Bhante Gunaratana
Teachers / Monastic teachers / Other Theravāda monastics / Bhante Gunaratana 
8 excerpts, 37:51 total duration

Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing, Session 19 – Jan. 22, 2005

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3. Story: A student gets hit by a car while engrossed in reading Mindfulness in Plain English. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Bhante Gunaratana]


Metta Retreat, Session 1 – Sep. 9, 2008

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7. “What is loving kindness? What is the body and mind’s experience when I feel metta for myself and others?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Goodwill] // [Idealism] [Culture/West] [Right Intention] [Aversion] [Thai] [Happiness] [Translation] [Bhante Gunaratana] [Tranquility] [Spaciousness]

Quote: “The base of loving-kindness is dwelling in non-aversion.”


Thanksgiving Retreat 2012, Session 4 – Nov. 20, 2010

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5. “I’m struggling with aversion and doubt. When do I switch to metta?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aversion] [Doubt] [Goodwill] // [Gladdening the mind]

Story: “I hate metta!” [Bhante Gunaratana]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2012, Session 8 – Nov. 24, 2010

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2. “A few years ago on the Metta Retreat, you taught a phrase that you use in your practice, ‘May I have the patience, courage, understanding, and determination to face and overcome obstacles, difficulties, and failures in life.’ Please speak on how you use this phrase in practice.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Goodwill] // [Bhante Gunaratana]

Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 41: Reflection on Universal Well-Being.


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 5 – Jan. 14, 2013

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2. “Sometime ill-will is diffuse and all-encompasing. Attempting to do metta when the mind is experiencing this seems to aggravate rather than soothe.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ill-will ] [Goodwill ] // [Bhante Gunaratana] [Conditionality] [Self-identity view] [Investigation of states]

Sutta: Snp 1.8: The Metta Sutta (Chanting Book translation).


Our Roots in the Thai Forest Tradition, Session 38 – Feb. 26, 2014

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7. “Does Ajahn Liem attend morning and evening pūjā?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Liem] [Pūjā] // [Culture/Thailand] [Wat Pah Pong]

Story: Ajahn Liem silently walks around and looks at the monks during morning pūjā. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko.

Follow-up: “Did Ajahn Chah go to morning and evening pūjā?” [Ajahn Chah]

Follow-up: “In the early years of Wat Ban Tad, was it always practice on your own?” [Wat Pah Ban Tat] [Thai sects] [Ajahn Tongrat] [Ajahn Baen]

Story: Too many monks skip pūjā to massage Ajahn Liem. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Upatakh]

Recollections: Bhante Gunaratana comes to morning pūjā early. Recounted by Ajahn Jotipālo and Beth Steff. [Bhante Gunaratana]


Madison Insight Retreat 2023, Session 2 – Oct. 14, 2023

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3. “Could you please elaborate on how you generate the images and feelings of metta? My metta practice phrases always seem a bit dry.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Goodwill ] // [Commentaries] [Heart/mind] [Visualization] [Nimitta] [Bhante Gunaratana]


Readings from The Island, Session 50 – Mar. 20, 2025

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12. “The eight training precepts that some monastic traditions ask you to take as a lay person when you are reading suttas or attending Dhamma classes—do different Theravāda forms include this?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno. [Lay life] [Precepts] [Bhante Gunaratana] // [Culture/Sri Lanka] [Culture/Thailand] [Right Speech]