{130} “How do you respond to the cynical inner voice when you recollect your own virtue?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ṭhitapañño. [Recollection/Virtue ] [Judgementalism] // [Ajahn Sucitto] [Habits] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Culture/West] [Humor]
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness [2015], Session 42, Excerpt 3
{150} “How does one incline the mind towards recollecting one’s own good actions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Virtue ] [Merit] [Aversion] [Gladdening the mind] // [Emotion] [Feeling] [Kamma] [Investigation of states] [Vajrayāna]
Our Roots in the Thai Forest Tradition [2014], Session 33, Excerpt 2
7. Story: Ajahn Supah chooses tudong over further studies. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Supah] [Culture/Thailand] [Study monks] [Learning] [Tudong] // [Liberation] [Goodwill] [Simplicity] [Virtue] [Recollection/Virtue]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s mother cries when she meets Ajahn Supah. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Faith] [Rapture]
Story: A python begins to eat Ajahn Supah. [Animal] [Determination]
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]
4. “Please describe any techniques or practices for gladdening the mind.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Gladdening the mind ] // [Recollection/Buddha] [Recollection/Dhamma] [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Goodwill] [Recollection/Generosity] [Recollection/Virtue]
Sutta: MN 118.20: “Gladdening the mind, I breathe in,” Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 89. [Mindfulness of breathing]
Story: In Sri Lanka, children write the skillful actions they have done in a book they keep all their life. It is read to them in times of illness or difficulty. [Culture/Sri Lanka] [Children] [Recollection/Virtue] [Sickness] [Death]
4. Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: Reflecting on the results of good conduct is the basis for samādhi [in SN 42.13]. [Recollection/Virtue] [Concentration]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Virtue]
2. “How does one incline the mind towards recollecting one’s own good actions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Virtue ] [Merit] [Aversion] [Gladdening the mind] // [Emotion] [Feeling] [Kamma] [Investigation of states] [Vajrayāna]
13. Comment: We can’t know the kamma or state of mind of someone who is dying. Because the dying person’s consciousness can be very open, it’s useful to remind them of their wholesome actions. Contributed by Jeanne Daskais. [Kamma] [Consciousness] [Spaciousness] [Recollection/Virtue] [Death]
Story: Sri Lankans keep a lifelong record of the good things they have done. Friends and relatives read this to them at the time of death. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Skillful qualities] [Recollection/Virtue] [History/Sri Lankan Buddhism]
14. Story: A woman dies peacefully while retelling the story of their life together with her partner of 60 years. Told by Rik Center. [Relationships] [Family] [Recollection/Virtue] [Death]
1. Commentary on AN 11.11: “Mahānāma:” Using recollection to gladden and settle the mind. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Recollection] [Recollection/Buddha] [Recollection/Dhamma] [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Recollection/Virtue] [Recollection/Devas] [Gladdening the mind] [Calming meditation]
2. Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna: The eight qualities of sīlānussati [in AN 11.11] define what it means for virtue to be noble. [Recollection/Virtue] [Virtue] [Liberation]
3. “How do you respond to the cynical inner voice when you recollect your own virtue?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ṭhitapañño. [Recollection/Virtue ] [Judgementalism] // [Ajahn Sucitto] [Habits] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Culture/West] [Humor]
1. “At what point does it become unskillful to continue to reflect on one’s own good deeds?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Beth Steff. [Recollection/Virtue] [Unskillful qualities] // [Self-identity view] [Right Effort] [Recollection/Generosity] [Culture/West] [Christianity] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy]
Quote: “In Buddhism, we don’t believe in original sin. We believe in original purity.” — King Rama IX to a BBC interviewer. [King Rama IX] [Nature of mind]
Reference: The 1979 BBC interview on YouTube.
Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 104: Forty subjects of meditation.
Story: Western researchers find Tibetans who have been tortured don’t suffer post-traumatic stress. [Abuse/violence] [Vajrayāna] [Three Refuges] [Recollection/Virtue] [Compassion]
Story: God’s finger over the “Smite” button. [God] [The Far Side]
Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: The Dalai Lama emphasizes the effect of faith in the law of kamma. [Dalai Lama] [Kamma] [Faith]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right View]
2. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Bowing to the Buddha is bowing to the qualities the Buddha manifested and recollecting those qualities in ourselves. [Bowing ] [Buddha images ] [Recollection/Buddha] [Recollection/Virtue]
9. “Is there a recollection about recalling one’s own successes and good qualities?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Virtue] [Recollection] // [Perfections] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Right Effort]
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] [Recollection/Virtue]
Story: Debbie Stamp served as primary caregiver to her father during the pandemic. [Debbie Stamp] [Parents] [Pandemic]