Drawbacks (ādīnava)
Indeterminate qualities / Three Aspects of Understanding / Drawbacks 
Alternative translations: Danger
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See also: Spiritual urgency
16 excerpts, 1:06:39 total duration



Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing, Session 13 – Jan. 16, 2005

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2. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: We’re not diminished beings if we don’t get what we want. [Sensual desire] [Clinging] [Liberation] // [Food] [Drawbacks] [Mindfulness of breathing]

Simile: A dog gnawing on meatless bones (MN 54.15). [Similes]


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3. The drawbacks of wrong view and clinging to views. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Drawbacks] [Views] [Clinging] [Liberation] // [Kamma] [Conflict]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2010, Session 1 – Nov. 20, 2010

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6. “What are some skillful ways to deal with anger and resentment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aversion] [Ill-will ] // [Suffering] [Drawbacks] [Goodwill] [Views]

Quote: “There’s no way that you can have anger and resentment and feel peaceful and happy.” [Happiness]

Sutta: Dhp 125: Throwing dust into the air. [Similes]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2010, Session 2 – Nov. 21, 2010

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9. “How do we work with self-destructive and harmful repetitive patterns in our life? We can’t really force change.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Habits ] [Unskillful qualities] // [Craving not to become] [Drawbacks] [Suffering] [Self-identity view]

Sutta: AN 6.63.42: Two results of suffering.


Thanksgiving Retreat 2010, Session 4 – Nov. 23, 2010

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6. “I want to let go of things that I dislike as fast as possible. How do I do that?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aversion] [Relinquishment] // [Suffering] [Craving not to become] [Drawbacks]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2010, Session 5 – Nov. 24, 2010

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3. “I am working with a repetitive thought that is bringing up doubt, worry, and anxiety. It seems strong, sneaky, nagging, and insistent. I must be feeding it somehow, or why would it keep coming up again and again? How to work with a repetitive thought?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Proliferation] [Doubt] [Restlessness and worry] [Nutriment] // [Directed thought and evaluation] [Drawbacks] [Human] [Relinquishment]

Sutta: MN 20: The Removal of Distracting Thoughts. [Similes]


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12. “Kindly share another story of Ajahn Chah. They delight and inspire.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Stories]

Story from Ajahn Chah: Two mating lizards fall out of a tree. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Almsround] [Sensual desire] [Drawbacks]

Quote: “Is it suffering?” [Admonishment/feedback] [Drawbacks]


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15. “I notice how my mind not only loves story, but it also loves to be the main character. When I sit down at the mealtime or cross paths in the hall, I watch the mind become restless, thoughts of how I am affecting others or what other are thinking of me. Is this conceit? Shall I continue to watch this feeling like all others? Any advice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Proliferation] [Restlessness and worry] [Conceit] // [Drawbacks] [Relinquishment]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 28 – Feb. 4, 2013

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1. Gratification, danger, and escape in regard to the Five Aggregates. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Aggregates] [Aspects of Understanding] [Benefit] [Drawbacks] [Escape]


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2. Comment: Downside might fit the context [of SN 22.26-28] better than danger. [Drawbacks] [Translation]

Responses by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno.


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 29 – Feb. 15, 2013

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1. “Can you clarify the simile of the khandhas as a murderer in SN 22.85?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, Ajahn Pasanno and the Abhayagiri Saṅgha. [Similes] [Drawbacks] [Aggregates] // [Benefit] [Self-identity view] [Commentaries] [Clinging] [Dependent origination]


Abhayagiri Monastic Retreat 2013, Session 3 – Nov. 25, 2013

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13. “What are the four stages of enlightenment? What defilements have the four noble beings shed?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stages of awakening ] [Unwholesome Roots] // [Drawbacks] [Liberation]

Quote: “When we think of enlightenment, it’s a being who is willing and able to relinquish those things that are complicating and constricting.” [Relinquishment]


2014 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 1 – Nov. 22, 2014

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4. “Thank you for your talk on mindfulness today—very helpful. I’ve been practicing for a long time (and have even had a few insights that made big impressions on me) and while my sila has definitely improved, my mindfulness is a priority and I might have a tad more wisdom, my mind looks for ways to suffer. Sometimes I feel like a total failure as a Buddhist. I understand that letting go of identity view is the answer, but how? What am I missing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Long-term practice] [Suffering] [Perfectionism] [Self-identity view] // [Aggregates] [Relinquishment] [Drawbacks] [Gladdening the mind]

Sutta: SN 22.22: The Burden (Chanting Book translation)


Can We Function without Attachment?, Session 4 – Oct. 1, 2017

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2. “In AN 9.41, does the Buddha enumerate the drawbacks of sensuality?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sensual desire] [Drawbacks]

Reference:Drawbacks,” part of A Path to Freedom: A Self-guided Tour of the Buddha’s Teachings on accesstoinsight.org. [Dhamma online] [Desire] [Drawbacks]

Sutta: MN 13: Mahādukkhakkhandha Sutta


Madison Insight Retreat 2023, Session 1 – Oct. 13, 2023

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4. “Please speak about sense consciousness and how the release of attachment is achieved.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sense bases] [Consciousness] [Clinging] [Relinquishment] // [Delusion] [Insight meditation] [Knowledge and vision] [Feeling] [Contact] [Drawbacks] [Compassion]

Quote: “Dhamma practice is not difficult. There are only two things you need to do: know and let go.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Dhamma]


Questions and Answers at Wat Pah Nanachat – Jan. 2, 2025

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5. “What is often the most neglected quality in individual monks? What are the most important qualities to develop for the benefit of the group?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [Idealism ] [Drawbacks] [Aspects of Understanding] [Four Noble Truths] [Patience]

Sutta: SN 22.26: Assādasutta

Quote: “Other than me, everyone is irritating!” [Aversion] [Humor]