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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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The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 30: The Five Khandhas 10 – Feb. 17, 2013

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2. “Why do the Buddha’s listeners immediately reply that what is impermanent is suffering?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Questions] [Impermanence] [Suffering] // [Translation]

Sutta: SN 22.59.5 Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Chanting book translation).


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3. Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno: The conclusion that what is not under our control can’t be self isn’t immediately obvious. [Volition] [Not-self]

Follow-up: “How have you come to understand this over time?” [Self-identity view] [Feeling]

Follow-up: “How does the chant, ‘I am the owner of my kamma’ relate to this?” [Kamma] [Language] [Conventions]

Sutta: AN 5.57 Five Recollections (Chanting Book translation).

Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo: The suttas are summaries rather than transcripts. [Sutta] [Teaching Dhamma]


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4. “What is the term ‘Agivessana’?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 31: The Five Khandhas 11 – Feb. 20, 2013

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2. “Do you have any suggestions for contemplating the origin of the body?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Body/form] [Birth] [Aggregates]


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3. “Is there a special meaning for which simile is compared to which khandha in SN 22.95?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Similes] [Aggregates] // [Impermanence] [Body/form] [Feeling] [Perception] [Volitional formations] [Consciousness]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 32: The Five Khandhas 12 – Feb. 21, 2013

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2. Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna: Venerable Vakkali had immense respect for the Buddha and the Dhamma. [Great disciples] [Respect] [Buddha] [Dhamma]

Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Faith]


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3. “Are there other stories similar to Vakkali asking to die outside (SN 22.87)?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Great disciples] [Death] [Culture/Natural environment] // [Perception of a samaṇa]

Story: Ajahn Mun chooses the place of his death. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mun] [Funerals]

Story: Ajahn Chah chooses a convenient time to die. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah]


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5. “How would you answer the questions in SN 22.86 for a puthujjana (a person who has not entered the stream of Dhamma)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Death] [Aggregates] [Clinging] // [Kamma] [Views]

Sutta: SN 44.9: Flame blown by the wind. [Rebirth] [Similes]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 33: The Five Khandhas 13 – Feb. 22, 2013

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1. “Is there another sutta not spoken by the Buddha in which as many people become enlightened as SN 22.89?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Great disciples] [Teaching Dhamma] [Liberation]


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3. “What is the difference between someone who has broken through fetters (self-identity view, etc.) and someone who hasn’t as discussed in SN 22.89?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Fetters] [Self-identity view] [Conceit] [Aggregates] [Similes] // [Perception] [Not-self]


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5. Comment by Ajahn Cunda: The Buddha’s description of a monk who ‘does not laud himself and disparage others’ (e.g. AN 4.28) sounds similar to SN 22.49. [Conceit] [Humility]

Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.


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6. “Does volition differ from intention?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Volition] // [Pāli] [Translation] [Kamma] [Self-identity view] [Skillful qualities]

Follow-up: “When we talk about effort, intention, and result in the Vinaya, is cetanā the word for intention?” [Vinaya]

Follow-up: “Saṅkhāra is sometimes translated as volitional formations. How does this differ from cetanā?” [Volitional formations]

Sutta: AN 6.63.33: “Kamma is volition.”


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7. “When Ajahn Chah uses the expression, ‘the mind is no longer moving forward, moving backward, nor standing still,’ how does this relate to volition?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Nature of mind] [Volition] // [Self-identity view] [Conditionality]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 34: The Five Khandhas 14 – Feb. 24, 2013

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4. Comment by Ajahn Pasanno: A critical part of SN 22.90 is Ānanda giving Channa the confidence to believe in himself. [Great disciples] [Faith] // [Geography/India]

Responses by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, Ajahn Cunda, Ajahn Jotipālo and Ajahn Kaccāna. [Rapture]


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5. “In SN 12.15, when it says, ‘the world depends on a duality,’ is that the process of [audio unclear]?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Views] // [Self-identity view] [Ignorance]


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6. “Is there any significance to the elders Channa initially approaches in SN 22.90?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Great disciples] // [Commentaries]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 35: The Five Khandhas 15 – Feb. 27, 2013

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2. “Would you be willing to speak about translating saṅkhāra as volitional formations?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volitional formations] [Translation] // [Aggregates] [Volition] [Emotion] [Feeling]

Follow-up: “Do volitional formations include both thought and emotion?” [Directed thought and evaluation]


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3. Comment by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: SN 22.122 is is stark contrast to the concept of secret teachings in Tibetan Buddhism. [Teaching Dhamma] [Vajrayāna]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha]

Sutta: DN 16.2.25: “I never taught with a closed fist.”


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5. “Do even involuntary volitional formations below the level of direct awareness produce kamma?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volitional formations] [Kamma] [Volition] // [Aversion]

Story: The Dalai Lama suggests that psychologists study virtuous people. [Dalai Lama] [Western psychology] [Virtue]

Sutta: AN 3.68: Comparison of greed, hatred, and delusion. [Unwholesome Roots]


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6. “Why is greed harder to remove than anger (AN 3.68)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Greed] [Aversion]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 36: The Five Khandhas 16 – Feb. 28, 2013

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3. “Can the experience of an unpleasant contact be experienced at the level of feeling and perception without going into the reactive state which generates a volitional formation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pain] [Contact] [Feeling] [Perception] [Volitional formations]

Quote: “It’s ordinary for light to be bright. It’s ordinary for sound to make noise.” — Ajahn Dune. [Ajahn Dune] [Sense bases] [Seclusion]


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4. “What is the significance of the introduction of personal pronouns in the last sentences of SN 22.53-54?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Language] // [History/Early Buddhism] [Conventions] [Faith]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 37: The Six Sense Bases 1 – Mar. 1, 2013

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1. “Could you say something about watching the mind where the sense objects all meet?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of mind] [Contact] [Sense bases]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 38: The Six Sense Bases 2 – Mar. 2, 2013

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3. “Is the fetter in terms of the sense bases (SN 35.232) equivalent to gratification, danger, and escape?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sense bases] [Aspects of Understanding] // [Sensual desire] [Benefit/gratification]


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4. Comment: There’s a sutta (AN 6.61) which likens craving to a seamstress sewing together the sense bases and their objects. [Craving] [Similes] [Sense bases]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno.


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5. “Does craving create a sense of continuity in the mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Craving] // [Benefit/gratification] [Ignorance]


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6. “Is yoniso manasikāra like the scissors cutting out desire?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Appropriate attention] [Similes] [Craving]


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7. “How does craving relate to the Five Khandhas?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Craving] [Aggregates] [Sense bases] // [Suffering] [Clinging]

Quote: “You don’t have to count the branches as you fall down.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Dependent origination]

Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: In the Fire Sermon (SN 35.28), desire, hatred, and delusion arise on everything. [Unwholesome Roots]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 39: The Six Sense Bases 3 – Mar. 3, 2013

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1. “What is the distinction between delight, infatuation, and bondage?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Craving] [Clinging] // [Translation] [Pāli]


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2. Comment: SN 35.63 is one-sided in that it emphasizes the pleasurable rather than the way the mind gets bound up with something that is not pleasurable. [Sensual desire] [Clinging] [Aversion]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relationships]


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3. Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo: SN 35.54 describes a bhikkhu who does not delight in desirable sense objects, but Migajāla delights in the Buddha’s words. [Dispassion] [Gladdening the mind]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli]


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4. “Delight is to craving as what is to aversion?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Benefit/gratification] [Craving] [Aversion] // [Craving not to become] [Sensual desire]

Sutta: SN 56.11.4: Taṇhā is the cause of dukkha.


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5. “What is the significance of asking for a teaching in brief in SN 35.64?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Teaching Dhamma]

Quote: “When you pick up one little bit of Dhamma, everything else comes with it as well.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Dhamma]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 40: The Six Sense Bases 4 – Mar. 4, 2013

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2.SN 35.70 and SN 35.74 mention lust. Is aversion, the opposite of lust, implicitly included?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sensual desire] [Aversion] // [Unwholesome Roots]


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4.SN 35.93 shows how the edifice of the mind is based on impermanent phenomena.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of mind] [Impermanence] // [Doctrine-of-self clinging]


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5. Comment: SN 35.93 is a wonderful analysis of the intimacy of nāma-rūpa and consciousness. [Aggregates] [Consciousness]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno.

Sutta: SN 12.67.7: Sheaves of reeds leaning against each other. [Similes]


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6. “When contemplating the impermanence of the sense bases, is it better to focus on any sense base where impermanence comes into focus or stay with a particular sense base?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Impermanence] [Sense bases] [Meditation/Techniques]


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7. “In SN 35.93, does intention refer to saṅkhāra?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volition] [Volitional formations]


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8. “Is there a way to see how mind consciousness arises and disappears?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Heart/mind] [Consciousness] [Impermanence]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 41: The Six Sense Bases 5 – Mar. 7, 2013

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1. “In SN 35.96, is ‘the arising of evil, unwholesome states, memories and intentions connected with the fetters’ an expansion of the terms craving and clinging?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unwholesome Roots] [Craving] [Clinging]

Follow-up: “Would the sense base operating without any craving or clinging imply arahantship?” [Sense bases] [Arahant]


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2. “Is there another sutta about reaching the end of the world through travelling?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nature of the cosmos] // [Psychic powers] [Liberation]

Sutta: SN 2.26: Rohitassa Sutta and Bhikkhu Bodhi’s footnote to this sutta.


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4. “How can one set an effective intention to get up when one is very tired when going to sleep?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Cunda and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Devotion to wakefulness] // [Posture/Walking] [Conditionality] [Chanting] [Habits] [Ajahn Chah]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 42: The Six Sense Bases 6 – Mar. 8, 2013

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1. “Is there a place in the suttas where a bhikkhu asks, ‘How does one not grasp at the signs and features?’ and the Buddha replies with the Four Foundations of Mindfulness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Sense restraint] [Right Mindfulness] // [Appropriate attention]


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2. “In order to guard the sense doors continually, is it necessary to find a sense of ease in the body to serve as an anchor?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sense restraint] [Tranquility] // [Mindfulness] [Right Effort]

Sutta: SN 36.6, The Dart: An undeveloped person knows no escape from dukkha other than sensual pleasure.

Story: Ajahn Chah resolves not to look up for three months. [Ajahn Chah] [Sensual desire]

Follow-up: “What is beneficial as opposed to just looking down?” [Conditionality] [Concentration] [Unification]


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3. “Does SN 35.153 indicate that keeping an eye on the mind and knowing when defilements are present lead all the way to the final goal?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of mind] [Unwholesome Roots] [Liberation]

Story: A monk logs hours of meditation but is frustrated with the results. [Meditation/Results]

Follow-up: “Does this mean that you can’t just apply a single skill without investigating whether it is actually helping?” [Meditation/Techniques] [Right Effort]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 43: The Six Sense Bases 7 – Mar. 9, 2013

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1. “There’s a tradition that if one keeps the Five Precepts, one stays in the human realm. SN 35.235 implies that if one’s senses are unrestrained, one could end up in the lower realms. Any thoughts?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Five Precepts] [Human] [Sense restraint] [Hell] // [Death] [Conditionality]


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2.SN 35.235 contains the phrase, ‘grasp the sign through the features.’ Does this differ from the more frequent ‘signs or features?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Sense bases] [Sense restraint] // [Sensual desire] [Commentaries]


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4. Comment by Ajahn Cunda: SN 35.231 mentions that sense objects do not obsess the mind [of an arahant] rather than one not experiencing things. [Sense bases] [Arahant] [Clinging]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Mahāyāna]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 44: The Six Sense Bases 8 – Mar. 10, 2013

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1. “Does SN 35.243 imply that as long as one is not an arahant, one is overwhelmed by sense objects?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Arahant] [Sense bases] // [Feeling] [Teaching Dhamma]

Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo: Bhante Gunaratana points out that mindfulness is not an Awakening Factor until it is 100% continuous. [Bhante Gunaratana] [Mindfulness] [Factors of Awakening]

Sutta: SN 56.33: Tossing up a stick. [Rebirth] [Similes]


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2. “Was it ever clear what kind of back condition the Buddha had?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha/Biography] [Sickness] // [Ageing] [Ascetic practices]


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3. “In SN 35.246, why did the king become unhappy with the lute?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Similes] // [Self-identity view] [Aggregates] [Spiritual search]


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4. “In SN 35.246, does ‘to the extent there is a range for [the Five Aggregates]’ mean everything that we might experience?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aggregates] // [Proliferation]


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5. “What is a useful way to hold the image of beating the bull that wanders into the barley field in SN 35.246?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Cunda. [Similes] [Sense restraint] // [Contentment] [Tranquility] [Conscience and prudence]


Right Livelihood, Session 1 – Apr. 21, 2013

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2. “Lottery numbers? … Is the problem that the monks have the right numbers so everyone flocks to them?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Psychic powers] [Right Livelihood]


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3. “Could you talk more about the particular professions that the Buddha laid out as wrong livelihood (AN 5.177)? Why is being in the military not on the list?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Work] [Military] [Right Livelihood ] // [Unskillful qualities] [Kamma] [Killing] [Intoxicants] [Rebirth]

Story: The widow of a wealthy man divests from Singha Beer. [Commerce/economics]


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4. “Is growing grapes right livelihood?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Agriculture] [Intoxicants] [Commerce/economics] [Right Livelihood]

Story: The son of a winemaking family lives on the land but doesn’t participate in wine production. [Family]


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5. “Can you speak about the people who sell these things [intoxicants] versus those who make them?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Intoxicants] [Commerce/economics] [Right Livelihood] // [Kamma] [Volition]

Story: A clerk at an organic food store asks about selling wine. Told by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.


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6. “If the person selling the product enjoys selling it and the person buying it enjoys the product, what is the unpleasant consequence?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Commerce/economics] [Sensual desire] [Kamma] [Right Livelihood] // [Unskillful qualities] [Intoxicants] [Crime] [Heedlessness]


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7. “What about people whose livelihood falls into one of these categories [AN 5.177] but they are convinced that it’s good for the world or that it had to be done?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volition] [Right Livelihood] // [Delusion]


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8. Comment about the nuances involved in the activities comprising wrong livelihood. [Intoxicants] [Right Livelihood]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unskillful qualities] [Community]


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9. “Is caffeine an intoxicant?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Intoxicants] [Right Livelihood] // [Medicinal requisites]


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10. Comments about meat eating. [Food] [Killing] [Craving] [Vegetarianism] [Right Livelihood]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volition] [Human]


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12. “The Buddha taught the five forms of wrong livelihood [AN 5.177]. This is from the producer side. Is there a similar teaching from the consumer side?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Commerce/economics ] [Right Livelihood] // [Idealism] [Politics and society] [Buddha/Biography] [Skillful qualities]


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13. “What is the view on medical or pharmaceutical professions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Health care] [Medicinal requisites] [Right Livelihood]


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14. “What about things that have an ostensibly benign purpose, such as pesticides and fertilizers used for raising food, but then in fact have quite harmful effects?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Agriculture] [Environment] [Right Livelihood] // [Commerce/economics] [Politics and society]


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15. “Is there any instruction from the Buddha about how to deal with profit-motivated pharmaceutical research decisions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha] [Health care] [Commerce/economics] [Right Livelihood]


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16. “Some people want to help but find themselves in situations in which profit dictates the priorities. How can they protect their integrity in such situations?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Compassion] [Health care] [Commerce/economics] [Right Intention] [Right Livelihood ] // [Education] [Idealism] [Requisites] [Happiness]

Story: Ajahn Karuṇiko studies engineering, then quits a job in the arms industry to become a monk. [Military] [Monastic life/Motivation]


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17. Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: It’s not easy giving up the things we’re used to in order to follow the path. [Renunciation] [Eightfold Path] [Clinging] [Happiness] [Right Livelihood]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] [Commerce/economics]


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18. “When quitting a job, should you consider the welfare of the next person who will fill it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Livelihood]


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19. Comment by Ajahn Yatiko: Right Livelihood isn’t about judging other people’s livelihood. [Judgementalism] [Right Livelihood]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eightfold Path] [Pāli] [Cessation of Suffering] [Happiness]


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20. Comments about Temple Grandon designing low-anxiety slaughterhouses. [Killing] [Agriculture] [Right Livelihood]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno.


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22. Comments about thinking versus feeling out the quality of the heart in decision making. [Directed thought and evaluation] [Mindfulness of mind] [Discernment] [Clear comprehension] [Right Livelihood]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno.


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25. “There are many people without access to resources for education or training without many choices. How does this all fit together?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Poverty ] [Learning] [Politics and society] [Right Livelihood] // [Buddha] [Idealism]

Sutta: DN 27: Agañña Sutta


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26. “In DN 31.26, what is investment versus savings?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Commerce/economics ] [Right Livelihood]

Comments by various participants about the nature of investment. [Unskillful qualities] [Greed] [Work]

Sutta: DN 31.32: Siṅgālasutta Sutta: Five duties of an employer to employees; interpreted in A Constitution for Living by P. A. Payutto, p. 7.


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28. “Do you know the qualities the employee is supposed to give the employer?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Work] [Right Livelihood]

Sutta: DN 31.32: Siṅgālasutta Sutta


Right Livelihood, Session 2 – Apr. 21, 2013

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1. Comment: As our group spoke, our different perspectives converged on objects of the mind and how we meet them. [Mindfulness of dhammas]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno.


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2. Comments about the ways our work affects us. [Work] [Commerce/economics] // [Depression] [Unskillful qualities]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Human] [Appropriate attention]


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3. “Everyone in our group is struggling with issues about livelihood. Does anyone here feel their livelihood is in tune?” Answered by Ajahn Yatiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Work] [Idealism] // [Contentment] [Eightfold Path] [Kamma]

Quote: “Maybe it would be better phrased ‘Right-enough livelihood.’” — Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Right Livelihood]

Story: An upright career police officer in Thailand transfers in and out of a corrupt assignment. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Community] [Crime] [Corruption] [Family] [Precepts]

Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: Even monks face moral dilemmas. [Monastic life] [Vinaya]


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5. “What is your take on satisfaction, being in tune, and stagnation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Contentment ] [Energy] [Ardency ] // [Skillful qualities] [Discernment] [Buddha/Biography] [Spiritual search] [Right Effort]

Sutta: AN 2.5: Effort and non-contentment with wholesome states.

Story: The Thai government made it illegal for monks to teach contentment. [History/Thai Buddhism] [Monastic life] [Teaching Dhamma]

Comment about the simile of the lute. [Middle Path] [Similes]

Sutta: AN 6.55: Soṇa Sutta


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6. “Regarding the lute simile (AN 6.55), I notice that even properly tuned instruments gradually creep out of tune. Is finding the balance a lifelong effort?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Middle Path] [Right Effort] [Similes] [Long-term practice]

Comment about the need to put work into perspective. [Work] [Culture/West]


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7. Comment about the Buddha developing skills after enlightenment. [Buddha/Biography] [Liberation] [Learning]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Vinaya] [History/Early Buddhism]


A Monastic's Life, Session 1 – Jun. 15, 2013

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5. “Are the [examples of monastic culture] we will be seeing today—is this all steeped in the Canon or does some of it come from Thai culture?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tipiṭaka] [Culture/Thailand] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Monastic life] // [Vinaya]


The Whole of the Path, Session 1 – Jun. 22, 2013

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1. “Could you tell us how you became a monk?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ordination] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life/Motivation] // [Culture/Thailand] [Meditation]

Quote: “I stumbled into it.” [Monastic life]


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2. Comment: It’s not so easy to let go of people who have been in my life forever to cultivate new friendships. [Relinquishment] [Spiritual friendship]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Judgementalism] [Virtue] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Views]


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3. “Why is discernment a better word for wisdom?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Discernment ] [Translation] // [Pāli] [Etymology]


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4. “If my sister has unwholesome friendships, how can I help her redirect these?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Family] [Spiritual friendship] // [Compassion] [Judgementalism] [Right Intention] [Right Speech] [Admonishment/feedback]

Story: An Abhayagiri monk skillfully conveys concerns to his father. [Abhayagiri]


The Whole of the Path, Session 2 – Jun. 22, 2013

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1. “The Buddha said ‘One is expected to cultivate the path when you meet noble friends.’ How much responsibility do we need to take for this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Spiritual friendship] [Association with people of integrity] [Volition]


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2. [When talking about the qualities for developing the Eightfold Path: seclusion, cessation, and dispassion.] “Could you distinguish between cessation and dispassion?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eightfold Path] [Progress of insight] [Cessation] [Dispassion] // [Pāli] [Etymology]


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3. “Could you give the Pāli words for dispassion, cessation, and maturing? Also the word you used with otappa?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli] [Dispassion] [Cessation] [Release] [Conscience and prudence] // [Seclusion]


The Whole of the Path, Session 3 – Jun. 22, 2013

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1. “What do we do at the monastery? What happens on a daily basis?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic routine ] [Abhayagiri]


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2. Comment: The more we become like monks and nuns, the more we will be helping the climate change situation. [Monastic life] [Environment]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Simplicity] [Contentment] [Generosity] [Human]


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3. “Can you give some suggestions on dealing with betrayal in relationships?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relationships] [Sexual misconduct] [Trust] // [Spiritual friendship] [Faith] [Virtue] [Generosity] [Discernment] [Judgementalism] [Monastic life]

Sutta: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 46: The Highest Blessings (Maṅgala Sutta, Snp 2.4)


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4. “Can you say more about the practice of awareness of arising and ceasing in relation to discernment and right view?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Becoming] [Cessation] [Mindfulness] [Discernment] [Right View] // [Impermanence] [Ajahn Chah] [Conditionality] [Self-identity view] [Happiness] [Mindfulness of mind] [Patience]

Reading from an unnamed recent Ajahn Chah book. [Relinquishment] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]

Quote: “I don’t teach you guys much. Just be patient.” — Ajahn Chah.


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5. “What is the role of emotion in our practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Emotion] [Feeling] // [Faith] [Compassion] [Generosity] [Four Noble Truths] [Relinquishment] [Discernment]


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6. Comment: I find that the experience of uncertainty and loss can give rise to compassion. [Impermanence] [Grief] [Compassion]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right View] [Emotion] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ardency]


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7. “Given the situation in Burma with Buddhist monks fomenting violence against Muslims, how do you determine whether to respond to that vocally or publically?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [History/Other Theravāda traditions] [Conflict] [Politics and society] [Monastic life] [Islam] [Right Speech] [Media] // [Military]


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8. “I appreciate your emphasis on clarity, stability, and spaciousness. How does concentration relate to these?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Clear comprehension] [Unification] [Spaciousness] [Concentration ] // [Pāli] [Thai] [Etymology] [Tranquility] [Happiness] [Rapture] [Conditionality]

Suttas: AN 10.3: Virtuous Behavior; AN 6.10 Mahānāma [Virtue]

Quote: “The way my mind worked before was, ‘Boy, when I get my concentration together, I’m going to be happy …’” [Ajahn Pasanno]

Quote: “The happy mind is easily concentrated.” [Hindrances] [Relinquishment] [Knowledge and vision]


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9. “For me, the practice starts with concentration to get to a place of well-being. Is there a missing piece here?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Concentration] [Happiness] // [Cultural context] [Generosity] [Precepts] [Culture/West] [Western psychology] [Meditation]

Quote: “It is helpful to get a picture of the whole path and realize how integrated and mutually nourishing those path factors are.” [Eightfold Path] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]


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10. “When we say right Eightfold Path, is there any general rule to tell what is right, what is wrong?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eightfold Path] [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities] // [Unwholesome Roots]


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11. “How is the path like a traffic circle?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eightfold Path] // [Conditionality]


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