Greed (lobha)
Unskillful qualities / Three Unwholesome Roots / Greed 
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Part of tag cluster Sensual desire in key topic Unskillful Qualities
See also: Sensual desire, Craving, Generosity
21 excerpts, 1:41:10 total duration




Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 14 – Apr. 28, 2001

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10. Story: Applying Ajahn Chah’s teachings to lay life in South Africa. Told by Ṭhānissarā. [Lay life] [Ajahn Chah] // [Monastic life] [Abuse/violence] [Self-reliance] [Discernment] [Compassion] [Spaciousness] [Liberation]

How would Ajahn Chah have responded to issues like feminism, democracy, engaged Buddhism, interfaith, and materialism that we’ve had to meet? [Women in Buddhism] [Politics and society] [Spiritual traditions] [Greed]


Metta Retreat, Session 2 – Sep. 10, 2008

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7. “What is the difference between taṇhā and lobha?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Craving] [Greed] // [Pāli] [Desire] [Cause of Suffering]


Tudong Stories at Spirit Rock, Session 3 – Jun. 2, 2011

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2. Story: Ajahn Chah obsesses about getting robes. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Poverty] [Robes] [Greed] [Tudong] // [History/Thai Buddhism] [Determination] [Simplicity] [Craving] [Ajahn Kinaree]


Brightening the Mind, Session 1 – Aug. 19, 2012

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4. “What is the difference between mindfulness, bare attention, and clear comprehension? Can you flesh out the word understanding?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Direct experience] [Clear comprehension] // [Right Effort] [Discernment] [Right Mindfulness] [Ardency] [Investigation of states] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Greed] [Aversion]

Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 35 – Feb. 27, 2013

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6. “Why is greed harder to remove than anger (AN 3.68)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Greed] [Aversion]


Right Livelihood, Session 1 – Apr. 21, 2013

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26. “In DN 31.26, what is investment versus savings?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Commerce/economics ] [Right Livelihood]

Comments by various participants about the nature of investment. [Unskillful qualities] [Greed] [Work]

Sutta: DN 31.32: Siṅgālasutta Sutta: Five duties of an employer to employees; interpreted in A Constitution for Living by P. A. Payutto, p. 7.


2015 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 8 – Nov. 28, 2015

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18. “I often feel overwhelmed with the greed, hatred, ill-will, and delusion that the corporate world exerts over the masses to the benefit of only themselves and that is destroying the planet’s ability to renew itself. Could you speak about Buddhist involvement in social change movements?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Politics and society] [Activism] [Unwholesome Roots] [Commerce/economics] [Selfishness] [Environment] // [Truth] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Non-profit organizations]

Ajahn Pasanno reflects on the results of his efforts to preserve forests in Thailand. [Geography/Thailand] [Learning] [Greed] [Corruption]

Quote: “Can I set an example myself and can I help encourage other people who are interested?”


Right Speech and Living with Ourselves, Session 3 – Oct. 8, 2016

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2. Question about using the brahmavihāras to counteract covetousness compared to the approach described in MN 18. Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Greed] [Divine Abidings] // [Right Effort] [Discernment] [Learning]


Right Speech and Living with Ourselves, Session 4 – Oct. 8, 2016

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10. “I’m trying to wrap my mind around the idea of mandating goodness. It explains my background and the United States …” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Virtue] [Culture/West] // [Idealism] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy]

Follow-up: “Can you give an example comparing Thailand and Western cultures?” [Culture/Thailand] [History/America] [Conflict] [Greed]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 7 – Nov. 25, 2016

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2. “How do I become a more generous person if there is a constant underlying worry about having enough (money for living, retirement, etc.)? How to create a sense of abundance within so I can freely give to others?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Generosity ] [Fear] [Commerce/economics] // [Culture/West] [Greed] [Community] [Culture/Thailand] [Poverty]

Quote: “I don’t have any money, but I’m not poor.” — Por Am, a Wat Pah Pong lay supporter. [Lay supporters] [Wat Pah Pong] [Health care]

Recollection: Thai children sharing cold Pepsi given to them by the monks at special events.


Teen Weekend 2017 – Sep. 2, 2017

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11. “Can you talk about your environmental work in Thailand? What qualities of heart and inner strength help us live without being completely overwhelmed?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Environment ] [History/Thai Buddhism] // [Politics and society] [Culture/Thailand] [Greed] [Teaching Dhamma] [Panyaprateep School] [Agriculture] [Dtao Dum] [Activism]

Story: Sri Lankan monastic kidney donors. [Health] [History/Sri Lankan Buddhism] [Generosity]


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12. “What is the most important thing we can do to help the next generation in terms of the environment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Environment ] // [Simplicity] [Contentment] [Greed]


The Teaching and the Training, Session 11 – Mar. 29, 2018

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1. “How can those just entering monastic life lay a good foundation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] // [Vinaya] [Right View] [Ajahn Chah] [Virtue] [Stream entry] [Four Noble Truths] [Kamma] [Generosity] [Greed] [Communal harmony] [Happiness] [Gratitude]

Sutta: SN 55.1: Sīla of a stream enterer

Sutta: MN 117: The Great Forty


On Nibbāna – Aug. 24, 2024

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4. “Is the practice of jhāna necessary for attaining Nibbāna?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Jhāna ] [Nibbāna] // [Self-identity view] [Greed] [Relinquishment]


Readings from The Island, Session 5 – Jan. 15, 2025

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3. “Using the words passion and greed as if they are interchangeable seems difficult for me to see. Passion seems a lot wider. How is one passionate about something? How am I greedy about something? If I’m passionate about Buddhism, how am I greedy about Buddhism?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Desire] [Greed] // [Unwholesome Roots] [Aversion] [Etymology] [Teaching Dhamma] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]

Suttas: SN 56.11: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Chanting book translation); SN 22.59 Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta: (Chanting book translation); SN 35.28: Ādittapariyāya Sutta (Chanting book translation).

Follow-up: “I relate more to rage and passion than I do to greed. Is it okay to make my three poisons …?” [Greed]


Readings from The Island, Session 27 – Feb. 16, 2025

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6. Quote: “Whenever you have feelings of love or hate for anything whatsoever, these will be your aides and partners in building pārami. The Buddha Dhamma is not to be found in moving forwards, nor in moving backwards, nor in standing still. This, Sumedho, is your place of non-abiding.” — Ajahn Chah’s only letter to Ajahn Sumedho. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Greed] [Aversion] [Perfections] [Dhamma] [Middle Path ] // [Relinquishment] [Knowing itself]


Readings from The Island, Session 44 – Mar. 12, 2025

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6. Recollection: Ajahn Chah’s advice for establishing mindfulness in the midst of strong emotions. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Mindfulness] [Emotion] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Food] [Suffering] [Conditionality] [Equanimity] [Mindfulness of body] [Greed]

Story: Ajahn Chah eats 37 mangoes.


Readings from The Island, Session 56 – Mar. 30, 2025

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4. Story: Joseph Goldstein recognizes stinginess with regard to Dhamma (AN 5.260). Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Joseph Goldstein] [Greed] [Dhamma] // [Insight meditation]


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5. “Could you repeat the five types of stinginess (AN 5.260)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Greed ] // [Family] [Corruption] [Lodging] [Gain and loss] [Fame and disrepute] [Teaching Dhamma]

Story: Ajahn Mahā Prasert gets sent to Nebraska. [Ajahn Mahā Prasert] [Jealousy]

Suttas: SN 17: Connected Discourses on Gain, Honor, and Fame.

Reading: SN 17.5: The Dung Beetle. [Humor] [Similes]

Reflections on the kammic effects of King Ajātasattu killing his father (DN 2.101). [Kamma] [Killing] [Parents] [Stream entry]

Vinaya: Khandhaka 21.1.3: The First Council occurred at Rājagha, King Ajātasattu’s capital city.


Abhayagiri's 30th Anniversary Part 1, Session 4 – May. 30, 2026

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1. Reflection from Ajahn Chah about rich people: “They may have money, but they don’t know what’s enough.” Related by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Commerce/economics] [Greed] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Relinquishment] [Happiness] [Contentment]


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2. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: The cause of dukkha is ever seeking fresh delight, now here, now there, even in the spiritual search (SN 56.11.5; Amaravati Chanting Book Volume 2, p. 4). [Cause of Suffering] [Spiritual search] // [Greed] [Relinquishment] [Contentment]