Renunciation (nekkhamma)
Skillful qualities / Noble Eightfold Path / Right Intention / Renunciation 
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Part of key topic Foundations of Dhamma Practice
Part of tag cluster Right Intention in key topic The Noble Eightfold Path
Also a subtag of Perfections and Gradual Teaching
28 excerpts, 2:32:31 total duration




Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 15 – Apr. 28, 2001

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1. Reflection by Paul Breiter: How do Ajahn Chah’s teachings apply to lay life? [Lay life ] [Ajahn Chah] // [Monastic life] [Culture/Thailand] [Culture/West]

When I left the monastery, I felt like a skinned cow (SN 12.63). [Similes] [Vinaya]

Story: Ajahn Chah scolds the monks for dreaming about lay life. [Work] [Family] [Commerce/economics] [Renunciation]


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 28 – Apr. 29, 2001

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3. Story: Kittisaro’s parents visit Wat Pah Pong. Told by Kittisaro. [Kittisaro] [Parents] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Chah] // [Culture/West] [Learning] [Monastic life] [Renunciation] [Fear] [Cults] [Children] [Ordination] [Compassion]

Quote: “Wanting your parents to understand is suffering.” — Ajahn Sumedho. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Family] [Suffering]

Quote: “The Communists you really need to be concerned about, the ones who can really hurt you, are the ones who hide inside your own heart.” — Ajahn Chah. [Politics and society] [Unwholesome Roots]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2010, Session 7 – Nov. 26, 2010

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4. “Could you speak about the place of renunciation in lay life, especially marriage and family? As the years of practice go by, I feel less and less interest and connection with so much of our society and what it offers. Unfortunately, I also get attached to my views, and so judgements of others who don’t see it this way. My wife and family know this about me, and fortunately we still love and tolerate each other.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Renunciation] [Lay life] [Family] [Views]

Story: A monk “lets go” by not repairing the roof of his hut. [Ajahn Chah] [Lodging] [Relinquishment]


Tudong Stories at Spirit Rock, Session 3 – Jun. 2, 2011

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1. Story: Ajahn Chah’s first tudong. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Renunciation] [Spiritual search] [Simplicity] [Tudong]


Right Livelihood, Session 1 – Apr. 21, 2013

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17. Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: It’s not easy giving up the things we’re used to in order to follow the path. [Renunciation] [Eightfold Path] [Clinging] [Happiness] [Right Livelihood]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] [Commerce/economics]


The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Session 39 – Mar. 2, 2015

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3. Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: You can use objects like renunciation and lovingkindness to work towards deep meditation. [Concentration] [Renunciation] [Goodwill]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Gladdening the mind]


The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Session 45 – Mar. 15, 2015

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2. Examples of pleasures of renunciation? Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Happiness] [Renunciation] [Rapture] // [Skillful qualities]

Sutta: Ud 2.10: “Oh, what bliss!”


Desire or Aspiration, Session 2 – Jun. 14, 2015

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2. “A film came out recently called Monk with a Camera. How does one balance between pursuing one’s artistic interests and sincerely following a path of relinquishment.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Renunciation] [Artistic expression ] // [Self-identity view] [Relinquishment] [Entertainment and adornment] [Generosity] [Energy] [Devotional practice]

Story: Rev. Heng Sure uses music to teach Dhamma. [Rev. Heng Sure] [Teaching Dhamma]

Story: Two Abhayagiri monks learn icon painting from the abbot of the Ukrainian Uniate monastery next door. [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Jotipālo] [Father Damien] [Holy Transfiguration Monastery]


Western Disciples of the Thai Forest Tradition, Session 35 – Feb. 25, 2016

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3. Discussion about the importance of spiritual friendship. Led by Ajahn Pasanno. [Spiritual friendship] [Renunciation] [Happiness]

Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 46: The Highest Blessings (Maṅgala Sutta, Snp 2.4).

Ajahn Pasanno reflects on his intention in coming to America. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/West] [Perception of a samaṇa] [Abhayagiri]


Teen Weekend 2017 – Sep. 2, 2017

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5. “What was the hardest thing to give up?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Renunciation] // [Family]

Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first visit back to Canada.


Can We Function without Attachment?, Session 4 – Oct. 1, 2017

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3. “Can you speak about the relationship between renunciation and moderation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Renunciation ] // [Habits] [Suffering] [Sensual desire] [Spiritual urgency] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Faith] [Conditionality] [Appropriate attention] [Perfections]


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4. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: The common root of renunciation and compassion is the relationship to suffering. [Renunciation] [Compassion] [Suffering]

Reading:The Balanced Way” by Bhikkhu Bodhi on accesstoinsight.org. [Renunciation]


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6. Comment: Renunciation sometimes requires decisively turning against established patterns. [Renunciation] [Clinging] [Determination]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno.


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8. “How does renunciation reinforce compassion?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Renunciation ] [Compassion ] [Sloth and torpor] // [Suffering] [Clinging] [Goodwill] [Right Intention]

Sutta: Snp 1.8: The Metta Sutta.


Developing Skill in Reflective Meditation, Session 2 – Dec. 1, 2019

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5. “Can you say more about recollection of renunciation? How can this be used skillfully or not?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Recollection/Generosity] [Renunciation] [Recollection] // [Contentment] [Self-pity] [Sickness] [Equanimity] [Buddha/Biography] [Fasting] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Lunar observance days] [Abhayagiri]

Recollection: Going without in the early days of Abhayagiri Monastery. [Renunciation] [Almsfood]


Interreligious Retreat-Seminar on Dhamma and Non-duality, Session 3 – Nov. 25, 2023

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2. Comment: When I hear “renunciation,” I have the feeling that I’m losing something. [Renunciation ]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Renunciation ] [Simplicity] [Self-identity view]

Quote: “What renunciation gives is inexhaustible strength of simplicity.” — Martin Heidegger. [Renunciation ]


Kathina Q&A with the Chithurst Community, Session 2 – Oct. 12, 2025

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2. “Is renunciation like surrender?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Renunciation] [Relinquishment]

Quote: “You let go a little, you get a little peace. You let go a lot, and you get a lot peace. Let go completely, and you get complete peace.” — Ajahn Chah. [Tranquility]


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3. “Can renunciation be practiced in three aspects: material, speech and mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Renunciation] [Relinquishment] // [Right Speech]