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84 events, 579 sessions, 4492 excerpts, 250:19:24 total duration
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Ajahn Chah
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[Session] Readings by Ajahn Pasanno:
The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 15, pp. 277-278:
Suttas: AN 4.96 & .99; SN 43.1.
The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 16, pp. 279-281:
Suttas: SN 56.35; SN 45.179; SN 45.180.
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.7.5.
1. Comment: The gist of [AN 4.96 and AN 4.99] all seem to be about refraining from; the way to really benefit yourself and others is not to do. When you hear it, it feels quite negative. [Generosity] [Precepts] [Sense restraint]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Personal presence] [Compassion] [Buddha/Biography] [Teachers]
Sutta: Iti 22: “Do not look down on merit.” [Merit] [Happiness]
Sutta: MN 21.20: The Simile of the Saw.
2. Comment: I’ve often felt like I’ve made this deal (SN 56.35). [Suffering]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno: It’s important to bring the suffering into the heart so that it is a catalyst for change. [Spiritual urgency]
3. “Is it possible to repeat the preparatory stages [before the Buddha teaches the Four Noble Truths] (Mahāvagga 1.7.5)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Gradual Teaching ] [Four Noble Truths] // [Generosity] [Virtue] [Deva] [Kamma] [Drawbacks] [Sensual desire] [Renunciation] [Happiness] [Teaching Dhamma]
Story: A gangster visits Ajahn Chah and begins to keep the precepts. [Crime] [Ajahn Chah] [Killing] [Five Precepts] [Stealing]
4. Explanation of the five lower fetters (SN 45.179). Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Fetters ] // [Self-identity view] [Aggregates] [Attachment to precepts and practices] [Stream entry] [Once return] [Lay life] [Non-return]
5. Explanation of the five higher fetters (SN 45.180). Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Fetters ] // [Craving for material existence] [Jhāna] [Craving for immaterial existence] [Formless attainments] [Conceit] [Self-identity view] [Knowing itself] [Restlessness and worry] [Ignorance]
6. “When an arahant passes, is there a process for that passing? Is there some description of it in the suttas?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Arahant] [Death] [Sutta] // [Cessation] [Language] [Kamma]
Follow-up: “So there’s no advice to rest in meditation in the dying process?” [Meditation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno: “Each moment should be a rehearsal of dying.” [Present moment awareness] [Recollection/Death] [Mindfulness]
Sutta: AN 6.19: Mindfulness of Death.
7. “You hear about the teachings about the different stages of enlightenment—these fetters going at these stages. When I first heard about it, it was kind of helpful, but it sounded so complicated. Luang Por [Sumedho] would teach that it is here and now, it’s right now, and that was so liberating. … How can you use this talk of the fetters and different stages in a way that is helpful?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stages of awakening] [Fetters] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Liberation] // [Relinquishment] [Direct experience]
8. “Are the Pāli terms for anger and ill-will similar? With anger, you don’t necessarily wish harm on someone else, it just arises, and it’s involved with sakkāyadiṭṭhi …” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli] [Ill-will] [Aversion] [Self-identity view] // [Hindrances] [Stream entry] [Unwholesome Roots]
Follow-up: “Are there any suttas that say that a sotāpanna does not have anger and ill-will?” [Sutta] [Non-return]
Simile: SN 56.51: The amount of suffering that a sotāpanna relinquishes. [Suffering] [Similes]
9. “Because a sotāpanna is supposed to have finished sakkāyadiṭṭhi, does that mean that if they do any actions which involve [unskillful qualities], they don’t carry any kamma?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stream entry] [Self-identity view] [Unskillful qualities] [Kamma] [Volition] // [Habits] [Personality] [Virtue]
Sutta: SN 14.15: Caṅkama Sutta.
[Session] Readings from The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 16, pp. 281-286. Read by Ajahn Pasanno:
Suttas: MN 118.9-12; SN 55.52; DN 18.1; SN 55.5; AN 4.240; Iti 76; SN 55.21.
1. [Considering the large numbers of lay disciples who the Buddha declared to have realized stages of awakening in DN 18.1] “I guess they were culturally more open to the path?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Lay life] [Stages of awakening] [Culture/India] // [History/Indian Buddhism] [Cultural context] [Buddha]
Sutta: DN 1: The 62 wrong views. [Views]
Sutta: DN 14.1.4: A fortunate aeon. [Previous Buddhas]
2. “Are once-returners always reborn in the human realm? … So they have a long human life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Once return] [Human]
Texts: Seven-year old arahants: Dabba Mallaputta (Bhikkhu Saṅghādisesa 8), Sopāka (Thag 480), Sumana (Thag 429), Bhaddha (Thag 473).
Sutta: Ud 1.10: Bāhiya.
3. “Before arriving at [the noble] attainments, is it expected to exist and have a gradual progression of pāramīs and come closer to stream entry?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stages of awakening] [Perfections] [Stream entry] // [Factors for stream entry] [History/Early Buddhism]
4. “If one cultivates certain pāramīs during one’s lifetime, one can lose them in another lifetime?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Perfections] [Rebirth] [Impermanence] // [Aversion] [Clinging] [Fetters] [Stream entry] [Ajahn Chah]
Simile from Ajahn Chah: Tending a plant. [Naturalness] [Similes] [Stages of awakening]
5. Overview of the factors of stream entry: association with superior persons, hearing the true Dhamma, careful attention, and practice in accordance with the Dhamma. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Factors for stream entry] [Association with people of integrity] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Appropriate attention] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] // [Pāli] [Translation]
6. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: A stream enterer is someone who embodies the Noble Eightfold Path (SN 55.5). [Stream entry] [Eightfold Path]
7. Reflection by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno: Stream entry is a really good retirement plan. [Stream entry] [Purpose/meaning] [Retirement] // [Factors for stream entry] [Meditation] [Association with people of integrity] [Hearing the true Dhamma]
8. Reflection by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno: Our strongest habit is to practice Dhamma in accordance with self-view. [Habits] [Self-identity view] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] // [Factors for stream entry] [Dhamma]
Quote: “I am an unenlightened person who has got to do something now in order to become enlightened in the future.” — a wrong framework for practice pointed out by Ajahn Sumedho. Quoted by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Liberation]
Sutta: AN 3.40: Three traits that can predominate (adhipatteyya).
9. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro: SN 55.21 indicates that the last mind-moment is not the primary determinant of rebirth. [Death] [Rebirth] // [Commentaries] [Skillful qualities] [Treasures] [Christianity]
Commentarial story: A monk is reborn as a maggot living on his robes. [Robes] [Clinging]
Story: Ajahn Chah declines to visit a dying villager. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Paul Breiter] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Heedlessness]
10. “The first part of the Highest Blessings chant (Snp 2.4; Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 46), ‘associating with the wise,’ is not sappurisa. Is it a synonym?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno. [Association with people of integrity] [Pāli] [Verses]
11. AN 10.61 explains that not drawing close to good people is the root of ignorance. Teaching by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno. [Association with people of integrity ] [Ignorance] [Conditionality] // [Saṅgha] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support]
[Session] Readings by Ajahn Pasanno:
The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 16, pp. 286-288:
Suttas: DN 3.2.21-22; SN 45.55; MN 2.9-11; SN 22.122.
Sutta: SN 22.122: Virtuous.
1. “The suttas ae the classic Dhamma texts, and there are a lot of books, etc. that expound the Dhamma as well. What sources to study to hear the true Dhamma?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Hearing the true Dhamma ] [Sutta] [Dhamma books] // [Thai Forest Tradition] [Discernment] [Four Noble Truths] [Views]
Quote: “Does he contemplate the Four Noble Truths when he’s climbing rocks?” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Paul Breiter] [Culture/West] [Recreation/leisure/sport]
Sutta: AN 8.53: Eight criteria to determine what is Dhamma. [Dhamma]
2. Comment: AN 8.53 mentions Dhamma-Vinaya, not just Dhamma. [Dhamma] [Vinaya]
Responses by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Great disciples] [Simplicity]
3. “Is the Abhidhamma a collection of suttas?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Abhidhamma] [Tipiṭaka]
References: Abhidhamma in Daily Life by Nina Van Gorkom (commercial); A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma by Bhikkhu Bodhi (commercial).
4. Questions about the heavens as other realms and/or states of mind. Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Deva] [Realms of existence] [Christianity] // [Happiness] [Stream entry] [Great disciples] [Gradual Teaching]
Sutta: SN 56.11.22: Dhammacakka Sutta: The deva realms.
Sutta: SN 46.4: Praise for Sāriputta.
Sutta: AN 3.128: Sāriputta puts Anuruddha on the right track.
Reflection about the two results of dukkha (AN 6.63.42). [Suffering] [Conditionality] [Ignorance] [Faith]
5. “I’ve come across the word ‘celestial state.’ Does that help to clarify the Christian definition of heaven?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Deva] [Christianity] // [Realms of existence] [Rebirth]
Follow-up: “Is the Buddha’s teaching on heaven a way to prepare the mind to recognize the Four Noble Truths?” [Gradual Teaching] [Four Noble Truths] [Happiness] [Kamma]
Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna: Generosity, virtue, and the hope of heaven can be a potent force for goodness even without renunciation.
6. “How are yoniso manasikāra and sati-sampajañña related?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Appropriate attention ] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension ] // [Conditionality] [Stream entry]
Sutta: MN 10.8: Clear comprension. [Mindfulness of body]
Sutta: AN 10.61: The support for sati-sampajañña is yoniso manasikāra.
Sutta: SN 55.5: Four factors for stream entry.
7. “What should we do when we are stuck in aversion and no able to see the anatta aspect of it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Aversion] [Not-self] // [Characteristics of existence]
Follow-up: “Is it wise to use memory in these moments when we feel stuck?” [Memory] [Appropriate attention]
Follow-up: “Is it okay to use force when the defilements seem stronger than us?” [Unwholesome Roots] [Right Effort] [Sutta]
Sutta: MN 20: The Removal of Distracting Thoughts.
8. “When the suffering passes, but you notice fear of it happening again, how do you deal with this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Cessation of Suffering] [Fear] // [Recollection] [Appropriate attention]
Recollection: Ajahn Sumedho reminds the Chithurst monastics of the precepts they haven’t broken. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Chithurst] [Recollection/Virtue]
[Session] Readings by Ajahn Pasanno:
The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 16, pp. 289-291:
Suttas: SN 12.67; AN 5.260; MN 6.2-3 & .11; DN 2.101-2.
Suttas: AN 6.98-101; SN 17.5.
1. “In light of AN 6.98, is Nibbāna permanent? Is it possible to pay attention to what’s happening and notice what isn’t changing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Nibbāna] [Impermanence] // [Time] [Dhamma]
Sutta: Ud 8.3: Nibbāna Sutta (Chanting Book translation).
Quote: “Permanence isn’t the same as timelessness.” — Ajahn Amaro.
2. “Does Nibbāna exist? Is there a sutta about this?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno. [Nibbāna] [Sutta] // [Etymology] [Discernment]
Sutta: Milindapañha 323, quoted in The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, p. 162.
Quote: “Dhamma is real but does not exist. The five khandhas exist, but they’re not real.” — Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho. Quoted by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho] [Dhamma] [Aggregates]
Quote: “Dhamma is un-image-able.” — Ajahn Sumedho. Quoted by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Sumedho]
3. “What are the differences between disenchantment and dispassion? What are their characteristics?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Disenchantment] [Dispassion] // [Translation] [Etymology ] [Sutta]
4. Story: Joseph Goldstein recognizes stinginess with regard to Dhamma (AN 5.260). Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Joseph Goldstein] [Greed] [Dhamma] // [Insight meditation]
5. “Could you repeat the five types of stinginess (AN 5.260)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Greed ] // [Family] [Corruption] [Lodging] [Gain and loss] [Fame and disrepute] [Teaching Dhamma]
Story: Ajahn Mahā Prasert gets sent to Nebraska. [Ajahn Mahā Prasert] [Jealousy]
Suttas: SN 17: Connected Discourses on Gain, Honor, and Fame.
Reading: SN 17.5: The Dung Beetle. [Humor] [Similes]
Reflections on the kammic effects of King Ajātasattu killing his father (DN 2.101). [Kamma] [Killing] [Parents] [Stream entry]
Vinaya: Khandhaka 21.1.3: The First Council occurred at Rājagha, King Ajātasattu’s capital city.
6. “Out of curiosity, would accidentally killing [your parent] be equivalently bad kamma?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno. [Killing] [Parents] [Kamma] [Volition]
7. Comment: I find it striking that Aṅgulimāla, who killed so many people, managed to achieve arahantship. [Killing] [Arahant] [Kamma]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Parents]
8. The seven qualities of a sapurisa (good person; DN 33.2.3). Teaching by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno. [Association with people of integrity ] // [P. A. Payutto] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] [Moderation in eating] [Ajahn Chah] [Time management]
Reference: Buddhadhamma by P. A. Payutto Chapter 13.4.
Reference: A Constitution for Living by P. A. Payutto (pdf unavailable).
Sutta: AN 10.61: The first condition for dispelling ignorance.
Sutta: AN 2.126: The voice of another is a condition for the arising of Right View. [Right View]
9. Ajahn Kaccāna explains the Ajahn Pasanno Archive. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Dhamma recordings] [Questions] [Dhamma online]
10. Comment by Ajahn Amaro: The entire Amaravati audio archive has been transcribed using AI and is searchable by subject. [Dhamma recordings] [Amaravati] [Dhamma online] [Artificial intelligence]
Note: These transcriptions are available only to members of the Amaravati community and by permission.
[Session] Readings by Ajahn Pasanno: [Stream entry]
The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 16, pp. 280-281 and pp. 292-293:
Sutta: AN 3.85.
Sutta: MN 34: Shorter Discourse on the Cowherd.
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.23-24; read from The Life of the Buddha According to the Pāli Canon by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli (pdf unavailable) Chapter 5.
Sutta: MN 74: Dīghanakha Sutta; read from The Life of the Buddha According to the Pāli Canon by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli (pdf unavailable) Chapter 5.
1. “Can you explain more about the difference between faith followers and Dhamma followers?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stages of awakening] [Faith] [Discernment] [Stream entry] // [Culture/West] [Relinquishment]
Reading: Bhikkhu Bodhi’s footnote 369 to MN 34.10.
2. “When AN 3.95 mentions that a [stream enterer] may still break some minor rules but not the heavier rules, do you see where the cutoff is?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Precepts] [Vinaya] [Stream entry]
Sutta: AN 4.50: Reasons why a samaṇa doesn’t shine forth. [Intoxicants] [Not handling money] [Sexual misconduct]
3. The evolution of the ordination procedure. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ordination ] // [Buddha/Biography] [Great disciples] [Three Refuges] [Saṅgha]
4. “What were the follow-on stories of how Sāriputta and Moggallāna attained arahantship?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Great disciples] [Arahant] [Stream entry]
Reading: MN 74: Sāriputta fans the Buddha. [Upatakh]
Sutta: AN 7.61: The Buddha instructs the dozing Moggallāna.
Reading: MN 37: Nothing is worth adhering to. [Clinging]
5. Story: Ajahn Mun realizes stream entry on almsround in Bangkok in bad weather. Told by Ajahn Cittavīro. [Ajahn Mun] [Stream entry]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Dhamma]
[Session] Readings by Ajahn Pasanno: [Stream entry]
The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 16, pp. 293:
Sutta: SN 12.68.
Reading: AN 6.97: Benefits of stream entry.
The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 17, pp. 294-296:
Suttas: DN 5.29-30; MN 56.18; SN 12.70.
Sutta: SN 12.70: Susīma.
1. Comment: Someone mentioned that the certainty [of a stream enter realizing arahantship in seven lifetimes] was not a certain certainty. [Rebirth] [Arahant] [Stream entry]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Great disciples] [Saṃsāra]
2. “Sometimes in the suttas people are aware that the eye of Dhamma has opened and they are now stream enterers. From my experience, sometimes people think they are sotāpanna but are not. What is the experience [of entering the stream]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stream entry] // [Thai Forest Tradition] [Suffering]
Reference: The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro Chapters 16–19.
Story: “Better than being a dog.” [Ajahn Chah] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Aversion]
Follow-up: “Is it normal for a stream enter to know that he’s a stream enterer?”
Sutta: AN 3.12: One never forgets the place of stream entry.
3. “I remember being at Suan Mokh and seeing in the spiritual library the Dhamma eyes painted on the wall. I heard that Ajahn Buddhadāsa taught ānāpānasati and Dependent Origination because he wanted to open the Dhamma eyes of as many people as possible. Would those who resonated with these teachings continue learning through that path?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Suan Mokkh] [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Dependent origination] [Stream entry] // [Meditation/Techniques] [Faith] [Ajahn Chah] [Zen]
Quote: “Everything is teaching us.” — Ajahn Chah.
Follow-up: “So it’s not like you practice asubha and that’s it for the rest of your life.” [Nature of mind]
4. “What does it mean to be a thief of Dhamma (SN 12.70.27)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stealing] [Dhamma] [Stream entry]
[Session] Readings by Ajahn Pasanno:
The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 17, pp. 296-299:
Suttas: SN 45.9; SN 56.51; SN 12.27; SN 12.49; SN 22.109.
Sutta: SN 56.51: A Fingernail.
Sutta: SN 12.27: With ignorance as condition…
1. Recollection: Ajahn Pasanno’s brother doesn’t understand the significance of impermanence. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Family] [Impermanence] // [Wat Pah Nanachat]
2. “In theory I get it, but my self, my ego, doesn’t want to let go of itself, even when it’s miserable.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Suffering] // [Release] [Not-self] [Pāli] [Conventions]
Reference: “The Not-Self Strategy” by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro.
Sutta: SN 44.10: The Buddha does not answer the question, “Is there a self?” [Questions]
3. “I’ve always found the simile of the great earth (SN 56.51) encouraging and aspirational. Is [the great mass of suffering] eroded over time or abruptly end when the view changes?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Similes] [Suffering] [Right View] [Stream entry] // [Saṃsāra]
Sutta: DN 2.102: King Ajātasattu’s crime prevents stream entry. [Killing]
Sutta: Iti 22: Puñña is another word for happiness. [Merit] [Happiness]
4. Story: Ajahn Phut visits Ajahn Chah when he was ill. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Phut] [Ajahn Chah] [Sickness] // [Dependent origination] [Chanting] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Lunar observance days]
5. “It seems to me that suffering and joy are part of the same whole, like yin and yang. Does that mean that [a liberated person] never experiences joy?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] [Happiness] [Liberation] // [Ajahn Kovilo] [Conditionality] [Concentration]
Reference: The Wellbeing Cascade by Ajahn Kovilo.
Sutta: AN 6.63.42: Two results of suffering.
6. Comment: Some people identify with their own suffering or feel they are not worth of not suffering. The grooves in the mind—it becomes a cycle, your own suffering. [Suffering] [Self-identity view] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Conditionality] [Dependent origination] [Ajahn Chah]
7. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: The Buddha defines his awakening in terms of gratification, danger, and escape (SN 22.26). [Buddha/Biography] [Aspects of Understanding ] [Benefit/gratification] [Drawbacks] [Escape]
Sutta: SN 48.3: Complete understanding of the Five Faculties . [Faculties] [Stream entry]
[Session] Readings by Ajahn Pasanno:
The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 17, pp. 299-301:
Suttas: SN 25.1; SN 48.3; AN 7.62.
Sutta: AN 7.66: Seven Suns.
The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 18, pp. 302:
Sutta: MN 44: Cūḷavedalla Sutta.
1. Comment by Ajahn Pasanno: It’s impossible to tell from the suttas where the intellectual recognition of impermanence tips over into the path of a Dhamma follower. [Sutta] [Impermanence] [Discernment] [Stream entry]
Sutta: SN 25.1.
2. “Do you have any examples of the benefits and drawbacks in sense [audio unclear]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Benefit/gratification] [Drawbacks] [Sense bases] // [Faith] [Escape]
3. Reflection from Ajahn Chah: A bhikkhu is one who sees the dangers in saṃsāra. Related by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Monastic life] [Drawbacks ] [Saṃsāra] // [Almsfood]
Sutta: AN 7.66: Seven Suns.
4. “Is the Buddha’s description of seven suns (AN 7.66) supposed to be factually true or is it just for reflection?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of the cosmos] // [Impermanence]
5. “In the Ānāpānasati Sutta where you have contemplating feeling (MN 118.19), is the perception within that tetrad?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of feeling] [Perception] // [Rapture] [Volitional formations]
Sutta: MN 44.14: Perception and feeling.
1. “What distinguished Ajahn Chah from other meditation teachers?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Meditation/Techniques] [Right View] [Monastic life]
Follow-up: “Did this inspire the way you teach?” [Ajahn Pasanno]
2. “How did Ajahn Chah react to students who had studied in other Buddhist traditions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Teaching Dhamma] [Spiritual traditions] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Sumedho] [Master Hsu Yun] [Hua tou] [Zen] [Right Effort]
3. “It is said that each monk who know Ajahn Chah well would describe him in a different way when asked. How would you describe him?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] // [Personality] [Personal presence] [Compassion]
Quote: “You never quite knew which Ajahn Chah you were going to get, which always kept you on your toes. And if you weren’t on your toes, it wouldn’t take long before he would call you on it.” [Teaching Dhamma] [Clear comprehension]
4. “What advice would you give to future abbots and teachers of Wat Pah Pong branch monasteries so that the communities maintain the most important characteristics of Ajahn Chah’s style of leadership?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abbot] [Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Saṅgha] [Leadership ] [Ajahn Chah] // [Dhamma] [Vinaya] [Chanting] [Translation]
Sutta: DN 16.6: Dhamma-Vinaya is your leader.
Quote: “Ajahn Chah was conservative, but he wasn’t fundamentalist.” [Monastic life]
Story: The Dalai Lama asks the Abhayagiri monks to chant the Maṅgala Sutta (Snp 2.4, Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 46) in Pāli. [Dalai Lama] [Pāli]
Story: Ajahn Chah was one of the first forest monks to ban smoking in the monastery. [Smoking] [Lunar observance days]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah was unique in consulting with senior monks and laypeople when making decisions. [Saṅgha decision making]
5. “The word toramon is sometimes associated with Ajahn Chah’s style of training. Could he be ‘intentionally cruel?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Fierce/direct teaching ] // [Ascetic practices] [Teaching Dhamma] [Trust] [Compassion] [Saṃsāra] [Habits]
Quote: “Ajahn Chah was always willing to put obstructions in front of your desires, views and opinions, and habits, which was incredibly compassionate as well as courageous.” [Craving] [Views] [Courage] [Culture/West]
Story: Ajahn Chah lets a restless junior monk go tudong with devious stipulations. [Sequence of training] [Restlessness and worry] [Tudong]
6. “There are a few stories about Ajahn Chah having psychic powers, particularly reading minds. Did you ever observe anything of that sort with Ajahn Chah? What was Ajahn Chah’s position on such things?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Psychic powers] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] // [Nature of mind]
Story: Ajahn Chah describes the supernatural beings at Wat Pah Pong to a close lay follower, then refuses to talk about other realms with a group from Bangkok. [Wat Pah Pong] [Non-human beings] [Teaching Dhamma]
7. “Were there any particular themes in Ajahn Chah’s teachings that regularly came up?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah ] // [Virtue] [Right View] [Relinquishment] [Knowing itself]
8. “Many of Ajahn Chah’s direct disciples have become revered teachers themselves. Would you say the harsher conditions and more rigorous practices of the early days of Wat Pah Pong played a necessary role in their training and development or was it mostly due to Ajahn Chah being such a masterful teacher?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah lineage ] [Ascetic practices] [Wat Pah Pong] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Humility] [Ajahn Mun]
Quote: “There’s this nostalgia for the good old days. … To me it’s a fallacy or a fantasy.” [Suffering] [Poverty]
Quote: “To be able to lay a foundation that was carried on is really exceptional.” [Saṅgha] [Leadership]
Recollection: There were an equal number of monks and nuns at Wat Pah Pong. [Mae Chee]
9. “Can you speak about the connection Ajahn Chah had with Luang Por Tongrat and Luang Por Tongrat in general?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Tongrat ] [Ajahn Chah] // [Thai sects] [Ajahn Mun] [Monastic routine] [Almsround]
Reference: Ajahn Utane’s biography of Ajahn Tongrat. Ajahn Mudito translated this into Portuguese in 2019, and there is a machine translation from the Portuguese.
Quote: “Oh, Chah, you’ve come.” — Ajahn Tongrat’s first words to Ajahn Chah.
Story: Ajahn Tongrat makes a racket under Ajahn Mun’s kuti in order to provoke a Dhamma talk. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Fierce/direct teaching]
Story: Ajahn Tongrat dies in the Dhamma seat. [Death]
10. “What would Ajahn Chah say if he visited our Western monasteries today in 2025? Would he recommend any changes?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Western Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Ajahn Chah] // [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [History]
Quote: “Be careful about getting too comfortable.” [Heedlessness]
Suttas: SN 17: Be cautious about gain, honor, and fame. [Worldly Conditions] [Fierce/direct teaching]
11. “Could you tell us your very first encounter with Luang Por Chah? How did it happen? What did he say to you? What impression did you have then?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] // [Temporary ordination] [Wat Pah Pong] [Culture/Natural environment] [Ajahn Sumedho]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno is impressed by handwritten notes about Ajahn Chah’s teaching by a visitor to Wat Pah Pong. [Wat Phleng Vipassanā]
Quote: “If you want to stay here, you have to stay at least five years.” — Ajahn Chah.
Quote: “The place itself [Wat Pah Pong] was a reflection of Ajahn Chah.” [Lay life] [Lunar observance days]
Story: The branch monasteries and lay community gather for Māgha Pūjā. [Festival days] [Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Community]
1. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Ajahn Chah inspired people to be willing to commit to practice and training. [Monastic life/Motivation] [Determination] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Fourfold Assembly] [Relinquishment]
2. Recollection: Ajahn Pasanno writes to his parents that he will stay with Ajahn Chah for five years because he wants to pick up Ajahn Chah’s peace and unshakeability. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life/Motivation] [Sequence of training] [Equanimity] [Ajahn Chah]
3. “When Luang Por Chah’s physical condition deteriorated and he was no longer physically active, how did the Saṅgha and lay community react to it? And how did you feel about it? How did the Saṅgha manage to organize new leadership? Any challenges, confusions, or conflicts?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sickness] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Leadership] [Ajahn Chah] [Conflict] // [Impermanence] [Saṅgha decision making] [Grief] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Liem]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah told the Saṅgha that his illness was incurable and they would have to look after him. [Health care ]
I did my grieving when Ajahn Chah was still alive and sick. Recollection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Death]
Recollection: Caring for Ajahn Chah as a community. [Health care ] [Mae Chee] [Communal harmony]
Recollection: Preparing for Ajahn Chah’s funeral. [Funerals] [Building projects] [Ajahn Chah Stupa]
Quote: “His example was always one of giving himself to what was of benefit to the Dhamma, to the Vinaya, to others. There was so little personal agenda and personal preferences ever shown.” [Generosity]
4. Story: A group of military generals ask Ajahn Chah to bless some medallions. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Amulets] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Food] [Saṅgha decision making] [Relics] [Ajahn Chah Stupa] [Funerals]
5. “What do you treasure most among what you/we have inherited from Luang Por Chah?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah]
Quote: “He had given himself completely, and he had reaped the fruits completely.” [Relinquishment] [Liberation]
6. “What were the criteria for founding new branch monasteries at Ajahn Chah’s time?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Saṅgha decision making] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Keuan] [Environment] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Ajahn Anek] [Wat Pah Sai Ngam] [Faith] [Wat Phu Din Dang]
7. “How did Luang Por Chah cultivate his wisdom (satipañña)? How did he generate his energy (viriya)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Discernment] [Energy] [Ajahn Chah] // [Doubt] [Teaching Dhamma]
Quote: “He was always curious to reflect, to investigate, to experiment, to try out things and to see what worked and what didn’t work.” [Personality] [Appropriate attention]
8. “How did Luang Por Chah relate to the lay community around him and tailor the Dhamma to their own circumstances?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Lay life] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Lunar observance days] [Building projects] [Cultural context] [Stories]
Story: Ajahn Chah’s talkative older brother helps with their mother’s funeral. [Family] [Funerals]
9. “Is there a story about when Ajahn Chah wanted to give feedback to a senior monk and he waited 20-30 years?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Admonishment/feedback] [Ajahn Chah] // [Culture/Thailand]
10. “Were there any memories from the period of training with Ajahn Chah that really stand out in your mind? In what ways did you find it difficult?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life] [Ajahn Chah]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno skips morning pūjā to meditate diligently at his kuti. Ajahn Chah calls him lazy. [Monastic routine]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno sits vigil at a cremation and makes a bathing cloth from the cloth used to wrap a corpse. [Funerals ] [Robes ] [Wat Pah Pong] [Recollection/Death]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno joins the Wat Pah Pong Saṅgha, exchanges his requisites, and excitedly attends his first Pāṭimokkha at Wat Pah Pong. Ajahn Chah keeps the monks sitting until 3 am. [Vinaya] [Requisites] [Not handling money] [Pāṭimokkha] [Compassion] [Relinquishment]
1. “Have you had experiences of clarifying motivation that go beyond the theoretical or abstract?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Spiritual urgency] // [Ajahn Chah] [Wat Pah Pong] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “Was it suffering?” — Ajahn Chah. [Suffering] [Self-identity view]
Story: Ajahn Chah used ancient stones to mark the Wat Pah Pong sīmā. [Sīmā]
Quote: “Are these rocks heavy?” — Ajahn Chah. [Cessation of Suffering]
Sutta: SN 22.86: Dukkha and the ending of dukkha.
2. “Lately I’ve noticed a decline in my earnestness and diligence. While I feel commitment and contentment in keeping the precepts, my focus and energy for formal practice often fades. Can you please advise on how to rekindle that sense of energy and enjoyment in formal practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Energy] [Meditation] // [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Spiritual friendship] [Amaravati] [Abhayagiri] [Dhamma online]
Sutta: SN 45.2: Half of the Holy Life.
Sutta: AN 2.126: Conditions for the arising of Right View. [Right View] [Appropriate attention]
3. “People are fortunate these days because teachings are readily accessible. Could you talk about the difficulties you had [accessing the teachings 50 years ago]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Learning] [Dhamma books] [Travel] [Culture/Thailand]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno stays in a hotel in ??? and goes to a monastery to read an English-language Tipiṭaka every day. [Tipiṭaka]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first meditation retreat was a month-long solitary Mahasi Sayadaw-style retreat. [Meditation retreats] [Mahasi Sayadaw]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno takes temporary ordination at Wat Phleng Vipassanā. [Temporary ordination] [Wat Phleng Vipassanā]
4. “Could you give some sutta references on positive desire (chanda)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Desire]
Reference: The Wellbeing Cascade by Ajahn Kovilo.
Reference: Buddhadhamma by P. A. Payutto, Chapter 11, “The Nature and Importance of Desire.”
Story: P.A. Payutto completes the Thai Pāli studies curriculum as a novice. The King sponsors his ordination. [P. A. Payutto ] [Sutta] [Novices] [Pāli] [Sickness] [Study monks] [King Rama IX]
5. Comment: I found the differentiation that you made between wholesome desire and unwholesome desire very useful. [Desire] [Craving]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Discernment] [Kamma] [Volition] [Appropriate attention] [Relinquishment] [Happiness]
6. “There are suttas where people talk about honoring their parents. Are there examples of people who had very unskillful parents or childhood PTSD and brought these questions to the Buddha?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Western psychology] [Sutta] [Parents] [Abuse/violence] // [Culture/India] [Saṅgha] [Virtue]
Sutta: Ud 5.3: Suppabuddha the Leper. [Gradual Teaching] [Stream entry]
7. “We have the fifth precept about refraining from alcohol and drugs. Were there lots of alcoholics and drug addicts in the Buddha’s time? Can this be applied in 2025 to people struggling with addiction to watching news, mobile phones, or social media?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Intoxicants] [News] [Social media] // [Abhayagiri] [Suffering]
Quote: “We’re addicted to suffering.”
8. “Could you speak about world-weariness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Disenchantment] // [Gratitude] [Suffering] [Skillful qualities] [Happiness]
Sutta: AN 11.1: Causal chain of well-being including disenchantment. [Conditionality]
Story: Ajahn Mahā Boowa reflects on the drawbacks of lust. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Unattractiveness] [Sensual desire] [Drawbacks]
Note: The audio file ends mid-sentence.
1. Background of the Amaravati Sunday Talks. [Amaravati] [Teaching Dhamma] // [Rains retreat] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah]
2. Recollection: Ajahn Chah was a memorable person; his influence has spread around the world. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah lineage ] [Ajahn Chah] // [Faith] [Ajahn Sumedho]
3. Recollection: My introduction to Ajahn Chah. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] // [Temporary ordination] [Travel] [Wat Phleng Vipassanā] [Forest versus city monks]
4. Recollection: Ajahn Chah’s community in 1975. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah lineage] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Pah Pong ] [Western Ajahn Chah lineage] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Isan] [Personal presence]
5. Recollection: Ajahn Chah taught by example, but put the focus on the monastic training and community. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] // [Humility]
Quote: “He was unique in his ability to draw people in without it having to be about him.” [Personal presence ] [Personality]
6. Recollection: Why I stayed with Ajahn Chah. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Determination] [Ajahn Chah] // [Family] [Sequence of training] [Equanimity] [Personal presence]
7. Recollection: He was always willing to push us beyond what we thought we could do. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Fierce/direct teaching] [Ajahn Chah] // [Intuition]
Quote: “I hope you’re not afraid of suffering. … If you’re afraid of suffering, you’re not going to grow in wisdom here.” — Ajahn Chah to Jack Kornfield. [Jack Kornfield] [Fear] [Suffering] [Discernment]
Quote: “If you want to stay here, you have to stay at least five years.” — Ajahn Chah to Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Sequence of training] [Determination]
Story: Ajahn Chah asks the young Ajahn Pasanno to become abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abbot] [Sickness]
8. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Amaravati and other monasteries are offshoots of Ajahn Chah’s gift of monastic training where people can continue to practice. [Monastic life] [Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Ajahn Chah]
9. Recollection: Ajahn Pasanno’s first lunar observance night at Wat Pah Pong. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Pong] [Lunar observance days] [Ajahn Chah] // [Monastic life] [Pace of life] [Patience]
Quote: “You learn as you go. You expand your ability to go beyond the limitations you set for yourself.” [Learning]
Quote: “The more you resist and complain in your mind, the more you suffer.” [Aversion] [Suffering] [Habits]
10. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Ajahn Chah used the Vinaya rules as a basis to train in mindfulness and clear comprehension. [Vinaya] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] [Ajahn Chah] // [Volition] [Perception of a samaṇa] [Protocols ] [Sense restraint] [Beauty] [Faith]
Story: Ajahn Chah demonstrates how to put down a yahm (monk’s shoulder bag). [Requisites] [Ajahn Sumedho]
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.23: Sāriputta gains faith from Venerable Assiji’s demeanor. [Great disciples]
11. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno on Ajahn Chah’s ability to illustrate Dhamma. [Teaching Dhamma] [Similes] [Ajahn Chah]
Simile: Suffering is like continually tightening a bolt. [Suffering]
12. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Ajahn Chah’s compassion and empathy. [Compassion] [Ajahn Chah]
Quote: “I’ve been like that.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Munindo] [Suffering]
13. Recollection: Ajahn Chah enjoyed teasing people and playing with words. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Humor] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Gavesako] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Compassion]
Stories: The Squirrel Story and the Donkey Story. [Kittisaro] [Monastic life] [Patience]
Note: Kittisaro tells these stories himself here.
14. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: His leadership and his teaching came from his example. [Leadership] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah sits until midnight despite having malaria. [Sickness] [Posture/Sitting] [Sitter's practice]
15. “When you first arrived at Ajahn Chah’s monastery, how did you communicate with him?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Language] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Sumedho] [Translation] [Paul Breiter] [Thai] [Isan]
Story: Venerable Varapañño could recite the Pāṭimokkha perfectly. [Pāṭimokkha]
16. “Can you tell us more about Ajahn Chah’s background?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Geography/Thailand] [Education] [Novices] [Ordination] [Ajahn Sao] [Forest versus city monks] [Death] [Ajahn Mun] [Thai sects]
Story: Six-year-old Chah plays at being a monk. [Monastic life]
17. “Can you speak about Luang Por Chah’s opinion about Thai superstitions and amulets?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Culture/Thailand] [Superstition] [Amulets] [Ajahn Chah] // [Humor] [Ghost] [Generosity]
Story: A young supporter drafted into the military asks Ajahn Chah for protection. [Buddha images]
18. “What gave you the inspiration and strength of spirit to want to dedicate yourself to follow the way?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Faith] [Determination] // [Suffering] [Spiritual search] [Culture/Thailand] [Travel] [Meditation/Results]
19. “In the draft of your biography, it says that growing up you felt you didn’t fit in with normal society. When you came to a Buddhist country and the monastery, did it feel like home?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand] [Monastic life] // [Purpose/meaning]
20. “Nowadays we have so much information about Dhamma, whereas when you began, you talked about following an example. How much did being in the presence of someone like Ajahn Chah mean? Could we now overlook this since we have so much information?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dhamma online] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Mentoring] [Personal presence] [Ajahn Chah] // [Amaravati] [Aspects of Understanding]
21. “How did your becoming a monk go down with your family, and how did that affect you?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life] [Family] // [Ajahn Jayasaro]
22. “People say that Westerners are much more individualistic than Asians. Do you think Ajahn Chah was good at understanding the Western way of thinking?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Culture/West] [Culture/Asia] [Ajahn Chah]
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