Interview, Sep. 17, 2026
Online from Clear Mountain Monastery Project in Seattle, Washington
17 excerpts, 56:57 total duration
Show featured excerpts (6)
Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho speak with Luang Por Pasanno about dukkha (suffering and unsatisfactoriness), in its personal, social, physical, and psychological aspects.
Original recordings available on www.youtube.com
1. [0:45] “Could you describe dukkha? One of your similes that I love relates dukkha to Canadian tires in the wintertime.” [Pāli] [Similes] // [Translation] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Ajahn Pasanno]
2. [4:44] “Could you describe the difference between the suffering of the three characteristics and the suffering of the Four Noble Truths, the first and second arrows (SN 36.6)?” [Characteristics of existence] [Four Noble Truths] // [Self-identity view]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 11: “Birth is dukkha…”
3. [7:49] “There’s a Simon and Garfunkel song that has the line, “Hello darkness, my old friend.” I’ve heard you change the lyrics of that to, “Hello dukkha, my old friend.” How far back does your understanding of dukkha go? You talk to some Americans, and they’re like, “Dukkha, suffering? I don’t have any of that.” Looking back, when did you first meet dukkha?” [Popular culture] [Ajahn Pasanno]
4. [9:12] “When did you first have faith that there was truly a way out?” [Cessation of Suffering] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Ajahn Chah]
5. [10:38] “There’s a story about waiting for the afternoon sweet drink all night long (Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 504). Was this you?” [Ajahn Chah] [Medicinal requisites] [Ajahn Pasanno]
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]
6. [20:29] “You have lived with intense physical pain for some time due to many injuries. You don’t mention it often or show it at all really. What methods do you use to confront that most coarse form of dukkha?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Kovilo. [Pain ] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Mindfulness] [Goodwill] [Patience] [Pāli] [Perfections] [Fear]
Quote: “We have the resources within ourselves to not be intimidated by pain or discomfort.” [Self-reliance]
7. [26:14] “I’m also curious about mental pain. In 1992, you were invited by Ajahn Chah to become the abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat when you were less than ten years in robes. Shortly after, Ajahn Chah became paralyzed and was no longer able to communicate. You took groups of monks every week to pay respects to him, and for ten years were looking after him. Can you explain how you related to that whole mass of dukkha that must have come up? How do you advise others dealing with similar things?” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] [Abbot] [Sickness] // [Grief] [Fear] [Leadership] [Humility ] [Pain] [Self-identity view]
8. [31:46] “How can you acknowledge the limitations of the personality and of the circumstance but find a deeper wisdom beyond that? For those who find themselves in difficult situations with life and think that release of suffering in this life is beyond them, what thoughts would you offer?” [Personality] [Discernment] [Everyday life] [Cessation of Suffering] // [Spiritual friendship ] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abbot] [Thai Ajahn Chah lineage] [Ajahn Dune] [Community] [Culture/West] [Saṅgha]
9. [38:19] “Luang Por Dune reframes the Four Noble Truths. He says the cause of dukkha is ???, sending the mind out, and the result of that is dukkha. The path is ???, the mind seeing the mind, and the fruit of that is the Third Noble Truths, nirodha. Can you say more about this?” [Ajahn Dune ] [Four Noble Truths] [Cause of Suffering] [Thai] [Eightfold Path] [Cessation of Suffering] // [Proliferation] [Mindfulness of mind]
10. [41:04] “The world has real fears in it right now—AI, war, beyond.... What thoughts do you have for people dealing with the suffering of the wider commentary, the news cycle, and real concerns about the shape of politics in the world?” [Fear] [Politics and society] // [Community]
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.11: “Go out for the welfare and happiness of the manyfolk.” [Buddha/Biography]
11. [43:51] “What about someone who votes and is doing their best to take care of their local community, but they still find their heart darkening with these concerns?” [Politics and society] [Community] [Depression] // [Human]
Quote: “The world has been falling about for a long time. This is not a new phenomenon.”
Recollection: The 30th anniversary of Nature Care. [Environment] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Non-profit organizations]
Quote: “If I did it with the idea that I’ve got to protect all the forests in Thailand, I’d just get frustrated. But what I can do is plant seeds for people to protect at least some of it, and that’s a good example for other people in the future.”
12. [47:54] “We’ve already talked about the quote from the Buddha, “Spiritual companionship is the whole of the Holy Life (SN 45.2).” Someone asked you a question about that, and you said, “Living with other people—it’s horrible!” And then you laughed a huge Luang Por Pasanno laugh. Could you talk about the paradox that living with other people is half the Holy Life and it’s dukkha? You didn’t have to be an abbot. You could have lived a hermit’s life. Any insights into balancing that?” [Spiritual friendship] [Community] [Seclusion] // [Patience] [Compassion]
13. [50:13] “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?” [Sutta ] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Liberation] [Purpose/meaning] [Worldly Conditions]
Sutta: MN 30: Cūḷasāropama Sutta (Shorter Heartwood Simile).
14. [52:34] Brief reflection for the Clear Mountain Project: “Don’t confuse what’s really important.” [Clear Mountain] // [Spiritual friendship] [Liberation]
Sutta: MN 30: Cūḷasāropama Sutta (Shorter Heartwood Simile).
15. [53:53] “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?” [Culture/West] // [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]
16. [57:23] “When you’re not dealing with suffering, where do you reside in your practice or what do you focus on?” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Cessation of Suffering] // [Knowing itself] [Beauty]
17. [58:11] “Do you have any final advice for two monks in Seattle.” [Clear Mountain] // [Generosity] [Three Refuges]
Quote: “This is just the beginning of your dukkha.” [Suffering]