: The early days of Abhayagiri were simple and basic. [Requisites] [Abhayagiri] // [Lay supporters] [Building projects] [Generosity] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support]
Quote: “It was like a Buddhist trailer park.” [Lodging]
7. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: First and foremost, this is a training monastery. [Monastic life] [Abhayagiri] // [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Truth] [Vinaya]
13. Reflection by Ajahn Cunda: Training under the co-abbots. [Abbot] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life] [Abhayagiri] [Mentoring] // [Craving] [Teaching Dhamma] [Communal harmony] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo]
Quote: “Two tigers in one cave.” — Thai saying. [Leadership] [Culture/Thailand]
14. Reflections by Ajahn Cunda on my early training. [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Monastic life]
Quote: “Don’t worry. The first 20 years are the hardest.” — Ajahn Amaro. [Sequence of training] [Suffering]
17. Why do some people stay and some people go? Reflection by Ajahn Ṭhitapañño. [Ajahn Amaro] [Monastic life] [Abhayagiri] // [Worldly Conditions]
18. A long-term sense of extended family. Reflection by Ajahn Ṭhitapañño. [Community] [Abhayagiri]
19. Reflections by Ajahn Sudhīro on his first year at Abhayagiri. [Abhayagiri] // [Emotion] [Suffering] [Monastic life] [Community] [Communal harmony] [Food] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Happiness]
20. What has and hasn’t changed at Abhayagiri. Reflection by Ajahn Sudhīro. [Unwholesome Roots] [Three Refuges] [Abhayagiri]
Simile: An oasis in a desert. [Similes]
1. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: There is no such thing as the Ajahn Chah method of meditation. [Meditation/Techniques] [Ajahn Chah] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Self-reliance]
3. Ajahn Chah emphasized the importance of sīla during his second trip to the West. [Culture/West] [Virtue] [Ajahn Chah] // [Communal harmony]
Quote: “Teaching Buddhism without sīla is like sending someone out in the open sea in a leaky boat.” — Ajahn Chah. [Similes]
Simile: A millipede’s many legs all work together in harmony.
4. The precepts are foundations for training ourselves in body, speech, and mind. [Precepts] [Learning]
5. Reading: Ajahn Mun answers Ajahn Chah’s questions about Vinaya. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mun] [Vinaya] [Ajahn Chah] // [Commentaries] [Conscience and prudence] [Simplicity] [Mindfulness]
Reference: “Understanding Vinaya,” Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, pp. 533-534.
The meaning of hiri-otappa. [Translation] [Respect]
7. Reflection for approaching difficulties: “What am I hanging on to here?” Contributed by Ajahn Pasanno. [Clinging] [Relinquishment]
9. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Relinquishment is the doorway to unshakeability. [Equanimity] [Relinquishment] // [Fear]