Koan
Meditation / Meditation/Techniques / Koan 
11 excerpts, 43:36 total duration



Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing, Session 8 – Jan. 11, 2005

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1. Meditation instruction: Be present with the physical experience of the breath. Bring a sense of ease into the body. Ground awareness in the body. Offered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of body]

Quote: Keeping the breath in mind is like getting the spoon into the mouth and the mouth onto the spoon. — Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo. [Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo] [Similes]

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Story: “The body understands!” [Direct experience] [Zen] [Koan] [Ajahn Pasanno]

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Body and mind are not separate things. [Body/form] [Heart/mind] [Aggregates ] [Dependent origination] [Consciousness]

Water similes for the mind with and without hindrances. (SN 46.55) [Hindrances] [Sensual desire] [Ill-will] [Sloth and torpor] [Restlessness and worry] [Doubt]

Sutta: DN 2.98: “These are shoals of fish...”

Quote: “You can get a lot of wisdom from walking meditation.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Posture/Walking] [Discernment]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2012, Session 1 – Nov. 17, 2010

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11. “The mind can be a trickster. Can the body be a trickster too?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Heart/mind] [Delusion] [Body/form] // [Unattractiveness] [Elements] [Proliferation] [Mindfulness of body]

Story: “Body understands!” [Zen] [Koan]


Western Disciples of the Thai Forest Tradition, Session 13 – Jan. 21, 2016

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4. Story: Harata Rōshi’s response to a question about koans. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Harata Rōshi] [Koan] // [Translation]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Knowing itself]


Readings from The Island, Session 37 – Mar. 3, 2025

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5. “It seems there are so many things to comment on it is kind of overwhelming. How to deal with that?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Noting] // [Mindfulness of body] [Present moment awareness]

Story: “The body understands!” Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Zen] [Koan]


Readings from The Island, Session 45 – Mar. 15, 2025

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4. Story: Huineng evades his pursuers with a koan. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Koan] [Huineng]

Follow-up: “Do you know why Huineng returned after sixteen years?”

Recollection: Ajahn Buddhadāsa translated a few Chinese Buddhist texts into Thai. [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Translation] [Koan] [Ajahn Chah]