Part of key topic Monastic Life
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]
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]