Subtag: Free distribution
2. “I understand that you recently read Ajahn Geoff’s wonderful new book Skill in Questions. Might you share an insight that struck a fresh cord in your heart?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro ] [Dhamma books] // [Questions] [Doubt]
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 Pali Canon by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli. [Buddha/Biography]
18. “Several years ago, I remember reading your little book The Last Breath by Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho about your experience supporting a Thai Buddhist at the death chamber [in San Quentin Prison]. I was very impressed how someone who as facing the last hours of his life still had sati and clear consciousness, practiced generosity, requested food for the monks, and was humble and kind. Would you mind telling us about Jay’s mindfulness again?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dhamma books] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Prisons] [Death] [Mindfulness] [Generosity]
Story: Jay offers Ajahn Pasanno a meal in prison and makes sure that his family and the guards have an opportunity to hear Dhamma. [Happiness] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Questions]
Story: Jay pays his last respects ot Ajahn Pasanno. [Respect] [Equanimity] [Thai]
16. “Can you recommend a beginning Pāli vocabulary book?” Answered by Bhante Suddhāso and Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli] [Dhamma books] // [Sutta] [Ajahn Pasanno]
Reference: Pali Buddhist Texts: An Introductory Reader and Grammar by Rune Johansson (commercial).
5. “I saw one of your new publications ‘Don’t Hold Back.’ Why did you choose this title? The chapter on chanting answered many questions I had.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dhamma books] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Chanting]
5. “Was the biography compiled from what Luang Ta wrote or stories from his students?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [History/Thai Buddhism] [Dhamma books]
Story: Ajahn Mahā Boowa types Dhamma books and writes letters to practitioners. [Technology] [Dhamma books] [Teaching Dhamma]
6. “Do you know Venerable Nirodha who translated this book?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Teean] [Dhamma books] [Translation] [Ajahn Pasanno]
8. “Are there any of Luang Por Tongrat’s teachings available?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Tongrat] [Dhamma books] // [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Jayasaro]
9. “Has the Ajahn Utane biography been translated into English?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Tongrat] [Translation] [Ajahn Utane] [Dhamma books]
Note: Ajahn Mudito translated Ajahn Utane’s biography of Ajahn Tongrat into Portuguese in 2019. A machine translation from Portuguese to English is available on the internet.
11. “What language was ‘The Ballad of the Liberation from the Khandas’ written in?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dhamma books] [Ajahn Mun] [Language] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Thai]
4. “Could you speak a little about the structure of the Pāli Canon? How much was written down in the Buddha’s time?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tipiṭaka ] [History/Early Buddhism ] [Dhamma books] // [Culture/India] [Memory] [Chanting] [Vinaya] [Sutta] [Abhidhamma]
3. “Can you recommend a book of koans for inspiration?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Zen] [Koan] [Dhamma books] // [Ajahn Sumedho] [Hua tou] [Master Hsu Yun]
Story: Ajahn Chah encourages Ajahn Sumedho to develop the hua tou technique. [Ajahn Chah] [Mahasi Sayadaw] [Ven. Ñāṇatiloka]
Reference: Word of the Buddha by Venerable Ñāṇatiloka.
7. “Is it possible that Parami: Ways to Cross Life’s Floods by Ajahn Sucitto will be reprinted?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dhamma books] [Ajahn Sucitto] // [Free distribution]
4. “Are there books or online resources for the study of Pāli?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Pāli ] [Dhamma books] [Dhamma online]
Reference: A New Course in Reading Pāli by James W. Gair and W. S. Karunatillake (pdf) [Learning]
Note: Bhikkhu Bodhi’s Reading the Buddha’s Discourses in Pāli was published in 2020.
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]
1. Comment: I listen to the talks and read the books, and everything is so logical and rational, but I’m still stuck in habitual patterns of living. [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Dhamma books] [Everyday life] [Habits ]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Association with people of integrity] [Community] [Monasteries] [Lunar observance days] [Online community] [Chanting] [Spiritual friendship] [Impermanence] [Monastic life/Motivation] [Generosity]
Quote: “When you’re living with a group of people, not everybody is depressed and lazy and fed up at the same time.” [Unwholesome Roots]
Sutta: SN 55.5 Sāriputta [Factors for stream entry]
3. “Is there a plan to publish the letters [that Ajahn Pasanno wrote home during his travels]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Dhamma books]