All questions
73 events, 411 sessions, 2917 excerpts, 164:50:43 total duration
Most common topics:
Ajahn Chah
(175)
Ajahn Pasanno
(165)
Monastic life
(141)
Mindfulness of breathing
(134)
Suffering
(96)
Proliferation
(94)
Happiness
(88)
Not-self
(85)
Death
(74)
Self-identity view
(74)
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6. “To sustain [these perceptions] you need energy, but habitual patterns seem to waste energy so that isn’t available. Any thoughts?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection] [Energy] [Habits] // [Skillful qualities] [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness]
7. Question about the meaning of perception, feeling, and consciousness being conjoined (MN 43.8). Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Feeling] [Consciousness]
8. “Is one aspect of this toolkit trying to parse where turmoil is coming from, what you’re holding on to?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Investigation of states] // [Perception] [Recollection]
Quote: “Usually once we start analyzing it, it’s a rabbit hole.”
9. “In daily life, there may not be enough space to apply the perception of not-self. How can one skillfully solidify the sense of self, and when should one not do this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Everyday life] [Not-self] // [Suffering] [Protective Meditations] [Recollection] [Perception] [Recollection/Buddha] [Goodwill] [Recollection/Death] [Unattractiveness]
10. “What did the Buddha mean by lovingkindness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Goodwill] // [Thai]
11. “How does the aggregate of perception relate to the activity of perception?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aggregates] [Perception]
13. “In working with perceptions like unattractiveness and dispassion (AN 10.60.7 and AN 10.60.10), if I don’t feel those things, do I have to conjure them up?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Recollection]
15. “What about the energetic perception [of people]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Sense bases] // [Unattractiveness]
20. “Can the perceptions of abandoning, dispassion, and cessation (AN 10.60.9-11) be understood as a progression?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Effort] [Dispassion] [Cessation]
Follow-up: “Do the perceptions of dispassion and cessation arise naturally as a result of the earlier perceptions?” [Conditionality]
1. “Is the purpose of the perception of danger (AN 10.60.8) to change up our usual perception of, ‘Oh, it’s a human body, it’s wonderful, and it’s going to last forever?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Drawbacks] [Perception] [Body/form] // [Sickness]
2. “When meditating on perception (AN 10.60), is the perception a lens through which you view a meditation object?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Meditation]
3. “Could you speak some more about drowsiness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sloth and torpor] // [Energy] [Recollection]
4. “Could you talk about the skillful use of perception of abandoning (AN 10.60.9) so that it doesn’t move into aversion?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Effort] [Aversion] [Suffering] // [Relinquishment]
5. “What about the second part of the Girimānanda Sutta (AN 10.60.19) about healing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Healing] [Sickness] // [Dhamma] [Desire] [Body/form] [Gladdening the mind] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Concentration]
Story: Ajahn Toon meditates through a malarial fever. [Ajahn Toon]
6. “How would you use any of the perceptions in AN 10.60 in a demanding and fast-paced workplace where performance is important?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Recollection] [Work] // [Tranquility] [Happiness]
7. “We often seem to be unconsciously looking for eternal existence. Have you seen that happening in Asia as well?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Volitional formations] [Culture/Asia]
8. “The mind goes into automatic perceptions based on survival instincts. How do you work with this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] // [Habits] [Recollection] [Skillful qualities]
Follow-up: “Does this question refer to perception in terms of the aggregates (a noun) while AN 10.60 refers to perception as an activity?” [Aggregates] [Conditionality]
5. “Why didn’t the Buddha visit Girimānanda himself (AN 10.60.1)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Kaccāna. [Buddha/Biography] // [Great disciples] [Personal presence] [Healing] [Recollection/Dhamma]
6. Comment by Jeanne Daskais: The Girimānanda Sutta (AN 10.60) is also a sutta about Saṅgha. [Saṅgha]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
7. Comment: In teaching [the Girimānanda Sutta (AN 10.60)], the Buddha is teaching us to change our views and opinions. [Views]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Outflows] [Proliferation] [Perception] [Recollection]
Sutta: MN 2.8: The thicket of views …
8. “When I first read the perception about non-delight in the world, (AN 10.60.12), my first reaction was, ‘I don’t like that one.’ But when I return home after an extended time at Abhayagiri, everything looks fresh and more subtle. Would it be helpful to actively take on a perception like this in meditation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dispassion] [Direct experience] [Perception] // [Proliferation] [Spaciousness] [Liberation]
3. Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo: Discerning what to say based on skillful and unskillful mental qualities (AN 4.183) seems tricky. [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities] [Right Speech]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unwholesome Roots] [Suffering]
Sutta: AN 4.192: Facts.
4. “Why does the Abhaya Sutta (MN 58) mention the possibility of speech that is beneficial but disagreeable but Snp 3.3 does not?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Speech] // [Sutta] [Teaching Dhamma] [Buddha]
Comments contrasting the context of the two suttas.
5. Comment: If you become a monk or live a more simple life, it would be easier to speak right speech. [Monastic life] [Simplicity] [Right Speech]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
Teaching from Ajahn Chah: Don’t admonish anyone before the meal. [Ajahn Chah] [Admonishment/feedback]
8. “When is it useful to discuss the conduct of another person?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Malicious speech] [Virtue] [Right Speech]
Sutta: AN 4.183: Speak when unwholesome qualities decrease and wholesome qualities increase.
9. “If you have said something unskillful, what is the best way to face that?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unskillful qualities] [Right Speech] // [Forgiveness] [Truth]
10. “My dad says, ‘Reprimand in private; reward in public.’ What would the Buddha say about that?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Admonishment/feedback] [Right Speech]
Follow-up: “Are there stories of the Buddha coming down on people for a good reason?” [Buddha/Biography] [Pāli]
12. “Could you speak more about the list of topics for speech to remind you of practice (AN 10.69)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Idle chatter] [Right Speech]
Follow-up: “What about the worldly topics of conversation?”
13. Comment: The constant chatter in the mind is also part of Right Speech. [Directed thought and evaluation] [Right Speech]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Conditionality]
14. “Is there any place for small talk/social lubricant in Right Speech?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Idle chatter ] [Right Speech]
2. “In meditation, why does the Buddha tell us to deliberately shut down the voices of papañca as opposed to just sitting?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Proliferation] // [Self-identity view]
Quote: “There’s only two things you have to do: know and let go.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Mindfulness] [Relinquishment]
3. Comment: There’s an attachment to these proliferations to make them mine and to make me right. [Clinging] [Self-identity view] [Proliferation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
4. “Is ‘sights without a watcher, sounds without a listener, thoughts without a thinker,’ a fair formulation of what we’re trying to cultivate?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sense bases] [Not-self] // [Non-identification]
5. Comment: I’m trying to clarify objectification and proliferation [as translations of papañca]. Objectification seems to be closing down possibility; proliferation is multiplication of possibilities. [Translation] [Proliferation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
6. “In light of the conversation we’re having about [the identity of] the thinker and the thoughts …, are we aiming at a state of pure consciousness, a sense of beauty …?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Consciousness] [Sense bases] [Beauty] [Proliferation] [Knowing itself] // [Non-identification]
7. “Is visualising the unattractive parts of the body in meditation a skillful form of papañca?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unattractiveness] [Skillful qualities] [Proliferation] // [Directed thought and evaluation] [Meditation/Techniques] [Protective Meditations]
1. “Is there a way to have wholesome intentions around topics such as wars and politics?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Speech] [Politics and society] [Idle chatter ]
2. Question about using the brahmavihāras to counteract covetousness compared to the approach described in MN 18. Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Greed] [Divine Abidings] // [Right Effort] [Discernment] [Learning]
3. Comment: “One of the greatest challenges of Right Speech is when you know something is wrong, and it’s right in your face …” [Right Speech]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
4. Comment: It’s only through relating to past experience that we become wise, so there is a kind of proliferation that goes on. [Learning] [Discernment] [Proliferation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
5. “Could you clarify the Pāli terms papañca, āsava, and saṅkhāra?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli] [Proliferation] [Outflows] [Volitional formations] // [Translation] [Cessation of Suffering]
6. Comment: Some people may need to restrain their speech; others may need to push themselves to speak up. [Right Speech] [Community] // [Politics and society]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Spiritual bypass]
Sutta: AN 5.198: Speech.
8. “What if you’re in a situation with multiple people involved and you want to say something disagreeable to an individual that would be skillful for the group?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Politics and society] [Right Speech] [Community] // [Truth] [Goodwill]
Quote: “The intention has a big impact on how it lands.” [Right Intention]
Sutta: MN 26.25: The Buddha’s encounter with Upaka. [Buddha/Biography]
2. “In World War II, people hiding Jews in away in their home to protect them—how does this relate to [the precept about] lying?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [False speech]
Sutta: AN 1.183: Not everything true needs to be spoken. [Truth]
Commentary: Vyaghri Jātaka Jatakamala No. 1: The Bodhisatta feeds himself to a hungry tigress. (This story does not occur in the Pāli Jātaka.) [Jātaka Tales]
5. “I notice that you have a very compassionate way of answering questions that are not in line with the Dhamma. Is there a trick that monks undergo to do this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Questions] // [Patience] [Energy]
6. Comment: The sutta in which there is a war that is going to happen, and the Buddha tries to mediate it in some way and is unable to stop it from happening .... There’s something touching about this when I look at my own life … [Buddha/Biography] [Conflict] [Politics and society]
Note: This question may refer to the story in the Commentary to Dhp 47 of the Buddha being unable to prevent Viḍūḍabha’s massacre of the Sakyans (Dhamma Verses Commentary translated by E. W. Burlingame and Ānandajoti Bhikkhu, p. 258-276).
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Non-identification] [Worldly Conditions]
Quote: “Do you think the forests in Thailand can be saved?” — “No.” [Environment] [Culture/Thailand] [Dtao Dum]
7. Comment: The sobering theme of the Four Dhamma Summaries (MN 82.35) suggests that you can’t be sure that [positive] change will happen. [Impermanence]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Benefit/gratification] [Conditionality] [Not-self] [Virtue]
8. “In the case of the war the Buddha couldn’t stop (likely the Commentary to Dhp 47), would the Buddha encourage an individual to pull back from the war?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Conflict] [Politics and society] [Military] // [Hinduism]
9. “Could you provide some guidance on when to implement the teaching of preferences leading to conflict (Snp 4.11)? It seems we need preferences for wholesome dhammas and to structure our lives so that wholesome dhammas increase.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Craving] [Conflict ] [Conditionality] [Skillful qualities] // [Conventions] [Self-identity view] [Unskillful qualities] [Proliferation] [Appropriate attention]
10. “I’m trying to wrap my mind around the idea of mandating goodness. It explains my background and the United States …” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Virtue] [Culture/West] // [Idealism] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy]
Follow-up: “Can you give an example comparing Thailand and Western cultures?” [Culture/Thailand] [History/America] [Conflict] [Greed]
1. “I am guessing that accountant had little chance of finding his way to Nibbāna - unless he ordained? Do you know if he did?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sutta]
Sutta: MN 107: Gaṇakamoggallāna Sutta
2. “I have a cancer and finished my treatment and am afraid it will come back if I don’t take care of myself as doctor told. So it is my stress. How can I think about my stress to hold it in my mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sickness ] [Suffering] [Fear] // [Happiness] [Gratitude]
3. “What is the difference between yoniso manasikāra and insight?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Appropriate attention ] [Insight meditation] // [Conditionality]
4. “What do you do when there are ants at the monastery? Is there a way to get rid of them naturally without killing them? I had to get rid of some a week ago and witnessed 3 ants die somewhat painfully by what I used which caused both sadness and remorse in me and I don’t want to do it again. But what is “right action” (ie. the precepts) versus what is practical?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Animal] [Killing ] [Monastic life] // [Lodging] [Culture/Thailand]
5. “Could you tell us your stories related to the King Rama 9 of Thailand?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [King Rama IX] [Culture/Thailand] // [Leadership] [Meditation] [Recreation/leisure/sport] [Commerce/economics]
Story: Thai lay supporters remember King Rama IX at Abhayagiri’s 2016 Kaṭhina. [Abhayagiri] [Kaṭhina]
Story: King Rama IX attends Ajahn Chah’s funeral. [Ajahn Chah] [Funerals] [Wat Pah Pong] [Tranquility]
Story: King Rama IX asks President Nixon for understanding. [Politics and society] [Communal harmony] [Listening]
6. “Does the Buddha say all beings are inherently good? How about generosity? Do all human beings have the capacity for generosity?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of mind ] [Generosity ]
Sutta: AN 1.51-52
Story: A Mafia boss stays under Ajahn Chah’s kuti and helps out at Wat Pah Pong. [Ajahn Chah] [Crime] [Wat Pah Pong] [Precepts]
Quote: “Generosity is an important doorway for many reasons.”
7. “At the Friday evening talk, you mentioned the three poisons/kleshas of greed, hatred and delusion. But you also added fear. Fear seems to me more like a result. Please explain.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unwholesome Roots ] [Fear] [Conditionality] // [Biases] [Sensual desire] [Abhayagiri]
1. “Isn’t desire needed for lay life, starting a family, a business etc? And what about polio? Would there be things like a vaccine for polio without desire? Did the Buddha have something else in mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Desire ] [Health care] [Lay life] // [Cause of Suffering] [Craving] [Aids to Awakening] [Bases of Success] [Hindrances] [Sensual desire] [Language]
2. “I was wondering since you are a monk of 40 years, you are happy and mindful. How can you know of the issues, problems, etc., of people’s’ lives in the current modern times? We are worried about Trump’s presidency!” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Lay life] [Politics and society] // [Monasteries] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support ] [Abhayagiri] [Views] [Conditionality] [Dhamma]
3. “Though unskillful mind states may come up, as long as we don’t pick them up and feed them, they are just ideas/thoughts that will end.’ Can you comment on the effectiveness of this practice? Are there situations where you would definitely recommend it? Definitely not recommend it? Do you see this relating to metta?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unskillful qualities] [Impermanence] [Meditation/Techniques] [Goodwill] // [Right Effort]
4. “I am so grateful for your generous teachings. I am training my mind and am so glad for the dhamma in my life. However, I am experiencing migraine attacks almost daily, and therefore therefore a lot of uncertainty and dukkha. “Will I be able to function today?” “How bad will it be?” “Will I throw up?” “Which medicine will be the most beneficial today?” “Which side effects can I deal with today?” Working with my mind under these conditions is challenging, but I am up for the challenge, at least some of the time. I could use some encouragement, please.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sickness ] [Suffering] // [Gladdening the mind] [Compassion] [Patience] [Idealism]
5. “Can I be aware of my mind states while I am aware of my breath? It doesn’t seem so.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of mind] // [Right Mindfulness]
6. “Luang Por, for this ten day retreat, what is your Dhamma wish for us?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Meditation retreats] // [Tranquility] [Clear comprehension] [Faith]
7. “In practice we are often doing battle with our defilements. Can you speak about ways of “gladdening” the heart?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unwholesome Roots] [Gladdening the mind] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Conflict] [Self-identity view] [Skillful qualities]
Quote: “Quit picking a fight with them.” [Right Effort]
8. “In the mindful breathing sutta, what is the difference between “mind” and “mental fabrication”? And what is meant by “satisfying the mind” in step 10?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Heart/mind] [Volitional formations] [Gladdening the mind] // [Pāli]
Sutta: MN 118.19-20 Ānāpānasati Sutta.
9. “Can Ajahn Pasanno teach us how Ajahn Chah teaches or gives techniques on physical states and mental states? Can you tell us more about Ajahn Chah’s biography, for example, when and how Ajahn Chah wanted to become a monk?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Body/form] [Heart/mind] // [Christianity] [Conditionality]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah engaged in conversation with the villagers before the meal to reveal the junior monks’ desires around food. [Idle chatter] [Food] [Sensual desire]
Advice from Ajahn Chah: “Don’t admonish anybody before the meal.” [Admonishment/feedback]
Update about the progress on the new Ajahn Chah biography. [Dhamma books] [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Ajahn Kovilo]
Reference: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro
Story: Nine year old Ajahn Chah goes to the monastery after getting fed up with household chores. [Culture/Thailand] [Geography/Thailand] [Faith] [Monasteries] [Family] [Work]
10. “Can you talk about working with the practice in what seems like perilous times?, e.g. the rise in overt expressions of hatred toward sectors of society and the associated change in national leadership? How does one cultivate equanimity while also not turning away?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Politics and society ] [Ill-will] [Equanimity ] // [Divine Abidings] [Goodwill] [Conflict] [Aversion] [Judgementalism] [King Rama IX]
Sutta: Dhp 5: Hatred is never overcome by hatred. …
11. “It seems I can quiet my mind easier in the midst of noise. It’s been one continuous monkey mind. Please help.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Calming meditation] [Proliferation] [Restlessness and worry] // [Tranquility] [Culture/Natural environment] [Suffering] [Investigation of states]
Story: Spending the Vassa at quiet Poo Jum Gom [Poo Jum Gom] [Geography/Thailand]
Quote: “I’ve got nobody to blame anymore.” — A junior monk.
12. “With virtuous leaders passing away and unvirtuous ones coming into power, is the world entering a dark period? Was there any predictions from the Forest Masters about this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Politics and society] [Leadership] [Virtue] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Self-reliance]
13. “What about aversions that have a message, as a signal to understanding something? How is one to trust that from regular aversion?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aversion ] // [Conditionality] [Unskillful qualities] [Skillful qualities] [Heedfulness]
14. “When talking with friends, sometimes the topic of faith and religion comes up. Normally, I find this topic pleasant and enjoyable, but on occasion, I find myself in conversation with somebody who believes (often quite insistently) that their faith is “the only way”. Do you have an advice on how I might skillfully navigate these situations?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Faith] [Right Speech] [Spiritual traditions]
15. “Ajahn, what is your instruction regarding the Noble Eightfold Path and the most useful attitude toward the word “right”?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eightfold Path ] // [Pāli] [Cessation of Suffering]
16. “During the Christmas holiday, I’m going to be spending some time with relatives who do not share my same political views. In the spirit of wanting to understand their views and wanting to heal the divide that exists in our country, I want to talk about the election with them. How do I have this conversation skillfully?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Family] [Politics and society ] [Right Speech ] // [Judgementalism] [Listening] [Human] [Sense restraint]
1. “From my limited understanding, when the construction of self drops away in meditation, the is joy and peace. This makes me think that deep insight into anatta might be profoundly blissful. I’m having trouble seeing how the same would be true for dukkha and anicca. Can you help?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Not-self] [Insight meditation] [Happiness] [Characteristics of existence ] [Impermanence] [Suffering]
2. “I often find it hard to stay settled on the breath. Though I’ve been meditating for some time, my mind does not seem to focus well. When things are going “well”, I feel sense of joy but my mind jumps from topic to topic quickly (as though excited it’s going well). When things aren’t going well, my mind shifts into work mode, trying to “fix” the situation and bring the joy back. This results in a lot of tension in my face and long, difficult sittings. Do you have any advice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Meditation/General advice] [Meditation/Results] // [Tranquility] [Self-reliance] [Trust]
Quote: “That’s really a farang Buddha. Look how tense he is!” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Buddha images] [Culture/West] [Ajahn Sumedho]
3. “Thank you for this opportunity to practice and your guidance. Can you explain nirodha?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Cessation ] // [Nibbāna] [Suffering] [Language] [Dependent origination ] [Relinquishment] [Release] [Thai]
Sutta: MN 118.21 Ānāpānasati Sutta. [Mindfulness of breathing]
4. “Does a sotāpanna keep the precepts perfectly?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stream entry ] [Precepts] // [Virtue]
5. “Could you speak on working with saññā in meditation? Over these days there is an experience of heightened sensitivity to perception and the initial contact that gives rise to thought and feeling. In particular, I notice how an inaccurate perception, seen as inaccurate, gives rise to thought formations that move forward as if based on an accurate perception. This moves fast in the mind feels somewhat trippy and disorienting. How does one develop the skill of sensitivity and perception so as to have durability in daily life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Dependent origination] [Everyday life] [Directed thought and evaluation] // [Suffering] [Four Noble Truths]
Sutta: MN 18: Madhupiṇḍika Sutta
6. “Please talk about fixed views and the nine conceits.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Views ] [Conceit ] // [Pāli] [Proliferation ] [Craving] [Self-identity view] [Cessation of Suffering] [Competitiveness] [Culture/West]
Teaching: The three papañcadhammas.
7. “Would you have some suggestions on working with shame? As an emotion, it feels very “sticky” and probably the hardest one for me to work with. It seems like it is deeply rooted in my mind (probably thanks to Christianity). Is it true that Thai people have an easier time with it than westerners? Is an antidote to shame self-compassion?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Guilt/shame/inadequacy ] [Culture/Thailand] [Culture/West] [Compassion] // [Goodwill] [Self-identity view] [Relinquishment]
8. “Would you please speak a little bit more about “mindfulness” and the “sati” factor, since it seems to me that most, if not all, things register in consciousness. For example, “discursive” thoughts are registered in consciousness just as thoughts and we are aware of the thoughts themselves. What distinguishes “mindfulness” from lack of mindfulness during this process?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness ] [Consciousness] [Proliferation] // [Right Mindfulness ] [Ardency] [Thai] [Hinduism] [Clear comprehension] [Seclusion]
Sutta: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta
Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 431: The relationship between sampajañña and paññā. [Discernment]
Definition of mindfulness from P. A. Payutto: “That quality of mind which draws the objects of the senses into the heart.” [P. A. Payutto] [Sense bases] [Heart/mind]
Quote: “It’s like this.” — Ajahn Sumedho. [Ajahn Sumedho]
9. “I have a moral dilemma to ask you about. Someone I know, let’s call him Henry (who is also a Buddhist) recently went to the pet store and saw this “bearded dragon” lizard which he felt sorry for and so he bought it and brought it home. Normally, this would be a good thing since it was Henry’s intention to simply take care of the lizard and give it a good home, since the lizard looked sad and miserable at the pet store. Unfortunately, the lizard diet requires that he be fed live baby crickets for his protein needs. Apparently lizards can’t eat dead things and need some protein for their normal growth. I told Henry that this is really bad, especially for Henry’s karma and the poor crickets. So I told Henry to set the lizard into the wild and let it survive on its own. Henry says that according to his research, 90% of lizards bred in captivity die in the wild. So Henry cannot, in good conscience, set the lizard into the wild, basically giving him a death sentence. Henry does not want this since he cares for the lizard. I then told Henry to give the lizard away to another family. Henry says that this will also cause someone else to have bad karma since the lizard’s dietary needs will be the same. There seems to be no good solution. Would you please comment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Animal] [Killing] [Food] [Kamma] // [Abhayagiri] [Compassion] [Pāli] [Discernment]
Sutta: AN 6.63.33: Kamma is intention. [Volition]
10. “How would you describe romantic love? And how do you know if it is real or wishful thinking?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relationships ] [Delusion] // [Self-identity view] [Faith] [Virtue] [Generosity] [Discernment]
Quote: “I think you’re asking the wrong person!”
Sutta: AN 4.55
11. “How do I deal with the mind which loves someone who doesn’t love back? The mind (heart) and the brain are very hard to function normally. The thought of this suffering is overwhelming in my entire daily routines.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relationships] [Suffering] // [Purpose/meaning] [Time management]
Sutta: AN 10.48 Ten Recollections (Chanting book translation)
12. “I am wondering if you could talk about spiritual bypass? What is it? How do you know if you’ve done it? And how do you disentangle from it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Spiritual bypass ] // [Conflict] [Not-self] [Truth] [Views] [Spiritual friendship]
Story: Half the roof blows off a monk’s kuti, but he doesn’t repair it because he is letting go. [Ajahn Chah] [Lodging] [Relinquishment]
13. “I remember reading some stories of Ajahn Chah teaching lay people about herbal medicines. I know some Tibetan monks practice medicine. Is there such a tradition in Thailand? Are there any stores of Ajahn Chah healing people physically with traditional medicines?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Health care] [Medicinal requisites ] [Culture/Thailand] [Healing] // [Thai Forest Tradition] [History/Thai Buddhism] [Vinaya] [Right Livelihood] [Almsfood]
Recollection: Walking around the forest with Ajahn Chah. [Culture/Natural environment]
Story: Bung Wai villagers walk to Wat Pah Pong to practice meditation all night on Wan Phra. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Wat Pah Pong] [Lunar observance days] [Monastic routine] [Meditation]
Story: Por Am argues with Ajahn Chah for three days. [Doubt] [Precepts]
Story: Ajahn Chah teaches Por Am to be a herbal doctor so he can keep the precepts.
Recollection: The hunter-gatherer culture of Northeast Thailand. [Food] [Agriculture] [Killing] [Geography/Thailand]
1. “My dearest parents -in-law - very ill, 82-84 years old, live in Europe. My dear husband loves his mother very much. He said if his mother passes away, he doesn’t want to be in the funeral. I don’t think it is a good idea. How can I help him and myself in the way of Buddha mind? I am afraid my husband will break down.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Parents] [Family] [Death] [Grief] [Funerals]
2. “Please repeat the phrase that included “nimitta” and your name in some form. Can you give context/expand a little on this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nimitta] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Hindrances] [Gladdening the mind]
3. “What is the difference between loving kindness and compassion? How can one evoke/manifest them if he/she never experienced them before?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Goodwill] [Compassion] // [Visualization]
4. “It seems I have returned to remedial meditation practice. I can’t seem to find ease in my body, let alone my breath. It feels like I’m stuck in physical pain - an invisible barrier I can’t seem to penetrate. Acceptance and loving kindness are being applied, but without much movement. I am trying to develop concentration on breath - so far no pīti or sukha. What to do?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/General advice] [Pain] [Goodwill] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Meditation/Results] [Posture/Walking] [Chanting] [Cleanliness]
Quote: “One of the things that is really frustrating is waiting to get those results that we’re hoping for and feel we should be getting.”
5. “I was struck by the suggestion you shared about orienting oneself toward what one can give to a moment rather than what one can get from a moment. This mind shift seems hugely beneficial. Would you expand on this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Generosity] [Present moment awareness ] // [Patience ] [Tranquility]
Recollection: “Nine times out of ten, Ajahn Chah’s answer would be, ‘Just be patient.’” [Ajahn Chah]
Reference: Don’t Hold Back by Ajahn Pasanno
6. “Is there a difference between mindfulness and awareness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Present moment awareness] // [Language ] [Translation] [Culture/West] [Pāli] [Kamma] [Thai]
7. “As I get deeper insights how conditioned the mind is, there is a sense of burden being released but also a doubt began to arise: If the mind is conditioned, how is it even possible to arrive at the Unconditioned? Does free will even exist or am I just pushed around by kilesas? If the trick is to recognize that there is no free will, how can I sincerely believe that when I’m making choices to practice and do wholesome deeds, they really matter and it’s not my delusion? Please dispel my doubts!” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of mind ] [Doubt] [Unconditioned] [Delusion] // [Four Noble Truths] [Self-identity view] [Questions] [Conditionality]
8. “Could you describe the detail of the four noble truths? What are they? How do we apply them to real modern lives?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Four Noble Truths ] // [Suffering] [Sense restraint] [Conditionality] [Self-identity view]
9. “Please explain the seven factors of awakening and how to practice them in this retreat.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Factors of Awakening ] // [Mindfulness] [Investigation of states] [Energy] [Rapture] [Tranquility] [Concentration] [Translation] [Thai] [Equanimity] [Sloth and torpor] [Restlessness and worry]
Sutta: MN 118.30: Linear progression of the Seven Factors of Awakening.
Sutta: SN 46.53: Energizing and settling qualities.
10. “Would you please talk a little bit about determination versus compassion in meditation? For example, as long sittings can cause pain and legs to go numb, when is it good to use determination to power through? And when is it good to have compassion for the body and also not cause damage to the body, so that it can be healthy for long-term practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/General advice] [Determination] [Compassion] [Pain] // [Long-term practice] [Right Effort] [Discernment]
11. “If someone spreads a harmful story about another that is untrue, but has convinced her/himself it is true (including her/his own embellishments), does this break the fourth precept?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Malicious speech] [False speech ] // [Precepts] [Ajahn Chah] [Volition] [Truth] [Nature of mind]
Quote: “The precepts are there for training as opposed to making a legal decision or character judgement.”
12. “It’s a common phrase: “If you see the Buddha on the road, kill him.” Obviously it’s using hyperbole for effect but I think it means to trust only in your own experience. At what point do the guidelines and precepts leave off and the way to proceed on findings begins? I know it’s not a linear path, but I’d appreciate your thoughts.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Direct experience] [Precepts] [Trust] [Long-term practice] // [Zen] [Vinaya] [Dhamma] [Relinquishment] [Middle Path]
Quote: “The Vinaya and the precepts are for holding on, and the Dhamma is for letting go. When you learn how to balance those two, then you will be free from dukkha.” — Ajahn Chah to Ajahn Sumedho. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Liberation]
13. “The āsavas: Why does the mind leave (“go out”) its still center?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Outflows] [Proliferation] // [Translation] [Ignorance ] [Craving]
14. “Is it true that it’s bad or disrespectful to point one’s heel at a monk? I thought that I read or heard this somewhere. Sometimes I have felt the necessity to stretch out one leg or the other in the meditation hall, but as all the monastics sit up front, I feel that I will be pointing my heel at one monastic or another and I really don’t want to be disrespectful if this is so. Or is this worrying too much about conventions which causes suffering?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Respect] [Monastic life] [Postures] [Conventions] // [Culture/Thailand] [Culture/India] [Sutta] [Vinaya]
Vinaya: Bhikkhu Pācittiyā 51 origin story: Venerable Sāgata gets drunk on almsround. [Almsround] [Intoxicants]
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