37 excerpts, 3:24:58 total duration
4. “When we have a retreat work period that requires us to leave a sitting after 15 or 30 minutes, should we come to the meditation hall and leave early or just practice elsewhere for that period?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation retreats] [Work] // [Abhayagiri] [Posture/Walking] [Posture/Sitting]
Story: A good doorknob. [Building projects]
1. “How can one enjoy meditation when one’s knees are on fire?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation] [Happiness] [Pain ] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Posture/Sitting] [Body/form] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Visualization] [Discernment]
Story: The monks at Winchester Cathedral used props during long chanting sessions. [Christianity] [Posture/Standing] [Chanting]
4. “Can you talk about how different hand positions or mudras are used in meditation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mudra] // [Spiritual traditions] [Posture/Sitting] [Sloth and torpor]
6. “I often have discomfort in my stomach when sitting. There is a lot of aversion to the discomfort. It’s my understanding that being with the aversion and really feeling the pain of it can be helpful in showing the mind that aversion just makes everything worse, and then through knowing that, the mind can start to let go of aversion. Is this the right idea?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Pain] [Aversion] [Mindfulness] [Relinquishment] // [Posture/Walking] [Posture/Sitting] [Tranquility] [Health]
1. “How to deal with vedanā always arising in my feet, legs, and also in walking meditation? Kilesa arise in my mind even if I try not to think about it.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Feeling] [Pain] [Posture/Walking] [Unwholesome Roots] // [Proliferation] [Posture/Sitting] [Aversion] [Craving not to become] [Exercise] [Discernment]
Sutta: SN 36.6: The second arrow.
6. “Were there any memories from that period of training with Ajahn Chah that really stand out in your mind? In what ways did you find it difficult?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Monastic life] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Poverty] [Requisites] [Posture/Sitting] [Monastic routine]
Quote: “It was difficult, but it was also very satisfying. It felt like exactly what I wanted to be doing and should be doing.” [Ardency] [Faith]
7. “I’m a mother to four kids, one of whom has special needs. I’m lucky if I can meditate 10-15 minutes a day. Are there practices one can do when one is frequently around little ones?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Children ] [Meditation/General advice] // [Posture/Sitting] [Three Refuges] [Precepts] [Recollection/Virtue] [Recollection/Generosity] [Gladdening the mind] [Mindfulness of body] [Clear comprehension]
Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 104: Forty subjects of meditation.
Sri Lankan Buddhists keep a book of good deeds which is read near the time of death. [Culture/Sri Lanka] [Merit] [Death]
Story: Debbie Stamp served as primary caregiver to her father during the pandemic. [Debbie Stamp] [Parents] [Pandemic]
12. “When I meditate in a cold, open area, my mind goes to sleep. What do you suggest?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sloth and torpor] // [Posture/Sitting] [Hindrances]
5. “There’s a story about waiting for the afternoon sweet drink all night long (Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 504). Was this you?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Medicinal requisites] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Suffering]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first Pāṭimokkha at Wat Pah Pong. [Wat Pah Pong] [Pāṭimokkha] [Posture/Sitting] [Mae Chee]
Reflection: Ajahn Chah provided the opportunity to reflect about difficulty (Thai toramon). [Fierce/direct teaching ]
Quote: “I don’t teach wisdom. I just give toramon.” — Ajahn Chah. [Discernment]