7. “On retreat, is it skillful to try to memorize some of the chants?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Meditation retreats] [Chanting] [Memory] // [Mindfulness] [Faith] [Posture/Walking] [Continuity of mindfulness]
11. “May I ask the whole Abhayagiri gang what is your favorite meditation object?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, Ajahn Sudhīro, Debbie Stamp and Bhante Suddhāso. [Meditation/Techniques] // [Mindfulness of breathing] [Unattractiveness] [Recollection/Death] [Goodwill] [Buddho mantra] [Mindfulness of feeling] [Sound of silence] [Impermanence]
18. “Can you recommend any particular books which share the teachings of the Buddha in more user-friendly ways—‘Dhamma for Dummies’? I found the readings from the discourses/Canon repetitive and hard to relate to, yet you share so many Dhamma tidbits that are captivating and memorable.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Yatiko. [Dhamma books ] [Tipiṭaka] [Teaching Dhamma] // [Bhikkhu Bodhi]
Reference: Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness by Bhante Gunaratana (commercial). [Eightfold Path]
Reference: In the Buddha’s Words by Bhikkhu Bodhi (commercial). [Sutta]
Reference: The Life of the Buddha According to the Pali Canon by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli. [Buddha/Biography]
1. “Could you speak more about the concept of relinquishment, giving up, and how it relates to giving?” [Relinquishment] [Recollection/Generosity] [Generosity] // [Clinging]
2. Comment: I’m looking at contemplating peace as opposed to grasping for peace as a result of aversion to dukkha. There’s not the same result. [Recollection/Peace] [Clinging] [Aversion] [Suffering]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Craving not to become] [Relinquishment] [Kamma]
3. Comment: So you maximize the internal benefit you receive ... [audio unclear]? [Recollection/Generosity] [Generosity]
Responses by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Yatiko. [Faith] [Discernment] [Clinging] [Habits] [Proliferation] [Idealism]
15. “Please explain what gave rise to the 28 Buddhas Protection Discourse (Amaravati Chanting Book Volume 2, p. 54). Is this a sutta? It didn’t start with ‘Thus have I heard.’ Did Buddha ever mention or acknowledge the existence of other Buddhas?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Yatiko. [Protective chants] [Sutta] [Previous Buddhas] // [Metteyya Bodhisatva] [Culture/Thailand] [Ghost] [History/Sri Lankan Buddhism] [Children] [Fear]
Sutta: DN 14: Descriptions of six previous Buddhas.
Sutta: DN 26.25: The future Buddha Metteyya.
Sutta: DN 32: The Āṭānāṭiya Protection.
Suttas: SN 12:4-10 mention six previous Buddhas who understood Dependent Origination.
17. “Topics to avoid in conversation for the sake of harmony: politics, food, money, people who aren’t present, sports, scandals, etc. Where is the long list printed?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Idle chatter]
Reference: Buddhist Monastic Code Vol. 1, p. 397: Explanation of animal talk in the discussion of Bhikkhu Pācittiyā 6.
Sutta: AN 10.69: Topics of Discussion.
2. “You spoke to exactly what my brain has been doing the past day and a half. Your suggestion [to investigate the embodied emotions behind the thoughts] was very helpful. However, sometimes when I look to the body, there is no emotional push there. Is there always an emotional push to a thought? What other things can I look for? Thanks for your on-the-spot talk.” [Mindfulness of body] [Emotion] [Proliferation] // [Investigation of states]
1. Comment: Sometimes pervading the body with rapture can take the mind away from the meditation object. Contributed by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Rapture] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Concentration]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Tranquility] [Volition] [Nature of mind] [Unification]
Reference: Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 309, “Tranquility and Insight.”
2. “What are other possible translations of the recurring question [in the suttas], ‘What do you think?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Pāli] [Translation] // [Questions]
Sutta: SN 22.59 Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Chanting book translation).
2. “Would you say that clinging is around the senses and not the sensual desires?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Clinging] [Sense bases] [Sensual desire] // [Aggregates]
Follow-up: “How do we uproot clinging?” [Discernment]
Comment by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: One can only apply the concept of inverted perception from MN 75 to the other sense bases. [Delusion] [Perception] [Ajahn Khao]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno: Showeing after being exposed to poison oak. [Feeling]
Recollection: Ajahn Mahā Boowa perceived difficulty and problems as a whetstone for mindfulness. Recounted by Ajahn Pesalo. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Mindfulness]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Four Noble Truths] [Conditionality]
2. “In SN 22.2, Sāriputta equates unwholesome states with lust and attachment to the aggregates. What about ill-will and emnity?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Unskillful qualities] [Craving] [Clinging] [Aggregates] [Ill-will] [Aversion] // [Craving not to become] [Judgementalism]
2. “Have you contemplated the elements as a basis for contact?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Body/form] [Elements] [Contact] [Aggregates] // [Unattractiveness] [Not-self]
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.
3. Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo: Most people would say that all the parts together comprise the chariot. [Similes] [Not-self] [Aggregates]
Responses by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Cunda.
4. “How do you contemplate the Five Aggregates in practice?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Cunda. [Recollection] [Aggregates] // [Not-self] [Characteristics of existence] [Direct experience] [Ageing]
Sutta: SN 22.59 Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Chanting book translation).
5. “If the task is to fully understand and you have an affinity for understanding form, does that affect how you understand the other aggregates?” [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Body/form] [Aggregates] // [Thai Forest Tradition] [Mindfulness of body] [Insight meditation]
Sutta: AN 1.616: Mindfulness directed to the body and the deathless.
2. Comment: Downside might fit the context [of SN 22.26-28] better than danger. [Drawbacks] [Translation]
Responses by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno.
3. “Why does SN 22.26 say both impermanent and subject to change?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Impermanence] // [Sutta] [Abhidhamma] [Translation] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Teaching Dhamma] [Language]
Sutta: SN 22.59 Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Chanting book translation).
4. Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna: In SN 22.96, the Buddha implies that universal impermanence may be a good thing. [Impermanence]
Responses by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno.
Follow-up: “What’s ‘individual existence’ in Pāli?” [Translation] [Becoming]
6. “Is there any significance to the names of the steed and the chariot in SN 22.96?” [Lunar observance days]
Sutta: MN 37.8 mentions Sakka’s Vejayanta Palace.
1. “Can you clarify the simile of the khandhas as a murderer in SN 22.85?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, Ajahn Pasanno and the Abhayagiri Saṅgha. [Similes] [Drawbacks] [Aggregates] // [Benefit/gratification] [Self-identity view] [Commentaries] [Clinging] [Dependent origination]
3. Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno: The conclusion that what is not under our control can’t be self isn’t immediately obvious. [Volition] [Not-self]
Follow-up: “How have you come to understand this over time?” [Self-identity view] [Feeling]
Follow-up: “How does the chant, ‘I am the owner of my kamma’ relate to this?” [Kamma] [Language] [Conventions]
Sutta: AN 5.57 Five Recollections (Chanting Book translation).
Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo: The suttas are summaries rather than transcripts. [Sutta] [Teaching Dhamma]
4. “What is the term ‘Agivessana’?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli]
2. “Do you have any suggestions for contemplating the origin of the body?” [Body/form] [Birth] [Aggregates]
3. “Is there a special meaning for which simile is compared to which khandha in SN 22.95?” [Similes] [Aggregates] // [Impermanence] [Body/form] [Feeling] [Perception] [Volitional formations] [Consciousness]
2. Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna: Venerable Vakkali had immense respect for the Buddha and the Dhamma. [Great disciples] [Respect] [Buddha] [Dhamma]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Faith]
3. “Are there other stories similar to Vakkali asking to die outside (SN 22.87)?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Great disciples] [Death] [Culture/Natural environment] // [Perception of a samaṇa]
Story: Ajahn Mun chooses the place of his death. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mun] [Funerals]
Story: Ajahn Chah chooses a convenient time to die. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah]
5. “How would you answer the questions in SN 22.86 for a puthujjana (a person who has not entered the stream of Dhamma)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Death] [Aggregates] [Clinging] // [Kamma] [Views]
Sutta: SN 44.9: Flame blown by the wind. [Rebirth] [Similes]
1. “Is there another sutta not spoken by the Buddha in which as many people become enlightened as SN 22.89?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Great disciples] [Teaching Dhamma] [Liberation]
3. “What is the difference between someone who has broken through fetters (self-identity view, etc.) and someone who hasn’t as discussed in SN 22.89?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Fetters] [Self-identity view] [Conceit] [Aggregates] [Similes] // [Perception] [Not-self]
5. Comment by Ajahn Cunda: The Buddha’s description of a monk who ‘does not laud himself and disparage others’ (e.g. AN 4.28) sounds similar to SN 22.49. [Conceit] [Humility]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.
6. “Does volition differ from intention?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Volition] // [Pāli] [Translation] [Kamma] [Self-identity view] [Skillful qualities]
Follow-up: “When we talk about effort, intention, and result in the Vinaya, is cetanā the word for intention?” [Vinaya]
Follow-up: “Saṅkhāra is sometimes translated as volitional formations. How does this differ from cetanā?” [Volitional formations]
Sutta: AN 6.63.33: “Kamma is volition.”
4. Comment by Ajahn Pasanno: A critical part of SN 22.90 is Ānanda giving Channa the confidence to believe in himself. [Great disciples] [Faith] // [Geography/India]
Responses by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, Ajahn Cunda, Ajahn Jotipālo and Ajahn Kaccāna. [Rapture]
5. “In SN 12.15, when it says, ‘the world depends on a duality,’ is that the process of [audio unclear]?” [Views] // [Self-identity view] [Ignorance]
6. “Is there any significance to the elders Channa initially approaches in SN 22.90?” [Great disciples] // [Commentaries]
6. “Could you review the transmission of the ordination between Sri Lanka and Thailand?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [History/Thai Buddhism ] [History/Sri Lankan Buddhism ] [Ordination] // [Royalty] [History/Other Theravāda traditions] [Commerce/economics] [History/Mahāyāna Buddhism]
11. “As the mind takes fabrications as its object, does the mind expand?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Volitional formations] [Heart/mind] [Mindfulness of mind] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Relinquishment]
14. “Regarding the 1st precept of non-killing / non-harming, what to do on a practical / decision level regarding something like termites? I sold my last house because I didn’t want to fumigate, but I can’t keep moving to avoid killing termites / ants that eat at a house. Thank you for your compassion and explanation.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Killing] [Animal] // [Kamma]
Story: Abhayagiri deals with a cockroach infestation. [Abhayagiri]
13. “Dear Aj. Karuṇadhammo, could you say a bit more about how you find a belief in rebirth to be motivational? And that it ‘just makes sense?’ Do you think, perhaps, about the person who will inherit your rebirth and how it would be good to load them up with good kamma? Thanks!” [Rebirth] [Kamma] [Faith] // [Death] [Nature of mind] [Body/form] [Views] [Spiritual urgency]
1. “Do you need to be a non-returner to be free from the fear of death?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Non-return] [Fear] [Death] [Sensual desire] // [Arahant] [Conceit] [Stream entry] [Faith]
2. “In this passage where the Buddha lists illnesses and calamities (AN 10.60), he separates kamma out as a cause of those things. However the cause of being subject to these things is because of making good or bad kamma. Is kamma [in this list] a direct, proximate cause?” [Kamma] [Sickness] [Conditionality]
Sutta: SN 36.21 Sīvaka: The Buddha refutes the notion that kamma causes everything.
3. “Is mindfulness of the body fabricating a wholesome mental image of the body as opposed to an unwholesome image? But how can we know the body in any way other than vedanā?” [Mindfulness of body] [Visualization] [Feeling] // [S. N. Goenka] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Postures] [Clear comprehension] [Right Mindfulness] [Calming meditation] [Insight meditation] [Delusion] [Characteristics of existence]
Quote: “The availability of insight is through stepping back from the assumptions that we make, whether it’s around the body or feeling or mind or the sense of self.” [Relinquishment]
1. “What is mesentery?” [Unattractiveness]
Reference: Abhayagiri Chanting Book, p. 37.
2. “Why are some body parts omitted from this list?” [Unattractiveness] // [Commentaries] [Sensual desire] [Self-identity view]
Reference: Abhayagiri Chanting Book, p. 37.
4. “What do the Pāḷi terms translated as impurity and foulness mean?” [Pāli] [Translation] [Aversion] [Unattractiveness] // [Etymology] [Sensual desire]
Simile: MN 119.7: Sack of grains.
Comment: Words themselves like “impure” are culturally loaded. [Language] [Cultural context] [Culture/India]
1. “What is the length of an average small intestine?” [Unattractiveness]
2. “How long does it take food to make its way through the digestive tract?” [Food] [Unattractiveness]
3. “Is blood only red when it’s outside the body?” [Unattractiveness]
4. “Is there a biological function for tears?” [Unattractiveness] // [Emotion]
5. “How does phlegm relate to mucus?” [Unattractiveness]
6. Comment: When I go through the list [of the 32 parts], I separate the object from my body and envision my body with it absent. [Visualization] [Unattractiveness]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Ajahn Chah] [Not-self] [Sensual desire] [Calming meditation] [Sloth and torpor]
1. “Why is there no liquid blood in the photographs of flesh and sinews?” [Unattractiveness]
Reference: Thirty-two parts slideshow video.
2. “Where does a stomach ache originate from?” [Sickness] [Unattractiveness]
3. “Is there a particular orientation for the intestines?” [Unattractiveness]
Story: Ajahn Karuṇadhammo’s first surgery as a nursing student. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Health care]
4. “During the meditation, is it appropriate to envision the stomach itself with undigested food?” (The stomach isn’t listed in the 32 parts.) [Visualization] [Food] [Unattractiveness]
7. “Why are the first five parts chosen for special contemplation?” [Unattractiveness] // [Ajahn Mun] [Sensual desire]
1. Comments by Beth Steff about the Lam Rim teachings. [Vajrayāna] [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Recollection/Death]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.
1. “Has there been discussion of getting a skeleton for Abhayagiri?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Unattractiveness] [Abhayagiri]
2. “Is it common for body contemplation to veer towards aversion?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Mindfulness of body] [Unattractiveness] [Aversion] [Elements] // [Translation] [Not-self] [Ajahn Chah]
Sutta: MN 62: Mahārāhulaovāda Sutta, The Greater Discourse of Advice to Rāhula.
2. “How can one be mindful of the beginning of thought?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Kaccāna and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Directed thought and evaluation] [Mindfulness] [Right Mindfulness] // [Appropriate attention] [Perception] [Proliferation]
Comments about observing proliferating thoughts. [Conditionality] [Right Effort] [Restlessness and worry] [Mindfulness of mind]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Feeling]
Sutta: MN 118 Ānāpānasati Sutta.
4. “Could you clarify ‘the body in the body?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Mindfulness of body ] [Right Mindfulness ] // [Translation] [Pāli] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Direct experience] [Self-identity view] [Elements] [Proliferation] [Perception]
References: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 91; Right Mindfulness by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro.
3. “Why doesn’t the passage (SN 47.7) mention obsession with painful objects?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Desire] [Aversion] [Right Mindfulness]
1. “How does cruelty differ from ill will?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Ill-will] // [Goodwill] [Compassion] [Right Mindfulness] [Concentration] [Right Effort]
Sutta: MN 19: Dvedhavitakka Sutta, Two Kinds of Thought.
3. “What are antidotes to the strained, tired mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Sloth and torpor ] // [Directed thought and evaluation] [Skillful qualities] [Mindfulness of body] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Sutta: MN 19: Dvedhavitakka Sutta, Two Kinds of Thought.
2. “Does the consistency of vicara correlate with samadhi?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Directed thought and evaluation ] [Concentration] // [Rapture] [Happiness] [Unification]
Sutta: MN 119: Simile of the bathman. [Similes]
2. “How does nirodha differ from arising and ceasing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Cessation] [Impermanence] [Pāli] [Translation] // [P. A. Payutto] [Dependent origination]
1. “Why does the Buddha describe perception in terms of colors but consciousness in terms of tastes?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Perception] [Consciousness] [Sense bases] // [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Commentaries] [Ven. Anālayo] [Memory] [Feeling]
Sutta: SN 22.79: Being Devoured; footnote 114 in Bhikkhu Bodhi translation.
Follow-up: “Could you say that perception is identification whereas consciousness is more refined?” [Aggregates] [Not-self] [Self-identity view] [Rebirth] [Translation] [Similes]
8. “Do you have to emerge from jhāna to contemplate the characteristics of the aggregates?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Jhāna] [Insight meditation] [Aggregates] // [Mindfulness] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Knowing itself]
Sutta: AN 9.36: “Jhāna.”
Quote: “Contemplation gets really good when you stop thinking.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Directed thought and evaluation]
2. “Are people experiencing jhāna in different ways?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Jhāna ] // [Views] [Ajahn Chah] [Tranquility] [Self-identity view] [Suffering] [Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo]
3. “Is seeing metaphysical principles the same as making something into a concept?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Nature of the cosmos] [Proliferation] // [Views]
Sutta: DN 1: Brahmajāla Sutta.
3. “How do you respond to the cynical inner voice when you recollect your own virtue?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ṭhitapañño. [Recollection/Virtue ] [Judgementalism] // [Ajahn Sucitto] [Habits] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Culture/West] [Humor]
2. Examples of pleasures of renunciation? Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Happiness] [Renunciation] [Rapture] // [Skillful qualities]
Sutta: Ud 2.10: “Oh, what bliss!”
3. Examples of unworldly, unpleasant feelings? Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Feeling] [Suffering] [Skillful qualities] // [Sense restraint]
Sutta: MN 44: Cūḷavedalla Sutta.
4. Clarification of underlying tendencies to unworldly, pleasant feelings? Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Unwholesome Roots] [Happiness] [Feeling] // [Desire] [Craving]
6. Dhammadinnā is foremost in ... ? [Great disciples] [Bhikkhunī] // [Teaching Dhamma]
9. “Is the goal (Nibbāna) a thought-less state of mind?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Nibbāna] [Heart/mind] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Formless attainments] // [Cessation of Suffering] [Relinquishment] [Impermanence]
“Who is the only person who doesn’t think? An arahant? A Buddha?” “No. The only person who doesn’t think is a dead person.” – Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Arahant] [Buddha] [Death]
1. “Is the second dart the self we create around feelings?” [Self-identity view] [Feeling] // [Aversion]
2. “How is it that when one feels a pleasant feeling, one cannot feel an unpleasant or neutral feeling (MN 74.10)?” [Feeling] // [Consciousness] [Similes]
1. Meaning of “will become cool right here?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Feeling] // [Characteristics of existence] [Knowledge and vision] [Nibbāna] [Pāli]
3. Comment: Dependent origination is not necessarily time-based. [Dependent origination] [Conditionality] [Proliferation] [Perception]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.
4. “Can one sense-bases that starts the proliferation process lead to different sense-bases?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Sense bases] [Conditionality] [Proliferation] [Perception] // [Feeling] [Heart/mind]
5. Examples of signs and secondary characteristics of sense objects? Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Sense bases] [Proliferation] [Perception] // [Ven. Anālayo] [Sensual desire] [Conditionality] [Food] [Appropriate attention]
Sutta: Thig 14.1: Subhā.
Comment about the feedback loop of perceptions looking for reinforcing perceptions. [Views] [Clinging]
Quote: “The underlying tendency to aversion is like a search engine.” — Ajahn Sucitto. Quoted by Beth Steff. [Ajahn Sucitto] [Aversion] [Similes]
1. “You showed pictures of the statue at Bodh Gaya. It seems like the Bodhi Tree is more important. Does the statue have no historical importance?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Bodhi Tree] [Buddha images] [Visiting holy sites] // [Devotional practice] [History/Early Buddhism] [History/Indian Buddhism] [Symbolism/metaphor] [Tipiṭaka]
3. “Did pilgrimage continue during the time Buddhism was dormant or nonexistent in India?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [History/Indian Buddhism] [Visiting holy sites] // [History/Mahāyāna Buddhism]
Comment: It seems like the memory would have continued in Sri Lanka. [History/Sri Lankan Buddhism]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.
4. “What is considered pilgrimage in the modern world? Going by train or bus?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Technology] [Travel] [Visiting holy sites] // [History/Thai Buddhism] [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Generosity] [Pace of life]
7. “What is the mileage from Lumbini to Bodh Gaya?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Visiting holy sites]
Quote: “One mile in India does not equal a mile in America.” — Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Culture/India]
Reference: Rude Awakenings and Great Patient One by Ajahn Sucitto and Nick Scott.
8. “Is one of the benefits of being a monastic having to live up to people’s expectations?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Monastic life] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Robes] [Buddhist identity] // [Conventions] [Christianity] [Idealism] [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand]
17. “What is the right point to drop or ignore the desire to identify with the Buddhist identity?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Relinquishment] [Desire] [Self-identity view] [Buddhist identity] // [Suffering] [Perfectionism] [Clear comprehension] [Conventions] [Ajahn Chah] [Right Effort]
1. “Could you clarify the difference between mindfulness and concentration?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Mindfulness] [Concentration ] // [Nature of mind] [Pāli] [Translation]
Follow-up: “You said earlier that mindfulness always comes before concentration, but based on what you just defined, I would think it would be the opposite.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno.
1. “What do you do when things like knee pain arise?” [Meditation/General advice] [Pain] [Aversion] [Hindrances] // [Compassion]
2. “Is there ever a dominant hindrance, but then in the service of that, the mind picks up other hindrances?” [Aversion] [Hindrances] // [Sensual desire] [Sloth and torpor]
3. “Sometimes I just notice that the state that is there [a hindrance] is going to go away. Isn’t that a skillful way of looking at it?” [Impermanence] [Skillful qualities] [Hindrances] // [Clear comprehension] [Habits]
Sutta: MN 20: The Removal of Distracting Thoughts [Right Effort] [Similes]
4. “If a hindrance comes up, one thing to do is to acknowledge it and observe it, but on the other hand, one can bring up its opposite. Do you do either depending on what is needed? Sometimes when I bring up the opposite, it prevents me from seeing it.” [Sloth and torpor] [Right Effort] [Hindrances]
5. “Do you have any advice for obsessive thoughts, thinking the same thing again and again?” [Proliferation] [Hindrances] // [Investigation of states] [Mindfulness of body]
9. “Isn’t rapture and joy a sensual pleasure?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Rapture] [Happiness] [Sense bases] [Jhāna] // [Dhamma] [Virtue] [Generosity] [Compassion] [Recollection/Virtue]
Quote: “You can actually give yourself permission to enjoy the meditation.” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation]
24. “In the jhāna similes (MN 39.15), ‘He makes ...’ seems very active. In dropping away things, is it a conscious dropping or an allowing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Right Concentration] [Relinquishment] [Jhāna] // [Volitional formations] [Conditionality] [Right Effort]
Quote: “Ajahn Chah emphasizes the doing within a sphere of detachment and letting go.” [Ajahn Chah]
13. “What is the difference between a fetter and a hindrance?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Fetters ] [Hindrances ] // [Pāli] [Stream entry] [Tranquility] [Attachment to precepts and practices] [Stages of awakening] [Saṃsāra]
1. “Should we judge the quality of our meditation only by the time we spend in focused concentration?” Answered by Ajahn Jotipālo, Ajahn Ñāṇiko, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and the Abhayagiri Saṅgha. [Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo] [Meditation/Results ] [Concentration] // [Mindfulness] [Right Effort] [Investigation of states] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Hindrances]
References: Walking Meditation by Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo; “The Five Hindrances,” from The Anthology Vol. 1 by Ajahn Sumedho, pp. 35–44.
Story: Ajahn Tate and the bhavaṅga states. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Tate] [Wrong concentration] [Ajahn Mun] [Mindfulness of body]
Story: Ajahn Khao meditates all night with no awareness. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Khao]