All stories
75 events, 329 sessions, 794 excerpts, 60:47:38 total duration
Most common topics:
Ajahn Chah
(327)
Ajahn Pasanno
(197)
Abhayagiri
(116)
Ajahn Amaro
(79)
Ajahn Sumedho
(78)
Wat Pah Pong
(77)
Wat Pah Nanachat
(61)
Sickness
(53)
Culture/Thailand
(51)
Tudong
(48)
4. “What advice would you give to future abbots and teachers of Wat Pah Pong branch monasteries so that the communities maintain the most important characteristics of Ajahn Chah’s style of leadership?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abbot] [Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Saṅgha] [Leadership ] [Ajahn Chah] // [Dhamma] [Vinaya] [Chanting] [Translation]
Sutta: DN 16.6: Dhamma-Vinaya is your leader.
Quote: “Ajahn Chah was conservative, but he wasn’t fundamentalist.” [Monastic life]
Story: The Dalai Lama asks the Abhayagiri monks to chant the Maṅgala Sutta (Snp 2.4, Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 46) in Pāli. [Dalai Lama] [Pāli]
Story: Ajahn Chah was one of the first forest monks to ban smoking in the monastery. [Smoking] [Lunar observance days]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah was unique in consulting with senior monks and laypeople when making decisions. [Saṅgha decision making]
5. “The word toramon is sometimes associated with Ajahn Chah’s style of training. Could he be ‘intentionally cruel?’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Fierce/direct teaching ] // [Ascetic practices] [Teaching Dhamma] [Trust] [Compassion] [Saṃsāra] [Habits]
Quote: “Ajahn Chah was always willing to put obstructions in front of your desires, views and opinions, and habits, which was incredibly compassionate as well as courageous.” [Craving] [Views] [Courage] [Culture/West]
Story: Ajahn Chah lets a restless junior monk go tudong with devious stipulations. [Sequence of training] [Restlessness and worry] [Tudong]
6. “There are a few stories about Ajahn Chah having psychic powers, particularly reading minds. Did you ever observe anything of that sort with Ajahn Chah? What was Ajahn Chah’s position on such things?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Psychic powers] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] // [Nature of mind]
Story: Ajahn Chah describes the supernatural beings at Wat Pah Pong to a close lay follower, then refuses to talk about other realms with a group from Bangkok. [Wat Pah Pong] [Non-human beings] [Teaching Dhamma]
8. “Many of Ajahn Chah’s direct disciples have become revered teachers themselves. Would you say the harsher conditions and more rigorous practices of the early days of Wat Pah Pong played a necessary role in their training and development or was it mostly due to Ajahn Chah being such a masterful teacher?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah lineage ] [Ascetic practices] [Wat Pah Pong] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Humility] [Ajahn Mun]
Quote: “There’s this nostalgia for the good old days. … To me it’s a fallacy or a fantasy.” [Suffering] [Poverty]
Quote: “To be able to lay a foundation that was carried on is really exceptional.” [Saṅgha] [Leadership]
Recollection: There were an equal number of monks and nuns at Wat Pah Pong. [Mae Chee]
9. “Can you speak about the connection Ajahn Chah had with Luang Por Tongrat and Luang Por Tongrat in general?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Tongrat ] [Ajahn Chah] // [Thai sects] [Ajahn Mun] [Monastic routine] [Almsround]
Reference: Ajahn Utane’s biography of Ajahn Tongrat. Ajahn Mudito translated this into Portuguese in 2019, and there is a machine translation from the Portuguese.
Quote: “Oh, Chah, you’ve come.” — Ajahn Tongrat’s first words to Ajahn Chah.
Story: Ajahn Tongrat makes a racket under Ajahn Mun’s kuti in order to provoke a Dhamma talk. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Fierce/direct teaching]
Story: Ajahn Tongrat dies in the Dhamma seat. [Death]
11. “Could you tell us your very first encounter with Luang Por Chah? How did it happen? What did he say to you? What impression did you have then?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] // [Temporary ordination] [Wat Pah Pong] [Culture/Natural environment] [Ajahn Sumedho]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno is impressed by handwritten notes about Ajahn Chah’s teaching by a visitor to Wat Pah Pong. [Wat Phleng Vipassanā]
Quote: “If you want to stay here, you have to stay at least five years.” — Ajahn Chah.
Quote: “The place itself [Wat Pah Pong] was a reflection of Ajahn Chah.” [Lay life] [Lunar observance days]
Story: The branch monasteries and lay community gather for Māgha Pūjā. [Festival days] [Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Community]
2. Recollection: Ajahn Pasanno writes to his parents that he will stay with Ajahn Chah for five years because he wants to pick up Ajahn Chah’s peace and unshakeability. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life/Motivation] [Sequence of training] [Equanimity] [Ajahn Chah]
3. “When Luang Por Chah’s physical condition deteriorated and he was no longer physically active, how did the Saṅgha and lay community react to it? And how did you feel about it? How did the Saṅgha manage to organize new leadership? Any challenges, confusions, or conflicts?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sickness] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Leadership] [Ajahn Chah] [Conflict] // [Impermanence] [Saṅgha decision making] [Grief] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Liem]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah told the Saṅgha that his illness was incurable and they would have to look after him. [Health care ]
I did my grieving when Ajahn Chah was still alive and sick. Recollection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Death]
Recollection: Caring for Ajahn Chah as a community. [Health care ] [Mae Chee] [Communal harmony]
Recollection: Preparing for Ajahn Chah’s funeral. [Funerals] [Building projects] [Ajahn Chah Stupa]
Quote: “His example was always one of giving himself to what was of benefit to the Dhamma, to the Vinaya, to others. There was so little personal agenda and personal preferences ever shown.” [Generosity]
4. Story: A group of military generals ask Ajahn Chah to bless some medallions. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Amulets] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Food] [Saṅgha decision making] [Relics] [Ajahn Chah Stupa] [Funerals]
8. “How did Luang Por Chah relate to the lay community around him and tailor the Dhamma to their own circumstances?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Lay life] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Lunar observance days] [Building projects] [Cultural context] [Stories]
Story: Ajahn Chah’s talkative older brother helps with their mother’s funeral. [Family] [Funerals]
10. “Were there any memories from the 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 Pasanno] [Monastic life] [Ajahn Chah]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno skips morning pūjā to meditate diligently at his kuti. Ajahn Chah calls him lazy. [Monastic routine]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno sits vigil at a cremation and makes a bathing cloth from the cloth used to wrap a corpse. [Funerals ] [Robes ] [Wat Pah Pong] [Recollection/Death]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno joins the Wat Pah Pong Saṅgha, exchanges his requisites, and excitedly attends his first Pāṭimokkha at Wat Pah Pong. Ajahn Chah keeps the monks sitting until 3 am. [Vinaya] [Requisites] [Not handling money] [Pāṭimokkha] [Compassion] [Relinquishment]
1. “Have you had experiences of clarifying motivation that go beyond the theoretical or abstract?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Spiritual urgency] // [Ajahn Chah] [Wat Pah Pong] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “Was it suffering?” — Ajahn Chah. [Suffering] [Self-identity view]
Story: Ajahn Chah used ancient stones to mark the Wat Pah Pong sīmā. [Sīmā]
Quote: “Are these rocks heavy?” — Ajahn Chah. [Cessation of Suffering]
Sutta: SN 22.86: Dukkha and the ending of dukkha.
3. “People are fortunate these days because teachings are readily accessible. Could you talk about the difficulties you had [accessing the teachings 50 years ago]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Learning] [Dhamma books] [Travel] [Culture/Thailand]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno stays in a hotel in ??? and goes to a monastery to read an English-language Tipiṭaka every day. [Tipiṭaka]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first meditation retreat was a month-long solitary Mahasi Sayadaw-style retreat. [Meditation retreats] [Mahasi Sayadaw]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno takes temporary ordination at Wat Phleng Vipassanā. [Temporary ordination] [Wat Phleng Vipassanā]
4. “Could you give some sutta references on positive desire (chanda)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Desire]
Reference: The Wellbeing Cascade by Ajahn Kovilo.
Reference: Buddhadhamma by P. A. Payutto, Chapter 11, “The Nature and Importance of Desire.”
Story: P.A. Payutto completes the Thai Pāli studies curriculum as a novice. The King sponsors his ordination. [P. A. Payutto ] [Sutta] [Novices] [Pāli] [Sickness] [Study monks] [King Rama IX]
8. “Could you speak about world-weariness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Disenchantment] // [Gratitude] [Suffering] [Skillful qualities] [Happiness]
Sutta: AN 11.1: Causal chain of well-being including disenchantment. [Conditionality]
Story: Ajahn Mahā Boowa reflects on the drawbacks of lust. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Unattractiveness] [Sensual desire] [Drawbacks]
Note: The audio file ends mid-sentence.
2. Recollection: Ajahn Chah was a memorable person; his influence has spread around the world. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah lineage ] [Ajahn Chah] // [Faith] [Ajahn Sumedho]
3. Recollection: My introduction to Ajahn Chah. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] // [Temporary ordination] [Travel] [Wat Phleng Vipassanā] [Forest versus city monks]
4. Recollection: Ajahn Chah’s community in 1975. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah lineage] [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Pah Pong ] [Western Ajahn Chah lineage] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Isan] [Personal presence]
5. Recollection: Ajahn Chah taught by example, but put the focus on the monastic training and community. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] [Ajahn Chah] // [Humility]
Quote: “He was unique in his ability to draw people in without it having to be about him.” [Personal presence ] [Personality]
6. Recollection: Why I stayed with Ajahn Chah. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Determination] [Ajahn Chah] // [Family] [Sequence of training] [Equanimity] [Personal presence]
7. Recollection: He was always willing to push us beyond what we thought we could do. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Fierce/direct teaching] [Ajahn Chah] // [Intuition]
Quote: “I hope you’re not afraid of suffering. … If you’re afraid of suffering, you’re not going to grow in wisdom here.” — Ajahn Chah to Jack Kornfield. [Jack Kornfield] [Fear] [Suffering] [Discernment]
Quote: “If you want to stay here, you have to stay at least five years.” — Ajahn Chah to Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Sequence of training] [Determination]
Story: Ajahn Chah asks the young Ajahn Pasanno to become abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abbot] [Sickness]
9. Recollection: Ajahn Pasanno’s first lunar observance night at Wat Pah Pong. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Pong] [Lunar observance days] [Ajahn Chah] // [Monastic life] [Pace of life] [Patience]
Quote: “You learn as you go. You expand your ability to go beyond the limitations you set for yourself.” [Learning]
Quote: “The more you resist and complain in your mind, the more you suffer.” [Aversion] [Suffering] [Habits]
10. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Ajahn Chah used the Vinaya rules as a basis to train in mindfulness and clear comprehension. [Vinaya] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] [Ajahn Chah] // [Volition] [Perception of a samaṇa] [Protocols ] [Sense restraint] [Beauty] [Faith]
Story: Ajahn Chah demonstrates how to put down a yahm (monk’s shoulder bag). [Requisites] [Ajahn Sumedho]
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.23: Sāriputta gains faith from Venerable Assiji’s demeanor. [Great disciples]
13. Recollection: Ajahn Chah enjoyed teasing people and playing with words. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Humor] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Gavesako] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Compassion]
Stories: The Squirrel Story and the Donkey Story. [Kittisaro] [Monastic life] [Patience]
Note: Kittisaro tells these stories himself here.
14. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: His leadership and his teaching came from his example. [Leadership] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah sits until midnight despite having malaria. [Sickness] [Posture/Sitting] [Sitter's practice]
15. “When you first arrived at Ajahn Chah’s monastery, how did you communicate with him?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Language] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ajahn Sumedho] [Translation] [Paul Breiter] [Thai] [Isan]
Story: Venerable Varapañño could recite the Pāṭimokkha perfectly. [Pāṭimokkha]
16. “Can you tell us more about Ajahn Chah’s background?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Geography/Thailand] [Education] [Novices] [Ordination] [Ajahn Sao] [Forest versus city monks] [Death] [Ajahn Mun] [Thai sects]
Story: Six-year-old Chah plays at being a monk. [Monastic life]
17. “Can you speak about Luang Por Chah’s opinion about Thai superstitions and amulets?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Culture/Thailand] [Superstition] [Amulets] [Ajahn Chah] // [Humor] [Ghost] [Generosity]
Story: A young supporter drafted into the military asks Ajahn Chah for protection. [Buddha images]
7. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Absorbing the truth, “Even the Sāsana will pass away,” doesn’t lead to a sense of dismay; it leads to wonder and the motivation, “How can I help others?” [Truth] [Spiritual urgency] [Compassion] [Suffering] [Impermanence] [Characteristics of existence]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah saw so clearly and was incredibly compassionate. [Ajahn Chah] [Fierce/direct teaching]
Quote: “What is the mind of an arahant like?” – “Only compassion.” — Ajahn Mahā Boowa. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Ajahn Mun]
Quote: “Anicca, dukkha, and anatta are tools we rely on for transforming the heart.”
4. “If you had to choose one monastery in Thailand that you can always go back to, where you had the best moments or experiences, what would it be?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] // [Dtao Dum ] [Culture/Natural environment]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno has the intuition that his time in Thailand had come to an end. [Culture/Thailand] [Monastic life]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s decision to help with Abhayagiri. [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Amaro] [Saṅghapāla] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo]
10. “How do we recognize when we’re being taken advantage of when we’re trying to offer compassion? How do we draw a line to maintain our compassion without it impeding?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abuse/violence] [Compassion ] // [Discernment] [Ajahn Chah] [Fierce/direct teaching]
Suttas: SN 22.86.13; MN 22.37.
Reflection: The qualities of the Buddha: wisdom, compassion, purity. [Recollection/Buddha ] [Arahant] [Pūjā]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 3: Homage to the Buddha. [Recollection/Buddha ]
Story: A person asks the same question four times. [Questions]
14. “Sometimes we hear that with practice, some qualities change, but other qualities don’t change very much over a long time of practice. When I read certain biographies [of Buddhist teachers], it seems like certain rough qualities can remain even though the mind is pure. How to know the difference in oneself and others?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Long-term practice] [Personality ] [Teachers] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Unskillful qualities] // [Suffering] [Unwholesome Roots] [Relinquishment] [Hindrances]
Ajahn Pasanno describes the personality of great teachers he has met. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Ajahn Thate] [Ajahn Dune] [Ajahn Chah]
Reflection: The arahant disciples of the Buddha were able to free their minds, but they all had different personalities. [Arahant] [Buddha] [Great disciples ]
Sutta: SN 14.15 Caṅkama Sutta: Monks with different personalities gather around the great disciples.
Note: Ajahn Pasanno mentions the similarly-themed Cūḷagosiṅga Sutta (MN 31) by name, but describes the content of the Caṅkama Sutta.
15. “Is it ever acceptable to put a life out of suffering, for example when it’s dying and suffering slowly?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Euthanasia ] [Killing ] [Death] [Pain] [Animal] // [Compassion] [Unattractiveness]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno and others look after a Brahma bull that was attacked by a tiger until it dies. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Health care] [Dtao Dum]
3. “If you live long enough and you start to have Alzheimer’s or dementia, if you’re well-practiced throughout your whole life, you’ll still be grounded in something, right?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Ageing] [Sickness] [Memory ] [Long-term practice] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah]
Story: Despite having dementia, Venerable Mahāghosānanda attends a meeting of Buddhist leaders at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Abhayagiri monks look after him and delight in his presence. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Preah Mahāghosānanda] [Spirit Rock] [Upatakh] [Abhayagiri] [Personal presence] [Dalai Lama]
Reflection: When Ajahn Chah was sick, his cognitive functions deteriorated, but his citta was unwavering. [Heart/mind] [Nature of mind] [Translation] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro]
Quote: “You don’t have to worry about Ajahn Chah. His mind is bright and pure.” — Ajahn Phut. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Phut] [Dependent origination] [Chanting] [Wat Pah Nanachat]
Reference: Vipassanā-bhūmī, Amaravati Chanting Book Volume 2, p. 67.
Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: The mind is another sense base. It’s not who you are. [Sense bases] [Not-self]
4. “How do you deal with the fear of renunciation and sacrifice that you do on the path of practice? Giving things up that are familiar and comfortable, or even that you know are uncomfortable, but there’s still that dukkha around it. Or after you’ve given up, the mind can proliferate on these subjects a lot. What has your experience been like?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Cunda. [Renunciation] [Fear] [Suffering] [Proliferation] // [Self-identity view] [Cessation of Suffering] [Relinquishment] [Discernment] [Happiness] [Monastic life]
Quote: “Everything I’ve ever let go of has claw marks on it.” — David Foster Wallace. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Clinging]
Story: Just sweep the leaves in front of your broom. Told by Ajahn Cunda. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Present moment awareness] [Similes]
Story: A young child struggles to give Ajahn Sumedho a candy on almsround. Told by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Generosity] [Almsround] [Ajahn Sumedho]
1. Recollection: My first meeting with Ajahn Pasanno. Recounted by Ajahn Pavaro. [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Birken] [Personal presence]
2. Recollection: Friendship and consistency of training at Abhayagiri Monastery. Recounted by Ajahn Pavaro. [Birken] [Abhayagiri] [Monastic life] [Spiritual friendship]
3. Recollection: Seeing the faith in Thailand. Recounted by Ajahn Pavaro. [Culture/Thailand] [Faith] [Respect] // [Ajahn Pasanno]
3. Recollection: The early foundations of Abhayagiri Monastery. Recounted by Ajahn Ahiṃsako. [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Desire] [Lodging] [Saṅgha] [Community ]
Reflection: Building foundations of community requires care and attention. [Community ] [Vinaya]
Quote: “Holding on with wisdom.” — Ajahn Jayasaro. [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Clinging] [Discernment]
3. Recollection: A monk who memorized the entire Tipiṭaka advises, “Don’t be lazy.” Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tipiṭaka] [Memory] [Energy]
2. Recollection: Seeking refuge – what’s next? Recounted by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Three Refuges] [Impermanence] // [Sensual desire] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Psychic powers] [Views] [Western Ajahn Chah lineage]
Story: 13-year old Glenn DeMaria participates in parapsychology research. [Science]
3. Recollection: Deciding where to ordain. Recounted by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Ordination] [Abhayagiri] // [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Postulants]
2. Story: My first guest booking at Amaravati. Told by Debbie Stamp. [Amaravati] [Debbie Stamp] // [Rains retreat]
3. Recollection: The beginnings of Saṅghapāla Foundation. Recounted by Debbie Stamp and Ajahn Amaro. [Saṅghapāla] [Debbie Stamp] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Almsfood] [Intoxicants]
Recollection: The first meditation retreat at The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. [Meditation retreats] [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas]
4. Recollection: Hesitation after Master Hua’s gift of land. Recounted by Debbie Stamp. [Abhayagiri] [Debbie Stamp] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Gratitude]
Recollection: Thai donors sponsor the food on Debbie Stamp’s first retreat. [Generosity]
1. Story: Father Damian is sent to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to ask if the land could be given to their monastery instead. Told by Father Damian. [Father Damian] [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas] [Holy Transfiguration Monastery] // [Father Boniface]
2. Reflections by Father Damian on Abhayagiri and Holy Transfiguration Monastery as neighbors on the same mountain. [Abhayagiri] [Holy Transfiguration Monastery] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Spiritual traditions] [Christianity ] [Debbie Stamp]
Story: Father Boniface discourages the Abhayagiri monks from coming to the hill. [Father Boniface] [Father Damian] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Amaro]
Recollection: Abhayagiri monks visit Holy Transfiguration Monastery every Christmas.
1. Story: Ajahn Amaro explained my koan. Told by Sakula. [Ajahn Amaro] [Koan] // [Zen] [Emptiness]
2. Story: Frequent visits to Abhayagiri; becoming Ajahn Pasanno’s student. Told by Sakula. [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Ajahn Amaro]
3. Story: Explaining Buddhist practice to my Catholic mother. Told by Sakula. [Christianity ] [Parents] // [Killing] [Virtue]
Quote: “You make a much better Christian as a Buddhist than you ever did as a Catholic.”
4. Recollection: Learning to be honest and humble. Recounted by Sakula. [Truth] [Humility] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Conceit]
5. Story: Beginning a sitting group in Portland, Oregon. Told by Sakula. [Meditation groups] [Portland Friends of the Dhamma] // [Ajahn Amaro]
Quote: “If you take care of the Dhamma, the Dhamma will take care of you. When you need help, someone will show up.” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Dhamma] [Community]
6. Story: The development of Portland Friends of the Dhamma. Told by Sakula. [Portland Friends of the Dhamma] // [CALM Group] [Ajahn Sudanto] [Pacific Hermitage]
8. Recollection: The history and significance of the Community of Abhayagiri Lay Ministers. Recounted by Sakula. [CALM Group] [Lay teachers] // [Abhayagiri] [Portland Friends of the Dhamma]
1. Story: Coming to Abhayagiri on its second anniversary. Told by Ajahn Sudanto. [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Sudanto] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Portland Friends of the Dhamma]
2. Story: Ajahn Sudanto gains confidence when he sees the abbot Ajahn Pasanno meditating on a busy day. Told by Ajahn Sudanto. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Lunar observance days] [Faith] [Ajahn Sudanto ] // [Travel]
3. Recollection: My early years at Wat Pah Nanachat. Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Sudanto]
Quote: “Luang Por [Pasanno] was our rock.” [Faith] [Disrobing]
4. Recollection: “I wasn’t in on the secret [that Ajahn Pasanno would move to America].” Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Sudanto] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Damrong] [Ajahn Yatiko] [Wat Pah Nanachat]
5. Recollection: Returning to America to care for my parents. Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Parents] [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Sudanto]
7. Recollection: Abhayagiri’s buildings are beautiful and well-maintained. Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Lodging] [Cleanliness] // [Building projects]
2. Recollection: Jack Kornfield invited Ajahn Sumedho to teach in the Bay Area in 1980. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Jack Kornfield ] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Spirit Rock] [Christianity]
3. Recollection: Ajahn Sumedho meets Master Hsuan Hua in the Bay Area in 1980. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Master Hsuan Hua ] [James Baraz]
Quote: “I never thought I would meet another monk like Luang Por Chah. And I just did.” — Ajahn Sumedho. [Ajahn Chah]
4. Story: Ajahn Sumedho invites Ajahn Amaro to lead the first temporary vihara in San Francisco. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Amaro] [Pre-Abhayagiri vihāras] // [Amaravati]
Story: Master Hua invites ten of Ajahn Sumedho’s monks to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to participate in a 1989 ordination. [Master Hsuan Hua] [Elders' Council] [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas] [Vinaya] [Mahāyāna] [Theravāda] [Ordination]
Quote: “It was the dream of my life to bring the Northern and Southern Traditions together. And I didn’t think I could do it until I met Sumedho.” — Master Hsuan Hua.
5. Story: The first temporary vihara in 1990. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Amaro] [Pre-Abhayagiri vihāras] // [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Sundarā]
Recollection: “The Joys of Monastic Life” conference. [Lay life] [Jack Kornfield] [Spirit Rock]
6. Recollection: After drafting an article called “Coming of Age,” Ajahn Amaro reflects that the self-view invested in the idea of being abbot of the California monastery is completely backward. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Amaro ] [Abbot] [Conceit] [Becoming] // [Saṅghapāla] [Pre-Abhayagiri vihāras] [Cause of Suffering] [Disrobing] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Abhayagiri]
Quote: “Being the abbot of a monastery and you’re only 34!” — Ajahn Amaro’s mother. [Parents] [Blame and praise]
Quote: “If our heart is attuned to Dhamma, it’s not about becoming any thing.” [Dhamma] [Beauty]
7. Recollection: It was always wonderful working with the Saṅghapāla people. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Saṅghapāla] [Ajahn Amaro]
8. Recollection: A number of spooky miracles. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro.
Story: Master Hua offers Ajahn Sumedho 120 acres of land from his deathbed. [Master Hsuan Hua] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Vīradhammo] [Psychic powers]
Recollection: The property next door: “You can either buy it or forget it.” [Saṅghapāla] [Commerce/economics]
Recollection: Abhayagiri opens on June 1, 1996. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo]
9. Recollection: Great goodwill, energy, and extraordinary commitment in building Abhayagiri Monastery. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Abhayagiri] [Building projects] [Generosity] // [Thai Forest Tradition]
Reflections on collaborative leadership. [Leadership] [Ajahn Amaro] [Communal harmony]
10. Recollection: Learning to collaborate with the Abhayagiri land and climate. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Abhayagiri] [Culture/Natural environment ] // [Building projects]
11. Recollection: Collaborating with the local culture and laws. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Abhayagiri] [Culture/West] [Community] // [Ajahn Amaro]
12. Recollection: The role of the co-abbots took shape as we went along. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Abhayagiri] [Abbot] // [Respect] [Leadership] [Saṅgha]
Quote: “There needs to be receptivity and the willingness to be surprised by your companions in the Holy Life.”
13. Recollection: Another surprise from Luang Por Sumedho: “I’d like you to come to Amaravati and take over as abbot.” Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Amaro] [Amaravati ] [Abbot] // [Abhayagiri] [Travel] [Retirement] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Saṅgha decision making]
Reflection: All things are impermanent patterns of experience. [Not-self] [Impermanence]
15. Recollection: Ajahn Amaro loses the ability to read due to a temporary ischemic attack. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Amaro] [Sickness] [Impermanence] // [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Ageing ] [Health care] [Not-self] [Relinquishment] [Liberation]
4. Recollection: When I first went to Wat Pah Pong. Recounted by Ajahn Damrong. Translated by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Damrong] [Wat Pah Pong] // [Tranquility] [Ajahn Chah] [Work]
2. Reflection by Ajahn Jundee: We bow to the qualities of the Buddha. Translated by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Bowing] [Buddha] // [Ajahn Chah] [Buddha images] [Tudong]
Story: Venerable Sāriputta would bow in the direction of Venerable Assaji. [Great disciples] [Respect]
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.23: Venerable Sāriputta meets Venerable Assaji.
3. Recollection: Ajahn Chah would go to a village and ask, “Are there any people here?” Recounted by Ajahn Jundee. Translated by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Chah] // [Virtue] [Similes]
4. Stories: Ajahn Jundee helps two suicidal men. Told by Ajahn Jundee. Translated by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Jundee] [Suicide] // [Monasteries]
14. “Has Ajahn Chah ever used physical force to discipline his stubborn disciples out of kindness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Compassion] [Monastic life] // [Ajahn Pasanno]
Story: Ajahn Chah kicks Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo in the chest. [Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo]
1. “Luang Por, did you sleep okay last night?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno]
Story: Reed Perry sleeps on Eurorail trains while travelling with friends. [Travel]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno falls asleep while holding a book. Told by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.
10. “People encourage my children to follow their passion. How does this relate to dispassion? Do you have any advice for kids growing up?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Children] [Desire] [Dispassion ] // [Benefit/gratification] [Skillful qualities]
Quote: “You can’t really pursue a path of virtue, integrity, meditation, wisdom, and reflection if you’re not passionate about it.” [Eightfold Path]
Recollection: Ajahn Pasanno had no passion for his university career. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Learning]
5. “There’s a story about waiting for the afternoon sweet drink all night long (Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 504). Was this you?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Medicinal requisites] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Suffering]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first Pāṭimokkha at Wat Pah Pong. [Wat Pah Pong] [Pāṭimokkha] [Posture/Sitting] [Mae Chee]
Reflection: Ajahn Chah provided the opportunity to reflect about difficulty (Thai toramon). [Fierce/direct teaching ]
Quote: “I don’t teach wisdom. I just give toramon.” — Ajahn Chah. [Discernment]
11. “What about someone who votes and is doing their best to take care of their local community, but they still find their heart darkening with these concerns?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Politics and society] [Community] [Depression] [Suffering] // [Human]
Quote: “The world has been falling about for a long time. This is not a new phenomenon.”
Recollection: The 30th anniversary of Nature Care. [Environment] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Non-profit organizations]
Quote: “If I did it with the idea that I’ve got to protect all the forests in Thailand, I’d just get frustrated. But what I can do is plant seeds for people to protect at least some of it, and that’s a good example for other people in the future.”