7. Comment: While sitting in the dining hall, the image of a square cushion dropping away from my solar plexus occured. That brought the insight that I was neither inferior nor superior to others, as ego asserts, but we’re all equal. [Insight meditation] [Conceit]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Cause of Suffering] [Suffering] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “Friends and relatives in old age, sickness and death.” — a common way to begin a Dhamma talk in Thailand. [Birth] [Ageing] [Death] [Culture/Thailand]
4. “How do you contemplate the Five Aggregates in practice?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Cunda. [Recollection] [Aggregates] // [Not-self] [Characteristics of existence] [Direct experience] [Ageing]
Sutta: SN 22.59 Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Chanting book translation).
2. “You said that starting with chanting can help focus the mind. But I find myself daydreaming while chanting.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Chanting] [Tranquility] [Proliferation] // [Pāṭimokkha] [Energy]
Story: An elderly woman chants the Dhammacakka Sutta every day. [Ageing]
23. “Could you please tell us the translation of Luang Por and also if its appropriate for laity to address you by this term?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic titles] // [Ageing] [Respect for elders]
3. “Was there some consistency around how Ajahn Chah taught monks in a large community and how he taught monks in a small community? It sounds like when there were eleven monks he was very involved.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Monastic life] [Mentoring] // [Ageing]
10. “What happened to Mae Somchai?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mae Somchai] // [Wat Pah Boon Lorm] [Ageing]
Story: Mae Somchai packs up her academic career and comes to the monastery. Told by Ajahn Pasanno and Jeed Chaiboonruang. [Learning]
11. “Is there a meditation practice to use with someone who is dying?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Death] // [Faith] [Simplicity] [Happiness] [Recollection/Death] [Ageing] [Sickness]
Story about Ram Dass’s dying mother: “Richard, shut up!” [Ram Dass] [Fear] [Restlessness and worry]
6. “You mentioned that asubha practice can cool sensual desire. But what if what you are attracted to is not so much a physical thing but an attraction of the heart—of good qualities you see. What cools the heart if you are hooked?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unattractiveness] [Dispassion] [Clinging] // [Ageing] [Impermanence]
4. “In the West, we personalize every bit of suffering. Is it different in Thailand?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Culture/West ] [Suffering] [Self-identity view] [Culture/Thailand] // [Language] [Liberation]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno can’t translate guilt into Thai. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Thai] [Translation]
Quote: “That’s really suffering. Tell them not to do that.” — Ajahn Paññānanda. [Ajahn Paññānanda]
Reference: Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast (commercial). [Ageing] [Sickness] [Parents] [Health care]
20. “When Ajahn Chah was making the lid for his bowl (Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 94) and he stopped himself from thinking about working while he was resting or meditating ... how did that flow for him?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Almsbowl] [Proliferation] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Ajahn Chah] // [Discernment] [Patience] [Learning] [Humor]
Quote: “If you can’t laugh at yourself as a practitioner, then you’re sunk.”
Story: Ajahn Chah makes a large ball of sticky rice for himself then comments, “When I was younger, I used to be able to pack it; I’m getting old now.” [Ageing] [Food]
4. “What about animal euthanasia?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Animal] [Euthanasia] [Killing] // [Compassion] [Sickness] [Ageing]
3. Comment: Coming out of a long-term relationship where someone was killed in an accident after 42 years, the way you presented the disadvantages and advantages of a conventional loving relationship was perhaps a little light on the advantages. [Relationships] [Death] // [Monastic life/Motivation] [Gratitude] [Long-term practice] [Suffering] [Courage]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Saṅgha] [Saṃsāra] [Spiritual urgency]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha/Biography] [Ageing] [Rebirth] [Treasures]
Reference: AN 4.55: Nakula’s mother and father aspire to see each other in this life and the next.
7. “How would I apply the perception of unattractiveness in my daily life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unattractiveness] [Everyday life] [Recollection] // [Sensual desire] [Ageing] [Proliferation] [Dispassion] [Appropriate attention]
9. Comment: The Mahāparinibbāna Sutta (DN 16) brings the Buddha’s quest full circle. [Sutta] [Buddha/Biography]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ageing] [Sickness] [Death]
20. “I wake remembering dreams my dreams often and at times in the dream I know that I am dreaming. There are interesting aspects to this, but also at times I find it intense or tiring. Meditation before bed seems to intensify this. Suggestions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dreams ] // [Clear comprehension] [Relinquishment] [Mindfulness]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s Tibetan doctor insists he needs more sleep. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Health care] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Ageing]