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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1. “Are we born with a sense of self or is this delusion seeded and cultivated by the world around us? If a child was raised being taught non-self and non-identity, how would they turn out?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Delusion] [Conditionality] [Children ] [Not-self] [Non-identification] // [Gratitude] [Generosity] [Compassion]
2. “What does it mean, ‘When a monk breathes in, he satisfies the mind’ (MN 118.20)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Gladdening the mind] // [Pāli]
Quote: “It’s a lot more fruitful than ‘I’m a serious meditator and I’m skilled at making myself miserable!’” [Meditation] [Attitude]
3. “At times the breath becomes very subtle, almost imperceptible. I try to focus on the still point, but don’t seem to be able to absorb. No lights have yet appeared. The space is quite pleasant, but eventually the refinement seems to dissipate and fade. Anything else to ‘do?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Concentration] [Perception of light] [Spaciousness] [Happiness] // [Proliferation] [Knowing itself]
4. “Any suggestions for calming the breath/body when its mind is set on racing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Body/form] [Tranquility] // [Visualization]
5. “Was Ajahn Chah an arahant? How can one tell when someone’s work is done? Also, is it inappropriate to ask one’s teacher if they are a stream enterer, once-returner, etc.?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Arahant ] [Teachers] [Stages of awakening] // [Suffering] [Unwholesome Roots]
Quote: “To me, I’m more like a tree that birds can come and feed in. … [What they say] I am is just the chattering of the birds.” — Ajahn Chah. [Similes] [Teaching Dhamma]
Sutta: AN 4.192: Discerning another person’s wisdom. [Discernment]
Recollections of mistaken estimates of enlightenment. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Delusion] [Relics]
6. “As I finished one length of my walking path, I realized that I was not the same person as when I started, that I was making myself each moment based on choices I made. How do I develop or at least remember this so I don’t fall back into habitual patterns? It seems like each morning I have to rebuild my awareness.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Posture/Walking] [Insight meditation] [Memory] [Habits] // [Mindfulness]
7. “Before my Dhamma eye opened, all I could see was macro-suffering. But now I can see nano-suffering on a massive scale. Sometimes I don’t want to look. Any words of advice or encouragement?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] // [Politics and society] [Cause of Suffering]
Simile from Ajahn Chah: “You’ve got dog shit in your bag, so it stinks everywhere you go.” [Ajahn Chah] [Similes]
8. “How should a stream enterer skillfully deal with delusional others, especially when it comes to family members? I feel like things can get really weird when the view of a stream enterer is so different from the rest.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stream entry] [Delusion] [Family] // [Suffering] [Monastic life] [Views]
9. “What is the proper hand position while bowing? I see many various positions in the laypeople and some variation in the monastics.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Bowing] [Mudra] // [Ajahn Chah] [Continuity of mindfulness]
Simile from Ajahn Chah: Positioning the hands of a corpse. [Funerals]
10. “Please share thoughts on how to bring home and develop ways to be a better spouse and father. What from the practice might help the most towards kindness, generosity, and being present?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relationships] [Family ] [Compassion] [Generosity] [Mindfulness] // [Patience]
Quote: “Have the patience to give others time.”
11. “I heard in your ghost story about dedicating merit. How do I do this? I would like to improve the kamma of my mother and little brother.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Merit] [Kamma] [Family] // [Recollection/Generosity]
12. “Can you speak more about perception? Confusion arises when I see perception and also see that the perception is accurate to what has occurred, that is the other person was disregarding, attacking, etc. So not only my memory, I also see identifying dukkha. Can you speak to this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Memory] [Suffering] // [Heart/mind] [Volitional formations] [Cause of Suffering] [Self-reliance]
13. “Did anyone ever need a knee replacement as a result of being on retreat? Is it okay to set up a few more chairs? Metta to knees everywhere.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Health] [Meditation retreats] [Posture/Sitting] [Goodwill] // [Pain] [Ajahn Pasanno]
14. “I get great satisfaction from learning new skills and subjects. However, I get easily immersed, finely focused, and no mindfulness. Sometimes I take refuge in this state as it helps me sweep aside what I would rather not face. Can you offer any advice? Also, are there investigations I might pursue during retreat that may be helpful? P. S. I hear that ‘accomplished in learning and craftsman’s skills’ is a higher blessing (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 47).” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Learning] [Work] [Mindfulness] // [Heart/mind] [Investigation of states] [Mindfulness of body] [Tranquility]
15. “So that glass of wine at dinner is going to eliminate my chances of stream entry? How about moderation in all things?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Intoxicants] [Stream entry]
16. “Would you please explain the concept of a Bodhisattva, a largely Mahāyāna teaching in the Theravāda tradition?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Bodhisattva] [Mahāyāna] [Theravāda ] // [Buddha/Biography] [Perfections] [History/Early Buddhism] [Culture/Thailand]
Story: Somdet Toh waits for a dog sleeping on his robe to wake up. [Somdet Toh] [Amulets] [Robes] [Animal]
17. “Could you please talk about Shakyamuni Buddha, whose teaching we learn, and the ones before him, and the one to come Maitreya? Are the teachings the same? What is important for us to know about the Buddhas?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha] [Previous Buddhas] [Metteyya Bodhisatva] // [Naturalness] [Teaching Dhamma] [Discernment] [Goodwill]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book Volume 2, p. 54: The Twenty-Eight Buddhas’ Protection. [Protective chants]
Quote: “Ajahn Chah had tremendous lovingkindness, and because of that he had many, many people coming to him all the time. I’m going to focus on equanimity.” — Ajahn Liem. [Ajahn Liem] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Chah] [Equanimity]
18. “Is it atta that carries kamma? Is it atta that takes a rebirth? How can we talk about atta?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Kamma] [Rebirth] // [Suffering] [Naturalness] [Not-self ] [Middle Path] [Spiritual traditions] [Pāli] [Self-identity view] [Relinquishment]
19. “Did you know Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho? I saw the DVD about him that Abhayagiri offers and listened to some of his Dhamma talks and was touched by how gentle he seemed. Is it true that a rainbow appeared during the cremation of his body?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Yatiko. [Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho ] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Funerals] // [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Hampstead Vihara] [Wat Pah Ban Tat]
20. “Can you offer some inspiration to the group as to observing the Eight Precepts on the Uposatha Days? I’ve been observing every quarter moon, and it would be comforting to know that I’m part of a larger group. Please reflect on the value of restraint outside the retreat environment.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eight Precepts] [Lunar observance days ] [Sense restraint] [Everyday life] // [Culture/Thailand] [Wat Pah Pong] [Wat Pah Nanachat]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first Uposatha Day at Wat Pah Pong. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Lay life]
Sutta: AN 8.41: “Suppose the lay people spent a day and a night living like the arahants.” [Arahant]
21. “Did you say in a previous Q&A that only through Buddhadhamma can one become liberated? No one in any other wisdom/spiritual tradition? While I am profoundly grateful to the Triple Gem, it seems dangerously fundamentalist to assume there is no other path possible. Is it so?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dhamma] [Liberation] [Spiritual traditions] [Three Refuges] [Dogmatism] // [Paccekabuddha]
22. “How does one use the kasiṇa and nimitta in meditation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Kasiṇa ] [Nimitta] // [Concentration]
23. “How does one overcome the threefold conceit (māna)? By seeing anicca and anatta in both self and other?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Conceit ] [Impermanence] [Not-self] // [Relinquishment]
24. “Any tips for stirring up the energy (viriya) that fuels Right Effort when coffee isn’t enough?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Energy] [Right Effort] // [Desire]
25. “Is the Deathless element, the knowing as Ajahn Chah called it, and rigpa as the Tibetans call it the same thing? And how is that different from the fifth khanda, consciousness? How can one practice with seeing the grasping of that khandha in meditation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Deathless] [Ajahn Chah] [Knowing itself] [Vajrayāna] [Consciousness] [Clinging] // [Sense bases] [Volitional formations] [Suffering] [Self-identity view]
26. “The quality of breath can change to very light, creating some pleasant changes like pain control. To what extent can breath be manipulated? Doesn’t pure awareness act as an agent of change as well? What is the difference? Is the the source of self-healing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Pain] [Knowing itself] [Healing] // [Tranquility]
Story: A 102-year-old monk falls in the bathroom then completely heals his head injury in one day. [Bhante Dharmawara] [Wat Pah Pong] [Sickness] [Nimitta]
27. “Most of the time I feel like a duck in a world full of chickens. Any advice on techniques to prevent the urge to compare myself to others would be greatly appreciated.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Similes] [Conceit] // [Suffering] [Communal harmony]
Simile from Ajahn Chah: Why aren’t the ducks more like chickens? [Ajahn Chah]
28. “What’s the difference between mental formations and perception? I’m confused.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volitional formations] [Perception] // [Volition] [Memory]
29. “Can you give us a short bio on each of you please?” [Western Ajahn Chah lineage] // [Birth] [Monastic life/Motivation]
Ajahn Yatiko is on his way to Tibet, but two Thai men in a restaurant persuade him to visit Wat Pah Pong. [Ajahn Yatiko] [Travel] [Vajrayāna] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ordination] [Gratitude]
Bhante Suddhaso finds his way to Abhayagiri through Zen. [Zen] [Ajahn Chah] [Vinaya] [Theravāda] [Abhayagiri]
Ajahn Karuṇadhammo ordains at Abhayagiri after many years of lay practice. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Lay life]
Anagārika Jordan (now Ajahn Sudhīro) learns about Buddhism in college and has just taken up anagārika training at Abhayagiri. [Postulants]
Debbie Stamp travels in Asia, hears a talk by Ajahn Buddhadāsa, spends ten months at Amaravati and Chithurst, then volunteers to help start Abhayagiri. [Debbie Stamp] [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Amaravati] [Chithurst]
Quote: “She’s the mother of our monastery.” — Ajahn Yatiko.
1. “What are some practices to deal with ill-will going repetitively towards one object?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ill-will] // [Kamma] [Cause of Suffering] [Proliferation]
Sutta: AN 5.161: Removing Resentment.
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 41: Reflection on kamma.
Quote: “If there’s a solution to the problem, why create difficulty around it? And then if there’s not a solution to the problem, why create difficulty around it?” — Shantideva. [Shantideva] [Suffering]
2. “I believe we all found Ajahn Yatiko’s comment on true insight shattering our beliefs pretty intriguing. I’m fairly certain that I’m millions of miles away from true insight, but what about those meditative moments where you go, ‘Oh! I’ve never thought about that before, but how true.’? Are these possibly akin to true insight?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Insight meditation] [Views] [Ajahn Yatiko] [Truth] // [Intuition] [Faith]
3. “I’m confused about the distinctions between the third and fourth [Foundations of Mindfulness]. It seems like there’s overlap. Some teachers put the hindrances under phenomena. Can you explain please?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of mind] [Mindfulness of dhammas] [Hindrances] // [Investigation of states]
Sutta: MN 10.34-35: Mindfulness of mind.
Different translations of dhammānupassī, the fourth Foundation of Mindfulness. [Translation ] [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Pāli]
4. “A small window of anatta has opened. It is very fresh, light, and breezy, but the opening is small, and the rest of the window is caked with so much dirt and grime. I’m fearful that outside of the support of retreat, it could close. Even now it feels like it is opening and closing. How to best proceed?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Not-self] [Symbolism/metaphor] [Fear] [Meditation retreats] // [Insight meditation] [Restlessness and worry] [Proliferation]
Quote: “The best thing is not claiming ownership over that insight. … Pay attention to the feeling of it.” [Non-identification] [Direct experience ] [Feeling]
Quote: “If you just stick your finger in the warm water, then you’ll know what warm water is.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Language] [Dhamma]
5. “I enjoyed the story of the healing green light used by the Thai venerable you shared with us yesterday, and I also enjoyed the teachings of Ajahn Thate this morning. But then I’m wondering if the very act of trying to ‘heal this body’ or ‘clarify and brighten this mind’ acts to pull the heart out of neutral and into the world of grasping and desire. Could you please clarify this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Bhante Dharmawara] [Healing] [Ajahn Thate] [Right Effort] [Clinging] // [Cause of Suffering] [Discernment] [Learning] [Relinquishment] [Buddha/Biography]
Sutta: DN 16.2.23: The Buddha heals his illness. [Sickness]
Quote: “The crux of it is how to live with non-clinging as the foundation.”
6. “Please explain enjoying a pleasant meditation versus hanging out blissfully with an angelic face. At what point should a calm mind switch to insight practice, and when do you use the term awareness or mindfulness practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Happiness] [Meditation] [Calming meditation] [Insight meditation ] [Mindfulness] // [Four Noble Truths] [Craving] [Learning]
7. Comment: While sitting in the dining hall, the image of a square cushion dropping away from my solar plexus occured. That brought the insight that I was neither inferior nor superior to others, as ego asserts, but we’re all equal. [Insight meditation] [Conceit]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Cause of Suffering] [Suffering] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “Friends and relatives in old age, sickness and death.” — a common way to begin a Dhamma talk in Thailand. [Birth] [Ageing] [Death] [Culture/Thailand]
8. “In order to avoid any unpleasant feelings, I tend to be among the first ones in the food line. I don’t really feel good about it, but I can’t help it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation retreats] [Food] [Pain] // [Fear]
Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 39-40: Sāriputta goes against his desires regarding almsfood. [Great disciples] [Almsfood] [Renunciation]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno and vegetarian food at Wat Pah Pong. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Chah] [Vegetarianism ] [Culture/Thailand] [Judgementalism]
9. “How do Tibetan monks generate so much body heat to melt snow? I’d like to learn that and warm up this sometimes quite cold hall at night.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Vajrayāna] [Body/form] // [Perception] [Concentration] [Nimitta]
Story: Ajahn Supah goes wandering through India, Tibet, and China. He described the Himalayas as cold. [Ajahn Supah] [Tudong] [Travel]
10. “What’s the relationship between a deep insight experience (what’s called kensho in Zen) and stream entry?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Zen] [Insight meditation] [Stream entry] // [Ajahn Pasanno]
11. “Hypothetically, a meditator through practice gains an experiential understanding of the Four Noble Truths and is established in mindfulness and equanimity. Life is good, and the glass is half full. However, there isn’t a belief in rebirth and that suffering will end in this lifetime. Why should the meditator continue of the path?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Four Noble Truths] [Happiness] [Rebirth] [Cessation of Suffering] // [Relinquishment]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 6: Opanayiko: Leading inwards/onwards. [Recollection/Dhamma] [Translation]
12. “For several months now, I’ve been trying not to get caught up in stories and just focus on the feelings. Every time I stop the story, the feeling seems to consistently stop as well, and I can no longer focus on it. What am I missing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Proliferation] [Feeling] [Cessation] // [Suffering]
13. “What is the Pāli word meaning not-made-of-that, non-fashioning, non-proliferation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli] [Non-identification]
14. Comment: “Thank you for developing the wisdom to teach and the compassion to choose to teach. I trust we give you the opportunity to deepen your practice, especially of compassion and patience. The Buddha would be proud of you and your decision to teach instead of living in that nice little cave in a beautiful forest all peaceful and still. With metta.”—us sentient beings. [Gratitude] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Discernment] [Teaching Dhamma] [Compassion]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno: “It was actually Ajahn Chah who made me teach.” [Ajahn Chah] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abbot]
15. “Could you speak about the importance of intention and volition as related to karma and to the story about the chicken who set the intention to lay on her eggs but didn’t follow through (SN 22.101)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volition] [Kamma] [Similes] // [Energy]
Sutta: AN 6.63.33: Karma is volition.
16. “Are desire and craving interchangeable, the same thing? Can craving or desire exist without suffering?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Desire ] [Craving] [Suffering] // [Pāli] [Cause of Suffering] [Unwholesome Roots] [Sensual desire] [Unskillful qualities] [Bases of Success] [Skillful qualities]
17. “What did the Buddha say about giving all your assets away?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Commerce/economics ] // [Monastic life] [Lay life] [Idealism] [Generosity] [Family] [Relinquishment] [Ajahn Pasanno]
Suttas: AN 5.41; AN 8.54; DN 31.26: Balanced living for householders.
Quote: “Money for a monk is like having wings to fly.” — Anonymous.
18. “Several years ago, I remember reading your little book The Last Breath about your experience supporting a Thai Buddhist at the death chamber [in San Quentin Prison]. I was very impressed how someone who as facing the last hours of his life still had sati and clear consciousness, practiced generosity, requested food for the monks, and was humble and kind. Would you mind telling us about Jay’s mindfulness again?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dhamma books] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Prisons] [Death] [Mindfulness] [Generosity]
Story: Jay offers Ajahn Pasanno a meal in prison and makes sure that his family and the guards have an opportunity to hear Dhamma. [Happiness] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Questions]
Story: Jay pays his last respects to Ajahn Pasanno. [Respect] [Equanimity] [Thai]
19. “Lately I’ve got more involved in fighting for social justice, especially with the Occupied Movement. It seems important in light of how messed up or system is. However, I’m finding it very difficult to keep any mindfulness or peace of mind, especially when menaced by police. Any suggestions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Activism ] [Politics and society] [Mindfulness] [Tranquility]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro lead meditation at the Occupy Wall Street demonstration in London. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Meditation] [Chanting]
20. “Can you please tell us about dreams? Do they reveal our defilements? Do you have any interesting dream stories?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dreams] [Unwholesome Roots] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Culture/Thailand]
Story: Two Western monks ask Ajahn Chah at what point he became confident that he would have a major realization. Ajahn Chah describes three dreams in response. [Ajahn Chah] [Dhamma books] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Culture/West]
Reference: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 111-113.
21. “Did I understand correctly that thought is saṅkhāra, which is distinct because of volition? It is clear that some thought is volitional, but what about the many random, crazy thoughts that arise unbidden?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Directed thought and evaluation] [Volitional formations] [Volition] [Proliferation] // [Conditionality]
22. “How much karma is carried in thought? I’ve been observing what feels like the result of past unmindful thought. Is the karmic charge neutralized through mindful awareness of unwholesome thought?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Kamma] [Proliferation] [Mindfulness]
23. “Do neutral feelings equal equanimity?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Neutral feeling] [Equanimity] // [Divine Abidings] [Factors of Awakening]
24. “Do you have any news you can share about the relationship between Ajahn Brahm and the rest of the saṅgha in the Ajahn Chah lineage? I heard that he was going to meet with some elder monks in England.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Brahmavaṃso] [Ajahn Chah lineage] [Western Ajahn Chah lineage] // [Abhayagiri]
1. “Ajahn Karuṇadhammo’s talk truly resonated with me. While years of breath practice has yielded only a few, albeit very important, experiences of concentration, I’ve grown more and more clear about the depths of my defilements and the programs that run through my brain. (Wow! I’m neurotic.) I’m feeling a bit hopeless, but can this possibly be good? Rather than an object and trying for concentration, should I focus on something else for a while until I’ve developed skillful means? Is it possible that one’s kamma is such that deep concentration is unlikely or that the background mind can be too aversive for concentration? I really need some anatta here, don’t I?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Concentration] [Long-term practice] [Unwholesome Roots] [Meditation/Techniques] [Kamma] [Not-self] // [Desire] [Right Effort]
2. “Is it skillful to dig up sensual thoughts and contemplate the ugly side of it during vipassanā?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sensual desire] [Unattractiveness] [Insight meditation]
3. “I’d like to swap the order of precepts around when it gets dull. Is it a waste of effort?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Precepts] [Chanting]
4. “Today I saw a milk carton being thrown away. I’m not sure if everyone knows they are recyclable. This sight initiated a fire for me. I told myself, ‘It’s just thrown away.’ Then I told myself, ‘It’s just my mind on fire.’ Can you speak about Right View? Does it come back to what I can truly know? How do I consider long-term patterns that may not be apparent right away? One milk carton is not a big deal. One milk carton a day starts to add up.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Contact] [Feeling] [Environment] [Right View] // [Kamma] [Cause of Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering]
Quote: “We can be right and still create tremendous suffering.” [Views] [Suffering]
5. “When I return to the world of speaking again, what would be a good quick mental check-in that I could use before I open my mouth and possibly make a mess of things? Any tips for Right Speech?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation retreats] [Right Speech ] // [Truth] [Skillful qualities]
Sutta: MN 58.8: True, timely, and beneficial.
Teaching from Ajahn Chah: “Don’t bring up these issues before the meal.” [Ajahn Chah] [Monastic life] [Admonishment/feedback]
6. “Can brightness of mind and fatigue coexist? Is mental fatigue a defilement?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Energy] [Sloth and torpor] [Unwholesome Roots]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno felt mental fatigue while preparing for Ajahn Chah’s cremation yet had a bright mind. [Ajahn Chah] [Funerals] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Merit]
7. “[Ajahn Karuṇadhammo’s] reflection on the parts of the body and the whole body helped me contemplate and relinquish. Is it possible to read that reflection somewhere? Will it be on the CD?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unattractiveness] [Recollection] [Relinquishment]
8. “Could the summary of this week’s rich teachings be represented graphically? For some people, it is helpful to see the flow of a process visually, including all the players, interactions, and scenarios. There are so many details in the chain of events that it’s easy to miss one.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Teaching Dhamma] [Learning] [Visualization]
9. “Meditation is work. Sometimes I’m very tired, can’t think, can’t hear, can’t sit, can’t sleep; I just show up and breathe. How are you doing? What keeps you going? I’m so touched with your generous presence, patience, and deep commitment.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Sloth and torpor] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Energy] [Gratitude] // [Not-self] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “There’s only two things you need to do in Dhamma practice: know and let go.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Mindfulness]
10. “What is the position of the monastics in relation to the lay community? Are we viewed as essentially impure and filled with defilements? I read that somewhere.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Lay life] [Unwholesome Roots] // [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support]
11. “Which is more powerful: lovingkindness or knowledge of suffering? It seems that our noble silence and internal mindfulness put the retreatants in the mode of not making eye contact, not sharing a smile. Isn’t there room to be mindful of our Dhamma friends, even if we don’t really know most of them by offering a smile? Am I too concerned with other people’s actions? Meditation is serious business.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Goodwill] [Meditation retreats ] [Spiritual friendship] // [Community] [Seclusion] [Conceit]
12. “I’m having alternating intense periods of spaciousness and intense periods of agitation and sleepiness. Can you speak to this? I seem to identify very strongly with both states. It takes some time before I see the dukkha. I feel a bit hopeless about identification and the possibility of relinquishing it or even getting some relief from it. Any guidance would be appreciated.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Spaciousness] [Restlessness and worry] [Sloth and torpor] [Self-identity view] [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Relinquishment] // [Cause of Suffering]
Simile from Ajahn Chah: A gardener’s duty is to prepare the soil and protect the tree. The fruit appears according to the nature of the tree. [Ajahn Chah] [Agriculture] [Similes]
13. “Is the experience of Nibbāna (that is the cessation of all formations) the same for a stream enterer, once-returner, etc., or does the experience manifest differently depending on the level of realization? Do the suttas or commentaries touch on this subject? Any stories from the Forest Tradition related to it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nibbāna] [Stages of awakening] [Sutta] [Commentaries] // [Cessation] [Becoming] [Relinquishment]
14. “How do the Thais, and especially Buddhist practitioners, perceive the flooding disasters in Thailand? Is it just an unfortunate chain of effects due to bad weather, and that is how it is, so neutral, no feelings?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Disasters] [Culture/Thailand] [Perception] [Weather] [Neutral feeling] // [Commerce/economics] [Lodging] [Compassion]
15. “You mean all I have to do is drop dukkha from the mind? Why didn’t you tell me that years ago?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Cessation of Suffering] [Teaching Dhamma]
16. “Is atammayatā like nippapañca (non-proliferation)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Non-identification] [Proliferation]
17. “Would an opposite of dukkha be contentment not dependent on conditioning?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] [Contentment] // [Happiness] [Cessation of Suffering] [Equanimity]
18. “Would you say Nibbāna is a constant, conscious choice, creation, which is ultimately easier than creating dukkha?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nibbāna] [Volitional formations] [Suffering]
Reflection from Ajahn Chah: Someone who is freed wouldn’t be able to kill an ant no matter how you enticed or coerced them. [Ajahn Chah] [Liberation] [Killing] [Volition]
19. “Do you have any ideas or feelings on the question, ‘Who created life?’ Did Buddha know how it all began?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of the cosmos] [Buddha] // [Four Noble Truths]
Sutta: AN 4.77: Inconceivable Matters.
20. “If this body is elemental and sustained by some force of nature, no self present, why do we have individual senses of ‘I am witnessing’? Kamma? So when we all become enlightened and end the cycle of rebirth (I’m hoping for tomorrow noon-ish) then what?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Elements] [Naturalness] [Self-identity view] [Kamma] [Saṃsāra] // [Cause of Suffering]
Reflection from Ajahn Chah: There’s a practical usefulness in having I and other people. [Ajahn Chah] [Conventions]
Reference: Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 23.
21. “After his enlightenment, did the Buddha ever feel anger or sadness? Were those entries wiped from his program?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha] [Liberation] [Aversion] [Grief] [Emotion] // [Cessation of Suffering]
22. “Can you please explain more about bodhisattva’s path? How can a being cultivate wisdom and avoid becoming a stream enterer? Bodhisattvas mus not realize the Dhamma all the way to last life, correct?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Bodhisattva] [Discernment] [Stream entry] // [Determination]
Story: Ajahn Mun persuades Ajahn Sao to relinquish his resolve to become a paccekabuddha. [Ajahn Sao] [Ajahn Mun] [Liberation] [Gratitude] [Psychic powers] [Paccekabuddha] [Arahant]
23. “Did the Buddha have chanting in his time? Did he create any of the chants or were they all created after his passing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Chanting ] [Buddha/Biography] [History/Early Buddhism ] // [Tipiṭaka] [Culture/India] [Memory] [Culture/Other Theravāda traditions]
Sutta: AN 6.25: The nine qualities of the Buddha (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 4). [Recollection/Buddha]
The three cardinal suttas: SN 56.11: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Chanting Book); SN 22.59: Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Chanting Book); SN 35.28: Ādittapariyāya Sutta (Chanting Book). [Sutta]
Sutta: MN 2.13-17: The Four Requisites (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 53). [Requisites]
Sutta: Snp 1.8: The Buddha’s Words on Lovingkindness (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 36). [Goodwill]
Sutta: AN 4.125: “I will abide pervading one quarter …” (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 42). [Divine Abidings]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 32: Verses of Sharing and Aspiration.
Sutta: Ud 5.6.17: The Buddha praises Venerable Soṇa’s recitation.
24. “Dhamma advice please for one who wants to maintain a clean and sober life after this monastic retreat.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Intoxicants] [Addiction] // [Determination] [Spiritual friendship] [Time management] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Dhamma online]
25. “I am thinking of visiting Wat Pah Nanachat for practice, but the idea of shaving my head and eyebrows terrifies me. What do I need to know?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Pah Nanachat]
26. “How do you open to suffering, yours and others?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] [Noble Truth of Suffering] // [Human] [Proliferation] [Conceit]
27. “Thank you for wise and generous teachings. I’m at once grateful and also feeling sad. Every story and reference is about a man. Were there no women at the Fire Sermon (Mahāvagga 1.21)? How come there is no talk of the female disciples? Perhaps the next Buddha will be a woman. Can you speak about this absence of a female presence?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Gratitude] [Grief] [Women in Buddhism ] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Bhikkhunī] [Theravāda] [History/Sri Lankan Buddhism]
Suttas: AN 1.188-267: Male and female great disciples. [Great disciples]
28. “I’ve appreciated your reflections on the origins and translations of key words. For example, this morning was the first time I noticed the ‘enchantment’ and ‘illusion’ in disenchanted and disillusioned. They seem very positive words now. Do you have any reflections on the instructions to guard the senses?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Etymology] [Translation] [Disenchantment] [Sense restraint ] // [Pāli] [Sense bases]
29. “I had a body sensation. My perception was my heart pounding, but the more I felt it, the more it separated into the actual contraction of the heart muscle. Was this sensation, perception, sensation, perception, mental formation? And is it even possible to feel the heart muscle contract and the flow of blood?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Body/form] [Sense bases] [Perception] [Volitional formations]
Sutta: MN 43.9: Conjoined not disjoined.
30. “What is the relationship between atammayatā (non-fashioning) and jhāna? Are jhānas experienced regularly only those who have experienced insight? Is abiding in atammayatā the same as abiding in Nibbāna?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Non-identification] [Jhāna] [Insight meditation] [Nibbāna] // [Emptiness]
Sutta: MN 113.21: Inclining the mind towards atammayatā.
31. “To me, at least for now, the part of the mind most imbued with a sense of self is the decision-maker, that which decided to come to this retreat, to be aware, to remember to be aware. Which part of the mind is that, and how can one gain more insights into the decisions we seemingly make?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Volition] [Insight meditation] // [Impermanence]
32. “What’s that meat hook doing in my back? Not that again! Or my knees screaming for movement. Not that again! Or my mind racing with judgement. Not that again! Yet I settle down, breathe in and out, watch closely, and then a moment of peaceful, sublime feeling. Not that either?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pain] [Judgementalism] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Tranquility] // [Feeling]
Quote: “The language of Dhamma is the language of feeling.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Dhamma]
33. “You mentioned the Twenty-Eight Buddhas Protection Chant (Amaravati Chanting Book Volume 2, p. 54). It mentions several lists: 10 powers, 18 kinds of Buddhadhamma, 32 major and 80 minor marks of a great being. Where can I find these lists?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Protective chants] [Buddha]
Quote: “I’d go to Google!” [Dhamma online]
34. “Contemplation: The heart is still, the mind is calm, the thoughts come, and the thoughts go. The thoughts are not thought about, kind of like a free riding in the mind. The heart stays peaceful. Insights do arise with this free flow. Can you please speak on contemplation as a form of meditation and these insights?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection] [Tranquility] [Concentration] [Insight meditation] // [Craving] [Cause of Suffering] [Proliferation] [Bases of Success] [Discernment] [Investigation of states]
35. “Is the experience of jhāna required for stream entry?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Jhāna] [Stream entry] // [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Right View]
36. “Is jhāna more alert or more trance-like?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Jhāna] // [Right Concentration] [Translation] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension]
1. “When a discrete awareness arises and passes away with respect to each mental image, sound, etc., should it be characterized as mindfulness (saṅkhāric aggregate) or consciousness (viññāṇa aggregate)? Are the mental images, sounds, etc. characterized as mind object consciousness, sound consciousness, etc.? What about when consciousness arises and passes away in turn by itself?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Consciousness] [Aggregates] [Sense bases] // [Proliferation]
Quote: “Knowing and letting go.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Relinquishment]
Simile from Ajahn Chah: Investigating Dependent Origination is like falling out of a tree. You don’t have to count every branch as you’re going down. You just have to know that when you hit the bottom it’s going to hurt. [Dependent origination] [Suffering]
2. “It seems that having some Western psychological understanding or undergoing therapy can be helpful to a Buddhist practitioner. What are the dangers, drawbacks associated with integrating these different ways of working with the mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Western psychology] [Benefit/gratification] [Drawbacks] // [Cause of Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering]
3. “When there is no movement in the mind, I think you referred to this as a cessation of dukkha. However, spaciousness is impermanent. Is it thus not dukkha also?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tranquility] [Cessation of Suffering] [Spaciousness] [Impermanence] [Suffering] // [Feeling] [Characteristics of existence]
4. “Can you speak to the relation between anatta and metta? While doing contemplation of the sense bases, the heart seems to strongly respond to offering metta in the space where there is no I or other.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Not-self] [Goodwill] [Sense bases] [Non-identification]
Quote: “Once we get out of the way, something rather beautiful happens.” [Beauty]
5. “Is sati a saṅkhāra-khanda and thus part of the Five Khandhas? Where does it originate?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Volitional formations] [Aggregates] [Conditionality] // [Volition]
6. “What did the Buddha mean by delighting in seclusion? Was he not a people person?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Seclusion] [Community] // [Arahant] [Leadership]
Suttas: SN 45.11-12; SN 54.9; SN 54.11: The Buddha goes on retreat. [Buddha/Biography] [Meditation retreats]
7. “Ajahn Brahm says, ‘Stillness is bliss.’ All I feel is a peaceful calm. What gives?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Brahmavaṃso] [Tranquility] [Happiness]
8. “Do you make a distinction between desire and clinging as the cause of dukkha? Clinging seems more manageable to me. Taṇhā will happen, will arise, but how I relate to this push and pull can maybe change with practice.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Craving] [Clinging] [Cause of Suffering] // [Meditation retreats] [Relinquishment]
9. “The best thing is not claiming ownership over that insight. … Pay attention to the feeling of it.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Meditation] [Dhamma] [Similes] // [Recollection] [Learning] [Buddha] [Teachers] [Liberation]
10. “There are so many ways to focus the Dhamma lens. Do you recommend a systematic approach, that is, for this time, I will view experience through the Three Characteristics, Four Noble Truths, or what have you? Or better to just let the mind see what arises?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dhamma] [Recollection] // [Determination]
11. “Is there spirituality in Buddhism, or are we sense-machines?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of mind] [Atheism/agnosticism] // [Unconditioned] [Cause of Suffering]
12. “What is passed on during reincarnation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rebirth] // [Etymology] [Kamma] [Habits]
13. “Is there any sense that suffering and great joy go hand-in-hand? That is, love of kids, husband, wife, etc.?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] [Happiness] [Clinging] [Family]
14. “There is a well-known vipassanā teacher whose interpretation of the teachings are such that one does indeed burn off or slough off past kamma if it arises in the presence of awareness and equanimity, leading to a purification of the mind. Any thoughts on how this interpretation could arise from the teachings or commentaries?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Kamma] [Mindfulness] [Equanimity] // [Hinduism]
16. “Can you recommend a beginning Pāli vocabulary book?” Answered by Bhante Suddhāso and Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli] [Dhamma books] // [Sutta] [Ajahn Pasanno]
Reference: Pāli Buddhist Texts: An Introductory Reader and Grammar by Rune Johansson (commercial).
17. “If Ajahn Chah were to appear here tonight, what are a couple of questions you would ask him?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Questions] // [Nature of the cosmos] [Concentration]
Recollections of talking with Ajahn Chah. [Clinging] [Relinquishment]
Story: Ajahn Chah describes the details of a spirit living at Wat Pah Pong to a long-term disciple who asked about it. [Ghost] [Wat Pah Pong]
Story: Right after that, a group of visitors ask if devas and ghosts really exist. [Deva] [Direct experience]
Story: Ajahn Chah responds to his teacher’s inquiry about developing astral travel. [Ajahn Kinaree] [Psychic powers ]
18. “If there is no self in the created or the uncreated (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 13), what gets reborn? I feel myself as not my body as I am walking. I don’t know how to know that experience and let go.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Not-self] [Rebirth] [Mindfulness] [Relinquishment] // [Kamma] [Impermanence] [Non-identification]
19. Comment: What is the sound of one turkey clapping? … The point is to thank you all for keeping such good humor in the mix. Humor is essential to the path. [Koan] [Humor] [Gratitude]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
20. “Are there monasteries in this tradition in Thailand for women? Are women accepted at Wat Nong Pah Pong?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Women's monastic forms] [Wat Pah Pong] // [Ajahn Chah] [Parents] [Culture/Thailand]
21. “Can you review [the types of craving] and how to identify these?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Craving] // [Sensual desire] [Becoming] [Craving not to become]
23. “Could you talk about the last years of Ajahn Chah’s life when he was so sick and couldn’t talk? Do you think he chose to stay alive in that condition for so long?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Sickness] [Volition] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Health care] [Lodging] [Food] [Royalty] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Pasanno]
Recollection: Although bedridden for nine years, Ajahn Chah never got a bedsore.
25. Comment: Upon news of her death, and even though she held no royal title at the time, Tony Blair called Diana ‘the people’s princess.’ Debbie, you are the people’s ajahn of Abhayagiri. Thank you for the inspired Dhamma talk and blessing today and for honoring Mary and all the women of the mountain. [Royalty] [Debbie Stamp] [Abhayagiri] [Gratitude]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
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