Ajahn Chah Subhaddo   Teachings by Ajahn Chah
Parent topic: Thai Forest Tradition
514 excerpts, 32:15:13 total duration

Events (3) All excerpts (517) Questions about (100) Answers involving (132) Stories (177) Quotes (125) Readings (37) References (3)

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Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 2 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. Welcome by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Chah] // [Free distribution] [Hearing the true Dhamma]


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2. Teachings to Marjorie by Ajahn Chah, Part 1. Thai audio with English translation read by Kittisaro. [Thai audio] [Ajahn Chah] // [Similes] [Moods of the mind] [Heedfulness] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Cessation of Suffering]

Reference: “Living with the Cobra,” Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 233.

Continued in Part 2.


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 3 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. Ajahn Amaro introduces Kittisaro and Ajahn Jitindriyā. [Kittisaro] [Ajahn Chah]


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2. Quote: “I met Ajahn Chah through the eyes and hearts of those who lived with him.” — Ajahn Jitindriyā [Amaravati] [Meditation retreats] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Chah]


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3. Quote: “The language of wisdom is the language of the heart.” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Ajahn Jitindriyā. [Ajahn Chah] [Language] [Discernment] [Mindfulness] // [Liberation] [Spiritual search] [Monastic life/Motivation]


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4. Story: Ajahn Amaro meets Ajahn Chah. Told by Ajahn Jitindriyā. [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Chah] // [Work] [Monastic life] [Faith]


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5. Story: “Sleep is delicious.” Told by Ajahn Jitindriyā. [Ajahn Amaro] [Sloth and torpor] [Ajahn Chah] // [Fear] [Discernment]


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6. Ajahn Chah teaches his disciples in everyday living situations. Recollection by Ajahn Jitindriyā. [Teaching Dhamma] [Everyday life] [Ajahn Chah]

Story: “Is the log heavy?” [Ajahn Chah] [Relinquishment] [Clinging] [Suffering]

Story: A monk drops a tape recorder after getting an electric shock. [Ajahn Chah]


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7. Quote: “I never lived with him, so I never got the chance to get disillusioned with him.” — Ajahn Jitindriyā [Discernment] [Teachers] [Ajahn Chah] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Clinging]


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8. Story: Ajahn Sumedho wants Ajahn Chah to affirm whether he had attained a degree of insight. Told by Ajahn Jitindriyā. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Stages of awakening] [Ajahn Chah] // [Impermanence] [Liberation] [Bowing] [Becoming]

Reference: Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 606

Quote: “We talk about things to develop and thigs to give up, but there’s really nothing to develop and nothing to give up.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Right Effort] [Relinquishment] [Emptiness] [Dispassion]

Reference: Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 102


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9. The way Ajahn Chah trained was phenomenal. Recollection by Ajahn Jitindriyā. [Ardency] [Courage] [Right Effort] [Ajahn Chah]


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10. Quote: “I feel incredibly indebted to Ajahn Chah.” — Ajahn Jitindriyā [Gratitude] [Respect for elders] [Ajahn Chah] // [Cultural context] [Language] [Teaching Dhamma] [Goodwill] [Perfectionism]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 4 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. Ajahn Amaro introduces Ajahn Sumedho. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Amaravati] [Abhayagiri] [Spirit Rock] [Teachers] [Meditation retreats]


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2. The inspiration of Ajahn Chah. Teaching by Ajahn Sumedho. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Mahatma Gandhi] [Discernment] [Humility] [Goodwill] [Mentoring] [Faith] [Learning]


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3. Quote: “He made sense out of monasticism.” — Ajahn Sumedho [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Vinaya] [Dhamma] [Trust]


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4. Quote: “I think with any Westerner, we’re so full of ourselves when we go [to Asia]. We want to get enlightened....” — Ajahn Sumedho [Culture/West] [Conceit] [Liberation] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Mentoring] [Respect for elders]


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5. Story: How Ajahn Sumedho met Ajahn Chah. Told by Ajahn Sumedho. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Language] [Military] [Vinaya] [Ordination]


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6. How Ajahn Chah taught me. Teaching by Ajahn Sumedho. [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Ageing] [Faith] [Happiness] [Vinaya] [Humor] [Self-identity view] [Culture/West] [Goodwill] [Right Effort] [Idealism] [Clinging]

Quote: “It was through example that I really learned.” [Ajahn Chah]


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7. How would Ajahn Chah fare in England? Teaching by Ajahn Sumedho. [History/Western Buddhist monasticism] [Culture/West] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Respect for elders] [Culture/Thailand] [Vinaya] [Discernment] [Pace of life]

Story: An emergency landing in Rome. [Ajahn Chah] [Fear] [Sensual desire]

Story: Ajahn Chah was threatened while walking almsround in London. [Ajahn Chah] [Almsround] [Dhamma]


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8. Ajahn Chah made me look at myself. Teaching by Ajahn Sumedho. [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Posture/Sitting] [Pain] [Aversion] [Admonishment/feedback] [Humor] [Patience] [Goodwill] [Discernment] [Contentment] [Cessation] [Happiness] [Saṅgha] [Views] [Relinquishment]

Quote: “Your practice now is patience.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah]

Story: Ajahn Chah chats for hours after Pāṭimokkha. [Ajahn Chah] [Idle chatter] [Judgementalism]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 5 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. Ajahn Amaro introduces Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] // [Abhayagiri] [Wat Pah Nanachat]


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2. Story: How I met Ajahn Chah. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] // [Types of monks] [Wat Pah Pong] [Seclusion]

Quote: “If you want to stay here, you have to be here for five years.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Sequence of training]


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3. Quote: “Ajahn Chah was a wonderful teacher, but more important, he was a trainer. He trained people how to live.” — Ajahn Pasanno [Teaching Dhamma] [Monastic life] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Ajahn Chah]

Story: Māghā Pūjā at Wat Pah Pong. [Festival days] [Lunar observance days] [Wat Pah Pong] [Meditation] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Lay life] [Saṅgha]


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4. Story: Thousands of people receive Ajahn Chah upon his return from England. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Gratitude] [Ajahn Chah] // [Almsround] [Lay life]

The sea of faith in Northeast Thailand. [Faith] [Culture/Thailand] [Poverty] [Culture/Natural environment] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Self-reliance] [Patience] [Teaching Dhamma] [Suffering]

In Central Thailand, lay people don’t come to the monastery on observance days. [Lunar observance days] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Tudong]

Story: A direct teaching to a man whose wife had died. [Ajahn Chah] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Death] [Grief]


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5. Quote: “He really didn’t give us a lot of room to feed or problems and our neuroses and our desires and our attachments....That was an extraordinary gift.” — Ajahn Pasanno [Teaching Dhamma] [Nutriment] [Suffering] [Delusion] [Ajahn Chah] [Craving] [Clinging] [Gratitude]


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6. Ajahn Chah used the forest environment to train us. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Culture/Natural environment] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Pace of life]

Story: Two mating lizards fall out of a tree. [Ajahn Chah] [Almsround] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Animal] [Sensual desire] [Suffering]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 6 – Apr. 28, 2001

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2. Favorite verses of Ajahn Chah: “Buddhaṃ me jīvitaṃ yāva-nibbānaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.” Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Mantra] [Ajahn Chah] [Three Refuges] [Nibbāna] [Chanting] // [Unwholesome Roots] [Ajahn Sundarā]

Quote: “Nibbāna is complete normality.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Naturalness]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 8 – Apr. 28, 2001

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[Session] Reading: “Meditation” from Living Dhamma by Ajahn Chah, pp. 50-53. Read by Ajahn Jitindriyā. [Meditation]

“Cultivate the tree right from the seed.” [Similes] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]

“To practice in a way that’s peaceful means to place the mind neither too high or too low, but at the point of balance.” [Middle Path] [Ajahn Chah]

“So many teachers, so many teachings.” [Teachers] [Doubt] [Meditation/Techniques]

“Where there is knowing, there is no need to think.” [Knowing itself] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Tranquility] [Mindfulness] [Discernment] [Proliferation]

“Resolve that right now is the time for training the mind and nothing else.” [Ardency] [Determination] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Body scanning] [Relinquishment] [Sense restraint]

“Sometimes there may be doubt, so you must have sati, to be the one who knows, continually following and examining the agitated mind.” [Continuity of mindfulness] [Restlessness and worry] [Heedfulness] [Concentration] [Feeling]

Simile: Chicken in a coop.


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 9 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. Ajahn Amaro introduces Paul Breiter and Joseph Kappel. [Paul Breiter] [Joseph Kappel] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Aruna Ratanagiri] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism] [Wat Pah Nanachat]


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2. Story: Ajahn Chah’s early life. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Chah] // [Culture/Thailand] [Truth] [Leadership] [Ajahn Jayasaro]


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3. Reading from the draft biography: Young Chah plays at being a monk. Read by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Almsfood] [Five Precepts]

Reference: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 23


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4. Reading from the draft biography: Chah decides to enter the village monastery at age nine. Read by Ajahn Amaro. [Types of monks] [Monastic life/Motivation] [Ajahn Chah] // [Conditionality] [Conscience and prudence] [Truth] [Generosity] [Kamma] [Work]

Reference: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 25


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5. Story: Novice Chah disrobes at age 16. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Novices] [Disrobing] [Ajahn Chah] // [Sensual desire] [Restlessness and worry]


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6. Reading from the draft biography: Chah falls in love. Read by Ajahn Amaro. [Relationships] [Ajahn Chah] // [Family] [Commerce/economics] [Restlessness and worry]

Reference: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 34


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7. Story: Ajahn Chah ordains at age 20. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Ordination] [Ajahn Chah] // [Monastic life/Motivation] [Spiritual urgency] [Forest versus city monks]


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8. Reading from the draft biography: Ajahn Chah’s dying father asks him to remain in robes for life. Read by Ajahn Amaro. [Sickness] [Recollection/Death] [Parents] [Monastic life] [Ajahn Chah] [Determination] // [Learning] [Culture/Thailand] [Unattractiveness] [Forest versus city monks] [Sutta] [Spiritual urgency]

Quote: “I dedicate my body and mind, my whole life, to the practice of the Lord Buddha’s teachings in their entirety. I will realize the truth in this lifetime … I will let go of everything and follow the teachings. No matter how much suffering and difficulty I have to endure I will persevere, otherwise there will be no end to my doubts. I will make this life as even and continuous as a single day and night. I will abandon attachments to mind and body and follow the Buddha’s teachings until I know their truth for myself.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Buddha] [Dhamma] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Knowledge and vision] [Truth] [Relinquishment] [Suffering]

Reflection: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 40 [Energy] [Doubt] [Continuity of mindfulness]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 10 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. Story: A radio interviewer says that the account in Venerable Father by Paul Breiter (commercial) sounds like a cult. Told by Paul Breiter. [Media] [Paul Breiter] [Cults] [Ajahn Chah] // [Devotional practice] [Leadership]


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2. Quote: “Living with Ajahn Chah wasn’t easy.” — Paul Breiter [Suffering] [Ajahn Chah] // [Aversion] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Monastic life]


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3. Quote: “The years [ Ajahn Chah] took up his ascetic practices were something of a golden age.” — Paul Breiter [Ascetic practices] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Mun]

Quote: “How do you call yourself a disciple of Ajahn Mun when you only spent seven days with him?” – “If a person with good eyes comes close to something, he sees it.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Mentoring] [Knowledge and vision]


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4. There was a strong independent streak in Ajahn Chah’s practice. Recollection by Paul Breiter. [Self-reliance] [Ajahn Chah] // [Teachers] [Seclusion] [Ardency] [Teaching Dhamma] [Patience]


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5. Ajahn Chah was always willing to challenge himself. Recollection by Paul Breiter. [Ascetic practices] [Ardency] [Ajahn Chah] // [Fear] [Ghost] [Sickness] [Culture/Natural environment] [Robes] [Shelter] [Suffering] [Meditation/Unusual experiences]


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6. Ajahn Chah expected his students to rely on themselves. Recollection by Paul Breiter. [Self-reliance] [Mentoring] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Vinaya] [Ardency]


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7. Ajahn Chah would often send his monks to branch monasteries. Recollection by Paul Breiter. [Monastic life] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Ajahn Chah] // [Teachers] [Respect for elders] [Ajahn Sinuan]


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8. Story: Ajahn Sinuan meets Ajahn Chah. Told by Paul Breiter. [Ajahn Sinuan] [Ajahn Chah] // [Perception of a samaṇa] [Personality] [Monastic life/Motivation] [Cleanliness] [Unattractiveness]

Story: It was always said that Ajahn Chah had it in for Ajahn Sinuan. [Ajahn Chah] [Sloth and torpor] [Work] [Suffering] [Saṃsāra] [Teaching Dhamma]


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9. Quote: “I thought of him as the world’s most compassionate sadist.” — Paul Breiter [Compassion] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Ascetic practices] [Ajahn Chah] // [Teaching Dhamma]


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10. Quote: “In an instant he could put you in a space where you just let go of everything, your anger, your worry, your anxiety–the things you thought you had to do a lot of work to get through and get rid of.” — Paul Breiter [Relinquishment] [Aversion] [Restlessness and worry] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Humor] [Suffering]


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11. Quote: “He taught different people differently....He gave us what we needed.” — Paul Breiter [Teaching Dhamma] [Mentoring] [Ajahn Chah] // [Paul Breiter] [Patience] [Monastic life] [Generosity] [Upatakh] [Devotional practice]


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12. Parable about teaching Dhamma: Two oxen pulling the same cart. [Teaching Dhamma] [Similes] [Ajahn Chah]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 11 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. Reflections about the occasion. Contributed by Joseph Kappel. [Spiritual friendship] [Ajahn Chah] // [Joseph Kappel]


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2. Learning to trust the next breath. Reflection by Joseph Kappel. [Trust] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Ajahn Chah] // [Restlessness and worry] [Present moment awareness]


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3. What drew us to Ajahn Chah? Reflection by Joseph Kappel. [Association with people of integrity] [Ajahn Chah] // [Culture/West] [Three Refuges] [Teachers] [Media]


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4. Ajahn Chah was the living embodiment of these teachings. Reflection by Joseph Kappel. [Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Buddha images] [Human] [Compassion]

Quote: “It’s like taking the church with you.” [Ajahn Chah]


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5. Ajahn Chah taught us to speak without preparation. Recollection by Joseph Kappel. [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Trust] [Human] [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Spaciousness]


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6. Most people celebrate birth, but people should be crying. When people die, everyone grieves and sorrows, but they should be celebrating. Teaching of Ajahn Chah recollected by Joseph Kappel. [Birth] [Grief] [Death] [Happiness] [Ajahn Chah] // [Fierce/direct teaching]


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7. Ajahn Chah could be with people where they are. Recollection by Joseph Kappel. [Compassion] [Present moment awareness] [Ajahn Chah]


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8. Ajahn Chah emphasized sīla and precepts when teaching in the West. Recollection by Joseph Kappel. [Virtue] [Five Precepts] [Teaching Dhamma] [Culture/West] [Ajahn Chah] // [Communal harmony] [Meditation] [Sensual desire] [Long-term practice]


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9. Reflection by Joseph Kappel: Jumping off the Saṅgha ocean liner. [Saṅgha] [Similes] [Joseph Kappel] [Disrobing] // [Faith] [Five Precepts] [Ajahn Chah]


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10. Ajahn Amaro introduces Paul Breiter and Joseph Kappel. [Ajahn Chah]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 12 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. “What is the daily schedule like?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro and Joseph Kappel. [Monastic life] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Amaro] [Joseph Kappel] [Chanting] [Meditation] [Almsround] [Work] [Abhayagiri] [Teaching Dhamma] [Upatakh]


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2. Many of the most profound teachings happened under Ajahn Chah’s kuti. Reflection by Joseph Kappel. [Teaching Dhamma] [Shelter] [Ajahn Chah] // [Tranquility]


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3. You weren’t there to prepare for something else. Reflection by Paul Breiter. [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Sequence of training] [Everyday life] [Disrobing] [Kamma] [Monastic life] [Ascetic practices] [Suffering] [Happiness] [Saṃsāra]

Quote: “Talk about the benefits of lay life....on paper you can make a good case for it. In practice it’s a constant challenge just to keep your head above water and remember how you’re supposed to deal with things. I urge people in robes to stay there.” [Lay life] [Right Action]

Quote: “Ajahn Pasanno doesn’t want me sending everyone to ordain with him, but I think you do better following his way than my way.” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Paul Breiter]


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4. Story: “Sleep is delicious.” Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Admonishment/feedback] [Goodwill] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Joseph Kappel] [Upatakh] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Robes] [Mentoring] [Faith]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 13 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. Teachings to Marjorie by Ajahn Chah, Part 2. Thai audio with English translation read by Kittisaro. [Thai audio] [Ajahn Chah] // [Dispassion] [Nibbāna] [Unconditioned] [Cessation of Suffering]

Continued from Part 1.

Reference: “Living with the Cobra,” Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 233.

Quote: “If the tears don’t come, we don’t really accept truth.” [Suffering] [Truth] [Wat Pah Pong]

Note: “Living with the Cobra” omits this quote and other more personal aspects of Ajahn Chah’s teaching to Marjorie.


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2. Context of “Living with the Cobra.” Recollection by Ajahn Amaro. [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Chah]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 14 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. Ajahn Amaro introduces Ṭhānissarā. [Ṭhānissarā] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Sundarā] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Sīladharā] [Gratitude]


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2. Ajahn Amaro introduces Paul Breiter. [Paul Breiter] [Ajahn Chah]

Quote: “There will probably be a book of Varapañño stories.”

References: Venearble Father and One Monk, Many Masters by Paul Breiter (commercial)


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3. Reflection by Ṭhānissarā: A profound sense of gratitude. [Gratitude] [Ajahn Chah] // [Monastic life]


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4. Story: When I met Ajahn Chah. Told by Ṭhānissarā. [Ṭhānissarā] [Ajahn Chah] // [Meditation retreats] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Personal presence] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Liberation] [Happiness]

Story: Ajahn Chah bows to a small, neglected Buddha image in a secular meditation center and inspires Ṭhānissarā‘s faith. [Ajahn Chah] [Bowing] [Buddha images] [Perception of a samaṇa] [Human] [Faith]

Quote: “If you’ve been listening to this and you think this is good or you think this is bad, then you haven’t been listening properly.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Judgementalism] [Appropriate attention]


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5. One of the fundamental aspects of Ajahn Chah’s teaching was to establish Right View. Reflection by Ṭhānissarā. [Teaching Dhamma] [Right View] [Ajahn Chah] // [Views] [Direct experience]


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6. Story: Ajahn Chah visits Ṭhānissarā‘s meditation community. Told by Ṭhānissarā. [Ṭhānissarā] [Non-monastic centers] [Ajahn Chah] // [Idealism] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Pace of life] [Personal presence] [Saṃsāra] [Disenchantment] [Monastic life/Motivation]


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7. One of Ajahn Chah’s main method was the monastic training. Recollection by Ṭhānissarā. [Monastic life] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Suffering] [Direct experience] [Idealism] [Relinquishment]


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8. Ajahn Chah encouraged us to work as Saṅgha, as community. Recollection by Ṭhānissarā. [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] // [Culture/West] [Aversion]


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9. Story: Ajahn Chah visits the Chithurst community and asks, “Is the community getting on well?” – “Yes.” – “Well there’s not going to be much wisdom here then, is there?” Told by Ṭhānissarā. [Chithurst] [Saṅgha] [Communal harmony] [Discernment] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Sumedho]


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10. Story: Applying Ajahn Chah’s teachings to lay life in South Africa. Told by Ṭhānissarā. [Lay life] [Ajahn Chah] // [Monastic life] [Abuse/violence] [Self-reliance] [Discernment] [Compassion] [Spaciousness] [Liberation]

How would Ajahn Chah have responded to issues like feminism, democracy, engaged Buddhism, interfaith, and materialism that we’ve had to meet? [Ajahn Chah] [Women in Buddhism] [Politics and society] [Spiritual traditions] [Greed]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 15 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. Reflection by Paul Breiter: How do Ajahn Chah’s teachings apply to lay life? [Lay life] [Ajahn Chah] // [Monastic life] [Culture/Thailand] [Culture/West]

When I left the monastery, I felt like a skinned cow (SN 12.63). [Similes] [Vinaya]

Story: Ajahn Chah scolds the monks for dreaming about lay life. [Work] [Family] [Commerce/economics] [Renunciation]


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2. Quote: “Mindfulness is a jewel. Having mindfulness is like being near to the Buddha or being near to God.” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Paul Breiter. [Ajahn Chah] [Mindfulness] [Buddha] [God] // [Lay life] [Suffering]


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3. Quote: “We think that this is my family, this is my home village, this is my country, and others are [not]. That’s just a delusion.” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Paul Breiter. [Ajahn Chah] [Goodwill] [Family] [Community] [Politics and society] [Delusion] // [Human] [Birth] [Ageing] [Death]


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4. Quote: “Everybody worships knowledge. Not many people worship virtue.” — Ajahn Chah at Insight Meditation Center. Quoted by Paul Breiter. [Ajahn Chah] [Learning] [Science] [Technology] [Virtue] [Insight Meditation Society]


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5. Quote: “Is the boulder heavy? ... Is a lemon sour?” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Paul Breiter. [Ajahn Chah] [Similes] [Suffering] // [Paul Breiter]


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6. Quote: “If you see one monkey, you can understand the nature of monkeys.” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Paul Breiter. [Ajahn Chah] [Similes] // [Lay life] [Buddha] [Recollection/Buddha]

Quote: “What are the benefits of lay life? We have more opportunities to apply the teaching, ‘Monkeys are like that.’”


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 16 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. Reflection by Ajahn Sumedho: From idealism to the way it is. [Idealism] [Equanimity] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Culture/Thailand] [Culture/West] [Suffering] [Delusion] [Aversion]

Story: A Thai monk’s perspective on worldly stupidity. [Military]

Quote: “Someone with that kind of pure presence is really a mirror.” [Ajahn Chah] [Personal presence] [Teaching Dhamma]


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2. I was the first Westerner at Wat Pah Pong. Recollection by Ajahn Sumedho. [Wat Pah Pong] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Military] [Culture/Thailand] [Aversion] [Rains retreat] [Types of monks]


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3. “When I went to stay with Luang Por Chah, he said, ‘Don’t read anything.’” Recollection by Ajahn Sumedho. [Learning] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Abhidhamma] [Rains retreat] [Meditation]


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4. “His way of teaching was direct....He would use the essential teaching of the Buddha, the Four Noble Truths.” Recollection by Ajahn Sumedho. [Teaching Dhamma] [Four Noble Truths] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Human] [Culture/Thailand] [Ageing] [Sickness] [Death] [Spiritual traditions] [Self-identity view]

Quote: “It’s the suffering that awakens you.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Suffering] [Liberation]


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5. Story: “Sumedho, Wat Pah Pong, is it suffering?” Told by Ajahn Sumedho. [Wat Pah Pong] [Suffering] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Lunar observance days] [Work] [Monastic crafts] [Aversion] [Cleanliness]

Quote: “To want something that’s not present, something you don’t have, is suffering.” [Craving] [Cause of Suffering] [Culture/Natural environment] [Saṅgha] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Culture/West]


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6. “It wasn’t just suffering that Luang Por [Chah] was pointing to, but also non-suffering.” Reflection by Ajahn Sumedho. [Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Relinquishment] [Clinging] [Knowing itself]


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7. Quote: “When I saw Luang Por Chah when he had his stroke, I felt an almost unbearable sense of grief and loss. Then I remembered, ‘This is the way it is.’” — Ajahn Sumedho [Sickness] [Grief] [Equanimity] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Faith] [Aversion] [Relinquishment]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 17 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. Ajahn Amaro introduces Ajahn Mahaprasert and Ajahn Sundarā. [Ajahn Sundarā] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Wat Tam Saeng Pet] [Learning] [Abhayagiri] [Spirit Rock]


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2. “My life has been hugely impacted by Ajahn Chah, his teachings, and the spiritual family he introduced me to.” Reflection by Kittisaro. [Gratitude] [Teaching Dhamma] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] // [Happiness] [Teachers] [Learning] [Respect for elders] [Meditation retreats] [Body scanning] [Conceit] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Goodwill] [Humility] [Mentoring]

Story: Ajahn Chah sniffs around like a dog. [Ajahn Chah] [Kittisaro] [Similes] [Humor] [Mindfulness of breathing]

Quote: “He gave me a practice path that goes on and on to this day.” [Ajahn Chah] [Eightfold Path]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 19 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. My contact with Ajahn Chah is through meeting Ajahn Sumedho. Reflection by Ajahn Sundarā. [Ajahn Sundarā] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Chah] // [Faith] [Monastic life]


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2. Story: Ajahn Chah tells a novice to catch a chicken. Told by Ajahn Sundarā. [Animal] [Humor] [Ajahn Chah]


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3. Story: Ajahn Sundarā stays with a nun who lived at Wat Pah Pong with Ajahn Chah. Told by Ajahn Sundarā. [Ajahn Sundarā] [Mae Chee] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Chah]

Story: The first nun at Wat Pah Pong. [Artistic expression] [Determination] [Ajahn Chah] [Sequence of training] [Eight Precepts]

Story: The Wat Pah Pong nuns go pindapat. [Almsround] [Ajahn Chah]

Quote: “Does anyone find having nuns around difficult?” – “Yes.” – “Well, you can go then.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] [Pāṭimokkha] [Women in Buddhism]

Story: A woman brings only enough food for the monks, so Ajahn Chah asks the nuns to chant the blessing. [Generosity] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Ajahn Chah] [Chanting] [Fierce/direct teaching]

Ajahn Chah’s inner freedom. [Liberation] [Courage] [Conventions] [Unconditioned] [Teaching Dhamma] [Dhamma books] [Personal presence]

The confidence to be totally yourself. [Faith] [Self-reliance] [Gratitude] [Ajahn Chah lineage] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Aversion]


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4. Story: Half a million people attend Ajahn Chah’s funeral. Told by Ajahn Sundarā. [Funerals] [Ajahn Sundarā] [Ajahn Chah] // [Food] [Free distribution] [Meditation] [Stupas/monuments] [Chanting]

Quote: “The heart of [Ajahn Chah’s] teaching is the ability to bring people together.” [Ajahn Chah] [Teaching Dhamma] [Saṅgha] [Community]

Story: The cremation pyre catches fire and number 16 wins the lottery. [Ajahn Chah] [Humor]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 20 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. “How did Ajahn Chah relate to the lay community around him and tailor the Dharma to their own circumstances?” Answered by Ajahn Sumedho and Ṭhānissarā. [Lay life] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Ajahn Chah] [Teaching Dhamma]

Story: Thai villagers tell Ajahn Sumedho that they never understood Buddhism until they met Luang Por Chah. Told by Ajahn Sumedho. [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Monastic life] [Generosity] [Meditation] [Community] [Family] [Mindfulness]

Quote: “He didn’t respond to the external cues but went to the heart and grabbed you in that way.” — Ṭhānissarā [Ajahn Chah] [Conventions] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Not-self]


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2. “Did Ajahn Chah pass his teaching style to you or do you use your own separate style?” Answered by Ajahn Sumedho and Paul Breiter. [Personality] [Ajahn Chah] [Teaching Dhamma]

Story: Ajahn Sumedho, first abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat. Told by Ajahn Sumedho. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Abbot] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Sequence of training] [Culture/West] [Ajahn Chah] [Joseph Kappel] [Selfishness] [Aversion] [Suffering] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Humor]

Quote: “The special thing about Luang Por Chah was that he was at ease and completely himself.” — Ajahn Sumedho [Ajahn Chah] [Contentment]

Response by Paul Breiter: “The elements are there, but different teachers are expressing them in a living way.” [Ajahn Chah]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 21 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. In the Vinaya (monastic discipline) there’s no role of abbot. Reflection by Ajahn Amaro. [Vinaya] [Abbot] [Saṅgha decision making] [Ajahn Chah] // [Respect] [Confession]


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2. “How are conflicts between [audio unclear] resolved?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Conflict] [Monastic life] [Ajahn Chah] // [Admonishment/feedback]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 25 – Apr. 29, 2001

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1. Introduction to the reading by Ajahn Amaro. [Joseph Kappel] [Ajahn Chah]


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2. Context of the reading: walking into Wat Pah Pong. Reflection by Joseph Kappel. [Ajahn Chah] // [Joseph Kappel] [Wat Pah Pong] [Culture/Natural environment] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Shelter] [Posture/Walking] [Dōgen] [Ajahn Amaro]


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3. “Learning to Listen.” Teaching by Ajahn Chah. Translated and read by Joseph Kappel. [Learning] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Present moment awareness] [Teaching Dhamma] [Questions] [Buddha] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Unconditioned]