Right Intention
Part of key topic The Noble Eightfold Path
Includes tags: Right Intention, Renunciation, Goodwill, Compassion



Thanksgiving Retreat 2011, Session 6 – Nov. 24, 2010

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8. “In order to avoid any unpleasant feelings, I tend to be among the first ones in the food line. I don’t really feel good about it, but I can’t help it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation retreats] [Food] [Pain] // [Fear]

Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 39-40: Sāriputta goes against his desires regarding almsfood. [Great disciples] [Almsfood] [Renunciation]

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Story: Ajahn Pasanno and vegetarian food at Wat Pah Pong. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Chah] [Vegetarianism ] [Culture/Thailand] [Judgementalism]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2011, Session 7 – Nov. 25, 2010

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23. “Did the Buddha have chanting in his time? Did he create any of the chants or were they all created after his passing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Chanting ] [Buddha/Biography] [History/Early Buddhism ] // [Tipiṭaka] [Culture/India] [Memory] [Culture/Other Theravāda traditions]

Sutta: AN 6.25: The nine qualities of the Buddha (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 4). [Recollection/Buddha]

The three cardinal suttas: SN 56.11: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Chanting Book](Amaravati Chanting Book Volume 2, p. 2)); SN 22.59: Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Chanting Book); SN 35.28: Ādittapariyāya Sutta (Chanting Book). [Sutta]

Sutta: MN 2.13-17: The Four Requisites (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 53). [Requisites]

Sutta: Snp 1.8: The Buddha’s Words on Lovingkindness (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 36). [Goodwill]

Sutta: AN 4.125: “I will abide pervading one quarter...” (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 42). [Divine Abidings]

Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 32: Verses of Sharing and Aspiration.

Sutta: Ud 5.6.17: The Buddha praises Venerable Soṇa’s recitation.


Desire or Aspiration, Session 1 – Jun. 14, 2015

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10. “Any advice for cures for burnout? I’m in a helping profession and feel depleted and exhausted. I need help getting the balance between giving and receiving.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Depression] [Work] [Health] [Generosity] [Compassion ] // [Culture/West] [Idealism] [Commentaries] [Selfishness]

Quote: “Compassion in the English language means ‘to suffer with.’ If you end up suffering with too much, you end up burnt out.” [Compassion ] [Language] [Suffering]

Quote: “Don’t think you’re a ten-wheeled dump truck when all you are is a wheelbarrow.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]

Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 291: Classical cultivation of goodwill and compassion, first to yourself. [Goodwill] [Compassion ]

Quote: “Our ability to be with others and to help and to give is dependent on our being kind and compassionate to ourselves.” [Goodwill] [Compassion ] [Spiritual friendship] [Self-reliance]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 2 – Nov. 20, 2016

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10. “Can you talk about working with the practice in what seems like perilous times?, e.g. the rise in overt expressions of hatred toward sectors of society and the associated change in national leadership? How does one cultivate equanimity while also not turning away?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Politics and society ] [Ill-will] [Equanimity ] // [Divine Abidings] [Goodwill] [Conflict] [Aversion] [Judgementalism] [King Rama IX]

Sutta: Dhp 5: Hatred is never overcome by hatred... [Goodwill]


The Path of Practice, Session 1 – Jun. 15, 2019

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15. “Was there specific advice from the Buddha to the monks about [advising a dying person]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Death] // [Sickness] [Compassion] [Goodwill]

Vinaya: Mahāvagga 8.26.7: Attributes of a carer. [Compassion] [Goodwill]


Tea Time Q&A with Ajahn Pasanno – May. 16, 2021

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1. “You have so much community-building experience. Can you talk about what you have found challenging or effective in this? How did Ajahn Chah build community?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Community] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] // [Saṅgha] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Virtue] [Trust] [Communal harmony] [Compassion] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah lineage] [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Sequence of training] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abhayagiri] [Eightfold Path] [Learning]

Sutta: MN 48: Kosambiya Sutta [Principles of Cordiality] [Goodwill] [Generosity] [Right View]

Story: Ajahn Pasanno pays respects to Ajahn Chah: “If you want to stay here, you have to stay at least five years.”

Quote: “The whole path of the Buddha is a path of learning, of education.”