Commentaries (aṭṭhakathā)
Skillful qualities / Seven Treasures / Learning / Commentaries 
50 excerpts, 3:28:12 total duration



Abhayagiri 25th Anniversary Retreat, Session 1 – Jun. 9, 2021

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8. Story: The original Abhayagiri Monastery. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri (Sri Lanka)] [History/Sri Lankan Buddhism ] // [Theravāda] [Mahāyāna] [Commentaries] [Study monks] [Conflict] [Royalty] [Stupas/monuments] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Abhayagiri]

Reference: The Path to Freedom (Vimuttimagga), translated by Bhikkhu Ñāṇatusita.


Readings from The Island, Session 7 – Jan. 17, 2025

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1. Story: Reprinting The Enlightened Nuns from the Time of the Buddha by Panadure Vajira Silmatha. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Dhamma books] [Bhikkhunī] [Buddha/Biography] // [Ajahn Candasirī] [Ajahn Amaro] [Artistic expression] [Non-return] [Bodhisattva]

Story: The wanderer Upaka falls in love with Cāpā, marries her, then returns to the Buddha, ordains as a monk, and becomes a non-returner. [Commentaries]

Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.6: Upaka meets the Buddha.

Sutta: Thig 13.3: Cāpātherīgāthā (Upaka is apparently called Kāḷa here).

Reference: Upaka, The Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names by G P Malalasekera.

Sutta: SN 2.24 mentions Upaka as a non-returner.


Readings from The Island, Session 50 – Mar. 20, 2025

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1. Story: Ajahn Buddhadāsa gives up formal studies and returns to the forest and the suttas. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Buddhadāsa ] [Learning] [Commentaries] [Sutta] // [Spiritual traditions] [Geography/Thailand]


Readings from The Island, Session 54 – Mar. 26, 2025

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9. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro: SN 55.21 indicates that the last mind-moment is not the primary determinant of rebirth. [Death] [Rebirth] // [Commentaries] [Skillful qualities] [Treasures] [Christianity]

Commentarial story: A monk is reborn as a maggot living on his robes. [Commentaries] [Robes] [Clinging]

Story: Ajahn Chah declines to visit a dying villager. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Paul Breiter] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Heedlessness]