Part of key topic Monastic Life
6. “A question about Dogenji’s teaching: ‘To study the Buddha Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things. When actualized by myriad things your body and mind as well as the bodies and minds of others drop away. No trace of enlightenment remains, and this no trace continues endlessly.’ Can you reflect on this teaching from the Theravāda Thai Forest Teachings?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dōgen] [Zen ] [Eightfold Path] [Not-self] [Liberation] [Theravāda] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Knowledge and vision] [Four Noble Truths] [Self-identity view] [Relinquishment] [Aggregates] [Proliferation] [Discernment] [Compassion]
Quote: “Everything is teaching us. Everything is a manifestation of Dhamma and truth.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Dhamma] [Truth] [Suchness]
5. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Transplanting the wonderful energy of Thai Buddhism to Abhayagiri. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Abhayagiri ]
2. “Are monks in the forest tradition required to meditate near dead bodies in cremation grounds? Is that to uproot defilements of fear of death? Is it considered psychologically safe?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Recollection/Death] [Fear] [Death] // [Ascetic practices] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Naturalness]
Quote: “Death is the most ordinary thing in the world.” — Ajahn Liem. [Ajahn Liem]
4. “In this morning’s pūjā, we chanted the Reflection on the Four Requisites (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 53). Each reflection begins with the Pāli word yoniso, which is translated as wisely reflecting. This translation is almost always identical to another Pāli term, yoniso manasikāra, which is translated as wise reflection. How does the meaning of yoniso change when manasikāra is added? What does the new word mean?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Requisites] [Appropriate attention] [Pāli] [Translation] // [Recollection] [Unattractiveness] [Dispassion] [Sense bases] [Four Noble Truths] [Faith] [Stream entry]
Reflection from the Thai Ajahns: Treat your stomach like a container that you fill up just enough. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Moderation in eating] [Food] [Similes]
8. “I’ve been reading the Venerable Ācariya Mun Bhūridatta Thera: A Spiritual Biography by Ajahn Mahā Boowa. I’m struck by how hard Ajahn Mun was on his disciples and also how hard his disciples were on themselves. I have a tendency towards self-criticism that I don’t feel is particularly helpful, but it seems that these forest monks were using self-criticism quite effectively. Can you comment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Perfectionism] // [Dhamma books] [Culture/West] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Culture/Thailand] [Faith] [Gratitude]
3. “You have founded multiple monasteries that balance the traditionalism of Theravāda Buddhism, but Abhayagiri is is connected to the internet and the world. Do you have any advice about how to balance the tradition and living simply with the modern context?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Theravāda] [Abhayagiri] [Internet] [Simplicity] // [Technology] [Human] [Suffering] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Culture/Natural environment] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Almsfood]
Reflection on the timeless teachings of the Pāli Canon. [Tipiṭaka] [Four Noble Truths] [Dependent origination] [Kamma]
5. “There’s talk in the Thai Forest Tradition about jit derm, the primal mind or the mind source, and you gave a talk titled ‘The Underlying Radiance of the Mind.’ Luang Por Sumedho talks about the need to trust in this underlying radiance of the mind. However, there have been times when I’ve asked you about this type of mind, and you’ve cautioned not to fool yourself about it.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Ajahn Mun] [Knowing itself] [Unestablished consciousness] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Faith] [Delusion] // [Suffering] [Nature of mind] [Idealism] [Direct experience] [Culture/West] [Language] [Discernment] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “Ideas are not direct experience.”
Quote: “Analysis on its own is not going to take one to a place of relinquishment and letting go and surrender.”
13. “What was it like establishing a forest monastery with the strict Vinaya of the Forest Tradition in California in the 1990s?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri] [Vinaya] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Culture/West] // [Conscience and prudence] [Trust] [Precepts]
14. “Abhayagiri is not near a major city, but there has been plenty of interest from both laypeople and those wishing to ordain. What do you credit for the successful establishment phase of Abhayagiri Monastery?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Monastic life/Motivation] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Trust] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Vinaya]
Quote: “We are what we say we are. That helps.” [Truth]
7. Story: When asked to teach about vipassanā, Ajahn Chah instructed practitioners to observe a wilting flower. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Insight meditation ] [Impermanence] // [Thai Forest Tradition] [Liberation] [Manjushri Institute]
3. “Could you clarify where Nibbāna fits into the different stages of enlightenment?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Nibbāna] [Stages of awakening] // [Stream entry] [Impermanence] [Insight meditation] [Relinquishment]
Sutta: AN 9.3: Meghiya (also at Ud 4.1).
Quote: “Sawahng, Sa-aht, Sangop” — “Bright, pure, peaceful” — many Thai Forest Tradition teachers. [Thai Forest Tradition]
6. “What would you say is the importance of experiencing the four immaterial jhānas? Is there the possibility of investigation in these states?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno. [Formless attainments] [Insight meditation] // [Thai Forest Tradition] [Jhāna] [Impermanence] [Aggregates]
5. Comment: In the first Dhammapada verse, mano seems to be used not as a sense gate but sort of a leading part of consciousness. [Heart/mind] [Sense bases] [Consciousness]
Response by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Recollection] [Language] [Conventions]
Sutta: SN 1.25: The Buddha’s use of ‘I’ as conventional language.
3. “For good or right contemplation, do you need some amount of samādhi so that it won’t proliferate in thinking?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Discernment] [Concentration] [Proliferation] // [Thai Forest Tradition]
7. “In what ways does engaging with the natural world which is always changing contribute to renunciation and realization? In the modern world, such conditions are becoming rarer. What is the answer?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Kaccāna and Ajahn Amaro. [Culture/Natural environment ] [Impermanence] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Culture/West] // [Characteristics of existence] [Spiritual friendship] [Seclusion] [Insight meditation] [Ascetic practices]
Suttas: SN 47.6-7: The Four Foundations of Mindfulness are one’s ancestral territory.
Recollection: The austerity of the early days of Wat Pah Pong highlighted the seeking of security. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Chah] [Food]
1. “The suttas ae the classic Dhamma texts, and there are a lot of books, etc. that expound the Dhamma as well. What sources to study to hear the true Dhamma?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Hearing the true Dhamma ] [Sutta] [Dhamma books] // [Thai Forest Tradition] [Discernment] [Four Noble Truths] [Views]
Quote: “Does he contemplate the Four Noble Truths when he’s climbing rocks?” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Paul Breiter] [Culture/West] [Recreation/leisure/sport]
Sutta: AN 8.53: Eight criteria to determine what is Dhamma. [Dhamma]
2. “Sometimes in the suttas people are aware that the eye of Dhamma has opened and they are now stream enterers. From my experience, sometimes people think they are sotāpanna but are not. What is the experience [of entering the stream]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stream entry] // [Thai Forest Tradition] [Suffering]
Reference: The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro Chapters 16–19.
Story: “Better than being a dog.” [Ajahn Chah] [Fierce/direct teaching] [Aversion]
Follow-up: “Is it normal for a stream enter to know that he’s a stream enterer?”
Sutta: AN 3.12: One never forgets the place of stream entry.
4. Reflection by Ajahn Pesalo: The first 12 years of monastic life are an opportunity to soak in the Dhamma practice. [Sequence of training] [Learning] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Abhayagiri] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Humility] [Cleanliness] [Happiness] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Meditation/Techniques]
9. Recollection: Great goodwill, energy, and extraordinary commitment in building Abhayagiri Monastery. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Abhayagiri] [Building projects] [Generosity] // [Thai Forest Tradition]
Reflections on collaborative leadership. [Leadership] [Ajahn Amaro] [Communal harmony]