All excerpts
76 events, 551 sessions, 4287 excerpts, 235:05:52 total duration
Most common tags:
Ajahn Chah
(975)
Ajahn Pasanno
(465)
Suffering
(361)
Relinquishment
(320)
Self-identity view
(285)
Abhayagiri
(272)
Mindfulness of breathing
(268)
Discernment
(261)
Teaching Dhamma
(260)
Monastic life
(259)
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[Session] Note: This session follows a period of small-group discussions.
1. Comment: As our group spoke, our different perspectives converged on objects of the mind and how we meet them. [Mindfulness of dhammas]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
2. Comments about the ways our work affects us. [Work] [Commerce/economics] // [Depression] [Unskillful qualities]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Human] [Appropriate attention]
3. “Everyone in our group is struggling with issues about livelihood. Does anyone here feel their livelihood is in tune?” Answered by Ajahn Yatiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Work] [Idealism] // [Contentment] [Eightfold Path] [Kamma]
Quote: “Maybe it would be better phrased ‘Right-enough livelihood.’” — Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Right Livelihood]
Story: An upright career police officer in Thailand transfers in and out of a corrupt assignment. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Community] [Crime] [Corruption] [Family] [Precepts]
Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: Even monks face moral dilemmas. [Monastic life] [Vinaya]
4. Comment about the motivations of trying to fix the world versus compassion. Contributed by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Idealism] [Compassion] [Suffering]
5. “What is your take on satisfaction, being in tune, and stagnation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Contentment ] [Energy] [Ardency ] // [Skillful qualities] [Discernment] [Buddha/Biography] [Spiritual search] [Right Effort]
Sutta: AN 2.5: Effort and non-contentment with wholesome states.
Story: The Thai government made it illegal for monks to teach contentment. [History/Thai Buddhism] [Monastic life] [Teaching Dhamma]
Comment about the simile of the lute. [Middle Path] [Similes]
Sutta: AN 6.55: Soṇa Sutta
6. “Regarding the lute simile (AN 6.55), I notice that even properly tuned instruments gradually creep out of tune. Is finding the balance a lifelong effort?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Middle Path] [Right Effort] [Similes] [Long-term practice]
Comment about the need to put work into perspective. [Work] [Culture/West]
7. Comment about the Buddha developing skills after enlightenment. [Buddha/Biography] [Liberation] [Learning]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Vinaya] [History/Early Buddhism]
1. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Part of Sāriputta’s daily routine was to go around the monastery and make sure everything was neat and tidy. [Great disciples] [Monastic routine] [Lodging] [Cleanliness ] [Monastic life] // [Abhidhamma]
Commentary to SN 22.2 (available on PaliVerse).
2. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: It’s helpful if lay supporters are comfortable helping monastics in practical matters such as washing their almsbowls. [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Almsbowl] [Cleanliness] [Monastic life] // [Ajahn Sucitto] [Spirit Rock] [Protocols]
3. Recollection: Two monks are walking from Abhayagiri to Pacific Hermitage. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tudong] [Abhayagiri] [Pacific Hermitage] [Monastic life] // [Ajahn Sudanto]
4. Story: Three Burmese women pay respects to the cook at Dtao Dum. Told by Ajahn Yatiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Dtao Dum] [Respect] [Culture/Other Theravāda traditions] [Asking forgiveness ceremony] [Monastic life] // [Ajahn Yatiko] [Monastic life]
5. “Are the [examples of monastic culture] we will be seeing today—is this all steeped in the Canon or does some of it come from Thai culture?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tipiṭaka] [Culture/Thailand] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Monastic life] // [Vinaya]
6. The Buddha paid attention to refined details of conduct and caring for monastic requisites. [Vinaya] [Protocols] [Requisites] [Monastic life]
Story: One of Ajahn Chah’s monks ‘lets go’ by not repairing his roof. [Ajahn Chah] [Lodging] [Relinquishment]
7. Reflections by Ajahn Pasanno on the ten reasons the Buddha laid down training rules (AN 10.31). [Vinaya] [Pāṭimokkha] [Monastic life] // [Great disciples] [Saṅgha] [Communal harmony] [Faith]
Vinaya: Khandhaka 17.1.4: Upāli the barber ordains senior to the Sakyan princes. [Respect] [Conceit]
1. “Could you tell us how you became a monk?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ordination] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life/Motivation] // [Culture/Thailand] [Meditation]
Quote: “I stumbled into it.” [Monastic life]
2. Comment: It’s not so easy to let go of people who have been in my life forever to cultivate new friendships. [Relinquishment] [Spiritual friendship]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Judgementalism] [Virtue] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Views]
3. “Why is discernment a better word for wisdom?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Discernment ] [Translation] // [Pāli] [Etymology]
4. “If my sister has unwholesome friendships, how can I help her redirect these?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Family] [Spiritual friendship] // [Compassion] [Judgementalism] [Right Intention] [Right Speech] [Admonishment/feedback]
Story: An Abhayagiri monk skillfully conveys concerns to his father. [Abhayagiri]
5. Meditation instruction: Walking meditation instructions. Offered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Posture/Walking] [Spiritual friendship] // [Continuity of mindfulness] [Tranquility]
1. “The Buddha said ‘One is expected to cultivate the path when you meet noble friends.’ How much responsibility do we need to take for this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Spiritual friendship] [Association with people of integrity] [Volition]
2. [When talking about the qualities for developing the Eightfold Path: seclusion, cessation, and dispassion.] “Could you distinguish between cessation and dispassion?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eightfold Path] [Progress of insight] [Cessation] [Dispassion] // [Pāli] [Etymology]
3. “Could you give the Pāli words for dispassion, cessation, and maturing? Also the word you used with otappa?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli] [Dispassion] [Cessation] [Release] [Conscience and prudence] // [Seclusion]
4. Comment: Saṃvega comes in there somewhere. [Spiritual urgency] [Pāli]
1. “What do we do at the monastery? What happens on a daily basis?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic routine ] [Abhayagiri]
2. Comment: The more we become like monks and nuns, the more we will be helping the climate change situation. [Monastic life] [Environment]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Simplicity] [Contentment] [Generosity] [Human]
3. “Can you give some suggestions on dealing with betrayal in relationships?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relationships] [Sexual misconduct] [Trust] // [Spiritual friendship] [Faith] [Virtue] [Generosity] [Discernment] [Judgementalism] [Monastic life]
Sutta: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 46: The Highest Blessings (Maṅgala Sutta, Snp 2.4)
4. “Can you say more about the practice of awareness of arising and ceasing in relation to discernment and right view?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Becoming] [Cessation] [Mindfulness] [Discernment] [Right View] // [Impermanence] [Ajahn Chah] [Conditionality] [Self-identity view] [Happiness] [Mindfulness of mind] [Patience]
Reading from an unnamed recent Ajahn Chah book. [Relinquishment] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]
Quote: “I don’t teach you guys much. Just be patient.” — Ajahn Chah.
5. “What is the role of emotion in our practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Emotion] [Feeling] // [Faith] [Compassion] [Generosity] [Four Noble Truths] [Relinquishment] [Discernment]
6. Comment: I find that the experience of uncertainty and loss can give rise to compassion. [Impermanence] [Grief] [Compassion]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right View] [Emotion] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ardency]
7. “Given the situation in Burma with Buddhist monks fomenting violence against Muslims, how do you determine whether to respond to that vocally or publically?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [History/Other Theravāda traditions] [Conflict] [Politics and society] [Monastic life] [Islam] [Right Speech] [Media] // [Military]
8. “I appreciate your emphasis on clarity, stability, and spaciousness. How does concentration relate to these?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Clear comprehension] [Unification] [Spaciousness] [Concentration ] // [Pāli] [Thai] [Etymology] [Tranquility] [Happiness] [Rapture] [Conditionality]
Suttas: AN 10.3: Virtuous Behavior; AN 6.10 Mahānāma [Virtue]
Quote: “The way my mind worked before was, ‘Boy, when I get my concentration together, I’m going to be happy …’” [Ajahn Pasanno]
Quote: “The happy mind is easily concentrated.” [Hindrances] [Relinquishment] [Knowledge and vision]
9. “For me, the practice starts with concentration to get to a place of well-being. Is there a missing piece here?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Concentration] [Happiness] // [Cultural context] [Generosity] [Precepts] [Culture/West] [Western psychology] [Meditation]
Quote: “It is helpful to get a picture of the whole path and realize how integrated and mutually nourishing those path factors are.” [Eightfold Path] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]
10. “When we say right Eightfold Path, is there any general rule to tell what is right, what is wrong?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eightfold Path] [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities] // [Unwholesome Roots]
11. “How is the path like a traffic circle?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eightfold Path] // [Conditionality]
1. “You spoke about recognizing that when the mind goes off into busyness that there’s not just that particular quality. Could you talk more about this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tranquility] [Proliferation] // [Appropriate attention] [Impermanence] [Knowing itself] [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Chah] [Clinging] [Suffering]
2. “You said that starting with chanting can help focus the mind. But I find myself daydreaming while chanting.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Chanting] [Tranquility] [Proliferation] // [Pāṭimokkha] [Energy]
Story: An elderly woman chants the Dhammacakka Sutta every day. [Ageing]
3. “How do we deal with the frustration that arises after repeatedly catching the busy mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tranquility] [Proliferation] // [Perfectionism]
1. Comment: Even though I’ve seen the fruit of awareness in and of itself many times, the doubt is still so deeply embedded that there is not that place of letting go. [Knowing itself] [Doubt] [Clinging] [Relinquishment] [Tranquility] [Proliferation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Faith]
Reference: “Goal-Oriented and Source-Oriented Practice,” Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Pasanno, August 10, 2013.
2. Comment: I have found your saying ‘Just don’t make a problem of it.’ very helpful. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Cessation of Suffering] [Tranquility] [Proliferation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
3. “In the suttas, if you recognize a defilement like ill-will, you need to do something about it. How can we reconcile this with the Ajahn Chah teaching you just read (‘Receiving Visitors’ in In Simple Terms)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sutta] [Right Effort] [Ajahn Chah] [Tranquility] [Proliferation] // [Discernment]
Quote: “Practice is really easy. If the defilements come at you high, you duck, and if they come at you low, you jump over them.” — Ajahn Tongrat. [Ajahn Tongrat] [Unwholesome Roots]
4. “Is there a state of the calm mind when you’re not thinking about anything or is meditation more about reflecting?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Directed thought and evaluation] [Recollection] [Tranquility ] [Proliferation] // [Concentration] [Restlessness and worry] [Perfectionism] [Ardency]
5. “Sometimes the mind becomes peaceful, but a squiggle of restlessness often arises around 45 minutes when the meditation usually ends. What should I do with this habit?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Restlessness and worry] [Habits] [Tranquility] [Proliferation] // [Aversion] [Noting] [Happiness]
6. “Is it possible to replace the busy thoughts with more positive thoughts you’re trying to cultivate?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Directed thought and evaluation] [Tranquility] [Proliferation]
7. “How can we understand the last practice in MN 20.7 of gritting the jaw, etc.? I don’t think this will work for me.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tranquility] [Proliferation]
8. Comment by Rik Center: When someone says they can’t meditate because they try to settle their mind and they realize how busy it is, I’ve encouraged them that now they are seeing the reflective quality of how their mind works. [Appropriate attention] [Tranquility] [Proliferation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
9. “What attitude should we take when observing things so we don’t objectify them or make it stressful?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Knowing itself] [Appropriate attention] [Suffering] [Tranquility] [Proliferation] // [Direct experience]
1. “Thank you for your talk. Can you flesh out: ‘dispassionate about what?’ Also, trying to encourage dispassion along with arousing energy.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dispassion ] [Energy] // [Craving] [Sense bases] [Body/form] [Emotion] [Contentment] [Tranquility]
Quote: “When there’s a coolness towards the world around one, that frees up a lot of energy for directing attention to what’s actually useful and beneficial.” [Discernment]
2. “Is it possible for an arahant to have seemingly negative thoughts or speech while free from defilement? In the Udana, Venerable Pilindavaccha gets complained about for calling monks outcastes or lowlings.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Arahant] [Unskillful qualities] [Great disciples] [Harsh speech]
Sutta: Ud 3.6: Pilindavaccha.
Quote: “Purity or impurity—you have to know for yourself.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]
Vinaya: Khandhaka 18.11.14 and Khandhaka 18.12.4: Students and teachers are mutually accountable. [Vinaya] [Mentoring]
3. “Can you talk about how to work with infidelity, how to not take it personally? I recently found out that my husband of 30 years has had sex with others over the years that I didn’t know of.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relationships] [Sexual misconduct] // [Precepts] [Trust] [Emotion] [Suffering] [Kamma] [Equanimity]
Sutta: AN 5.57: Five Recollections (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 55).
4. “Thank you for the wonderful teachings. … Can you further discuss dispassion and non-attachment in the context of the ‘middle way’ (particularly for a layperson in a loving relationship)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relationships] [Dispassion]
Sutta: AN 4.55: How to maintain and be reborn in relationship. [Great disciples] [Rebirth]
5. “I notice that when my mind is drifting I don’t feel physical pain but when ‘present’ pain comes to the fore. Suggestions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pain] // [Habits] [Patience] [Suffering] [Cessation]
Sutta: Dhp 183-185: Ovāda Pāṭimokkha (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 79).
Quote: “All I’m teaching you is patient endurance.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]
6. “What do you think about the bed here? I believe it’s against the 8th precept.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [High and luxurious beds]
1. “I have seen both monastics and laypeople start getting ill after they became serious about practice. Can you relate this to your talk today? (whether such illness is karmic. Etc.)” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sickness] [Kamma] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Weather] [Culture/Thailand]
2. “Could you clarify the difference between perception (saññā), mental formations (saṅkhāra) and consciousness (viññāṇa)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception ] [Volitional formations] [Consciousness] // [Memory] [Mindfulness] [Translation] [Volition] [Sense bases]
3. “Can you talk about neither-painful-nor-pleasant feelings and the benefits of being with this boringness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Neutral feeling ] [Mindfulness of feeling] // [Pain] [Feeling] [Unwholesome Roots]
Sutta: MN 44.25: The tendencies underlying feelings.
4. “Could you please talk about different places in the chain of dependent origination can be broken? For example, does contact always result in vedanā? If the intention to be conscious is let go of, is that breaking the chain of ignorance conditioning saṅkhāra and saṅkhāra conditioning viññāṇa?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dependent origination ] [Contact] [Feeling] [Ignorance] [Volitional formations] [Consciousness] // [Craving] [Clinging] [Becoming] [Relinquishment]
5. “Thank you for the wonderful dhamma talk on the 5 reflections! Could you please talk about compassion in caregiving for themselves and for others.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection] [Compassion] [Health care] // [Sickness]
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 8.26.5: Good patients and caregivers.
6. “Reflecting on your talk earlier about letting go. I’m currently at a point in my life with many important decisions to make. When trying to watch my breath, a voice in my mind keeps saying, ‘That’s too important to let go,’ as if I’m neglecting the responsibility. Wondering if you can speak about maintaining a practice during retreat and also in ‘normal’ life under circumstances (where one has to make many important decisions).” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relinquishment] [Meditation retreats] [Lay life] // [Tranquility] [Proliferation]
7. “During meditation when thoughts come and want to engage me, some thoughts have the power to take me into the storyline, and I don’t even know why. I don’t even know when. Is there a point, sign,or warning that can be seen before I get lost? It’s really painful to live in a virtual reality that never delivers the promise.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Restlessness and worry] [Proliferation ] [Suffering] // [Mindfulness of body ] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Feeling] [Dreams]
Quote: “Tuning into the body, I can start to feel where [the thought] is taking me.”
Quote: “You know what the quickest way to enlightenment is? Just look at the thoughts, point your finger, and say ‘Liar!’” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Liberation] [Truth]
8. “Dear Ajahn Pasanno, Thank you for all the guidance and encouragement. The past months have been very busy and stressful for me. Now as I begin to let my mind settle, I’m noticing lots of patterns of tension in my heart, diaphragm, belly, etc. These tensions sometimes make the breath an unpleasant object to stay with. Any advice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of body] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Suffering] // [Body scanning] [Visualization] [Calming meditation] [Goodwill]
9. “In letting go of thoughts that habitually arise from negative self-criticism or from past trauma defenses, how do we ask these powerful mental states to not overwhelm our mindfulness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Mindfulness] // [Tranquility] [Goodwill]
10. “Could you clarify whether having more than one meditation object is a help or a hindrance?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/General advice]
11. “Thank you for your uplifting and encouraging talks. My husband died 6 months ago. Could you give suggestions for how to contemplate anicca and anatta in the context of his life, illness, and death? I’m aware of aversion to the pain of losing him. I do want to learn from all this.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Impermanence] [Not-self] [Sickness] [Death] [Relationships] [Aversion] [Suffering ] // [Naturalness] [Grief] [Gratitude] [Merit] [Compassion]
12. “Is there a distinction between dispassion and equanimity?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dispassion] [Equanimity]
13. “How to identify and deal with ‘pañca upādāna’ in daily life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Clinging] [Aggregates] // [Suffering]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 12.
14. “Ajahn, Its seems like the first couple of days all hindrances attack to a point where I opened my eyes this morning meditation and thought: ‘How did I get here? … Can you please comment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances] [Meditation retreats] // [Faith]
1. “Is body scan as a meditation practice done in the Ajahn Chah tradition? Is there a sutta where the Buddha talks about it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Body scanning ] [Ajahn Chah lineage] [Sutta] // [Unattractiveness] [Mindfulness of body ] [Elements] [Recollection/Death] [Disenchantment]
Quote: “Ajahn Chah would recommend doing anything that worked.” [Ajahn Chah] [Right Effort]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 60: Reflection on the Thirty-Two Parts.
Sutta: MN 10.4: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, mindfulness of body section.
2. “Is there something in the body that will help you identify the defilement of delusion?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of body] [Delusion ] // [Self-identity view]
3. “If one has read the Majjhima Nikāya, what text of the Pāli canon do you recommend reading next?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Learning] [Sutta ] [Tipiṭaka]
4. “I’m having trouble integrating some of the teachings in the context of preparing to have a child. … How might one be fully open to the lightness and joy surrounding birth while remaining deeply aware of these other truths of existence?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Family] [Birth ] [Characteristics of existence] // [Trust] [Heedfulness] [Generosity]
5. “Sorry, I missed something. Did you say that instead of dwelling on our hindrances and getting depressed, we could instead work with the Factors of Enlightenment to brighten the mind? What are the Factors you would suggest?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Factors of Awakening] [Gladdening the mind] // [Divine Abidings] [Perfections] [Right Effort] [Hindrances]
Reflections on Unbinding as a translation of Nibbāna. [Nibbāna] [Translation] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro]
Quote: “Practicing Dhamma is like taking a screwdriver and unscrewing something rather than putting the screwdriver in and tightening it up.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Similes]
6. “Can you please give perspective on how to work with thoughts/feelings of inadequacy and comparison to others?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] // [Suffering] [Conceit] [Dhamma] [Not-self] [Self-identity view]
Quote: “As long as we are coming from an I-position, there’s always going to be a sense of inadequacy.”
Story: Ajahn Pasanno can’t translate guilt into Thai. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/Thailand] [Culture/West] [Ajahn Paññānanda]
7. “Can you please talk about qualities one would experience in different jhāna states, not just joy, rapture, happiness, but physical sensations and other identifiable qualities? I’m not sure if I have experienced past the first jhāna and would like to know.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Jhāna] // [Concentration] [Calming meditation] [Relinquishment] [Ajahn Chah]
8. “Are there harmful states of concentration? How would you potentially go down the wrong path? Is there a question you could ask yourself?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Concentration] [Wrong concentration] // [Craving] [Views]
9. “About a year ago, I was bullied and sexually harassed by a married male coworker. … Any guidance as to how I can work with this and move beyond it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abuse/violence] [Sexual misconduct] [Work] // [Goodwill]
10. “Would you please elaborate on mental formations and volition? I thought mental formations are thoughts and images that pop up and are not necessarily originated by our will or wish. Otherwise we could also easily will or wish them away. Our effort is in recognizing them when they arise, not cling to them, and let them pass like clouds. Am I mistaken?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volitional formations] [Volition] // [Emotion] [Perception]
11. “Once I aspired to open my mind beyond this conditioned world. Now I mostly try to be at ease with my limitations. Am I mistargeting something important?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stages of awakening] [Unconditioned] [Contentment] // [Idealism] [Four Noble Truths]
12. “Some monks have told me I’m selfish for being so focused on release. They say I should help others more. What are your thoughts?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Release] [Selfishness] [Generosity] // [Idealism]
13. “What are the four stages of enlightenment? What defilements have the four noble beings shed?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stages of awakening ] [Unwholesome Roots] // [Drawbacks] [Liberation]
Quote: “When we think of enlightenment, it’s a being who is willing and able to relinquish those things that are complicating and constricting.” [Relinquishment]
14. “Could you please expand on compassionate seclusion in interactive daily life (both on and off retreat)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Compassion] [Seclusion ] [Everyday life] // [Time management]
15. “Thank you Luang Por for your time and teachings. I would like to hear more about the idea of restraint (especially in regards to raising a teenager).” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Family] [Sense restraint ] [Children] // [Ajahn Chah] [Tranquility] [Happiness] [Similes]
16. “Would you please talk a bit about karma in past lives and what specifications might lead to specific conditions in future lives? I’m asking for future karmic results and preventing negative ones.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Kamma] [Rebirth] // [Conditionality]
Sutta: AN 4.77: Inconceivable Matters.
17. “How do you teach noting/labeling in meditation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Noting] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Relinquishment] [Proliferation] [Meditation/Techniques]
18. “I was interested to hear the definition of mental formations as volitional. When I look at my mind, it sometimes seems like an undirected random generator of flashing images and unbidden thoughts, sometimes embarrassingly perverse. I can only rest easily when I recollect not-self. Can you help me reconcile that with volitionality?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volitional formations ] [Volition] [Heart/mind] [Proliferation] [Not-self] // [Perception] [Relinquishment] [Mindfulness] [Discernment]
19. “What suggestions do you have when thoughts of transgression of sīla arise. I cannot change the past, but I have regrets.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Precepts] [Restlessness and worry] [Conscience and prudence] // [Recollection/Virtue] [Conditionality]
20. “Please explain the inner workings of right intention and its karmic effect.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Intention ] [Kamma] [Volition]
1. “Please explain again: When one restores concentration by focusing on the in-and-outtake of the breath, is one using the viññāṇa/consciousness of the grasping mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Concentration] [Consciousness] [Clinging] // [Desire]
2. “During retreats I sometimes have dreams in which my actions are unskillful. Does one eventually keep the precepts even in dreams?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Precepts] [Dreams]
3. “’Like exercise makes the body strong, inner stillness makes the mind strong.’ Why stillness and not awareness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Similes] [Calming meditation] [Tranquility] [Present moment awareness]
4. “It has been a few years since my last retreat. May I request a reminder on how to practice metta meditation on oneself? … I seem to have forgotten.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Goodwill] // [Meditation retreats] [Happiness] [Concentration]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 41: “May I abide in well-being.”
Sutta: Snp 1.8: Metta Sutta (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 37).
Suttas: AN 11.1, AN 11.12, and SN 55.40: Causal chains linking gladness to samādhi.
5. “Would you please give an example of how wholesome qualities can condition unwholesome qualities?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities] [Conditionality] // [Heedlessness] [Heedfulness]
6. “I feel like a kid whose father has told a story and there is more to tell. … Please father do tell (about non-complicated thoughts etc.).” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Proliferation]
7. “I have a hard time ending or letting go of relationships after they no longer serve me or prove to be unskillful people. … Is this attachment to person or aversion/ fear etc of the unknown?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relationships] [Relinquishment] [Clinging] [Fear] // [Habits]
8. “How do you decrease the times an obsessive thought arises in the mind? The more I try to let it go and come back to my body, the more it arises and proliferates. If I do the opposite and turn attention to it, it does the same thing. What is obsession anyways?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Proliferation ] [Restlessness and worry] // [Self-identity view] [Suffering] [Relinquishment]
9. “I’ve been sitting on this question for the past few days. It has to do with dispassion, shedding, simplifying and being easily satisfied on the one end of the spectrum and being engaged and active in the world, even taking an unpopular stand, on the other end. How can one practice shedding internally but still be responsive and engaged regarding the suffering from environmental and social issues? It seems that would complicate things, but that is where my heart is drawn.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dispassion] [Simplicity] [Contentment] [Politics and society ] [Environment] // [Suffering]
Quote: “When there is displassion and shedding, a clarity arises in the mind, when can then more easily be applied to something that is useful or beneficial without complicating things.” [Clear comprehension] [Compassion]
Quote: “Do you think there’s any hope for saving all the forests in Thailand?”—“I don’t think there’s hope that it’s going to make a huge impact right now. I’m just planting the seeds for the future, and maybe something will change. It’s not an option not to do it.” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/Thailand]
10. “Could you please explain again the differences between saññā, saṅkāra, and viññāṇa? I’m still not getting it.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Volitional formations] [Consciousness] // [Memory] [Sense bases] [Dependent origination ] [Conditionality] [Suffering]
Quote: “All the details of the process of dependent origination . … It’s like falling out of a tree. As you go down, you’re not really counting branches. You just know that when you hit the bottom, it’s going to hurt.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]
11. “Is there an obligation to reconcile with family before your death or theirs (especially when family has been particularly unskillful towards us)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Family] [Forgiveness] [Sexual misconduct] // [Unwholesome Roots] [Kamma] [Equanimity]
Quote: “As practitioners, we have to find ways where other people’s past actions are not a source of our repeated feelings of anger, vengeance, or resentment.” [Aversion]
12. “What is meant by fools when the Buddha says, ‘Don’t associate with fools’? (Snp 2.4, Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 46)” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Heedlessness] // [Pāli] [Unskillful qualities]
13. “Is there anything skillful about crying, the flow of tears?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Grief] // [Volition]
14. “How does one reconcile the apparent complete lack of control that is experienced in meditation … with the apparent need to control one’s circumstances off the cushion. Is it possible to live with complete non-contention and still have an organized life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Everyday life] [Meditation] [Volition] [Non-contention] // [Right Effort] [Self-reliance] [Relinquishment] [Buddha/Biography ] [Monastic life] [Conditionality] [Discernment] [Suffering]
Reflection: The Buddha had an organized plan to spread his teachings across India. [Buddha/Biography ] [Teaching Dhamma] [Culture/India] [History/Early Buddhism]
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.15: The Buddha teaches the Kassapa brothers then visits King Bimbisāra. [Buddha/Biography ]
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