2. “Could you please tell us about some of your responsibilities as an abbot of Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery? Is being an abbot of one of Ajahn Chah’s monasteries unique compared to other monasteries?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abbot ] [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Chah monasteries] // [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand] [Seclusion] [Mentoring]
Quote: “The garbage can at the top of the line.” — Ajahn Chah’s description of an abbot. [Ajahn Chah]
2. “It sounds like the experience at the monastery you spent the Vassa at before returning to Luang Por Chah was meditation-focused and technique-focused. Holistic practice monasteries are a new phenomenon in the West. What would you say to someone who has only had retreat experience and their practice has been measured by meditative attainment or calm based on a technique [about the] holistic approach in Ajahn Chah lineage monasteries? What’s unique about it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Sai Ngam (Suphanburi)] [Meditation/Techniques] [Monastic life] [Ajahn Chah monasteries ] // [Eightfold Path]
Quote: “Buddhism is not a meditation technique. It’s a training in one’s whole life of body, speech, and mind.” [Buddhist identity]
4. “What advice would you give to future abbots and teachers of Wat Pah Pong branch monasteries so that the communities maintain the most important characteristics of Ajahn Chah’s style of leadership?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abbot] [Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Saṅgha] [Leadership ] [Ajahn Chah] // [Dhamma] [Vinaya] [Chanting] [Translation]
Sutta: DN 16.6: Dhamma-Vinaya is your leader.
Quote: “Ajahn Chah was conservative, but he wasn’t fundamentalist.” [Monastic life]
Story: The Dalai Lama asks the Abhayagiri monks to chant the Maṅgala Sutta (Snp 2.4, Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 46) in Pāli. [Dalai Lama] [Pāli]
Story: Ajahn Chah was one of the first forest monks to ban smoking in the monastery. [Smoking] [Lunar observance days]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah was unique in consulting with senior monks and laypeople when making decisions. [Saṅgha decision making]
6. “What were the criteria for founding new branch monasteries at Ajahn Chah’s time?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Saṅgha decision making] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Keuan] [Environment] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Ajahn Anek] [Wat Pah Sai Ngam] [Faith] [Wat Phu Din Dang]