20 excerpts, 1:18:06 total duration
18. “Can you recommend any particular books which share the teachings of the Buddha in more user-friendly ways—‘Dhamma for Dummies’? I found the readings from the discourses/Canon repetitive and hard to relate to, yet you share so many Dhamma tidbits that are captivating and memorable.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Yatiko. [Dhamma books ] [Tipiṭaka] [Teaching Dhamma] // [Bhikkhu Bodhi]
Reference: Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness by Bhante Gunaratana (commercial). [Eightfold Path]
Reference: In the Buddha’s Words by Bhikkhu Bodhi (commercial). [Sutta]
Reference: The Life of the Buddha According to the Pāli Canon by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli. [Buddha/Biography]
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]
1. “What’s the difference between sleep and sloth and torpor?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sloth and torpor] // [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Translation] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Craving not to become]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first meditation retreat: “You’ve been stealing sleep!” [Ajahn Pasanno]
Story: After Ajahn Pasanno’s illness, he needs to sleep an hour more. [Sickness]
1. “Why does the Buddha describe perception in terms of colors but consciousness in terms of tastes?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Perception] [Consciousness] [Sense bases] // [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Commentaries] [Ven. Anālayo] [Memory] [Feeling]
Sutta: SN 22.79: Being Devoured; footnote 114 in Bhikkhu Bodhi translation.
Follow-up: “Could you say that perception is identification whereas consciousness is more refined?” [Aggregates] [Not-self] [Self-identity view] [Rebirth] [Translation] [Similes]
3. “Are the Four Frames of Reference the same as the Four Foundations of Mindfulness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Translation] // [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro]
3. “Are any of the lists in this sutta (MN 95.14; MN 95.20) explained in other suttas?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Sutta] // [Bhikkhu Bodhi]
Reference: P.A. Payutto’s Dictionary of Numerical Dhammas (in Thai). [P. A. Payutto] [Tipiṭaka] [Pāli]
Explanation of volume and page numbers in the Pāli Tipiṭaka.
Comment by Debbie Stamp: Similar listings often refer to the gradual training. [Gradual Teaching]
Sutta: MN 107: Gaṇakamoggallāna Sutta.
Sutta: MN 47: Vīmaṃsaka Sutta.
2. “What is the relationship between truthfulness, the truth of the way things are, and metta?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Truth] [Goodwill] // [Perfections] [Aversion]
Bhikkhu Bodhi presents the Ten Perfections in linear order. Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Bhikkhu Bodhi]
Reference: A Study of the the Pāramīs by Bhikkhu Bodhi.
The perception of not-self helps us avoid denying unskillful mind states. Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Not-self] [Unskillful qualities] [Self-identity view]
5. “Can you say more about how disenchantment can be uplifting?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Disenchantment] [Gladdening the mind] // [Translation] [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Suffering] [Skillful qualities] [Progress of insight]
Quote: “There’s no known defense against cheesecake.” — Ajahn Sucitto. [Ajahn Sucitto] [Food] [Sensual desire]
5. Comment: There are a couple books that have some parittas in English. [Translation] [Dhamma books] [Chanting] [Protective chants]
Reference: The Book of Protection by Piyadasi Thera
Response by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Suggestion to read the Suttanipāta commentaries available in Bhikkhu Bodhi’s translation of this text. [Sutta] [Commentaries] [Bhikkhu Bodhi]
3. “What book of suttas would you recommend to read after the Majjhima Nikāya?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sutta ] [Learning] // [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Ven. Ñāṇamoli] [Buddha/Biography]
References: In the Buddha’s Words by Bhikkhu Bodhi (commercial); The Life of the Buddha According to the Pāli Canon by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli.
8. Comments about the everyday use of the words corresponding to mano and dukkha in Indian languages. Contributed by Anagārikā Deepa. [Language] [Pāli] [Culture/India] [Heart/mind] [Suffering]
Response by Ajahn Amaro. [Proliferation] [Ven. Ananda Maitreya] [Tipiṭaka] [Humor] [Translation] [Bhikkhu Bodhi]