Ajahn Nyaniko has been in Thailand and India during the winter and spring and will return to Abhayagiri in July. He recently led a five day meditation retreat in Thailand. The talks from that retreat are available on this YouTube page: Ajahn Nyaniko Retreat in Thailand.
The mental pain which some people have to endure can be even worse than physical torment. We should consider carefully whether the spiritual techniques that we pick up are in fact designed to address disruptive mental turmoil. We wouldn’t, for instance, encourage someone to go and see a dietician if we knew that they were recovering from a broken leg and what they needed was physiotherapy. When the Buddha taught about overcoming the Five Hindrances, I don’t think he was referring to dealing with an intensely painful memory of abuse suffered as a child; I suspect he was alluding to a rather mor…
Ajahn Kaccana reflects on the fundamental teachings of the Buddha as a path which allows us to reach for freedom beyond the world. This talk was offered on June 3 , 2023 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.