All questions
80 events, 429 sessions, 3048 excerpts, 175:27:55 total duration
Most common topics:
Ajahn Chah
(180)
Ajahn Pasanno
(180)
Monastic life
(157)
Mindfulness of breathing
(138)
Suffering
(116)
Proliferation
(94)
Happiness
(92)
Not-self
(85)
Self-identity view
(80)
Death
(76)
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1. “The reflection on kamma (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 55) uses language related to family: ‘born,’ ‘heir,’ ‘related’, ‘supported.’ What are the implications of this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Kamma] [Family] [Language] // [Community] [Perception]
2. “I have a family and family responsibilities. How do I know I’m on the path and making right effort?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Family] [Right Effort] [Doubt] // [Four Noble Truths] [Culture/West] [Mindfulness of feeling] [Direct experience]
3. “How do I know what is the Middle Path?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Middle Path] // [Four Noble Truths] [Direct experience]
Quote: “It’s not a concept. It’s like are you on your bike or are you on the ground?” — Ajahn Amaro.
4. “You spoke about the teachings and the training. What is the training for a lay practitioner other than the Five Precepts?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Dhamma] [Vinaya] [Lay life] [Five Precepts] // [Meditation] [Communal harmony] [Right Livelihood] [Family] [Work] [Politics and society] [Spiritual friendship]
5. “Could you speak more about how to prevent feelings from becoming aversion or desire? How does this relate to Dependent Origination?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Feeling] [Aversion] [Craving] [Dependent origination] // [Arahant] [Buddha] [Pain] [Mindfulness] [Birth] [Impermanence] [Happiness] [Direct experience] [Proliferation] [Master Hsuan Hua]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno breaks his pelvis in Thailand. [Ajahn Pasanno]
1. Comment: I listen to the talks and read the books, and everything is so logical and rational, but I’m still stuck in habitual patterns of living. [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Dhamma books] [Everyday life] [Habits ]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Association with people of integrity] [Community] [Monasteries] [Lunar observance days] [Online community] [Chanting] [Spiritual friendship] [Impermanence] [Monastic life/Motivation] [Generosity]
Quote: “When you’re living with a group of people, not everybody is depressed and lazy and fed up at the same time.” [Unwholesome Roots]
Sutta: SN 55.5 Sāriputta [Factors for stream entry]
2. “Early on in practice, I learned that practicing sīla (virtue) leads to the bliss of the blamelessness life and creates the conditions for samādhi. What is the Pāli word that translates to ‘the bliss of the blameless life?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Virtue ] [Merit] [Happiness ] [Concentration] [Pāli] // [Right Livelihood] [Generosity] [Right Intention]
Quote: “Sīla is the opportunity to rise up to a life of integrity.”
3. Comment: Sīla (virtue) is like a compass. You know if you’re off. [Virtue]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] [Feeling]
Quote: “The language of Dhamma is the language of feeling.” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Dhamma]
4. Comment by Rik Center: I’m appreciative of Zoom. It’s helpful on many levels, but I’m missing the actual physical presence. [Online community] [Pandemic] [Community]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Human] [Monasteries]
1. “Can you provide some pros and cons of personal writing/journaling while on retreat?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Meditation retreats] [Artistic expression] [Benefit/gratification] [Drawbacks] // [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Recollection] [Meditation] [Proliferation] [Sense bases]
2. “Is it accurate to describe mindfulness as a gatekeeper with four duties: 1) Recognize what’s entering the mind. 2) Discern if it should enter or not. 3) Allow it if it’s wholesome. 4) And prevent it if it’s not conducive to well-being and happiness?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Mindfulness] [Similes] [Discernment] [Right Effort] // [Right Mindfulness] [Mindfulness of body] [Mindfulness of feeling] [Mindfulness of mind] [Mindfulness of dhammas] [Clear comprehension] [Proliferation]
Sutta: AN 7.67.7: Gatekeeper simile.
Sutta: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta.
3. A question regarding sampajañña: “Alert, wisdom: are they the same or different? Please explain.” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Clear comprehension ] [Discernment] [Translation] // [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro]
Sutta: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta.
Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 431: Sampajañña is another word for wisdom. [Characteristics of existence]
Sutta: MN 10.8: Sampajañña as clear awareness of bodily activity.
Sutta: SN 47.35: Sampajañña is knowing feeling, perception, and thoughts arising and ceasing. [Mindfulness] [Impermanence]
Sutta: MN 123.22: Clear comprehension is a wonderful and marvelous quality of the Tathāgata. [Buddha]
4. “Can you talk more about the [Thanksgiving Retreat] theme this year on enjoyment? How did you come to the theme? What is the motivation behind it? Is there a Pāli word that describes the theme?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Happiness] [Pāli] // [Suffering] [Culture/West] [Culture/India] [Precepts] [Gladdening the mind] [Recollection/Virtue] [Calming meditation]
Quote: “Every part of the Eightfold Path is enjoyable.” — Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Eightfold Path] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Recollection] [Concentration]
Reflection: I used to care a lot about having fun, but I wasn’t happy. Now I don’t care about having fun, and I’m a lot happier. [Entertainment and adornment ] [Temple Monastery] [Recreation/leisure/sport]
1. “How about a teaching that is aspirational yet practical approach to stream entry? Or if stream entry is to rigid of a topic, how about talking about path and fruition?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Stream entry] [Stages of awakening] // [Precepts] [Learning] [Ordination] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Faith] [Ajahn Chah] [Becoming] [Insight meditation] [Requisites] [Unattractiveness]
Story: Dabba Mallaputta becomes an arahant at age seven while his head is being shaved. [Great disciples] [Arahant] [Impermanence]
Reference: Dabba Mallaputta, The Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names by G P Malalasekera.
2. “I was investigating, and it seems that the body still wants to breathe to continue the life of the body saṅkhāras. Could the venerable ones speak more to this please?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of body] [Volitional formations]
3. “I am not able to ordain but would like to dedicate my life to the Dhamma. I have lived by Five Precepts for decades, but wonder if you can talk about taking Eight Precepts as a lay person and how possible/difficult that would be. Should one go to a monastery to take the Eight Precepts?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Dhamma] [Purpose/meaning] [Eight Precepts ] [Lay life] // [Family]
Story of a Thai couple dedicated to the Dhamma. [Health care] [Dhamma books] [Merit] [Building projects] [Temporary ordination]
Reflection: People who have insight into the Dhamma are humble and generous. [Humility ] [Generosity] [Stream entry] [Conceit]
4. “In this morning’s pūjā, we chanted the Reflection on the Four Requisites (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 53). Each reflection begins with the Pāli word yoniso, which is translated as wisely reflecting. This translation is almost always identical to another Pāli term, yoniso manasikāra, which is translated as wise reflection. How does the meaning of yoniso change when manasikāra is added? What does the new word mean?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Requisites] [Appropriate attention] [Pāli] [Translation] // [Recollection] [Unattractiveness] [Dispassion] [Sense bases] [Four Noble Truths] [Faith] [Stream entry]
Reflection from the Thai Ajahns: Treat your stomach like a container that you fill up just enough. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Moderation in eating] [Food] [Similes]
1. “What is wisdom? Please tell me in detail. Is it also called clear comprehension?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Discernment] [Clear comprehension] // [Pāli] [Etymology] [Translation]
Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 431: “Clear comprehension is another word for wisdom.”
2. “In yesterday’s Q&A, you mentioned that Eight-Precept laypeople were living at the monastery. Would this possibility be available for women? If so, how would one begin the process?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eight Precepts] [Abhayagiri] [Women in Buddhism] // [Simplicity] [Media] [Lodging] [Monasteries] [Work] [Wat Pah Pong] [Community]
3. “I have trouble taking refuge in the Buddha in the here and now as it is an abstract concept for me. Can you explain the line in the Homage to the Buddho ‘Buddho bhagavā,’ translated as ‘He is awake and holy’ (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 4)? Tonight’s planned Verses on Respect for the Dhamma (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 77) also refers to this concept: ‘All the Buddhas of the past / All the Buddhas yet to come / The Buddha of this current age.’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Three Refuges] [Buddha] [Previous Buddhas] [Chanting] // [Aversion] [Self-identity view] [Proliferation] [Contentment] [Pāli] [Translation] [Liberation] [Recollection/Dhamma] [Culture/India] [Compassion] [Culture/West] [Time]
Sutta: AN 4.36: Doṇa Sutta: “Know me as one who is awake.” [Realms of existence]
Reflections on the translation of Buddha in the Thai chanting book. [Thai] [Knowing itself] [Happiness]
Sutta: AN 3.136: “Whether a Buddha appears in the world or not …” [Characteristics of existence]
4. “A couple months ago, I entered gender transition to learn, accept, and love myself as I am. Who and what I am are questions I struggle with. Also, I was badly abused as a child by a parent. I resemble that person. When I see myself in the mirror or on camera [unintelligible]. In terms of Dhamma, what are some things I can practice that could help me make peace with this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Gender] [Abuse/violence ] [Family] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Self-identity view] // [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering] [Three Refuges] [Generosity] [Kamma] [Compassion] [Virtue]
Sutta: AN 5.57: Five Subjects for Frequent Recollection (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 55).
Sutta: AN 8.39: Precepts give the gift of safety and trust. [Precepts]
Advice from Bhante Gunaratana: Keep a journal of all the good and kind things one has done. [Bhante Gunaratana] [Recollection/Virtue] [Culture/Sri Lanka] [Culture/West]
5. “How to have a difficult conversation with someone when your mind is coming from a bad place towards that person? My brother has just arrived for a short visit after living abroad for many years, and lifelong resentment arises unexpectedly towards him. I’ve tried metta and awareness of the sensation and think both will be useful in the long term, but for now, the resentment is still there, and I fear that having some legal conversations which need to take place now will end in disaster. Any advice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Speech] [Aversion] [Family] [Goodwill] // [Truth] [Right Intention]
6. “In the Supreme Praise of Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha (Amaravati Chanting Book, pp. 22-29), when we chant, ‘By body, speech or mind, for whatever wrong action I have committed towards the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha may my acknowledgement of fault be accepted,’ what are concrete examples of the faults that a layperson could commit towards the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Chanting] [Three Refuges] [Right Action] // [Right Intention]
7. Comment: As you were speaking, an image, a thought, occured to me: I felt all of my ancestors as far back as possible standing behind me and all of my future generations as far ahead as possible including my own future lives. I saw a pathway filled with human and other beings thankful for you presence. My heart was filled with joy and gratitude. I bowed to the floor. [Visualization] [Time] [Rebirth] [Gratitude]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Selfishness] [Self-identity view]
8. “I’ve been reading the Venerable Ācariya Mun Bhūridatta Thera: A Spiritual Biography by Ajahn Mahā Boowa. I’m struck by how hard Ajahn Mun was on his disciples and also how hard his disciples were on themselves. I have a tendency towards self-criticism that I don’t feel is particularly helpful, but it seems that these forest monks were using self-criticism quite effectively. Can you comment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Perfectionism] // [Dhamma books] [Culture/West] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Culture/Thailand] [Faith] [Gratitude]
9. “My question is about the amount or type of suffering left when one reaches stream entry. In the last many years of my affiliation with Abhayagiri and Ajahn Chah, an immense amount of suffering has been resolved and fell away. … Is [the remaining suffering] different for different people or are there specific characteristics or defilements that need burning or dissolving?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stream entry] [Suffering] [Sickness] // [Self-identity view] [Relinquishment] [Attachment to precepts and practices] [Doubt]
Sutta: SN 13.1: The amount of suffering left for one who has entered the stream. [Similes]
3. “Is it possible to practice this focus on the 32 body parts (MN 10.10; Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 60) while walking or standing? What about continuing this practice after the retreat?” Answered by Ajahn Cunda. [Unattractiveness] [Posture/Walking] [Posture/Standing] [Everyday life] // [Visualization] [Sense bases] [Beauty] [Nimitta] [Elements] [Mindfulness of body]
4. “I live in an area that doesn’t have a local monastery or saṅgha. What is the best way to continue my practice after the retreat?” Answered by Ajahn Cunda. [Lay life] [Saṅgha] [Meditation retreats ] // [Dhamma online] [Abhayagiri] [Pūjā] [Spiritual friendship] [Visualization] [Habits] [Determination]
5. “How might one bring a sense of ease and well-being while in a work environment dealing with emails, demands, and other tasks?” Answered by Ajahn Cunda. [Work ] [Happiness] // [Mindfulness of body] [Becoming]
6. “In conversations that are difficult or where I want to ‘look good,’ I try to stay with the body and watch the thoughts. I am determined to not say something unskillful or selfing, and then Bam!—before I know it, out it comes. It is very humbling.” Answered by Ajahn Cunda. [Right Speech] [Blame and praise] [Mindfulness of body] [Clear comprehension] // [Right Action] [Mindfulness] [Conceit] [Self-identity view] [Sense restraint] [Virtue] [Gladdening the mind]
1. “My question is about ‘feeling whole’ in Buddhism. Can you please explain in your view what this means and what it feels like to be in that level? Is it a permanent state or temporary, and what are some practices to get to that state?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Relinquishment] [Hindrances] [Mindfulness of body] [Impermanence] [Investigation of states] [Skillful qualities] [Happiness] [Truth] [Feeling] [Craving] [Habits] [Calming meditation] [Insight meditation]
2. “I had a recurring experience yesterday that I’ve had on past retreats. While in a state of deep concentration, I begin to experience a pulsing vibration in my body. The vibration moves up and down my body with a positive feeling tone. I’ve generally welcomed the experience in the past, but yesterday I became worried about it. Reason being is that I’ve had similar vibrations of lesser intensity come up in my body/brain during my daily life over the year since my last retreat. When the vibration happens in regular life, it doesn’t have a positive feeling tone, and it impedes my mental clarity. It seems to me that experiences reached during meditation practice get ‘stuck’ in my body/brain and then replay themselves in normal life. Have you heard of anything like this occurring in other meditators? Any thoughts on how to resolve this ‘stuck’ bodily experience?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Meditation/Unusual experiences] [Concentration] [Rapture] [Everyday life] // [Proliferation] [Impermanence]
Quote: “It is what it is.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]
3. “What is the best way to pay respects to a monastic or lay teacher?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Respect] [Monastic teachers] [Lay teachers] // [Meditation] [Gratitude] [Precepts]
4. “How do you make death a part of your life and meditation? How can we work towards having a peaceful death, noting that ill-health can cause pain?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Recollection/Death ] [Death] [Sickness] [Pain] // [Human] [Aversion] [Naturalness] [Suffering] [Discernment] [Ageing] [Liberation]
Sutta: SN 36.6: The two arrows. [Similes]
Quote: “Contemplating death is contemplating who we are not.” [Not-self]
5. “I have heard Bhikkhu Bodhi say that to be a Buddhist you need to have faith in the enlightenment of the Buddha. I’ve also heard some Theravāda practitioners downplay ‘faith’ and focus on the rationality of Buddhism, claiming that what’s needed here is to have ‘confidence’ in the teachings to take the Three Refuges, for example. Can you please explain what is the role of faith in Ajahn Chah’s tradition? If they differ, in what degree is having faith in the Buddha different from having confidence in the teaching?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Faith] [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Buddhist identity] [Buddha] [Liberation] [Dhamma] [Three Refuges] [Ajahn Chah] // [Translation] [Cessation of Suffering]
6. “I have a tenant who rents a room from me. We have a rather harmonious relationship and thing go great. However, when she needs something fixed, she reports it with lamentation, complaining that the handyman didn’t do a good job last time. He never does a good job, and whatever we fix, she’s fine with it until the next thing she wants attended to. … How do you tell somebody they can point to what is broken and not make an issue out of it in a casual way that is not teacherly?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Impermanence] [Aversion] [Admonishment/feedback] // [Habits] [Monastic life] [Recollection/Virtue] [Kamma]
Quote: “Patience is peaceful coexistence with the unpleasant.” — Ajahn Sumedho. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Patience]
7. “Could you please explain if there’s an antidote to that painful feeling when a person who is the object of our affection pays attention to people other than me? If it’s due to this entrenched sense of self, is it enough to be mindful of its impermanent nature or is there a way to counteract it? Does it make sense to try to develop muditā towards a person only because they receive attention?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Clinging] [Jealousy] [Self-identity view] [Impermanence] [Empathetic joy] // [Relationships] [Sexual misconduct] [Drawbacks] [Self-reliance] [Goodwill]
1. “This morning, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo spoke of the arising and passing away of dukkha and the subsequent non-arising. Is the non-arising synchronous with knowing, spacious knowing, boundless knowing, unborn, uncreated, unformed, unconditioned, Deathless element, the amata Dhamma?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Impermanence] [Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering] [Knowing itself] [Unconditioned] [Deathless] // [Liberation] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Proliferation] [Relinquishment] [Language]
2. “Regarding the reading from the Udāna about the monks making a loud racket (Ud 3.3), the lynchpin for me was that the Buddha dismissed them by saying, ‘Go away,’ but Yasoja understood the words were said out of sympathy, wanting what’s best for them. It’s very difficult when someone admonishes you out of anger and judgement. How can one be inspired from admonishment rather than becoming defensive maybe even regardless of the other’s intent?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Buddha/Biography] [Admonishment/feedback ] [Compassion] [Aversion] [Judgementalism] // [Impermanence] [Truth]
Sutta: Dhp 76: Admonishment likened to hidden treasure. [Similes]
Vinaya: Pc 54: Disrespect is to be confessed. [Harsh speech] [Vinaya]
3. “I’ve been thinking for a long time about how looking to practice in a comfortable way can really become a hindrance and also how hard it is to let go of practicing in a way I want, how I want. On one hand, I feel like I am finding my way and creating what works best for my personality and lay life conditions, but I’m afraid I’m avoiding the difficult things to look at or to do. Can you offer any advice or give me courage to meet the uncomfortable?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Long-term practice] [Relinquishment] [Personality] [Lay life] [Spiritual bypass] // [Contentment]
4. “Thank you for this wonderful retreat. I would be grateful if you could share some teachings that would be a support to abstain from eating after 12 pm.” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Meditation retreats] [Eating after noon] // [Determination] [Health] [Simplicity] [Precepts] [Proliferation] [Medicinal requisites]
Metaphor of admonishing one’s own mind. [Admonishment/feedback] [Symbolism/metaphor] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]
Vinaya: Bhikkhu Nissaggiya-pācittiya 23; commentary in Buddhist Monastic Code Vol. 1, p. 333.
5. “My question is about setting an intention prior to meditation. For example, ‘I intend to use the meditation to investigate parts of the body.’ or ‘I intend to investigate why I am bothered by this person’s habits.’ Is it better to let the meditation unfold and work with what arises or have an intention to explore a subject?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Meditation] [Meditation/Techniques] // [Meditation retreats] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Hindrances]
6. “I often have discomfort in my stomach when sitting. There is a lot of aversion to the discomfort. It’s my understanding that being with the aversion and really feeling the pain of it can be helpful in showing the mind that aversion just makes everything worse, and then through knowing that, the mind can start to let go of aversion. Is this the right idea?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Pain] [Aversion] [Mindfulness] [Relinquishment] // [Posture/Walking] [Posture/Sitting] [Tranquility] [Health]
7. “I often hear the saying that we live in the Dhamma Ending Age, that cultivation is difficult, chaos is everywhere, and Dhamma declines. What are your thoughts on this?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Dhamma] [Time] // [Theravāda] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Determination] [Ajahn Baen] [Buddha]
Sutta: A 4.77: The four imponderables.
Sutta: DN 16.5.27: If people are practicing the Noble Eightfold Path, the world will not be devoid of arahants. [Eightfold Path] [Arahant]
8. “I have found that since following this path, my family and people I care about have felt disappointed much more often by choices I have made, from big things like life goals to small things like not accepting an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner. Quite a bit of dukkha arises from disappointing those you love. Reflecting on the cause, it feels like it comes from wanting/craving to make people you care about happy. How can we let go of this craving when it feels like it is a good thing to make others happy?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Family] [Purpose/meaning] [Clinging] [Craving] [Happiness] // [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Spiritual friendship] [Zen] [Respect]
9. “During lunch I was contemplating the four elements as I ate, and a question arose in my mind: If all things are made of only four elements, why does an orange taste, smell, and feel only like an orange and not like an apple? How can there be so much variety in food?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Food] [Elements] [Sense bases]
Story: A Zen master confronts Kalu Rinpoche with an orange. [Zen] [Vajrayāna] [Koan]
10. “This morning’s talk referred to Nibbāna. Can a layperson attain Nibbāna or is it just for monastics?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Nibbāna] [Lay life] [Monastic life] // [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Teaching Dhamma]
Quote: “The heart ordination” — Ajahn Baen. [Ajahn Baen] [Heart/mind] [Ordination] [Stream entry]
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.7: Yasa attains arahantship and then ordains. [Arahant]
Sutta: Ud 1.10 Bāhiya attains arahantship and is killed by a cow. [Great disciples]
Suttas: SN 41.1; SN 41.5; SN 41.7: Anāgamī householder Citta gives teachings to monks. [Non-return]
1. “How to deal with vedanā always arising in my feet, legs, and also in walking meditation? Kilesa arise in my mind even if I try not to think about it.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Feeling] [Pain] [Posture/Walking] [Unwholesome Roots] // [Proliferation] [Posture/Sitting] [Aversion] [Craving not to become] [Exercise] [Discernment]
Sutta: SN 36.6: The second arrow.
2. “I’m so grateful that a weekly meditation group emerged from last year’s retreat with you. This year, we were set to retreat together again, but at the last moment, my friend said they would be unable to prioritize the retreat. Next time, should I go solo to deepen my sitting practice or invite my dear friends again?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Gratitude] [Meditation groups] [Spiritual friendship] [Seclusion]
3. “What book of suttas would you recommend to read after the Majjhima Nikāya?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sutta ] [Learning] // [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Ven. Ñāṇamoli] [Buddha/Biography]
References: In the Buddha’s Words by Bhikkhu Bodhi (commercial); The Life of the Buddha According to the Pāli Canon by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli (pdf unavailable).
4. “After observing the breathing, this becomes more subtle. Then I observe the body; after that, the body becomes very tranquil. But after that, I don’t know what to do next. The sutta says, “I will breathe experiencing rapture,” but I sincerely don’t know what rapture in the practice is. … Can you clear any misunderstanding of the Dhamma?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of body] [Tranquility] [Rapture] [Clinging] // [Right Mindfulness] [Pāli] [Commentaries]
Quote: “The Buddha’s instructions on mindfulness of breathing in the sutta (MN 118) are not necessarily a linear teaching.”
Simile: Rapture (pīti) is learning there is an oasis nearby in the desert. Happiness (sukha) is quenching one’s thirst and bathing at the oasis (Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 139). [Happiness] [Similes]
5. “Does the Buddha speak to anxiety itself? How may we work with it in our practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Restlessness and worry] // [Fear] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Delusion] [Abhidhamma] [Mindfulness of body]
6. “Is it fair to say that ‘selfing’ and suffering fools are opposite ends of the continuum that Buddhists call becoming?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Becoming] // [Craving not to become] [Conceit] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Community] [Conventions]
1. “I experience negative, unwholesome mind states when I encounter ignorance, both my own and in others. I understand the fundamentals of hiri-otappa, wholesome shame and fear of wrongdoing, that strengthens one’s determination not to repeat it again. However, when I experience people hurting themselves or others, it can make me quite sad or angry. It’s sticky, and I have trouble letting it go. Is this conceit? Is it lack of equanimity?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Unskillful qualities] [Conscience and prudence] [Aversion] [Relinquishment] [Equanimity] // [Patience] [Not-self] [Human]
Quote: “Peaceful coexistence with the unpleasant.” — Ajahn Sumedho’s definition of patience. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Pain]
2. “I’m wondering about the word nekkhamma. I understand that it translates as renunciation. Is it related to kamma in any way? Renouncing creating unwholesome kamma?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Renunciation] [Kamma] [Etymology] [Pāli] // [Simplicity]
3. “Please discuss the nature of awareness and turning attention towards awareness.” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Knowing itself] // [Translation] [Clear comprehension] [Heart/mind] [Unwholesome Roots] [Liberation] [Concentration]
Sutta: AN 4.41.4: Sampajañña as knowing feeling, perception, and thoughts.
4. “How do you know that someone is ready to take the Eight Precepts for life? Is it necessary to have very little desire or is it more a personal effort and commitment?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Eight Precepts] [Determination] [Sensual desire] // [Lunar observance days] [Monasteries]
Sutta: AN 8.41: Living like the arahants.
5. “I have two major recent losses that I’m having trouble accepting. Impermanence is a fact, yet I’m still yearning to see them again. How can I better cope with complex grief?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Grief] [Impermanence] [Death] [Craving] // [Spiritual bypass] [Clinging] [Recollection/Death] [Insight meditation] [Naturalness] [Suicide] [Spiritual friendship] [Patience]
Quote: “Die before you die.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]
6. “Is it correct to understand that everything that arises and passes away during meditation practice (like bodily sensations, feeling tones, mind states) is kamma arising and passing away, and by not reacting to that kamma it can no longer continue to lead to future consequences and has come to an end?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Kamma] [Impermanence] [Meditation] [Cessation] // [Skillful qualities] [Divine Abidings]
Sutta: AN 3.100: Salt in the river Ganges. [Similes]
7. “If one were to become a Buddhist nun or monk and use indigenous shamanic practices to heal self and others rather than pharmaceuticals and modern-day Western medical advice and procedures, would that be permitted in a Buddhist monastery? I read that original Buddhist medicine, just as with shamanic healing, was based on the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water. Also that alchemy and spirit guides such as Guan Yin were used to help heal. This is the same way with shamanism also. Do modern-day Buddhist monastic communities in the West only use pharmaceuticals and Western medical practices, and are there understandings and restrictions in place in regard to how the monastic community take care of their health and how they can support each other with health matters?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Monastic life] [Healing] [Health care] [Elements] [Medicinal requisites] // [Vinaya] [Intoxicants] [Contentment]
1. “I have found your teachings and example of gratitude profound. Could you speak to people who don’t yet see the value of gratitude in a Buddhist practice but are inclined towards fault-finding?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Gratitude ] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Perfectionism] // [Suffering] [Gain and loss] [Community] [Happiness] [Generosity]
Quote: “We’re not autonomous packages of meat.... Trying to prop up the sense of an autonomous individual and personality is really painful and tiring.” [Self-identity view]
2. “I feel like people’s interaction with news and the news cycle is a continual drain on [their pool of gratitude]. How would you advise people to work with news and current events so that they can protect their practice and move from that place of gratitude?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [News] [Gratitude] // [Social media] [Abhayagiri] [Dhamma online]
3. “You have founded multiple monasteries that balance the traditionalism of Theravāda Buddhism, but Abhayagiri is is connected to the internet and the world. Do you have any advice about how to balance the tradition and living simply with the modern context?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Theravāda] [Abhayagiri] [Internet] [Simplicity] // [Technology] [Human] [Suffering] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Culture/Natural environment] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Almsfood]
Reflection on the timeless teachings of the Pāli Canon. [Tipiṭaka] [Four Noble Truths] [Dependent origination] [Kamma]
4. “Can you talk about how to balance the Pāli Canon’s emphasis on seclusion (e.g. Snp 1.3: A Rhinoceros) and practicing for one’s own benefit with having a relationship with the world? You gave a talk called ‘It’s About More Than Just Us.’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Seclusion] [Community] [Selfishness] // [Culture/West] [Culture/India]
Teaching from Ajahn Chah: It’s like people are walking along a road, When they go off to the left, I say, “Go right, go right!” When they go off to the right, I say, “Go left, go left!” [Ajahn Chah] [Middle Path] [Jack Kornfield]
Sutta: SN 45.2: Half of the Holy Life. [Spiritual friendship]
Quote: “How do we not suffer in any circumstance?” [Cessation of Suffering]
5. “There’s talk in the Thai Forest Tradition about chit durm, the primal mind or the mind source, and you gave a talk titled ‘The Underlying Radiance of the Mind.’ Luang Por Sumedho talks about the need to trust in this underlying radiance of the mind. However, there have been times when I’ve asked you about this type of mind, and you’ve cautioned not to fool yourself about it.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Ajahn Mun] [Knowing itself] [Unestablished consciousness] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Faith] [Delusion] // [Suffering] [Nature of mind] [Idealism] [Direct experience] [Culture/West] [Language] [Discernment] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “Ideas are not direct experience.”
Quote: “Analysis on its own is not going to take one to a place of relinquishment and letting go and surrender.”
6. “You speak about this determination to align one’s life with these values and this vision of Dhamma… So many people have one foot in the monastery and one foot on a banana peel. They’ve had this insight and see the power of the Dhamma and yet they find themselves in worldly conditions which are difficult. What advice would you give such folk?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Determination] [Purpose/meaning] [Insight meditation] [Lay life] // [Virtue] [Trust]
7. “I’ve seen within the monastery the power of sīla and faith beautifully held to clean the heart in ways that a pure focus on technique doesn’t manage to.... What is your feeling on that aspect of the path and how it interlocks with Western Buddhism at the moment which is so focused on technique?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Virtue] [Faith] [Meditation/Techniques] [History/Western Buddhism] // [Eightfold Path] [Humility]
Sutta: MN 8: Effacement.
8. “If you had to give young abbot Ajahn Pasanno two pieces of advice or advise two new monks who aren’t actually abbots but are up here in Seattle, what would that advice be?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Abbot] [Clear Mountain] // [Goodwill] [Patience] [Cause of Suffering]
Follow-up: “Can you speak about the dynamics of doing versus being, having projects versus meditating all the time?” [Monastic life] [Time management] [Self-identity view]
Sutta: MN 108.26: “Meditates, premeditates, out-meditates, and mis-meditates…”
9. “The balance of helping [others] versus looking to one’s own practice get conceptualized as the bodhisattva and arahant paths. How do you interact with this common distinction?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Compassion] [Bodhisattva] [Arahant] // [Suffering] [Ajahn Chah] [Theravāda] [History/Mahāyāna Buddhism] [Four Noble Truths]
Quote: “To me it’s a false dichotomy.”
Quote: “It’s hard to keep up with Ajahn Liem.” [Ajahn Liem] [Energy] [Upatakh]
10. “What is your advice for people who have embarked on this path but have a spouse who does not have the same level of interest? If both partners are deeply passionate about the Dhamma, how can they morph the relationship into a helpful Dhammic partnership?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relationships] [Dhamma] // [Idealism] [Trust] [Virtue]
Sutta: AN 4.55: Nakulamātā and Nakulapitā.
11. “What is the value of monasteries? What would you say to someone who didn’t yet see that value?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monasteries ] // [Culture/West] [Community]
2. “It sounds like the experience at the monastery you spent the Vassa at before returning to Luang Por Chah was meditation-focused and technique-focused. Holistic practice monasteries are a new phenomenon in the West. What would you say to someone who has only had retreat experience and their practice has been measured by meditative attainment or calm based on a technique [about the] holistic approach in Ajahn Chah lineage monasteries? What’s unique about it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Sai Ngam (Suphanburi)] [Meditation/Techniques] [Monastic life] [Ajahn Chah monasteries ] // [Eightfold Path]
Quote: “Buddhism is not a meditation technique. It’s a training in one’s whole life of body, speech, and mind.” [Buddhist identity]
3. “I know people who have seen the fruits of the fully-developed Eightfold Path in someone [else] or have been to a monastery and felt what it feels like to live in line with that. They find the life they return to at home is very distant from that. Because of obligations or kammic ties, they aren’t able to bring their life into alignment with the Dhamma in the way they would want. What would you tell someone with one foot in the monastery and the other foot on a banana peel?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eightfold Path] [Monastic life] [Lay life ] // [Doubt] [Spiritual friendship] [Factors for stream entry] [Association with people of integrity] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Idealism] [Contentment]
Story: “I could cry every day, but what’s the point? It’s better to just get on with life.” [Retirement] [Pain] [Purpose/meaning]
4. “You talk about coming from the meditation monastery where you ordained to Ajahn Chah’s [monastery] and seeing the beauty of the interaction between the laypeople and the monastics. What is your vision of a healthy monastery and by extension, a healthy monk? People come to a monastery with a very high ideal that a monastery should be just meditation …” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Phleng Vipassanā] [Wat Pah Pong] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Monastic life] [Idealism] [Travel] // [Learning] [Dhamma books]
5. “Would you tell the story of the tiger in Dtao Dum?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Animal] [Dtao Dum ] // [Tudong] [Lodging] [Posture/Walking] [Fear] [Recollection/Death] [Renunciation]
Sutta: MN 4: Bhayabherava Sutta. [Buddha/Biography]
6. “[Ajahn Pasanno], do you practice now also? If so, how do you practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Meditation] // [Long-term practice]
Quote: “You realize that there’s this truth of the Dhamma, the truth of reality, and there’s this capacity of the heart to penetrate it and let go of all perceptions of self and clinging. And that’s all you need to do.” [Truth ] [Dhamma] [Relinquishment] [Self-identity view] [Clinging]
7. “In 2005 you lead a retreat at Abhayagiri talking about the breath, and Debbie has now turned that into a book. In conversation you mentioned that you will add how your understanding of breath meditation has changed over the last 15-20 years …” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Meditation retreats] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Debbie Stamp] [Long-term practice] // [Naturalness]
Note: A 14-second silence due to a streaming glitch has been removed; the book mentioned has not yet been published.
Sutta: AN 10.61: Rain falling on a mountain. [Similes]
8. “Could you say a little more about that clarity? You talked about knowing that there is this factor of the truth of Dhamma? How do you be into that?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Knowledge and vision] [Truth] [Dhamma ] // [Cause of Suffering] [Unwholesome Roots]
Quote: “It’s intrinsic to us all, but we get in the way.”
Sutta: AN 1.49: “This mind, bhikkhus, is radiant, but it is defiled by adventitious defilements.” [Nature of mind]
Follow-up: “Does the academic speculation about AN 1.49 fall away when you’re actually practicing?” [Views] [Direct experience]
Quote: “First you have to know the Dhamma. Then you have to see the Dhamma. Then you have to be the Dhamma.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Insight meditation] [Relinquishment] [Self-identity view]
Follow-up: “In Ajahn Chah’s progression of knowing Dhamma and seeing Dhamma and then being Dhamma, what is Dhamma in that context?”
9. “How long should we stick to a meditation technique? How do we know when we should change things up?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/Techniques] // [Direct experience]
10. “Is it possible to get enlightened living in a Muslim country where there are no monasteries?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Liberation] // [Dhamma online] [Association with people of integrity]
Quote: “You mean there are no good people in America?” — Ajahn Chah to Ajahn Sumedho. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Culture/West] [Virtue]
11. “Is there a difference between metta and non-hatred?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Goodwill] // [Ajahn Sumedho] [Right Intention]
12. “Are there any misunderstandings of Buddhism that have developed as it comes to the West that you would correct?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Culture/West] // [Monastic life] [Selfishness] [Community] [Environment] [Abhayagiri] [Dogmatism]
13. “What would you say to two young monks on a mission to maybe start a community in Seattle?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Clear Mountain] // [Patience] [Truth]
1. “What was it like growing up in such an isolated place? Did this influence you towards spiritual or philosophical inquiry from a young age?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Culture/Natural environment] [Spiritual search] [Ajahn Pasanno]
2. “After you grew up and went to college, you travelled around the world and ended up in Thailand. What set you off on this journey around the world?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Travel] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Spiritual search] [Learning] [Zen]
Follow-up: “What attracted you to Thailand?” [Culture/Thailand]
3. “Did you go on a retreat in Thailand? How did you end up ordaining in Bangkok?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation retreats] [Ordination] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Mahasi Sayadaw] [Temporary ordination]
4. “How did it come to be that you ended up with Ajahn Chah? What was it like the first time you met him?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Determination] [Wat Pah Pong]
Quote: (To himself) “Five years if five years. You’ve got to do it.”
5. As Westerners, we don’t like the idea of committing, certainly not for life. Comment by Sol Hanna. [Culture/West] [Determination]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno: “Commitment is anathema.” [Sensual desire] [Ajahn Chah] [Perception of a samaṇa]
6. “Were there any memories from that 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 Chah] [Monastic life] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Poverty] [Requisites] [Posture/Sitting] [Monastic routine]
Quote: “It was difficult, but it was also very satisfying. It felt like exactly what I wanted to be doing and should be doing.” [Ardency] [Faith]
7. “There were quite a few Westerners who went to train in Thailand at the time. Not all of them made it. What got you through that period of time? What kept you going?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Monastic life/Motivation ] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Ajahn Chah] [Faith] [Truth]
8. “How did you come to be abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abbot] [Ajahn Pasanno ] // [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Jāgaro] [Ajahn Puriso] [Ajahn Brahmavaṃso] [Wat Keuan] [Ajahn Chah]
Follow-up: “How did you feel about it?” [Culture/West] [Fear] [Trust]
9. Under your leadership, Wat Pah Nanachat grew in size and more monks came to practice there. Comment by Sol Hanna. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abbot] [Ajahn Pasanno]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno: “I think I did okay.” [Humility] [Ajahn Chah] [Sickness]
10. You were quite involved in Ajahn Chah’s funeral as well. I heard that a million Thai people visited during the funeral period. Comment by Sol Hanna. [Ajahn Chah] [Funerals] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Trust]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Building projects]
Follow-up: “How do you think it went?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Pah Pong] [Lodging] [Food] [Eating after noon] [Not handling money] [Free distribution]
11. “As abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat, you were involved in a model reforestation project. How did this come about and what motivated you to promote reforestation in Thailand?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Environment ] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Culture/Thailand] [Commerce/economics] [Geography/Thailand] [Food] [Agriculture] [Community]
Quote: “It’s not just forest that you want to pay attention to. … The villagers need to make a living.” [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Right Livelihood] [Learning]
Quote: “I had good people helping me. It wasn’t just me.”
12. “How did you come to join Ajahn Amaro as co-abbot of the newly established Abhayagiri Monastery in California?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Amaro] [Abbot] [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Pasanno ] // [Saṅghapāla] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Jack Kornfield] [Elders' Council] [Chithurst]
13. “What was it like establishing a forest monastery with the strict Vinaya of the Forest Tradition in California in the 1990s?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri] [Vinaya] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Culture/West] // [Conscience and prudence] [Trust] [Precepts]
14. “Abhayagiri is not near a major city, but there has been plenty of interest from both laypeople and those wishing to ordain. What do you credit for the successful establishment phase of Abhayagiri Monastery?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Monastic life/Motivation] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Trust] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Vinaya]
Quote: “We are what we say we are. That helps.” [Truth]
15. “How many monastics are there at Abhayagiri right now?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri] [Monastic life]
16. “During your time in the United States, how do you think the knowledge and practice of Buddhism has changed?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Culture/West] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Abhayagiri] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support]
17. “In 2018 you stepped away from the role of abbot of Abhayagiri, passing the role to Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. Both these monks are American and have mostly trained in the United States at Abhayagiri. How do you feel about this milestone?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri] [Abbot] [Retirement] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Ajahn Pasanno ] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [History/Western Buddhist monasticism] [Culture/West] // [Monastic life]
18. “You’ve lived a life dedicated to the spiritual quest of a Buddhist monk. What advice would you give to someone who’s starting out on the Eightfold Path and may have an interest in ordaining as a monk or nun?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Spiritual search ] [Monastic life] [Eightfold Path] [Monastic life/Motivation] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Appropriate attention] [Culture/West] [Perfectionism] [Happiness] [Right Effort] [Patience]
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