All questions
64 events, 361 sessions, 2429 excerpts, 140:24:57 total duration
Most common topics:
Ajahn Chah
(150)
Ajahn Pasanno
(141)
Monastic life
(130)
Mindfulness of breathing
(106)
Suffering
(78)
Happiness
(70)
Proliferation
(69)
Death
(67)
Not-self
(66)
Jhāna
(63)
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1. “Could you describe pīti?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rapture] // [Concentration] [Happiness] [Energy]
2. “In light of the Buddha’s realization of the Middle Way (neither self-mortification nor indulgence) and similarly Ajahn Karunadhammo’s reflection on not holding to fixed views about success, how can one make sense of Ajahn Mun’s ascetic path that was called one of deprivation or even Ajahn Chah’s training that extended one’s limits of little food or sleep? On the faith that we’re all capable of enlightenment, how can we skillfully understand the role and necessity of austerities? How can we skillfully practice these in order to develop clarifying release as opposed to further becoming or non-becoming? And how necessary are they in light of the need for a sense of positive well-being?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Middle Path] [Ascetic practices] [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Chah] [Liberation] [Becoming] // [Spiritual urgency] [Relinquishment] [Fear]
Story: Ajahn Chah vows not to look up for a Rains Retreat. [Sense restraint] [Determination] [Rains retreat]
Story: Ajahn Chah and his monks sit for 12 hours every night for a month. [Sitter's practice]
3. “Is contentment the same as acceptance?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Contentment ] // [Happiness]
4. “Right Effort seems to be about substituting wholesome mind states for unwholesome mind states. This seems much more involved and intentional than merely knowing and letting go. How do these things go together?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Effort ] [Volition] [Mindfulness] [Relinquishment] // [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities] [Discernment] [Intuition] [Consciousness] [Volitional formations]
5. “Ajahn, can you see into our minds?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Psychic powers]
6. “What does deeping the practice mean? This inner sense of expansion and one-pointedness at the same time feels non-directional, and yet there are different spaces available to us.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Spaciousness] [Unification] // [Discernment] [Faith]
7. “I’ve been practicing mindfulness of breathing for over 15 years, and to be honest, my meditation periods consist of nearly constant daydreaming, planning, etc. It hardly seems useful. Maybe it’s time to try body sweeping or contemplation meditation or something else. What do you think?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Meditation/Techniques] [Meditation/Results] // [Buddho mantra] [Body scanning] [Unattractiveness] [Desire] [Recollection]
8. “What are the last two [Bases of Success]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Bases of Success]
9. “A devoted practitioner over many years, a friend of mine, decided to call herself an atheist. Although Buddhism is over, she kept her shrine. Can beginning dementia erase something that was so important to her? This is worrisome if this could happen.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddhist identity] [Atheism/agnosticism] [Sickness] // [Spiritual friendship] [Kamma]
10. “Can you speak about intuitive/esoteric meditation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/Techniques] // [Ajahn Pasanno]
Sutta: SN 47.9.4: The Buddha never taught with a closed fist. [Teaching Dhamma]
11. “Did the Buddha give any teaching on nurturing or expanding our relationship with plants and animals?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Animal] [Environment] // [Killing] [Vinaya] [Consciousness]
Vinaya: Bhikkhu Pācittiyā 11 origin story: A bhikkhu cuts down a tree and harms a deva’s child. [Deva]
12. “Day three blues. These retreats are difficult. How do I keep ending up here?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation retreats] [Suffering]
13. “What did you say, getting aware of the hindrances is the foundation of what? Gradually being aware of the hindrances—does that mean transformation to something else for good?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances] [Investigation of states] // [Relinquishment] [Happiness]
14. “To find out for ourselves may still be an individual truth. Wouldn’t the ultimate truth, the absolute truth, have the same flavor for everybody?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unconditioned ] // [Personality] [Cessation of Suffering] [Great disciples] [Commentaries]
Sutta: AN 8.19.16: The taste of liberation. [Similes]
15. “The need to give love and receive love is a basic human need by most standards. What is the Pāli word for love, and what did the Buddha teach about it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relationships] [Pāli] // [Goodwill] [Clinging] [Grief]
Sutta: MN 87: Born from those Who Are Dear.
Sutta: MN 21.20: The Simile of the Saw.
16. “Can you describe the different hand mudras and how to use them as a touchpoint? Can you give an instruction about how to anchor with the breath?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mudra] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Theravāda]
Reference: Earlier question about anchoring the breath.
1. “...a bit of my body moves around. A lay teacher called this the cosmic chiropractor. It is usually pleasant, but can be unpleasant. What are your thoughts about this, and how would you work with this energy?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/Unusual experiences] // [Mindfulness of body] [Body scanning] [Mindfulness of breathing]
2. “If there is no self, why do you think we are here, alive on Earth as individuals?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Not-self] [Purpose/meaning] // [Craving] [Ignorance] [Self-identity view] [Saṃsāra]
Sutta: SN 15.1: “A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on, hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving.”—Bhikkhu Bodhi translation.
3. “Can dogs wake up? I notice my doggies like to sit close to me when I do sitting meditation.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Animal] // [Human] [Rebirth] [Delusion]
4. “Please kindly explain the four pairs and the eight kinds of noble beings (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 7).” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Stages of awakening] // [Saṅgha] [Pāli]
5. “Please speak to judgement, both from the perspective of subject and object.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Judgementalism] // [Views] [Christianity] [Suffering] [Conceit]
6. “I want to let go of things that I dislike as fast as possible. How do I do that?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aversion] [Relinquishment] // [Suffering] [Craving not to become] [Drawbacks]
7. “My breath seems to have a mind/ego of its own. Whenever I start to pay attention to it, it will breathe unnaturally. Sometimes my breathing gets laborious. Lately I even have a hard time breathing naturally when I’m not sitting. How do I approach my breath gently so that it won’t mind me watching it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Meditation/Unusual experiences] // [Present moment awareness] [Tranquility]
Story: When he was a young monk, Ajahn Pasanno’s breath becomes comfortable after he stops meditating. [Ajahn Pasanno]
8. “How did Ajahn Chah communicate to the Western monks?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Western Ajahn Chah lineage] [Language] // [Intuition] [Direct experience]
Quote: “Teaching Westerners is easy. Just like teaching buffaloes.” — Ajahn Chah. [Humor]
Quote: “Practicing Dhamma isn’t about the language, it’s about the experience.” — Ajahn Chah.
9. “How can one skillfully investigate feelings without simply getting lost in analytical thought?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of feeling] [Proliferation] // [Suffering] [Directed thought and evaluation]
Quote: “The best investigation takes place when the mind is very still and not formulating a lot of ideas.” [Insight meditation] [Tranquility] [Direct experience]
10. “Can you speak a little more about the essential differences between working with vedanā, the hindrances, and mind states and the differences and similarities between ‘spiritual’ use of this and more psychological/personal growth oriented [approaches]? Is there a difference?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of feeling] [Hindrances] [Mindfulness of dhammas] [Western psychology] // [Impermanence] [Suffering] [Not-self] [Self-identity view] [Happiness] [Generosity] [Virtue]
11. “Might you speak about the heat in Buddhism?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Heart/mind] // [Language]
12. “If the Buddha were alive today, what question would it be most important for you to ask of him?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Meditation]
13. “Can you repeat the instruction regarding breathing in using the words pīti and happiness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Rapture] [Happiness] // [Mindfulness of feeling] [Volitional formations]
Sutta: MN 118.19: The second anāpānāsati tetrad Chanting Book translation.
14. “Was Ajahn Chah fully liberated? Do you know any living being who is?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Arahant]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah likened people speculating about his attainments to birds chattering in a tree. [Stages of awakening] [Similes]
15. “What can help morph endurance into patience?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Patience] // [Present moment awareness] [Perfections] [Equanimity]
Sutta: Dhp 184: Patience is the supreme destroyer of defilements Chanting Book translation.
16. “Dhammas arise and cease—nothing personal. How does that relate to our personal kamma?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Impermanence] [Not-self] [Kamma ]
Quote: “Nothing personal, but nobody else gets it either!”
17. “What are hallmarks or signs or markers of stream entry? Is this a realistic goal for a modern lay person?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stream entry ] [Lay life] // [Faith] [Three Refuges] [Virtue] [Self-identity view] [Attachment to precepts and practices] [Doubt]
Quote: “If you’re going to have a goal in life, this is the one to have.” [Purpose/meaning]
Sutta: SN 55.5: Sāriputta teaches four factors of stream entry. [Factors for stream entry] [Association with people of integrity] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Appropriate attention] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]
1. “How would you investigate despair and fear? What does investigation look like?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Depression] [Fear] [Investigation of states] // [Present moment awareness] [Direct experience]
2. Comment: This retreat feels like specializing in silence. [Meditation retreats] [Seclusion]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Community]
3. “I am working with a repetitive thought that is bringing up doubt, worry, and anxiety. It seems strong, sneaky, nagging, and insistent. I must be feeding it somehow, or why would it keep coming up again and again? How to work with a repetitive thought?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Proliferation] [Doubt] [Restlessness and worry] [Nutriment] // [Directed thought and evaluation] [Drawbacks] [Human] [Relinquishment]
Sutta: MN 20: The Removal of Distracting Thoughts. [Similes]
4. “Please help with a right understanding of the reflection on the 32 parts. I have had problems with this for two reasons: 1) The ‘bag of the body’ is not sealed. Gases, liquids, and solids pass continually in and out of it. 2) Unattractive...hmmm. It does seem to correct any idealized fantasy of the body to keep from falling of the path into a ditch of sensuous indulgence, however, might the squeamish and highly opinionated view expressed in this reflection lead to the equivalent of falling into the ditch on the other side? After all, I’m grateful to the bones, blood, pus, sweat, etc. that keep the old body ticking along.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unattractiveness] [Body/form] [Sensual desire] [Gratitude] // [Aversion]
Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 184: A bag with nine holes.
Vinaya: Bhikkhu Pārājikā 3: Monks obsessed with unattractiveness commit suicide. [Suicide] [Mindfulness of breathing]
5. “Kindly comment on the differences in meaning and in experience between the sensual desire of taṇhā and the hindrance of sensual desire associated with chanda, the neutral desire.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sensual desire] [Craving] [Desire] // [Pāli]
6. “Is Nibbāna the ending of kamma or rather the fruition of skillful kamma? What is meant by kamma that results in neither good nor bad kamma in light of the Buddha’s explanation of the four kinds of action (MN 57.7)? How to understand volition/intention in relation to kamma and Nibbāna?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nibbāna] [Kamma] [Volition] // [Suffering] [Rebirth] [Non-identification]
Sutta: AN 6.63.33: The formula of the Four Noble Truths applied to kamma. [Four Noble Truths]
Quote: “For an enlightened being, there is no response to the human condition other than compassion.” — Ajahn Māha Boowa. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Arahant] [Compassion] [Human]
7. “It seems that letting go is a process, and it doesn’t happen quickly. Is this true for you, or can you let go immediately?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relinquishment] [Ajahn Pasanno]
8. “In today’s talk, you said thought, feeling, and experiences are not-self, not personal, and to approach them as such. Yet in a previous talk, it was said that all of our experiences are the fruit of our action, our kamma. If we each have unique and personal kamma, how can this not be a sense of self, and how can we know how to approach different experiences?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Not-self] [Kamma] [Personality] // [Conditionality] [Impermanence]
9. “Could you talk a little bit on karma or kamma? We’re here, living cushy lives in comparison, clean water, comfortable houses, food, because of past good deeds. Can you explain why one might be reborn into hunger, AIDS, civil war, etc.?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Kamma] [Poverty] // [Conditionality] [Nature of the cosmos] [Rebirth]
Sutta: AN 4.77.
10. “Can, and if so, how, may one formally take refuge as your lay disciple? Do you think it is useful if one is genuine and sincere about it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ceremony/ritual] [Teachers] [Lay life] [Three Refuges] // [Buddha/Biography] [Ordination]
Quote: “As we continue to explore these refuges, it forms the core or kernel of liberation.” [Liberation]
Recollections of Ajahn Māha Boowa responding to Dhamma questions by mail. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Teaching Dhamma] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Ajahn Pasanno]
11. “Why such a big deal about suffering? Why trying to get out when we know it’s impermanent?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] [Escape] [Impermanence]
12. “Kindly share another story of Ajahn Chah. They delight and inspire.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Stories]
Story from Ajahn Chah: Two mating lizards fall out of a tree. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Almsround] [Sensual desire] [Drawbacks]
Quote: “Is it suffering?” [Admonishment/feedback]
13. “We see the suffering that follows when the housebuilder saṅkhāra builds again (Dhp 153-154), yet humans are storytelling animals. Culture, even pop culture, can inspire. Any comment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] [Volitional formations] [Cultural context] [Faith]
14. “I can know and let go of a past hurt, but what is a good Buddhist to do when the hurt is direct and in your face? For example, repeated verbal abuse by my partner? Lovingkindness can only go so far.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relinquishment] [Abuse/violence ] [Buddhist identity] [Harsh speech] [Relationships] [Goodwill] // [Buddha/Biography] [Vinaya] [Admonishment/feedback]
Ajahn Pasanno recounts the mistakes he made admonishing monks as a new abbot. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Abbot] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Right Speech]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah was the person with the most lovingkindness I ever met, but if somebody was out of line, they would know about it. [Ajahn Chah]
Story: Ajahn Chah admonishes a big Western monk. [Truth]
15. “I notice how my mind not only loves story, but it also loves to be the main character. When I sit down at the mealtime or cross paths in the hall, I watch the mind become restless, thoughts of how I am affecting others or what other are thinking of me. Is this conceit? Shall I continue to watch this feeling like all others? Any advice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Proliferation] [Restlessness and worry] [Conceit] // [Drawbacks] [Relinquishment]
16. “Please clarify the meaning of ‘the Solitary Buddha is my noble Lord (Abhayagiri Chanting Book, p. 27).’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Paccekabuddha] // [Three Refuges] [Buddha] [Devotional practice]
Note: The newer Amaravati Chanting Book translates this as ‘noble guide.’
1. “This morning I had my brightest, deepest, most still meditation ever. As I sensed the hour coming to an end, I counted my breaths down to 100, knowing you would ring the bell during that time. When I got to zero, no bell. So I decided to hold my breath until I heard the bell. Luckily, you rang it right then. What did the Buddha teach regarding synchronicities?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Time] // [Concentration] [Psychic powers]
Sutta: AN 4.77: Inconceivable Matters.
2. “Ajahn, how are you doing? Is teaching a retreat as busy as being involved at the monastery? It is so pleasant to have a group of monastics here. Chanting and the whole energy is like sweet medicine. Wishing you all well, and thank you so much for coming here.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Meditation retreats] [Teaching Dhamma] [Monastic life] [Gratitude]
3. “Today there will be hundreds of thousands of turkeys killed for Thanksgiving dinner. Can we dedicate our evening chanting to them? May they be reborn as humans and practice Dhamma.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Animal] [Killing] [Chanting] // [Festival days]
4. “What did the Buddha say about karma in relationship to our parents and siblings? How did we end up in these families?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Kamma ] [Family ] // [Gratitude] [Parents]
Sutta: MN 117.7: Conventional Right View. [Right View]
5. “As mindfulness has increased, I find fighting drowsiness directly can empower it. I’m drawn to stepping into the experience, feeling the strong pull into mental proliferation, and gently grounding the mind back into stronger physical feeling. I slip in repeatedly but find that I can eventually make the mind stable and bright. Is this a handy strategy or a more long-term approach in knowing and dismantling the hindrances?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sloth and torpor] [Mindfulness of body] [Hindrances] // [Craving not to become]
6. “When preparing to meditate, is it better to have going in an issue that you want to spend your time on or to get into the meditation and allow the mind to settle on an issue that arises?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/General advice]
7. “The Buddha wasn’t tortured like Jesus. Why did he set such high standards to tolerate pain with equanimity (MN 21.20)? Almost impossible to do for a human. Maybe som Tibetan monks can endure Chinese torture in such a detached way.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abuse/violence] // [Cessation of Suffering] [Liberation]
Sutta: AN 4.161-163: Modes of practice.
8. “How does one contemplate the Eight Worldly Dhammas?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Worldly Conditions ] [Recollection] // [Craving] [Arahant] [Pain] [Naturalness]
Quote: “Even if someone calls you a dog, all you’ve got to do is look to see if you have a tail.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Harsh speech] [Blame and praise] [Culture/Thailand]
9. “Could you explain the Saṅgha described in the chants (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 7) versus lay saṅgha?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Saṅgha ] [Chanting] [Lay life] // [Stages of awakening] [Monastic life]
10. “If I understand this afternoon’s reflection correctly, then the body is capable of responding to things independently of the mind. So while I may have learned to refrain from facial, verbal, and other expressions of anger, impatience, humiliation, etc., the body may still respond. As I sit now, day after day, I feel all of that stored up tension in my neck and waves of anxiety in my belly. How to help the body release the pent-up emotions I have stuffed?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Body/form ] [Heart/mind] [Aversion] [Emotion] // [Conditionality] [Tranquility] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Sutta: SN 54.8: “When I practiced mindfulness of breathing, neither my body nor my eyes were tired.” [Buddha/Biography]
11. “Is there a Buddhist equivalent or analog to the soul?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of mind] // [Cause of Suffering] [Self-identity view] [Not-self] [Translation] [Pāli] [Middle Path]
12. “When you do ānāpānasati, do you do all 16 steps in a row? When or how do you decide to move on to the next step or is it more free-form than that?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Desire]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta.
13. “What is the difference in practice between mindfulness, vipassanā (insight), and concentration (samatha)? How does directed and non-directed practice fit here? To build continuity, what about time not in formal practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Insight meditation] [Calming meditation] [Concentration] [Continuity of mindfulness] // [Everyday life] [Precepts] [Perfections] [Spiritual friendship]
14. “Regarding the bare mind separate from its object, which of the Five Aggregates is it? Presumably even this mind is impermanent, yes?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of mind] [Aggregates] [Impermanence] // [Liberation] [Language]
Sutta: MN 43.9: Feeling, perception, and consciousness are conjoined.
15. “Can one enter the absorptive states through mindfulness of breathing or is single-pointed jhāna meditation required?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Jhāna] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Sutta: MN 39.15: Descriptions of jhāna.
16. “I’m struggling with body pain while sitting in meditation. I realize shifting my body position causes me to temporarily lose my concentration. At times I can sit with the pain; other times I am concerned that I may be injuring my back or knees. How is most beneficial to work with this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pain] [Posture/Sitting] [Concentration] // [Tranquility] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Meditation retreats] [Mindfulness]
Quote: “Chickens sit on their nest for long periods of time, and I don’t see them getting enlightened.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Liberation]
Quote: “You’re never going to be comfortable in a human body.” [Human]
17. “Please speak about ‘unburdened with duties’ (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 37). I notice it’s not ‘unburdened by duties.’ Does this mean we should attempt to minimize our responsibilities? What does this have to do with metta?—From a chronically busy person.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Work] [Simplicity ] [Goodwill] // [Restlessness and worry]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 41: “May I abide in well-being.”
18. “Might you expound on the aspect of Right Intention? Also, are the Five Spiritual Powers meant to be the positive side of the coin in correlation to the Five Hindrances? Also, what is saṃvega?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Intention] [Faculties] [Hindrances] [Spiritual urgency] // [Idealism] [Skillful qualities]
19. “Today I had pure moments of concentration on bliss. No matter what I did, I felt fully present, aware, and mindful. Does that mean I was an enlightened being for a few minutes? Too bad I lost concentration when I started writing this!” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Happiness] [Meditation/Results] [Liberation]
20. “What or how was the father-son relationship of the Buddha and his son Rāhula? Are there any suttas or teachings in regards to their own relationship and their family?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha/Biography ] [Parents] [Family] // [Ordination]
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.54: Rāhula asks for his inheritance. [Great disciples] [Novices]
Sutta: MN 61: Teachings to Rāhula as a boy. [False speech]
Sutta: MN 62: Comprehensive teachings to Rāhula.
Vinaya: Bhikkhu Pācittiyā 5.2.1: Lodgings for Rāhula.
1. Comment: Dear Ajahn, You and your crew have been and continue to be so generous with us. This abundant generosity is such an incredible teaching. It seems as though it’s the stuff that may save the planet. [Generosity ]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Teaching Dhamma] [Culture/Thailand] [Children]
Reference: Vessantara Jātaka [Jātaka Tales]
2. “As followers of the Buddha and with the world going to the hell realms in a handbasket, must we save the world? May we use our lives to develop wisdom and compassion and see what flows from there?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddhist identity] [Politics and society] [Discernment] [Compassion]
3. “I am wondering about how to address social anxiety. For me it seems important in terms of continuity of practice. However, I’ve never heard any teachings about it. Did the Buddha ever teach talking meditation or some equivalent?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Community] [Fear] [Right Speech] // [False speech] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Mindfulness of body] [Tranquility]
Sutta: MN 10.8. [Clear comprehension]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno gives a talk during his first trip back to Canada.
4. “Could you speak about the place of renunciation in lay life, especially marriage and family? As the years of practice go by, I feel less and less interest and connection with so much of our society and what it offers. Unfortunately, I also get attached to my views, and so judgements of others who don’t see it this way. My wife and family know this about me, and fortunately we still love and tolerate each other.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Renunciation] [Lay life] [Family] [Views]
Story: A monk “lets go” by not repairing the roof of his hut. [Ajahn Chah] [Lodging] [Relinquishment]
5. “Regarding the four responsibilities [corresponding to the Four Noble Truths]: 1) Are the three kinds of dukkha equivalent to fully understanding dukkha, anatta, and anicca? 2) Is full understanding of the First Noble Truth equivalent to full realization of the Third?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Four Noble Truths] [Suffering] [Characteristics of existence] [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering] // [Nibbāna]
6. “Teachings on metta have led me to wonder about the second kind of love. It seems that holding people dear to us, especially family, is very natural. The inevitable loss also seems natural, a loss we all learn from. How to think about this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Goodwill] [Clinging] [Family] [Naturalness] [Impermanence] [Grief] // [Compassion]
7. “What is the meaning of life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Purpose/meaning]
8. “What is a good way to cultivate forgiveness and compassion deeper in the heart? What are genuine signs of progress?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Forgiveness] [Compassion] // [Suffering] [Ignorance]
Sutta: SN 15.1: “Bound by ignorance and obstructed by craving.”
9. “By chanting the Supreme Praise of the Buddha, Dhamma and Saṅgha (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 23), we bow and ask for forgiveness and set a new intention. Although I don’t know any specific offense, is this general (just in case)? What if there are specific offenses? Is it enough to hold them in awareness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Chanting] [Three Refuges] [Forgiveness] // [Humility]
10. “Can you say more about the teaching, “It’s unfair!” that Debbie spoke about given by Ajahn Sumedho?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Idealism] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Debbie Stamp] // [Human] [Saṃsāra] [Impermanence]
12. “Would you please share on the meaning of ‘practicing with integrity’ (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 7)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Truth ] // [Pāli]
14. “In one meditation, I had the sure knowledge for a few moments that all the versions of me throughout life until the present were and are fabrications, that there is no time but the present and nothing but experience through the six sense bases and what the mind makes of it. Then a big wave of fear came into the mind, “I’m going nuts, coming unglued, unhinged, unmoored!” I swam back to safety. Was I going nuts? Or if this was experiential insight, why so scary? What allows insight to be stabilized and integrated?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Insight meditation] [Time] [Not-self] [Fear] // [Self-identity view] [Habits] [Gradual Teaching] [Spiritual friendship] [Characteristics of existence]
Sutta: The Buddha is a kalyāṇa-mitta for the world. [Buddha]
15. “Would you contrast the samatha transformation of the Five Hindrances with the vipassanā approach of uprooting them? Is there an integration of the two?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Calming meditation] [Insight meditation] [Hindrances ] // [Stages of awakening]
16. “In a discourse to the young Sigāla (DN 31.10), the Buddha advises against singing, dancing, and attending fairs. But fairs are fun, and song and dance can inspire. Please comment.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Entertainment and adornment] // [Intoxicants] [Restlessness and worry] [Culture/Thailand]
Story: Two or three villagers were killed at local fairs while Ajahn Pasanno was abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Killing]
Story: Master Hua discourages Rev. Heng Sure from giving away his instruments. [Rev. Heng Sure] [Artistic expression] [Vinaya] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Teaching Dhamma]
Story: Old habits arise during a recording session. [Habits] [Self-identity view]
17. Comment: Witnessing the cessation after the exhalation benefitted this morning’s meditation a lot. Thank you for the wonderful tool. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Cessation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
18. “Thank you for your patience and assistance to fearlessly enter the dark an untamed forest of our minds. What or how would you suggest in terms of habits and practices that we may skillfully observe or interact with the sleepy mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sloth and torpor] // [Mindfulness of breathing] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Posture/Lying down]
Quote: “Did you fall asleep on the in-breath or the out-breath?” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno places glasses of water around his body to cultivate mindfulness while sleeping. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Determination] [Rains retreat] [Mindfulness]
19. “I really enjoyed the talk this morning on understanding dukkha, abandoning the cause, realizing the cessation, and understanding the path. In the Dhammacakkha Sutta (SN 56.11), it talks about the three phases and 12 aspects regarding the Four Noble Truths. What are these? Does this tie in with what you talked about this morning?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Four Noble Truths]
20. “I could use some practical tips from the Buddhist perspective on decision making. When faced with a decision, I tend to get overwhelmed and freeze up. This can be with big life decisions and even with what meditation object to use. I feel like I have so many choices; this feels like a blessing and a curse.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Everyday life] [Doubt] [Discernment] // [Culture/West] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Mindfulness of body]
1. “Is it possible for a layperson to become an arahant? If so, is it appropriate to leave the lay life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Lay life] [Arahant] [Monastic life]
2. “Does one need permission from one’s spouse to take robes?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ordination] [Relationships] // [Buddha/Biography]
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.54.4.
3. “Do you think that a person needs to be on a long silent retreat in order to enter the stream?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation retreats] [Stream entry] // [Hearing the true Dhamma]
4. “It’s interesting how no-self is not the same as having no free will. What do you think?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Not-self] [Volition ] [Philosophy] // [Self-identity view] [Kamma] [Volitional formations]
5. “When my breathing gets very fine, I notice that my head and body will subtly lean forward. Is this common?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Posture/Sitting] // [Becoming] [Body/form]
6. “Whenever I try mindful breathing when trying to fall asleep, I get really alert and can’t fall asleep. What is your advice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Devotion to wakefulness ] // [Tranquility] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Time management]
Quote: “That mindfulness is also a resting.” [Mindfulness]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno meets a monk who didn’t sleep for a month. [Tudong] [Seclusion] [Rains retreat] [Concentration]
7. “What do you think about caffeine consumption? I have a love/hate relationship with this substance, leaning towards dependency. It is socially acceptable, but I wonder sometimes. It can have quite an effect on the mind.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Medicinal requisites] [Addiction] // [Ajahn Pasanno]
8. “Could we get the words of the monks’ reflection before eating their food?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Almsfood] [Recollection]
Sutta: MN 2.14, Chanting Book translation.
9. “Regarding generosity, it has been said that the merit one makes by giving is conditioned by the virtue of the recipients. For example, more merit to give food to a good monk than to an alcoholic homeless man. How is this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Generosity] [Merit] [Virtue] // [Association with people of integrity] [Hearing the true Dhamma]
10. “I am unable at this point to wrap my understanding around no-self. I feel truth in that form is not self, feeling is not self, perception, mental formations, and consciousness is not self. How can we be sure self is not hiding somewhere we haven’t looked? How do I cultivate an understanding of non-self? Isn’t that part of us that continually takes rebirth self or soul?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Not-self] [Aggregates] [Rebirth] // [Spiritual traditions] [Impermanence] [Suffering] [History/Indian Buddhism] [Discrimination]
Sutta: SN 22.96: A Lump of Cow Dung. [Liberation]
Sutta: SN 22.59 Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Chanting Book translation).
11. “What is the value of generosity if someone is getting rich unlawfully and then gives part of it to charity?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Generosity ] [Crime] // [Kamma] [Culture/Thailand] [Hearing the true Dhamma]
Story: Ajahn Chah advises the owner of a string of nightclubs to change occupations. [Ajahn Chah] [Intoxicants] [Right Livelihood] [Precepts]
12. “Ajahn, would it be okay with you if we take pictures tomorrow at the closing ceremony when you are receiving your gifts? Thank you for sharing your clarity and kindness with us.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation retreats] // [Abhayagiri] [Dhamma online]
13. “Thank you for helping me get my practice out of the ditch and on to a mindful path. The retreat was the best gift I’ve had in many years. Thanks to all involved in the event.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation retreats] [Gratitude] // [Generosity]
14. “I find the translation of nirodha as ‘don’t make it a problem’ delightful. Is there anything you might add in its relationship to Dependent Origination?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Cessation] [Translation] [Dependent origination]
Sutta: SN 56.11.11 (Amaravati Chanting Book Volume 2, p. 10): “Whatever is of the nature to arise, all that is of the nature to cease.”
15. “It has been helpful to pay attention to the gap between the out-breath and the subsequent in-breath. There feels to be a waiting or assumption that there is a next breath. What is paid attention to after the last breath?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Death] // [Knowing itself ] [Faith] [Calming meditation] [Tranquility] [Jhāna] [Ajahn Chah]
Quote: “I’m preparing to die.” — The Dalai Lama. [Dalai Lama] [Meditation]
16. “In the cosmology of the ‘hairball of humanity,’ is the cat who spat up the hairball considered a brahma god?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of the cosmos] [Humor]
17. “Would you please define the khandha of perception? How does it differ from feeling and consciousness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Aggregates] [Feeling] [Consciousness] // [Sense bases] [Memory]
18. “I’m having a doubt attack. It all seems too deep and unfathomable and too many aeons plus unending kamma with nothing solid to hold on to. I’m overwhelmed.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Doubt] [Nature of the cosmos ] [Kamma] // [Saṃsāra] [Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering]
19. “Could you share a story or reflection about your young disciple Todd?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Children] // [Sickness] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Generosity] [Health care] [Death] [Dreams]
Reference: Like a River: The Life of a Boy Named Todd by Ajahn Pasanno.
Stories about Todd’s generosity and purity of heart.
20. “I have found Buddhist philosophy and meditation to be so helpful in this life. However, I am challenged by the concept of reincarnation, especially when the texts describe the hell realms, such as hungry ghosts, whose throats are narrow as needles and cannot pass food and water. Or hot realms of fire or even the god realms of excess desire. This sounds very different from the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The concept of reincarnation was around before the Buddha. Can you explain how one should understand reincarnation? Is it literal or myth or what?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rebirth] [Realms of existence ] [Four Noble Truths] [Eightfold Path] [Culture/India] // [Nature of the cosmos] [Culture/West] [Western psychology] [Right View] [Kamma] [Self-identity view]
Sutta: MN 117.7: Conventional Right View.
21. “As I understand Ajahn Sumedho in The Sound of Silence and Stephen Batchelor, they do not believe in rebirth or reincarnation in a literal sense. What is your belief and understanding in regards to this? Stephen in particular says this is a holdover from the society the Buddha was born into and not really his teaching. He also comments that the Buddha was more interested in creating a new civilization than individual enlightenment. Please comment.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Stephen Batchelor] [Rebirth] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/India] [Buddha/Biography] [Politics and society] // [Sutta] [Teaching Dhamma] [Liberation]
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.6: The Buddha’s activities after his Awakening.
22. “Following the rapture/bliss of realization of deep insight of the sort the questioner posed last night, ther inevitably seems to follow a ‘spiritual narcissism’ and other vipassanā defilements. Perhaps these are the same old obstructions, just repackaged, but they seem more insidious. Any special advice or experience to share working through these?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rapture] [Insight meditation] [Conceit] [Defilements of insight] // [Suffering]
23. “What is the difference between the fetter of self-view and the fetter of ‘I am?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Fetters] [Self-identity view] [Conceit] // [Aggregates] [Stream entry] [Arahant]
24. “What do the words, ‘Gate gate, parasamgate, bodhi svaha’ mean?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mantra] // [Mahāyāna]
Reference: The Heart of Prajna Paramita Sutra.
25. “What is the funniest story from your life as a monk? We humans love stories.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Humor] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life]
26. “Does nirodha also mean cessation, no problem? I have been using nirodha to note cessation of the out-breath. Is that correct?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Cessation] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Noting]
27. “Is dispassion the same as equanimity?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dispassion] [Equanimity] // [Conditionality] [Factors of Awakening]
28. Comment: Not only has the Saṅgha practiced well, it has also questioned well. Much gratitude to you all for holding the space, and to Ajahn Pasanno and his crew for an enlightening retreat. May we all grow in Dhamma for the benefit of all beings. [Saṅgha] [Questions] [Gratitude]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Desire] [Teaching Dhamma]
29. “What it the Pāli word translated as dispassion? What is the relationship between dispassion and equanimity?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dispassion] [Pāli] [Equanimity]
30. “Can you review the antidotes to the Five Hindrances and to the defilements?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances] [Unwholesome Roots]
31. “I think about sharing the Dhamma with my family. Any suggestions on where to start? Has your family taken to the teachings since you’ve been on the path?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Teaching Dhamma] [Family ] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Habits] [Non-contention] [Renunciation] [Amaravati]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s sister and her six-week-old baby attend his first meditation retreat in Canada. [Meditation retreats]
32. “What would be your advice on how to approach the study and practice of the Abhidhamma?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhidhamma ] // [Ajahn Chah] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Culture/Other Theravāda traditions]
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