All excerpts
65 events, 486 sessions, 3492 excerpts, 194:16:40 total duration
Most common tags:
Ajahn Chah
(806)
Ajahn Pasanno
(361)
Suffering
(278)
Relinquishment
(250)
Abhayagiri
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Self-identity view
(223)
Monastic life
(218)
Teaching Dhamma
(206)
Mindfulness of breathing
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Discernment
(199)
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1. Biography and role of Ajahn Liem. Explained by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Liem ] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Chah] [Abbot] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Leadership]
Quote: “He’s in the middle of all of this duty and projection. Whatever comes his way, he doesn’t pick up any of it. It’s quite delightful to be around him.” [Proliferation]
2. Reading: Santi – Peace Beyond Delusion by Ajahn Liem, p. 17. Read by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Ajahn Liem] [Thai Forest Tradition]
3. Being able to recognize the difference between the mind itself and the moods or objects of the mind. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Knowing itself] [Moods of the mind ] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Heart/mind]
4. “When Ajahn Liem says, ‘Practice is just for practice,’ what arises for me is that any time I put a meaning on practice, there has to be an ego state that arises around that meaning....It’s like letting go even of the idea of practicing in order to become enlightened.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Liem] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma ] [Self-identity view] [Becoming] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Liberation] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “Practicing for Nibbāna is just another kind of desire.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Nibbāna] [Desire]
5. “In an earlier reading, Ajahn Mun mentioned the primal mind. Is that what you’re discussing here?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mun] [Nature of mind] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Knowing itself] [Ajahn Chah]
Reading: Questions and answers regarding the primal mind from Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 478.
6. Comment: I appreciate Ajahn Liem saying, ‘I didn’t make much of it.’ It’s a contradiction between being very active and not being active at the same time. [Ajahn Liem] [Middle Path] [Thai Forest Tradition]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relinquishment] [Meditation] [Concentration] [Proliferation] [Nature of mind] [Faith]
7. “Was Ajahn Liem’s focus mindfulness of breathing but he was also aware of the moods of the mind passing through and sometimes getting kicked around by the hindrances?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Liem] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of mind] [Hindrances] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Patience]
8. Story: Ajahn Toon tries to disrobe repeatedly, but Ajahn Chah won’t let him. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Toon] [Disrobing] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Patience] [Three Refuges] [Ajahn Tongrat] [Posture/Walking] [Gratitude] [Respect]
9. Reading: Excerpt from “The Training the Heart,” Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 509. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Ajahn Sumedho] [Translation]
10. “You mentioned how Ajahn Chah cultivated the brahmavihara of metta and Ajahn Liem cultivated the brahmavihara of equilibrium. Could you talk about this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Goodwill] [Divine Abidings] [Ajahn Liem] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Personality] [Judaism]
Quote: “Lots of lovingkindness is really tiring. I’m putting more attention on equanimity.” — Ajahn Liem. [Equanimity]
11. “How is there clinging to personality?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Clinging] [Personality] [Self-identity view] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Suffering] [Great disciples]
Sutta: The Buddha to Ānanda: “When did Anuruddha ever take an interest in Saṅgha issues?” – AN 4.243: Schism [Saṅgha decision making]
1. Comment: I notice a connection between a person who is preparing for transition and going though agonal breathing. It’s one breath per minute or two, and it’s relaxed. [Death] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Release] [Clinging] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “You have to keep letting go until there is no remainder.” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Liberation]
2. “I’ve had the experience on retreat of getting to slow, shallow breathing and panicked because I couldn’t find the breath. Could you say more about just going to the knowing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/Unusual experiences] [Tranquility] [Fear] [Knowing itself] [Mindfulness of breathing ] // [Mindfulness of body] [Investigation of states] [Nimitta] [Faith]
3. “I have a hard time breathing normally due to congestion and asthma. How does one get past the initial fear, ‘I just can’t breathe. How am I going to do this?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Health] [Fear] [Mindfulness of breathing ] // [Mindfulness of body] [Body scanning] [Tranquility]
4. “At what point in your meditation do you shift to knower or witness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/Techniques] [Knowing itself] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Investigation of states] [Happiness] [Tranquility] [Calming meditation] [Insight meditation] [Doubt] [Desire]
5. “At times during my meditation, my body acts funny, leaning to one side or the other or spinning. What causes this? Is it a good or bad sign?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/Unusual experiences] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Kamma] [Teachers] [Mindfulness of body] [Rapture]
6. “When I practice mindfulness of breathing, thought arises. Do I want to eliminate thinking?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Concentration] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Proliferation] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Nature of mind] [Self-identity view] [Discernment] [Mindfulness of mind] [Investigation of states] [Relinquishment]
7. Comment: My mind will fill with chatter, stuff I’m not interested in. What I’ve come to do is just say, ‘This is a chaotic mind.’ [Proliferation] [Mindfulness of mind] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
8. “How do you keep the self from coming up if this is an interesting thought to follow?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Conditionality] [Aggregates] [Knowing itself]
9. “Sometimes there will be spontaneous verbal recollection of Dhamma. Is this skillful?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Dhamma] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Relinquishment] [Proliferation]
10. “I get stuck with subtle unpleasant moods. Any advice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Clinging] [Feeling ?] [Emotion] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Mindfulness of body] [Goodwill] [Continuity of mindfulness]
1. “Could you translate sati as recognizing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Translation] [Pāli] [Mindfulness of breathing]
2. Comment: Dispassion, fading away—these things are happening anyway, and we’re learning to see them. [Dispassion] [Learning] [Mindfulness of breathing]
3. Comment: I tend to make things harder for myself. I come up with some big projections. [Proliferation] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Teaching Dhamma] [Simplicity] [Buddha]
4. “[Question unclear] Is modulating a good way to describe working with the breath?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing]
5. Comment: My mind goes away, and I’m lost in a story. But if I sit and don’t move, eventually when I come back I realize the body is really settled and I can tune in to that. [Proliferation] [Tranquility] [Mindfulness of breathing]
6. “Modulating the breath seems more subtle than controlling it. Does this relate to where you put your attention as it grows?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Kamma] [Directed thought and evaluation]
7. “How often do you employ mindfulness of breathing in daily life? How much volition are you still using?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Everyday life] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Volition] [Mindfulness of breathing ] // [Mindfulness of body]
8. “How can we balance happiness and ease with the desire to accomplish something using meditation techniques?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/General advice] [Happiness] [Desire] [Middle Path] // [Recollection/Dhamma] [Hearing the true Dhamma]
9. “Sometimes I’ve been sitting a long time and am too tired to keep sitting, walk, or stand. Any suggestions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Postures] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Sloth and torpor] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Pain] [Posture/Standing]
10. “When you contemplate, ‘Who is thinking? Who is breathing?’ how does this differ from thinking? Why doesn’t it generate more thought?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hua tou] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Proliferation] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Insight meditation] [Tranquility] [Restlessness and worry]
Quote: “The mind can still think and be peaceful. What a concept!”
1. “What is Abhayagiri’s daily schedule?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri] [Monastic routine] // [Almsround]
2. “Ajahn Lee’s biography contrasts the lives of city and forest monks. Is the lifestyle here (Abhayagiri) similar to the dhutaṅga monks?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo] [Forest versus city monks] [Abhayagiri] [Ascetic practices] // [Vinaya] [Saṅgha] [Culture/Thailand] [Learning] [Merit] [Nibbāna]
3. “What are the connotations of “dhutaṅga monk?” Is it a slur?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Forest versus city monks] [Ascetic practices] // [Tudong] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Pasanno]
4. Story: Ajahn Ñāṇiko’s tudong up the California coast. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Tudong] [Abhayagiri]
Reference: “Circles of Blessing: Our Redwood Tudong”
5. “Did they (Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Tan Pamutto) have backpacking gear?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Tudong] [Abhayagiri] [Lodging]
6. Story: The two-month tudong to Pacific Hermitage told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tudong] [Abhayagiri] [Pacific Hermitage] // [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Almsround]
7. “So it’s pretty rare to get food every day when you’re on a walk?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tudong] [Almsround] // [Impermanence]
8. “Do you have to educate the local people about almsround when you go on tudong?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tudong] [Almsround] // [Robes] [Culture/West] [Not handling money]
9. “How does tudong help you on the spiritual path?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tudong ] // [Simplicity] [Craving] [Teaching Dhamma] [Faith]
10. “Is there a requirement for monks in the Forest Tradition to walk tudong?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Tudong ] // [Ascetic practices] [Ajahn Chah] [Restlessness and worry]
Story: Ajahn Chah tells a monk to pack his gear and walk tudong within Wat Pah Pong.
Story: Ajahn Chah lets a restless three-Vassa Western monk go tudong. [Teaching Dhamma]
11. “Can bhikshunis walk tudong?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Bhikkhunī] [Tudong] // [Vinaya] [Sīladharā] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism] [Christianity]
12. “What is the ordination process of someone who wants to become a monk?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sequence of training] [Ordination] // [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making]
Follow-up: “Is the decision to ordain a novice by democratic vote?” [Vinaya] [History/Early Buddhism]
Follow-up: “What happens after five years?”
13. “How often does the community reject someone who wants to go forth?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sequence of training] [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] [Saṅgha decision making] // [Vinaya]
14. “May I ask for your secret? [Why is Abhayagiri monastic training so often successful?]” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sequence of training] [Abhayagiri] [Monastic life] // [Theravāda] [Simplicity] [Vinaya] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah] [Middle Path] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism] [Right Effort] [Compassion]
15. “Do American monks have a culture shock when they visit Thailand?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand] // [Wat Pah Nanachat]
16. “How do we take refuge in awareness (Buddho) in daily life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha ] [Recollection/Buddha] [Knowing itself] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Everyday life] // [Precepts] [Mindfulness] [Discernment] [Recollection] [Clear comprehension] [Right Effort] [Seclusion] [Nature of mind] [Proliferation] [Culture/Thailand]
Sutta: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta
Note: In the answer to this question, Ajahn Pasanno equates awareness with mindfulness.
Quote: “The literal meaning of Buddho is ‘the one who knows,’ but it’s also being the one who knows, where you have the opportunity for us to be that knowing.”
17. “So being the one who knows, you don’t have to react to dislike and like?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Buddha] [Knowing itself] [Aversion] [Craving]
Quote: “The difference between an awakened mind and an unawakened mind is that the unawakened mind keeps following likes and dislikes. An awakened mind can see that arise, establish itself, and pass away. The mind is the same.” [Nature of mind] [Stages of awakening] [Impermanence] [Cessation]
18. “So why can awareness be the place where we take refuge?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Knowing itself] [Mindfulness] // [Proliferation] [Three Refuges]
19. “How do you not objectify this awareness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Knowing itself] [Mindfulness] [Proliferation] // [Four Noble Truths] [Suffering] [Relinquishment] [Investigation of states]
Quote: “If you objectify awareness, you’re going to suffer.” [Nature of mind]
Quote: “These Four Noble Truths are not an endpoint, they are something that you’re internalizing and using in your meditation practice and in your daily life.” [Meditation] [Everyday life]
20. The values of the Thai Forest Tradition. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai Forest Tradition ] // [Knowing itself] [Mindfulness] [Recollection/Buddha] [Four Noble Truths] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Tate] [Ajahn Mun] [Heart/mind] [Three Refuges]
Quote: “Pay attention to the difference between the mind and the objects of mind.” — Ajahn Mun. [Nature of mind] [Moods of the mind] [Discernment]
21. “Is the peaceful mind your home?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of mind] [Tranquility] // [Proliferation] [Suffering]
22. “Ajahn Mun’s biography describes a constant fierce vigilance, watching the mind. But meeting you guys, you’re so peaceful and calm. How does this work in terms of practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mun] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Right Effort] [Tranquility] // [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Culture/Thailand] [Dhamma books] [Teaching Dhamma]
Quote: “Any great teacher is not monochromatic.” [Buddha] [Arahant]
Sutta: AN 4.243: “But Ānanda, when has Anuruddha ever concerned himself with disciplinary issues in the midst of the Saṅgha?” [Great disciples] [Personality]
23. “So what about the Bodhisattva practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Bodhisattva ] // [Theravāda] [Mahāyāna] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Generosity] [Ajahn Chah] [Upatakh] [Teaching Dhamma]
Sutta: AN 4.17-20: Practice that benefits self, others, both or neither.
Quote: “What are the mind states of an enlightened being?” “Only compassion.” — Ajahn Mahā Boowa. [Arahant] [Compassion] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Wat Pah Nanachat]
24. “What are the practicalities of metta practice? How does it relate to compassion?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Goodwill] [Compassion] // [Theravāda] [Divine Abidings] [Etymology]
25. “Ajahn Amaro writes about transforming the energy of sense contact into compassion and metta. How does this work?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Amaro] [Contact] [Compassion] [Goodwill] // [Aversion] [Relinquishment] [Four Noble Truths] [Happiness]
26. “What are the natural inclinations that can lead to well-being and peace?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of mind] [Happiness] [Tranquility] // [Aversion] [Right Effort] [Compassion]
27. “The Buddha teaches to end suffering, but from the ordinary person’s view, cultivating the practices of forest monks is also suffering. Who is right?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha] [Suffering] [Ascetic practices] // [Four Noble Truths] [Faith] [Investigation of states] [Happiness] [Feeling]
Quote: “The teaching of the Buddha isn’t about language....The teaching of the Buddha is the language of experience.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Language] [Dhamma] [Direct experience]
1. “In what cases, if any, is it useful to try to assess whether stream entry has occurred? Or is this question best left aside?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stream entry] // [Proliferation]
Sutta: AN 3.12: The place where one attains stream entry is never forgotten.
Suttas: SN 55.1, SN 55.42: Stream entry described in terms of faith in the Three Refuges, virtue, and generosity. [Three Refuges] [Faith] [Virtue] [Generosity]
2. “How should I repay your kindness, the immense kindness of the Buddha?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Gratitude] [Buddha]
3. “Is walking meditation as ‘good’ as sitting meditation. Can one achieve the level of undistractedness that one needs to be able to investigate the human experience? Or is it part of the bigger picture of mindfulness for seven full days to experience stream entry?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Posture/Walking] [Posture/Sitting] [Insight meditation] [Stream entry] // [Meditation/General advice] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Concentration]
Stories about Ajahn Khao. [Ajahn Khao ]
Story: Walking meditation was Ajahn Khao’s preferred mode of practice. [Ajahn Khao ]
Story: Ajahn Khao’s relics were purple, clear, and incredibly beautiful. [Ajahn Khao ] [Relics] [Abhayagiri]
Recollection: Ajahn Khao expresses gratitude for the place he realized Awakening. [Ajahn Khao ] [Liberation] [Gratitude] [Lodging] [Bodhi Tree]
4. “Thank you for your talk on mindfulness today—very helpful. I’ve been practicing for a long time (and have even had a few insights that made big impressions on me) and while my sila has definitely improved, my mindfulness is a priority and I might have a tad more wisdom, my mind looks for ways to suffer. Sometimes I feel like a total failure as a Buddhist. I understand that letting go of identity view is the answer, but how? What am I missing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Long-term practice] [Suffering] [Perfectionism] [Self-identity view] // [Aggregates] [Relinquishment] [Drawbacks] [Gladdening the mind]
Sutta: SN 22.22: The Burden (Chanting Book translation)
5. “In your ānāpānasati talks, you talk about sikkhita, defined as…to train, and to learn from. I’m not sure how active to be because when I train, I have a goal in mind, but when I learn from…I’m more relaxed and open to what is revealed. Similar, today with mindfulness defined as…looking after something, I’m not sure how to point the compass without coming from self view. Thank you.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Right Effort] [Self-identity view]
6. “It appears that walking is far more comfortable than sitting these days, but I have never found it to be that settling for my mind. Please offer some advice on how to get ‘the most’ out of walking meditation.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Posture/Walking] [Tranquility] // [Culture/Natural environment]
7. “In the context of deep love—like between spouses or between parent and child—what is the application of the concept of non-attachment? What does it mean?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Family] [Relinquishment] [Relationships ] // [Characteristics of existence] [Compassion]
Quote: “A really loving gift is giving that person the autonomy to be a human being but to really care for them.” [Generosity] [Self-reliance] [Human]
8. “A scientist—popular, interesting—said as parting shot to his audience, ‘don’t trust the senses,’ i.e., we’d still think the world flat, and that the sun actually rises and sets, if we trusted the sensory world. Your thoughts on clear comprehension via ‘sense-doors?’ The ‘just-rightness’ of it all. I wonder if we still thought the world flat and the sun to rise whether we might care for it better.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sense bases] [Science] [Clear comprehension] // [Ignorance] [Four Noble Truths] [Perception]
Sutta: Ud 3.10: “However one conceives it, it will always be other than that.”
9. “How does one work with the vedanā and neutral sensations?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of feeling] [Feeling] [Neutral feeling] // [Happiness] [Pain] [Unwholesome Roots] [Delusion] [Mindfulness] [Continuity of mindfulness]
10. “If unwholesome thoughts arise and it creates fear and a repeating pattern, what is the best method for breaking the patterns? For instance, mettā meditation replacing the fear or attention with something else? Thank for the inspiration.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Fear] [Goodwill] [Unskillful qualities] [Habits]
1. “On ‘The Discourse on Setting in Motion the Wheel of The Dhamma,’ toward the end it says, ‘my knowledge and vision of reality of regarding the Four Noble Truths, in their three phases and twelve aspects.’ What are the ‘three phases and twelve aspects?’ Thanks for your teachings.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Four Noble Truths ]
Sutta: SN 56.11: Dhammacakkappavattanasutta (Chanting Book translation)
2. “In the chant on ‘The Buddha’s Words on Loving Kindness,’ what does the line that says ‘unburdened with duties’ mean? Does it mean that we are to not have duties, or that we do not feel burdened by them, or does it mean something else? Thank you!” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Work] [Chanting]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 37
3. “This has happened a few times only but I’m puzzled, please help. When my mind was very calm, a sudden sort of energetic feeling is all over the body and my spine feels very cold. And then suddenly I have a flash of memory from childhood of drowning in the tank in our backyard. On a different occasion I saw the dead putrefied face of an old woman, horrific, mouth wide open. How do I deal with all this? I get a shock and concentration stops, sometimes sending shivers.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/Unusual experiences] [Concentration] [Rapture] [Recollection/Death]
4. “You spoke about ‘training the heart’ over the last couple of days. Could you tell more what ‘heart’ actually means from the point of practice? Thanks you.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Heart/mind ] // [Pāli] [Translation]
5. “I didn’t totally understand the difference between the mind and mental qualities in regards to the four foundations. Would you elaborate?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of mind] [Mindfulness of dhammas]
Sutta: MN 10.34: Satipaṭṭhānasutta Sutta, Mindfulness of Mind.
6. “You mentioned that asubha practice can cool sensual desire. But what if what you are attracted to is not so much a physical thing but an attraction of the heart—of good qualities you see. What cools the heart if you are hooked?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unattractiveness] [Dispassion] [Clinging] // [Ageing] [Impermanence]
7. “How often and for how long do you recommend practicing meditation at home? Daily, twice a day, 45 minutes, 30 minutes? Thank you!!!” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/General advice ] [Lay life] [Time management] // [Idealism]
8. “How do you know if sloth and torpor are present or if you’re just plain tired? When is it better to rest the mind or the body than to meditate?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sloth and torpor ] // [Gladdening the mind] [Energy] [Posture/Walking]
9. “For all the monastics individually—when was the last time something made you really angry, and if you don’t mind sharing, what was it? Just trying to feel the humanness within the robes. Thanks.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aversion] [Monastic life]
10. “Thank you for so many wonderful teachings. I am contemplating cessation and would like to hear more about the cessation of the body-death. I have been with a few beings as they have died, 1 human and a few pets. Is the manner of death important to having a ‘good’ rebirth? Does being afraid or suffering a great deal affect the next life directly or is the experience of death just added to one’s overall karma?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Death] [Rebirth] [Cessation] [Fear] [Suffering] [Kamma] // [Stream entry] [Health care] [Patience] [Humility]
11. “Is it possible to post a list of the focuses of the 16 steps? It would be a helpful resource for the remainder of the retreat.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno.
12. “It’s been years since I needed to do so much laying down meditation. My back is not cooperating this retreat. Can you refresh my memory on tricks to not fall asleep? Eyes open feels as if I struggle to maintain it.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Posture/Lying down] [Sloth and torpor]
13. “Regarding the anussatis, how does one recollect or contemplate the devas?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Devas] // [Recollection] [Deva] [Kamma] [Rebirth] [Skillful qualities]
Sutta: AN 6.10
14. “Regarding the 1st precept of non-killing / non-harming, what to do on a practical / decision level regarding something like termites? I sold my last house because I didn’t want to fumigate, but I can’t keep moving to avoid killing termites / ants that eat at a house. Thank you for your compassion and explanation.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Killing] [Animal] // [Kamma]
Story: Abhayagiri deals with a cockroach infestation. [Abhayagiri]
15. “The problem of extremes. Yesterday, pīti. This morning, the horrors of the bait and craving for annihilation in all their ugliness. Then, pīti again. The only thing I’ve figured is to back off from meditation when things get too extreme. Any other suggestions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/General advice] [Rapture] [Craving not to become]
1. “During my meditation, I can occasionally calm the mind to the point where it seems devoid of thought. It is temporary, like a door opening. How should I use this opportunity? Concentrate on the breath? Wait for thoughts to arise and watch them? Explore / investigate a topic that is causing my suffering? Other? With gratitude.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tranquility] [Meditation/General advice] [Concentration] // [Investigation of states] [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities] [Right Effort] [Discernment] [Self-reliance]
2. “With all of many excellent frames of reference the Buddha has given us to understand our experience, it can be confusing to know which to use when! Do you recommend training systematically or letting one’s intuition be as their guide? Thank you.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Intuition]
3. “Can you please speak a little more about the process of bringing in a wholesome, brightening reflection into meditation? This morning you spoke about using directed thought / evaluation to explore the primary object (breath) then bringing in the ‘brightening’ object. In this way, the attention shifts back and forth from breath to ‘brightening’ object? Should one use this reflection often? Always? Please speak about this process. Thank you.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Directed thought and evaluation] [Gladdening the mind ] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Recollection] // [Right Effort] [Recollection/Buddha] [Goodwill] [Perception of light] [Self-reliance]
Quote: “If the mind is already clear and alert and imbued with the quality of knowing, you don’t have to be saying ‘Buddho.’ You’re already doing it.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Clear comprehension] [Knowing itself] [Buddho mantra]
4. “I’ve enjoyed practicing with connecting the breath to whatever is conditioning the mind. Twice however, when evaluating, I’ve come across something new: a plain, white, fizzy, barrier. It’s not un-friendly and I can feel a faint tug from whatever is behind it but that’s as far as I get. Have my saṅkhāra’s developed a new stealth technology? Are they allowed to do that? Any advice on how to proceed (or secret passwords)? Gratefully appreciated.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Meditation/Unusual experiences] [Volitional formations]
5. “As I understand it, it is rare and fortunate to have a human birth because of the amount of suffering in the human realm that may lead one to practice to end suffering. On the other hand, devas have less suffering. Therefore they would be less motivated to practice to end suffering, correct? If so, would it not be better for one to wish oneself and others to be reborn in the human realm if one aspires full liberation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Human] [Deva] [Rebirth] [Liberation] [Suffering]
6. “When you described pīti yesterday, it was different than how I think of it. Sometimes, I get a feeling of a great, expansive happiness like the realization that this practice actually works. It’s exciting and empowering but I’m not jumping up and down. It’s a combination of the mind settling and opening. Is that a cousin of pīti? Does pīti only happen in meditation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rapture ] // [Recollection/Dhamma] [Energy]
Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 137: Five levels of pīti.
7. “Thank you for these wonderful teachings. I understand that ‘citta’ is both the heart and mind but my felt experience is often so different. My mind is often crabby and critical and down right mean, at least to me, but my heart is soft and sweet and easily moved. In fact, my mind can make my heart cry! Please help with this dilemma. Much mettā.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of mind] [Heart/mind] [Judgementalism]
8. “I know parting with loved ones is a natural course of life, but deep sadness and grief arises when I reflect on that. Could you instruct on how to work with this grief? Is there a level of understanding when there is no grief? Thank you!” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Grief ] [Naturalness] // [Recollection] [Recollection/Death] [Impermanence] [Kamma] [Goodwill]
Sutta: AN 5.57 Five Recollections (Chanting Book translation)
Suttas: SN 47.13, SN 47.14: The deaths of Sariputta and Moggallana. [Buddha/Biography] [Great disciples] [Death]
Quote: “Now I’m an orphan.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Parents] [Wat Pah Pong] [Mae Chee]
9. “1. What is meant by ‘releasing’ the mind? Releasing it from any hindrance? Can you place illustrate with examples? 2. How is ‘calming mental fabrication’ different from ‘releasing the mind?’ Any examples to illustrate? 3. When mental fabrication causes a bodily or verbal fabrication such as in anxiety or sensual desire, it it too late to breathe and calm fabrications?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Tranquility] [Volitional formations] [Release]
10. “How do you use mindfulness of breathing when are doing a recollection? Do you first use mindfulness of breathing to settle the mind / body and then turn your attention to the recollection? Is the awareness of breathing in the background?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing ] [Recollection ] // [Investigation of states]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta
11. “Should I focus on one object of mindfulness at a time or can I be mindful of all 4 at one time? Thank you!” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] // [Proliferation] [Simplicity] [Happiness]
12. “You mentioned ‘inner confidence…‘ can you describe it in more detail and the ways to cultivate it? Respectfully.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-reliance] [Faith] // [Recollection/Buddha] [Human] [Recollection/Saṅgha ]
Sutta: MN 19: Two Kinds of Thought
Reflection: Ajahn Khao was a real human being. [Ajahn Khao] [Family] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho]
13. “Dear Aj. Karuṇadhammo, could you say a bit more about how you find a belief in rebirth to be motivational? And that it ‘just makes sense?’ Do you think, perhaps, about the person who will inherit your rebirth and how it would be good to load them up with good kamma? Thanks!” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Rebirth] [Kamma] [Faith] // [Death] [Nature of mind] [Body/form] [Views] [Spiritual urgency]
14. “Could you please speak a bit about karma and volition? For instance, if an unwholesome thought such as anger, or fear arises or wants to arise of its own accord in the mind, does one get unwholesome karma? Or is the bad karma produced only through the grasping or rejection of it? Or is bad karma produced only if action is taken? Or are different kinds of karma produced for thought vs. action?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Kamma ] [Volition] [Proliferation] [Clinging] [Right Action] // [Pāli] [Translation]
15. “Please talk about 1) whole-body breathing 2) choiceless awareness. Thank you Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo for wonderfully helpful talks.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Knowing itself]
16. “Is contemplating the heart center a form of the second foundation of mindfulness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of feeling]
17. “How does one work with one’s own judgments that come up so often during the meditation practice? (They are mostly judgments of myself, for not getting there…)” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Judgementalism] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy]
18. Comment: I have enjoyed the mindfulness instruction and Dhamma talks very much. When talking about the main subject in English, could you also please use the equivalent word in Pali? For words such as ‘the Four Noble Truths,’ ‘hindrances,’ and ‘the Four Foundations of Mindfulness,’ etc. [Pāli]
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