Liberation (vimutti)
Includes tags: Liberation, Release
1. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: The result of the training is that one is freed from greed, hatred, and delusion. [Vinaya] [Unwholesome Roots] // [Unskillful qualities] [Liberation] [Virtue]
2. “When Ajahn Chah reached full liberation, did he wait two years just to be sure?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Chah] [Liberation] // [Delusion] [Doubt]
Simile from Ajahn Chah: “To me that’s just the chattering of the birds.” Related by Ajahn Amaro. [Liberation] [Similes]
Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: People get infatuated and enthralled by attainment. [Craving] [Meditation/Results] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “[Ajahn Chah’s] duty was to try to teach people Dhamma, as opposed to being something for anybody.” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Teaching Dhamma] [Becoming]
4. “How did the Buddha deal with this issue of people becoming enlightened contemporaneous with him and getting a little bit crazy? His contemporaries also had siddhis [psychic powers] and practices? How did he distinguish between Buddhist and non-Buddhist attainments?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Buddha/Biography] [Liberation] [Delusion] [Psychic powers] // [Cessation of Suffering] [Self-identity view] [Relinquishment] [Becoming]
Sutta: AN 6.48: A proper declaration of full knowledge does not include a sense of me and mine.
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.38: Rules for wanderers of other sects wanting to become bhikkhus.
7. “You hear about the teachings about the different stages of enlightenment—these fetters going at these stages. When I first heard about it, it was kind of helpful, but it sounded so complicated. Luang Por [Sumedho] would teach that it is here and now, it’s right now, and that was so liberating. … How can you use this talk of the fetters and different stages in a way that is helpful?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stages of awakening] [Fetters] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Liberation] // [Relinquishment] [Direct experience]
8. Reflection by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno: Our strongest habit is to practice Dhamma in accordance with self-view. [Habits] [Self-identity view] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] // [Factors for stream entry] [Dhamma]
Quote: “I am an unenlightened person who has got to do something now in order to become enlightened in the future.” — a wrong framework for practice pointed out by Ajahn Sumedho. Quoted by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Liberation]
Sutta: AN 3.40: Three traits that can predominate (adhipatteyya).
2. “In theory I get it, but my self, my ego, doesn’t want to let go of itself, even when it’s miserable.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Suffering] // [Release] [Not-self] [Pāli] [Conventions]
Reference: “The Not-Self Strategy” by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro.
Sutta: SN 44.10: The Buddha does not answer the question, “Is there a self?” [Questions]
5. “It seems to me that suffering and joy are part of the same whole, like yin and yang. Does that mean that [a liberated person] never experiences joy?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] [Happiness] [Liberation] // [Ajahn Kovilo] [Conditionality] [Concentration]
Reference: The Wellbeing Cascade by Ajahn Kovilo.
Sutta: AN 6.63.42: Two results of suffering.
5. “What do you treasure most among what you/we have inherited from Luang Por Chah?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah]
Quote: “He had given himself completely, and he had reaped the fruits completely.” [Relinquishment] [Liberation]
5. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: If you see the steadfastness and orderliness of the Dhamma, of the truth, it can free the heart. [Lawfulness] [Naturalness] [Liberation] [Impermanence] // [Pāli]
9. “If nothing is permanent, does that apply to the mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of mind] [Impermanence] // [Knowing itself] [Liberation]
Sutta: SN 12.61: You’d be better off taking the body as self.
10. “Is liberation impermanent?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Liberation ] [Impermanence] // [Nibbāna]
3. “Could you speak about the practice of being mindful of craving and allowing it to pass?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unskillful qualities] [Mindfulness] [Craving] [Cessation] // [Hindrances] [Relinquishment] [Recollection/Dhamma] [Faith] [Memory]
Quote: “If we don’t understand the obstacle, we can’t be free from it.” [Discernment] [Liberation]
Quote: “You’ve got to be really careful because the mind is a liar and a cheat.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Nature of mind] [Heedfulness]
15. Recollection: Ajahn Amaro loses the ability to read due to a temporary ischemic attack. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Amaro] [Sickness] [Impermanence] // [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Ageing ] [Health care] [Not-self] [Relinquishment] [Liberation]
3. “What have you seen be the key difference between those who blossom and those who wilt [in monastic life]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] // [Truth] [Energy] [Patience]
Quote: “The quickest way to Awakening is to look straight at the heart, point right at it, [and say] ‘Liar!’” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Liberation]
6. “What’s the biggest story you’ve had to work through yourself? Did you have any moments when you really had to step up?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life] // [Fear] [Ajahn Chah] [Delusion] [Admonishment/feedback]
Quote: “I want to live in a way that is exemplary and free. I don’t want to live under the tyranny of my own anxiety and delusions.” [Liberation]
13. “What should one do or contemplate when noticing a tendency for avoidance, distraction, and restlessness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Restlessness and worry] // [Aspects of Understanding] [Patience]
Sutta: SN 22.26: The Buddha describes his Awakening in terms of benefit, drawbacks, and escape. [Buddha/Biography] [Liberation]
5. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: The Buddha points to the simplicity of mind where there is the possibility of freedom. [Heart/mind] [Liberation] // [Relinquishment] [Knowing itself]
Follow-up: “So we are consciousness as opposed to having consciousness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Consciousness] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Self-identity view] [Knowledge and vision]
13. “Is there one teaching of the Buddha or sutta that’s rung in you these last years or through your life that stands out more than the others?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sutta ] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Liberation] [Purpose/meaning] [Worldly Conditions]
Sutta: MN 30: Cūḷasāropama Sutta (Shorter Heartwood Simile).
14. Brief reflection for the Clear Mountain Project: “Don’t confuse what’s really important.” [Clear Mountain] [Suffering] // [Spiritual friendship] [Liberation]
Sutta: MN 30: Cūḷasāropama Sutta (Shorter Heartwood Simile).
15. “Having lived in Thailand for over 20 years and in America for 30 years, do you see any American patterns of dukkha, ways that Americans get caught?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Culture/West] [Suffering] // [Self-identity view] [Selfishness] [Judgementalism] [Conceit] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “I can never get enlightened.” — Ajahn Sumedho. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Liberation]
Quote: “The ‘I’ does not have inherent existence. We have to make it. And then we have to look after it.” [Not-self]