Desire (chanda)
Skillful qualities / Four Bases of Success / Desire 
Part of key topic Skillful Qualities
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Subsumes: Bias from desire (chandāgati)
Alternative translations: Interest, Motivation, Zeal
89 excerpts, 6:05:18 total duration



Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 26 – Apr. 29, 2001

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23. What does not suffering mean? Reflection by Jack Kornfield. [Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering] [Ajahn Chah] // [Judgementalism] [Politics and society] [Discrimination] [Environment] [Discernment] [Compassion] [Human] [Buddha] [Proliferation] [Relinquishment]

Quote: “We human beings are constantly in combat, at war to escape the fact of being limited by so many circumstances that we can’t control.”” — Ajahn Chah. [Conflict] [Characteristics of existence]

Quote: “Doubts are natural.” — Ajahn Chah. [Doubt] [Naturalness] [Impermanence] [Not-self] [Liberation]

Quote: “The desire mind is like children.” — Ajahn Chah. [Desire] [Similes]

Story: “Scary ride, wasn’t it?” [Jack Kornfield] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Fear] [Death]


Thai Forest Tradition, Session 3 – Jun. 14, 2014

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4. “When Ajahn Liem says, ‘Practice is just for practice,’ what arises for me is that any time I put a meaning on practice, there has to be an ego state that arises around that meaning. … It’s like letting go even of the idea of practicing in order to become enlightened.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Liem] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma ] [Self-identity view] [Becoming] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Liberation] [Relinquishment]

Quote: “Practicing for Nibbāna is just another kind of desire.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Nibbāna] [Desire]


Awaken to the New Year Retreat, Session 5 – Jan. 3, 2021

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1. Quote: “What is the essence of the Buddha’s teachings?” — “Is this a big piece of wood or a little piece of wood?” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Teaching Dhamma] [Conventions] // [Desire] [Four Noble Truths]


Ānāpānasati Daylong at Abhayagiri, Session 2 – Sep. 9, 2023

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2. “Can you speak more about the progression of mindfulness of breathing, how the Four Foundations of Mindfulness develop the Seven Factors of Awakening?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Factors of Awakening] [Mindfulness of breathing ] // [Emotion] [Conditionality] [Tranquility] [Mindfulness of body] [Mindfulness of feeling]

Sutta: MN 118.29: Ānāpānasati Sutta. [Mindfulness] [Mindfulness of mind] [Bases of Success]

Quote: “We’re breathing in and out anyway, but taking an interest in it is a game-changer.” [Desire]


Ānāpānasati Daylong at Abhayagiri, Session 8 – Sep. 9, 2023

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4. “If I want to see what I’m doing to keep generating certain thought patterns, does my mind need to be really calm?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Discernment] [Volitional formations] [Tranquility] [Mindfulness of breathing]

Quote: “If you start investigating and you get really interested, you’ll start to get calm.” [Investigation of states] [Desire]


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

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6. Story: Ajahn Pasanno comes across handwritten notes about Ajahn Chah’s teachings in the library at Wat Pleng. Told by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] [Wat Phleng Vipassanā]

Quote: “What is the essence of the Buddha’s teachings?”—“Is this a big piece of wood or a small piece of wood?” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Conventions] [Desire]

Sutta: SN 41.7: “Passion is a maker of measurement.”


Abhayagiri's 30th Anniversary Part 1, Session 3 – May. 30, 2026

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2. Quote: “Monasteries are made of people.” — Ajahn Pasanno. Quoted by Ajahn Ahiṃsako. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monasteries ] [Monastic life] [Community] // [Desire] [Saṅghapāla] [Buddha] [Saṅgha] [Abhayagiri]