Glosses: Meaning
27 excerpts, 1:36:57 total duration
2. “If there is no self, why do you think we are here, alive on Earth as individuals?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Not-self] [Purpose/meaning] // [Craving] [Ignorance] [Self-identity view] [Saṃsāra]
Sutta: SN 15.1: “A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on, hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving.”—Bhikkhu Bodhi translation.
7. “What is the meaning of life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Purpose/meaning]
3. “I struggle to find meaning in life. … I struggle to find what to do during my days and what to do in the future in terms of career or lifestyle. … What would be your advice for someone who feels lost as to what to do next in his/her life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Purpose/meaning ] [Sickness] [Work] [Depression] // [Right Effort] [Generosity] [Virtue] [Kamma] [Happiness] [Clear comprehension]
7. “I’m lucky not to have any obligations such as taking care of a family, making money, working, etc., but I don’t know what to do with my life. … Always wondering what to do with my life is a bit tough. How would you suggest I approach the situation? … How do you figure out what to do with your life when you have too much freedom?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Purpose/meaning] [Work] // [Culture/West] [Right Effort] [Conceit] [Generosity]
See also Question 3 in this same session.
4. “Why do you think we sometimes don’t know what to do with our lives? Did you experience this before becoming a monk and do you sometimes still experience it? What helped you when you felt that way?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Purpose/meaning] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Monastic life] // [Delusion] [Sensual desire] [Māra] [Impermanence] [Clinging] [Truth] [Determination]
3. “I am not able to ordain but would like to dedicate my life to the Dhamma. I have lived by Five Precepts for decades, but wonder if you can talk about taking Eight Precepts as a lay person and how possible/difficult that would be. Should one go to a monastery to take the Eight Precepts?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Dhamma] [Purpose/meaning] [Eight Precepts ] [Lay life] // [Family]
Story of a Thai couple dedicated to the Dhamma. [Health care] [Dhamma books] [Merit] [Building projects] [Temporary ordination]
Reflection: People who have insight into the Dhamma are humble and generous. [Humility ] [Generosity] [Stream entry] [Conceit]
8. “I have found that since following this path, my family and people I care about have felt disappointed much more often by choices I have made, from big things like life goals to small things like not accepting an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner. Quite a bit of dukkha arises from disappointing those you love. Reflecting on the cause, it feels like it comes from wanting/craving to make people you care about happy. How can we let go of this craving when it feels like it is a good thing to make others happy?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Family] [Purpose/meaning] [Clinging] [Craving] [Happiness] // [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Spiritual friendship] [Zen] [Respect]
6. “You speak about this determination to align one’s life with these values and this vision of Dhamma… So many people have one foot in the monastery and one foot on a banana peel. They’ve had this insight and see the power of the Dhamma and yet they find themselves in worldly conditions which are difficult. What advice would you give such folk?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Determination] [Purpose/meaning] [Insight meditation] [Lay life] // [Virtue] [Trust]
6. “Going to Thailand—was it a divine plan or was it your own wish? Is enlightenment a path or a destination?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [God] [Purpose/meaning] [Stages of awakening] // [Skillful qualities] [Unconditioned] [Similes]
Quote: “None of the above.”
5. “Is having a virtuous life an integral part of having a sense of purpose and living with Right Livelihood?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Virtue] [Purpose/meaning] [Right Livelihood]
7. “I notice that I would go after something like getting a degree, but after I got there, the excitement dissipated. Any suggestions on being present in the moment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Purpose/meaning] [Drawbacks] [Disenchantment] [Present moment awareness] // [Contentment] [Becoming]
Quote: “Desire is not quenchable.” [Craving]
Sutta: Dhp 251: There is no river as wide as taṇhā. [Similes]
Quote: “I’ve never seen any wealthy people come to the monastery. … They still don’t have enough.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Greed ]