All teachings
38 events, 190 sessions, 373 excerpts, 25:46:22 total duration
2. Developing dispassion by reflecting on the body. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of body] [Unattractiveness] [Dispassion] // [Food] [Self-identity view]
1. Simile: As dawn precedes sunrise, when one recognizes the quality of appamāda (heedfulness), one can expect the unfolding of the Eightfold Path. (SN 45.55) — Ajahn Pasanno. [Similes] [Heedfulness] [Eightfold Path] [Recollection/Death] [Dispassion] // [Liberation]
3. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: If this were the last moment of my life, is this the kind of mental state I want to carry into death? [Recollection/Death] [Dispassion] // [Mindfulness of breathing] [Ajahn Pasanno]
4. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno from Ajahn Koon Balisoodtoh: “Am I dying?” with each breath. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Recollection/Death] [Dispassion] // [Amulets]
8. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: We will be alone when we die. [Death] [Recollection/Death] [Dispassion] // [Heedfulness] [Rodney Smith] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Quote: “In the end, one is cooked and eaten by the King of Death.” — Varapañño Bhikkhu (Paul Breiter). [Paul Breiter]
1. Simile: The mind that does not allow cessation is like the derelict Chithurst House stuffed with junk. — Ajahn Pasanno. [Chithurst] [Cessation] [Similes]
2. The cessation of self view is a window into emptiness. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Emptiness] [Becoming] [Cessation] [Cessation of Suffering] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Meditation instructions from Ajahn Jumnien: Rest attention midway between the eye and a visual object. [Ajahn Jumnien] [Sense bases]
Samatha practices allow us to become familiar with peaceful places in our mind. [Calming meditation] [Tranquility]
Teaching from Ajahn Chah: Can you be continuously angry for two hours? [Ajahn Chah] [Aversion] [Impermanence]
3. Ajahn Buddhadāsa translates nirodha as quenching. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Cessation] [Translation]
3. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Seeing things as they are. [Knowledge and vision ] [Relinquishment] // [Aggregates] [Self-identity view]
4. Attending to the simplicity of the elements. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Elements ] [Direct experience] [Relinquishment] // [Mindfulness of breathing] [Self-identity view]
5. Ajahn Buddhadāsa translates paṭinissagga as “giving back”. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Translation] [Relinquishment] // [Naturalness] [Mindfulness of breathing]
4. The four constituents of Right Mindfulness. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Mindfulness] [Ardency] [Clear comprehension] [Relinquishment] [Right Effort]
Sutta: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta.
Commentary: Clear comprehension has the characteristic of non-confusion, its function is to investigate, and it manifests as scrutiny. (Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 154)
Commentary: Mindfulness has the characteristic of remembering, its function is not forgetting, and it manifests as guarding. (Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 154)
5. When mindfulness is established and the breath becomes subtle, attend to the presence of the breath and the knower itself. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tranquility] [Knowing itself ] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Relinquishment] [Delusion]
Quote: “If you let go a little, you get a little peace. If you let go a lot, you get a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you get complete peace.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]
3. “Could you please explain about the death process…how quickly does rebirth occur?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Death ] [Rebirth] // [Recollection/Death] [Delusion] [Self-identity view] [Recollection] [Impermanence] [Not-self] [Theravāda] [History/Early Buddhism] [Sutta] [Vajrayāna] [Clinging] [Culture/Thailand] [Chanting] [Goodwill] [Relinquishment] [Ceremony/ritual] [Kamma]
References: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 55: Five Recollections; Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 12: The body is impermanent... [Craving]
Simile: Fire blown by the wind (SN 44.9: Kutūhalasālā Sutta) [Similes]
Story: A former monk asks Ajahn Chah about working with dying people to give them the opportunity for wholesome rebirth. [Ajahn Chah] [Teachers] [Fierce/direct teaching]
Quote: “I practice dying.” — The Dalai Lama. [Dalai Lama]
9. “Could you talk more about working with the hindrance of doubt?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Doubt ] // [Fear] [Aversion] [Sensual desire] [Mindfulness of body] [Tranquility] [Mindfulness of feeling] [Right Speech] [Delusion]
Simile: A dish of muddy water placed in a dark cupboard (SN 46.55). [Similes]
11. “It’s been so helpful to hear stories from your own experience. Could you talk about some of the more challenging moments in your practice and how you worked with them?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Gratitude] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Long-term practice] // [Doubt ] [Patience]
Quote: “It’s not me resolving doubt, but it’s allowing the practice or the Dhamma to work.” [Self-identity view] [Dhamma] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Faith] [Three Refuges]
Simile: “Getting in the vehicle and allowing it to carry you.” [Similes]
19. “What is the difference between pīti and sukha?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rapture] [Happiness] // [Continuity of mindfulness] [Concentration] [Jhāna] [Tranquility] [Unification] [Mindfulness]
Simile: A traveller through a desert learns of an oasis (pīti) then drinks and bathes at the oasis (sukha) (Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 139). [Similes]
7. “Just to clarify – when doing loving-kindness practice, is any phrase OK to repeat? They can be said as a chant, right? At any speed? Is any chant best for achieving concentration?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Goodwill] [Meditation/Techniques] [Chanting] [Concentration] // [Nature of mind]
Quote: “What is really important is not so much the phrases or the methodology but the feeling that is established within the heart of lovingkindness.” [Emotion]
Simile: A tradesman with only one tool. [Similes]
3. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: The impact and inspiration of Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Chah] // [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Western Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Ajahn Chah Remembrance Day] [Wat Pah Pong]
10. Reading from the draft biography: Ajahn Chah accepts his dying father’s request to stay as a monk for life. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Parents] [Monastic life/Motivation] [Sickness] [Death] [Ajahn Chah ] [Determination ] // [Mindfulness of body] [Spiritual urgency ] [Saṃsāra]
Reference: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 40
Quote: “I dedicate my body and mind, my whole life, to the practice of the Lord Buddha’s teachings in their entirety. I will realize the truth in this lifetime … I will let go of everything and follow the teachings. No matter how much suffering and difficulty I have to endure I will persevere, otherwise there will be no end to my doubts. I will make this life as even and continuous as a single day and night. I will abandon attachments to mind and body and follow the Buddha’s teachings until I know their truth for myself.” — Ajahn Chah. [Determination ] [Ardency] [Patience] [Doubt] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Relinquishment] [Knowledge and vision]
Reference: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 42
The singular quality of Ajahn Chah’s resolution. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Determination ]
1. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno: The role of walking meditation. [Posture/Walking] [Ajahn Chah] // [Thai Forest Tradition] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Lodging] [Sloth and torpor]
Quote: Ajahn Chah admonishes the monks: “I’ve looked at the huts in the forest where you monks live. I see the walking meditation paths, and I don’t see human tracks. All I see are dog tracks!” [Fierce/direct teaching]
1. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Context of Ajahn Chah’s early efforts at meditation. [Meditation] [Ajahn Chah] // [Thai sects] [Ajahn Mun] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]
2. Teaching by Ajahn Chah: Skillful effort in meditation. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/General advice] [Determination] [Right Effort] [Ajahn Chah] // [Conceit] [Posture/Sitting] [Relinquishment] [Equanimity] [Tranquility] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Restlessness and worry] [Clinging] [Craving] [Judgementalism]
Reference: Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 467 “Unshakeable Peace”
3. Teaching by Ajahn Chah: The contemplation of conditionality leads to the Dhamma. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Conditionality] [Dhamma] [Ajahn Chah] // [Characteristics of existence]
4. Teaching by Ajahn Chah: Meditation is like a single piece of wood. Insight is one end of the stick, and serenity is the other. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Similes] [Insight meditation] [Calming meditation] [Ajahn Chah] // [Naturalness]
1. The tradition of almsround. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Almsfood] [Almsround] [Generosity] [Almsbowl] // [Ajahn Chah] [Vinaya]
2. The monks’ requisites sustain our livelihood and are a focal point for our cultivation of mindfulness and attention. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Requisites ] [Almsbowl] [Mindfulness] // [Robes]
1. Explanation of the meal blessing chant. [Anumodanā] [Almsfood] // [Pāli] [Gratitude] [Merit]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 50
4. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Why Ajahn Chah spent only three days with Ajahn Mun. [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Chah] // [Thai sects] [Politics and society] [Psychic powers] [Dreams]
Reference: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 61
Quote: “Mahānikāya needs good monks as well.” — Ajahn Mun to Ajahn Chah.
1. Guided meditation: Resolve right now is the time for training the mind and nothing else. From “The Key to Liberation” by Ajahn Chah. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Calming meditation] [Proliferation] [Determination] [Ajahn Chah] // [Mindfulness] [Discernment] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Body scanning] [Relinquishment] [Unification] [Restlessness and worry] [Concentration] [Present moment awareness] [Clear comprehension] [Impermanence] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Sense restraint]
Quote: “Sitting and walking meditation are in essence the same, differing only in the posture used.” [Posture/Sitting] [Posture/Walking]
Simile: Chicken in a coop. [Similes]
Simile: Mindfulness, clear comprehension, and wisdom are like three workers lifting heavy planks.
2. Reading: Everyday. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Everyday life] [Ajahn Chah] // [Ardency] [Sloth and torpor]
Simile: A child learning to write. [Similes]
10. Quote: “It all comes back to that simple quality of mindfulness. From the mindfulness, then the different qualities of practice that we need to rely on are cultivated.” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness ] [Faculties] [Tudong] // [Concentration ] [Thai] [Translation] [Discernment] [Perfections]
Reflection: In Thai, samādhi is translated as “the firm establishing of the mind.” [Concentration ]
Quote: “The base and foundation is the mindfulness. Being the knowing is always the foundation, and then the mind is able to become still, become settled, become steady.” [Knowing itself] [Concentration ]
Recollection: “It’s rare that Ajahn Chah would use [the Pāli term] pañña on its own. More often than not, he would use satipañña, which is mindfulness and wisdom together.” [Ajahn Chah] [Pāli]
2. “Thank you for this morning’s talk on the recollections and faith. Could you elaborate on your point about faith and anāgamī? Has anyone been fully liberated through faith?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Faith] [Non-return] [Liberation] // [Discernment] [Energy] [Faculties] [The New Yorker] [Culture/West]
Reflection: Faith is the trigger for letting go and relinquishment. [Relinquishment]
Sutta: MN 52: Delight in the Dhamma and the third stage of liberation. [Recollection/Dhamma]
17. “Could you please talk about the process of cutting the chain of Dependent Origination? With a more mature practice, can one cut the chain earlier among the different links? How does this take place experientially?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dependent origination] // [Relinquishment] [Feeling] [Craving] [Conditionality]
Simile from Ajahn Chah: A pin pricking a balloon. [Ajahn Chah]
6. “Could you review again what the antidotes to the Five Hindrances are? Also, if one has not correctly identified the hindrance at the moment and uses the incorrect remedy, so what?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances] [Investigation of states] // [Desire] [Unattractiveness] [Dispassion] [Ill-will] [Goodwill] [Sloth and torpor] [Restlessness and worry] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Doubt] [Recollection/Dhamma] [Self-reliance]
Sutta: SN 46.51: Starving the hindrances.
Simile: Throwing dust into the wind (Dhp 125). [Drawbacks] [Similes]
Sutta: AN 7.61: Antidotes for sloth and torpor.
20. “Can a person be enlightened without ever sitting? Or without ever hearing the Dhamm? Was anyone ever enlightened before the Buddha?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Liberation] [Posture/Sitting] [Hearing the true Dhamma] // [Buddha] [Mindfulness] [Discernment] [Tranquility]
Simile from Ajahn Chah: “Chickens sit for a long period of time, and they don’t get very far.” [Ajahn Chah] [Animal] [Similes]
Recollection: When Ajahn Chah sat meditation, it was like seeing a mountain sitting there.
Sutta: SN 15.1: “Bound by ignorance and obstructed by craving.” [Ignorance] [Craving]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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.
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]
22. A review of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Factors of Awakening]
9. “You instructed us to meditate on the breath with mindfulness and continuity. You also recommended wise reflection. How does one weave and connect both together?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness] [Recollection]
Sutta: MN 10.3: The description of Right Mindfulness. [Right Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension]
Reflection: Ātāpi as an aspect of Right Mindfulness is the application of effort for the burning up of defilements. [Ardency ] [Right Effort] [Unwholesome Roots] [Thai]
Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 431: “Clear comprehension is another word for wisdom.” [Discernment]
Quote: “That function in nature that draws knowledge and attention of the sense contact into the heart.” — P. A. Payutto’s description of mindfulness. [P. A. Payutto] [Contact]
4. “Could you expand on the causes necessary to enter the stream? Is it simply a question of amassing these causes and the experience of the eventual fruit or does the practitioner also need to ‘get in shape’ like an athlete preparing for an event who must be in top form? If the latter simile applies, does the yogi need to give it his all or does he merely need to just hang in there long enough for the cause to bear fruit, with just the right amount of dynamic tension?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stream entry] [Conditionality] [Energy] // [Factors for stream entry] [Discernment]
Sutta: SN 55.5: Factors for stream entry explained in terms of the Eightfold Path. [Eightfold Path]
Simile of splitting a log with an axe. [Right Effort] [Similes]
8. “I have greatly appreciated the teachings on non-proliferation, especially Ajahn Karunadhammo’s answer to last night’s question regarding the underlying feeling that is often present and driving a particular proliferation. I live with an autoimmune disease which currently requires frequent adjustments to my medications.... It is quite a conundrum to care for this body and track the various symptoms, all of which I find unpleasant, and yet not to proliferate on what needs to happen next. Going to the body in my practice, while useful, is not reliably calming, and sometimes seems to add fuel to the fire. This retreat I have been practicing with Right View and Right Understanding by repeating key phrases from the daily talks and have experienced what feels like a very deep insight at times. Do you have any words of guidance for when I go off retreat on working with this human body and this all-too-human mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Proliferation] [Feeling] [Sickness] [Pain] [Mindfulness of body] [Right View] [Right Intention] // [Suffering] [Ajahn Chah] [Restlessness and worry] [Gladdening the mind]
Sutta: SN 36.6: Shot by two arrows.
Simile from Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 159: Being injected with poison. [Similes]
Quote: “It can still be uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.”
7. “Would you speak about the place of vipassanā in walking meditation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Insight meditation] [Posture/Walking] // [Recollection]
Simile from Ajahn Chah: You learn to write in school, but you don’t need to go back to the school to write a letter. [Ajahn Chah] [Meditation] [Everyday life ] [Similes]
15. “I’ve always felt a draw to the Fire Sermon (SN 35.28). Could you expound a bit more on this teaching?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sutta ] [Teaching Dhamma] // [Sense bases] [Similes] [Unwholesome Roots] [Disenchantment] [Buddha/Biography]
The three cardinal suttas give different frameworks for investigation: [Insight meditation]
Sutta: SN 56.11: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta; Amaravati Chanting Book Volume 2, p. 2. [Four Noble Truths]
Sutta: SN 22.59: Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta; Amaravati Chanting Book Volume 2, p. 14. [Not-self] [Aggregates]
Sutta: SN 35.28: Ādittapariyāya Sutta; Amaravati Chanting Book Volume 2, p. 24.
[Session] Dhamma talk: Ajahn Pasanno reflects at the beginning of the retreat on what is helpful to establish in the mind during a period of formal practice. Drawing on the distinction of wholesome and unwholesome dhammas he brings together the topics of the Five Hindrances, Mindfulness, Clear Comprehension, and the putting forth of effort. Offered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness]
[Session] Dhamma talk: The attention to bringing the mind to the freeing of the hindrances is essential. Ajahn Pasanno reflects on the Five Hindrances and recalls various metaphors and tools the Buddha suggests for understanding and working with the hindrances. Offered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances]
[Session] Dhamma talk: Bringing the theme of the Five Hindrances to focus again, Ajahn Pasanno offers more advice for working with the hindrances and focuses on the positive qualities that we can turn to to enable relinquishing of the hindrances. Offered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances]
[Session] Dhamma talk: Beginning with the Buddha’s metaphor of the skilled cook (SN 47.8) who carefully watches what his king prefers in order to gain favor. Ajahn Pasanno relates the importance and methods of relating to the meditation object in the framework of what works and what doesn’t work. Offered by Ajahn Pasanno.
[Session] Dhamma talk: Ajahn Pasanno reflects on the importance of practicing dhamma in accordance with dhamma and how this subtle, but important shift in our intention is a key to right practice. Offered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]
[Session] Dhamma talk: Ajahn Pasanno explains the Buddha’s similes for spreading well-being and awareness throughout the body and describes mindfulness of breathing in terms of inclusive awareness. Offered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of body]
[Session] Dhamma talk: To commemorate the Ajahn Chah’s 21st death anniversary, Ajahn Pasanno reads three talks on meditation from Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah: “Tranquility and Insight”, “The Path in Harmony”, and “The Place of Coolness.” Offered by Ajahn Pasanno.
[Session] Dhamma talk: Reflecting on a question, Ajahn Pasanno talks about the usage of Kor Wat, translated “protocols” or ways of relating to requisites and the community, as a basic tool for training mindfulness and circumspection. Offered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Protocols]
[Session] Dhamma talk: Ajahn Pasanno reflects on the basic teaching of the Four Noble Truths and how investigating and contemplating dukkha enables us to see our habits and conditioning and the obstacles to practice. Offered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Four Noble Truths]
1. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno: The relationship between the Five Hindrances and the Seven Factors of Awakening. [Hindrances] [Factors of Awakening] // [Mindfulness of dhammas] [Āgama] [Abhidhamma]
2. Reading: SN 46.38, Bojjhaṅgasaṁyutta, “Without Hindrances.” Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances] [Factors of Awakening]
Reflection: The value of listening to Dhamma. [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Stream entry]
Sutta: AN 5.26: Listening to Dhamma is one of five situations that can lead to liberation.
[Session] Reading: AN 7.61, “Dozing.” Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sloth and torpor]
reflects on the qualities described in the lesser-known second half of this sutta. [Contentment] [Seclusion] [Relinquishment]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānassati Sutta.
3. Reflections by Ajahn Pasanno on SN 42.13: The Buddha’s clarity with definitions and bringing doubts about views back to conduct. [Teaching Dhamma] [Doubt] [Views] [Virtue]
1. Reflections by Ajahn Pasanno on MN 109: The danger in clinging to khandhas. [Clinging] [Self-identity view] [Aggregates]
Reference: Reflection on dukkha from the Morning Chanting.
Sutta: SN 22.59 Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Chanting book translation).
2. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno: MN 64.9 explains how jhāna forms the basis for insight. [Jhāna] [Characteristics of existence] [Insight meditation] // [Formless attainments]
Follow-up: “Does that imply that insight is realized during that absorption?”
2. The meaning of perception. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] // [Sense bases] [Thai] [Memory]
Sutta: SN 22.79.
5. “MN 44.14 defines perception and feeling as mental formations. I thought those were just conditional arising on account of contact (MN 109.9)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Feeling] [Volitional formations] [Conditionality] [Contact] // [Pāli]
Ajahn Buddhadasā‘s translation of the Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118; Chanting Book translation) translates cittasaṅkhāra as the mental conditioner. [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Translation] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Reference: Mindfulness with Breathing by Ajahn Buddhadāsa, p. 72.
Follow-up: “The bodily fabrication doesn’t seem to involve volition, but vitakka and vicāra do.” [Body/form] [Volition] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Aggregates]
Comment: In the Ānāpānasati Sutta, much of the practice is intentionally calming different saṅkhāras. [Tranquility] [Mindfulness of body]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
1. Reading: SN 22.2, Khandhasaṁyutta, “At Devadaha” and Bhikkhu Bodhi’s footnote on p. 1045. Read by Ajahn Pasanno.
Reflection: This is a nice snapshot of the Saṅgha at the time of the Buddha. [Saṅgha] [Buddha/Biography] [Great disciples]
Simile: Sāriputta as a midwife (MN 141.5).
9. Explanation of “The Questions of Māgaṇḍiya” (Snp 4.9) and Dr. Saddhatissa’s translation of the Sutta Nipāta. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [History/Early Buddhism] [Dr. Saddhatissa] [Translation] // [Great disciples] [Pāli] [Culture/Sri Lanka]
Story: Ajahn Chah tells Ajahn Sumedho to take Dr. Saddhatissa as the Saṅgharāja of England. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Study monks]
10. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: In SN 22.3, Venerable Mahākaccāna extrapolates from the literal to the figurative. [Great disciples] [Teaching Dhamma] [Symbolism/metaphor] // [Commentaries] [Aggregates] [Sense bases] [Proliferation]
1. SN 45.159 relates the Five Aggregates to the First Noble Truth, which must be understood. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Aggregates] // [Characteristics of existence]
2. Introduction to The Questions of King Milinda. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [History/Early Buddhism] [Sutta] [Aggregates]
1. Gratification, danger, and escape in regard to the Five Aggregates. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Aggregates] [Aspects of Understanding] [Benefit/gratification] [Drawbacks] [Escape]
1. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: The way to develop the perception of impermanence is seeing all of the khandhas individually just as they are. [Impermanence] [Knowledge and vision] [Aggregates] // [Patience] [Determination]
1. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: Venerable Vakkali (SN 22.87) used pain to impel himself towards insight. [Great disciples] [Pain] [Sickness] [Progress of insight] // [Aggregates] [Arahant] [Suicide]
4. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: SN 22.86 is a classic exposition of the unapprehendability of the Tathāgata at death. [Buddha] [Death] [Non-identification] // [Right View] [Aggregates] [Teaching Dhamma]
2. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: SN 22.89 spells out the difference between the conceit ‘I am’ and sakkāyaditthi. [Conceit] [Self-identity view]
3. Reflection by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo on SN 22.90: Seeing all the khandhas as dukkha. [Aggregates] [Suffering] [Not-self]
5. “Sorry, I missed something. Did you say that instead of dwelling on our hindrances and getting depressed, we could instead work with the Factors of Enlightenment to brighten the mind? What are the Factors you would suggest?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Factors of Awakening] [Gladdening the mind] // [Divine Abidings] [Perfections] [Right Effort] [Hindrances]
Reflections on Unbinding as a translation of Nibbāna. [Nibbāna] [Translation] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro]
Quote: “Practicing Dhamma is like taking a screwdriver and unscrewing something rather than putting the screwdriver in and tightening it up.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Similes]
[Session] Ajahn Pasanno begins the retreat by encouraging us to return to the basics of the Noble Eightfold Path. He mentions Iris Landsberg, a long-standing lay supporter dying of lung cancer, both to set the tone for the monk’s final visit to her and to encourage us to practice while there is still time. Iris passed away February 1, 2014. [Eightfold Path] [Sickness] [Death] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Spiritual urgency] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Meditation retreats] [Family] [Health care]
Sutta: DN 16.5.27: The world will not be devoid of awakened beings as long as people are practicing the Eightfold Path. [Stages of awakening]
Story: Ajahn Pāvaro decides to practice in Bodh Gaya after receiving worrying medical news. [Ajahn Pavaro] [Visiting holy sites] [Impermanence]
Sutta: MN 131: Bhaddekaratta Sutta (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 75)
1. Brief biography of Ajahn Mahā Boowa. Teaching by Ajahn Ṭhitapañño. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa]
7. Reflection about the Buddha saying, “Māra, I see you!” Contributed by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Buddha/Biography] [Māra]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno about the definition of an arahant being “one who is far from defilements” and insight into not self. [Ajahn Chah] [Not-self] [Stream entry] [Self-identity view]
Sutta: MN 123 Acchariya-abbhūta Sutta: Wonderful and Marvelous.
1. Introductory comments by Ajahn Pasanno and Tan Pamutto clarify some of the terms in the reading. [Ajahn Liem] [Perception of a samaṇa] [Association with people of integrity] [Thai] [Abhayagiri] [Worldly Conditions]
11. “She talks about making a story out of denying your defilements. Does the story of having fun denying your defilements come from that space of dwelling in that state of continuous mindfulness, or does continuous mindfulness come about from going through the suffering of forcing yourself not to enjoy anything?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Unwholesome Roots] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Conditionality] // [Discernment]
Quote: “Relinquishment isn’t so much a giving up something that we have but enjoying the non-moving to get or trying to make.” [Relinquishment] [Cessation of Suffering] [Non-identification]
Simile: Learning to drive or walk. — Ajahn Kaccāna. [Similes]
7. The character of Ajahn Chah and his relatives. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Personality] [Aversion] [Humor] // [Leadership]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah’s older brother had the same personality. [Family]
3. “Was there a time in Thai history when meditation was a routine part of childhood education?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [History/Thai Buddhism] [Children] [Education] [Meditation] // [Three Refuges] [Chanting] [Right View]
Reflection: Ajahn Liem’s mother and sister were nuns with similar demeanor. [Ajahn Liem] [Family] [Mae Chee] [Wat Pah Pong] [Personality]
1. Ajahn Pasanno introduces Ajahn Koon and Twigs and Branches of the Bodhinyana. [Dhamma books] [Ajahn Koon (Na Pho)]
1. Introduction to The Natural Character of Awakening and Chao Khun Upāli. Teaching by Ajahn Jotipālo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Chao Khun Upāli] [Ajahn Mun] [Forest versus city monks]
Story: Ajahn Mun takes on the role of abbot at a city temple out of respect for Chao Khun Upāli’s request. [Abbot]
3. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko on Ajahn Buddhadāsa’s use of analogies. [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Similes] [Suffering]
1. Background information about Ajahn Suwat. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Suwat] // [Ajahn Fun] [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Dune]
1. “Sometimes I will see a bit of greed come up, I apply an antidote, for example, if its craving, apply some asuba; but it seems to exacerbate it–do you have any encouragement or similes from Ajahn Chah?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unwholesome Roots] [Right Effort] [Meditation/Results] [Ajahn Chah] // [Investigation of states] [Patience]
Simile: Putting a tiger in a cage. [Similes] [Mindfulness] [Discernment]
1. Biographical information about Ajahn Sim and Simply So. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Sim] [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Dhamma books]
2. “All Dhammas are not to be clung to.” Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Clinging] [Relinquishment] // [Cessation] [Meditation/Techniques] [Right View] [Upasikā Kee Nanayon] [Suffering]
Sutta: MN 37 Cūḷataṇhāsaṅkhaya Sutta
5. “In my desire to get to the “heart of it” I find part of my mind really wants this, but another part of my mind is not going along with the program. How do I keep myself on the Path?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Desire] [Simplicity] [Volition] // [Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering] [Impermanence] [Cessation] [Upasikā Kee Nanayon]
Follow-up: “The experience of arising and disbanding isn’t yet practical for me. I need something more operational.” [Tranquility]
Simile: Making a fire flare up or die down (SN 46.53). — Ajahn Pasanno. [Factors of Awakening] [Energy] [Mindfulness]
3. Reflection by Ajahn Yatiko: “Authenticity and Freedom”: Ajahn Yatiko reflects on his brother Glenn’s life, values, and suicide from the perspective of a “Siamese twin joined at the soul” and from the perspective of a Buddhist monk. Originally offered at Glenn’s memorial service on September 30, 2013, at Ascension Lutheran Church in Edmonton, this talk was replayed during the 2014 Upasika Day on Death and Dying. [Family] [Suicide ] [Truth] [Liberation] [Death] // [Christianity] [Monastic life/Motivation] [Mental illness] [Idealism] [Spiritual search] [Judgementalism] [Impermanence] [Kamma]
4. Reflection by Jeanne Daskais: How Dhamma practice helped me be with my mother’s death and support my family through the process. [Parents] [Sickness] [Buddhist identity] [Family] [Death] // [Grief] [Christianity] [Health care] [Relationships] [Recollection/Death] [Generosity]
Sutta: SN 47.19: The Bamboo Acrobat
5. Reflection by Debbie Stamp: Caring for dying and grieving Abhayagiri supporters and family members. [Abhayagiri] [Sickness] [Family] [Parents] [Death] [Grief] [Health care] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Christianity] [Forgiveness] [Fear] [Impermanence] [Merit] [Doubt]
Reference: Debbie transcribed Ajahn Pasanno’s 2008 Metta Retreat, published it as Abundant, Exalted, Immeasurable, and dedicated the merit to her mother. [Meditation retreats] [Dhamma books]
Story: Ajahn Ñāṇiko hikes to the top of Mount Dana to dedicate merit to deceased relatives. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]
1. Devotional practice and the context and history of the Thai Forest Tradition. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Devotional practice] [Culture/Thailand] [Types of monks] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Vinaya]
2. The current popularity of the Thai Forest Tradition can be attributed to Ajahn Mun. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mun] [Teaching Dhamma] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Tudong] [Ajahn Chah] [Spiritual search] [Culture/Thailand]