16. “I had an experience yesterday in which I may have seen a group of beings above us, particularly above you. … I don’t think I’m crazy, but I’m very interested in what the Dhamma says about otherworldly/non-material beings.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Deva] [Goodwill] [Compassion] [Mental illness] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/Thailand] [Realms of existence] [Culture/Natural environment]
Recollection: Spirits at Wat Pah Nanachat would request Ajahn Pasanno to dedicate merit. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Funerals] [Ghost] [Merit]
Quote: “They always had to use an intermediary because I was thick, thick, thick.” [Psychic powers]
Story: Ajahn Plien declares Casa Serena free of ghosts. [Ajahn Plien] [Abhayagiri] [Rebirth]
1. “What would be a way to connect with the deva-like humans?” Answered by Ajahn Yatiko. [Human] [Deva] [Recollection/Devas] // [Realms of existence]
3. “As part of this retreat, I’m working on the Six Recollections, but I stumble on two things: 1) On virtue/generosity, the thought ‘not good enough’ is predominant. 2) I’ve never met a deva, so reflecting on them is difficult and based only on faith. Suggestions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection] [Recollection/Virtue] [Recollection/Generosity] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Recollection/Devas] [Faith] // [Culture/West] [Conceit] [Deva] [Kamma]
Sutta: AN 6.10: Six Recollections.
Story: Ajahn Chah describes the beings who live at Wat Pah Pong when questioned by a devoted disciple, then gives a different answer to a group of visitors. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Non-human beings] [Realms of existence]
24. “If beings are reborn immediately, how does ritual [sharing of merit] benefit the person who has passed?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rebirth] [Ceremony/ritual] [Merit] [Death] // [Theravāda] [Realms of existence] [Goodwill]
Sutta: AN 10.177: Jāṇussoṇi
8. “Please explain the hierarchy of devas, gods, etc. in relation to the Buddha. How is it that a mortal being can be more evolved or enlightened than gods? Do gods and devas create karma? Are they born again as gods or devas or humans?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Deva] [Buddha] [Kamma] [Rebirth] // [Realms of existence] [Human]
Sutta: SN 56.11.22: The devas delight in the teaching (Amaravati Chanting Book Volume 2, p. 10).
7. “‘Teacher of Gods and Humans’. Can you talk about this? What Gods did the Buddha teach? What other beings did the Buddha teach?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Buddha] [Buddha] [Teaching Dhamma] [Deva] [Human] // [Realms of existence ] [Sutta] [Buddha/Biography] [Ajahn Chah]
Sutta: DN 21: Sakka’s Questions.
Sutta: Snp 2.4: Maṅgala Sutta (Chanting Book translation).
Vinaya: Khandhaka 17.3.11: The Buddha subdues an enraged elephant. [Animal]
Story: Ajahn Chah describes the beings inhabiting Wat Pah Pong. [Wat Pah Pong] [Non-human beings]
Story: The head being acquires faith, listens to teachings, and temporarily takes on the Eight Precepts. [Faith] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Eight Precepts]
1. “I was surprised to learn recently that there is a concept of hell in the suttas. Could you talk a bit about what Buddha meant by it and who goes there?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hell] // [Realms of existence] [Kamma]
3. “I have trouble taking refuge in the Buddha in the here and now as it is an abstract concept for me. Can you explain the line in the Homage to the Buddho ‘Buddho bhagavā,’ translated as ‘He is awake and holy’ (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 4)? Tonight’s planned Verses on Respect for the Dhamma (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 77) also refers to this concept: ‘All the Buddhas of the past / All the Buddhas yet to come / The Buddha of this current age.’” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Three Refuges] [Buddha] [Previous Buddhas] [Chanting] // [Aversion] [Self-identity view] [Proliferation] [Contentment] [Pāli] [Translation] [Liberation] [Recollection/Dhamma] [Culture/India] [Compassion] [Culture/West] [Time]
Sutta: AN 4.36: Doṇa Sutta: “Know me as one who is awake.” [Realms of existence]
Reflections on the translation of Buddha in the Thai chanting book. [Thai] [Knowing itself] [Happiness]
Sutta: AN 3.136: “Whether a Buddha appears in the world or not …” [Characteristics of existence]
3. “Does it mean that these three stages [of awakening] are still shaky? Like they can still go back to thingness?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Stages of awakening] [Arahant] // [Stream entry] [Realms of existence] [Impermanence] [Once return] [Sensual desire] [Ill-will] [Non-return] [Fetters] [Ajahn Chah]
Reference: Śhūrangama Sūtra, Fifty Skandha Demon States.
2. “Did you just mention in The Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names that [Upaka] became an arahant on landing?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Non-return] [Arahant] // [Pure Land] [Rebirth] [Brahma gods]
Follow-up: “So people can get enlightened in different realms?” [Realms of existence] [Liberation]
2. “As the ten fetters start to be cut, can you expect to not get so lost in feelings and thoughts? Does the time you get lost reduce?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Fetters] [Heedlessness] // [Stream entry] [Realms of existence] [Non-return] [Sensual desire] [Ill-will] [Once return] [Fame and disrepute] [Conceit] [Blame and praise] [Craving for material existence] [Craving for immaterial existence]
Reference: Śhūrangama Sūtra, Fifty Skandha Demon States.
3. “I heard somewhere that the Buddha regretted giving the teaching on the Ten Fetters. Is this true?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Fetters] [Buddha/Biography] // [Great disciples] [Rebirth] [Realms of existence]
Sutta: AN 9.12 Sāriputta asks the Buddha whether anyone still subject to rebirth is safe from the lower realms.
Sutta: MN 39: Don’t be content with virtue, etc.
5. “I’ve come across the word ‘celestial state.’ Does that help to clarify the Christian definition of heaven?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Deva] [Christianity] // [Realms of existence] [Rebirth]
Follow-up: “Is the Buddha’s teaching on heaven a way to prepare the mind to recognize the Four Noble Truths?” [Gradual Teaching] [Four Noble Truths] [Happiness] [Kamma]
Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna: Generosity, virtue, and the hope of heaven can be a potent force for goodness even without renunciation.
9. “Could you say something about the name-and-form step in Dependent Origination?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aggregates ] [Dependent origination] // [Heart/mind] [Body/form] [Self-identity view] [Human] [Realms of existence]
Sutta: MN 43.9: Conjoined not disjoined.