4. “Is the Buddha incapable of rage and passion himself? From the coolness of enlightenment as he described it, could you not use rage and passion skillfully? Like you’re acting but aware of it for the liberation of all beings, using it in a skillful way, dispassionately full of compassion. Does that make sense?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Buddha] [Aversion] [Desire] [Liberation] [Compassion] // [Fierce/direct teaching] [Vinaya]
Vinaya: Bhikkhu Pārājika 4.1.2: A harsh rebuke by the Buddha. [Buddha/Biography]
4. “When developing disenchantment and dispassion by seeing the way things are, how do we not go to the extreme of aversion or the craving of unbecoming?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Disenchantment] [Dispassion] [Aversion] [Craving not to become] // [Suffering] [Four Noble Truths]
Story: Ajahn Chah prods Ajahn Pasanno to reflect on suffering. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno]
6. Quote: “Whenever you have feelings of love or hate for anything whatsoever, these will be your aides and partners in building pārami. The Buddha Dhamma is not to be found in moving forwards, nor in moving backwards, nor in standing still. This, Sumedho, is your place of non-abiding.” — Ajahn Chah’s only letter to Ajahn Sumedho. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Greed] [Aversion] [Perfections] [Dhamma] [Middle Path ] // [Relinquishment] [Knowing itself]
6. Comment: I find noises that I have no control over easy to leave alone. But if it’s something like, “If I have a word with that person, I can get him to stop making that noise,” it’s harder. [Equanimity] [Aversion] [Admonishment/feedback]
Response by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Sumedho]
5. Reflections by Ajahn Amaro on “Passion is a maker of measurement; aversion is a maker of measurement …” (SN 41.7). [Perception] [Judgementalism ] [Sensual desire] [Aversion] // [Unwholesome Roots] [Conventions]
Quote: “Is this long or short?” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]
8. “Are the Pāli terms for anger and ill-will similar? With anger, you don’t necessarily wish harm on someone else, it just arises, and it’s involved with sakkāyadiṭṭhi …” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli] [Ill-will] [Aversion] [Self-identity view] // [Hindrances] [Stream entry] [Unwholesome Roots]
Follow-up: “Are there any suttas that say that a sotāpanna does not have anger and ill-will?” [Sutta] [Aversion] [Non-return]
Simile: SN 56.51: The amount of suffering that a sotāpanna relinquishes. [Suffering] [Similes]
7. “What should we do when we are stuck in aversion and not able to see the anatta aspect of it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Aversion] [Not-self] // [Characteristics of existence]
Follow-up: “Is it wise to use memory in these moments when we feel stuck?” [Memory] [Appropriate attention]
Follow-up: “Is it okay to use force when the defilements seem stronger than us?” [Unwholesome Roots] [Right Effort] [Sutta]
Sutta: MN 20: The Removal of Distracting Thoughts.
2. “Sometimes in the suttas people are aware that the eye of Dhamma has opened and they are now stream enterers. From my experience, sometimes people think they are sotāpanna but are not. What is the experience [of entering the stream]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stream entry] // [Thai Forest Tradition] [Suffering]
Reference: The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro Chapters 16–19.
Story: “Better than being a dog.” [Ajahn Chah] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Aversion]
Follow-up: “Is it normal for a stream enter to know that he’s a stream enterer?”
Sutta: AN 3.12: One never forgets the place of stream entry.
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. “If you had to choose between having an overly greedy monk disciple and an overly aversive monk disciple, which would you choose?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Greed] [Aversion] [Monastic life]
Follow-up: “If you had to choose between a monk who eats too much versus a monk who sleeps too much, what would be preferable?” [Moderation in eating] [Devotion to wakefulness]
Quote: “We’re never going to make Abhayagiri comfortable.” [Abhayagiri]