Teachers
Includes tags: Teachers, Mentoring, Personal presence, Fierce/direct teaching
14. “Sometimes we hear that with practice, some qualities change, but other qualities don’t change very much over a long time of practice. When I read certain biographies [of Buddhist teachers], it seems like certain rough qualities can remain even though the mind is pure. How to know the difference in oneself and others?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Long-term practice] [Personality ] [Teachers] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Unskillful qualities] // [Suffering] [Unwholesome Roots] [Relinquishment] [Hindrances]
Ajahn Pasanno describes the personality of great teachers he has met. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Ajahn Thate] [Ajahn Dune] [Ajahn Chah]
Reflection: The arahant disciples of the Buddha were able to free their minds, but they all had different personalities. [Arahant] [Buddha] [Great disciples ]
Sutta: SN 14.15 Caṅkama Sutta: Monks with different personalities gather around the great disciples.
Note: Ajahn Pasanno mentions the similarly-themed Cūḷagosiṅga Sutta (MN 31) by name, but describes the content of the Caṅkama Sutta.
3. “If you live long enough and you start to have Alzheimer’s or dementia, if you’re well-practiced throughout your whole life, you’ll still be grounded in something, right?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Ageing] [Sickness] [Memory ] [Long-term practice] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah]
Story: Despite having dementia, Venerable Mahāghosānanda attends a meeting of Buddhist leaders at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Abhayagiri monks look after him and delight in his presence. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Preah Mahāghosānanda] [Spirit Rock] [Upatakh] [Abhayagiri] [Personal presence] [Dalai Lama]
Reflection: When Ajahn Chah was sick, his cognitive functions deteriorated, but his citta was unwavering. [Heart/mind] [Nature of mind] [Translation] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro]
Quote: “You don’t have to worry about Ajahn Chah. His mind is bright and pure.” — Ajahn Phut. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Phut] [Dependent origination] [Chanting] [Wat Pah Nanachat]
Reference: Vipassanā-bhūmī, Amaravati Chanting Book Volume 2, p. 67.
Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: The mind is another sense base. It’s not who you are. [Sense bases] [Not-self]
1. Recollection: My first meeting with Ajahn Pasanno. Recounted by Ajahn Pavaro. [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Birken] [Personal presence]
14. “Has Ajahn Chah ever used physical force to discipline his stubborn disciples out of kindness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Compassion] [Monastic life] // [Ajahn Pasanno]
Story: Ajahn Chah kicks Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo in the chest. [Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo] [Fierce/direct teaching]
5. “There’s a story about waiting for the afternoon sweet drink all night long (Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 504). Was this you?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Medicinal requisites] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Suffering]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first Pāṭimokkha at Wat Pah Pong. [Wat Pah Pong] [Pāṭimokkha] [Posture/Sitting] [Mae Chee]
Reflection: Ajahn Chah provided the opportunity to reflect about difficulty (Thai toramon). [Fierce/direct teaching ]
Quote: “I don’t teach wisdom. I just give toramon.” — Ajahn Chah. [Discernment] [Fierce/direct teaching ]