Theravāda
Spiritual traditions / Theravāda 
47 excerpts, 3:29:53 total duration



Thanksgiving Retreat 2011, Session 5 – Nov. 23, 2011

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29. “Can you give us a short bio on each of you please?” [Western Ajahn Chah lineage] // [Birth] [Monastic life/Motivation]

Ajahn Yatiko is on his way to Tibet, but two Thai men in a restaurant persuade him to visit Wat Pah Pong. [Ajahn Yatiko] [Travel] [Vajrayāna] [Wat Pah Pong] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ordination] [Gratitude]

Bhante Suddhāso finds his way to Abhayagiri through Zen. [Zen] [Ajahn Chah] [Vinaya] [Theravāda] [Abhayagiri]

Ajahn Karuṇadhammo ordains at Abhayagiri after many years of lay practice. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Lay life]

Anagārika Jordan (now Ajahn Sudhīro) learns about Buddhism in college and has just taken up anagārika training at Abhayagiri. [Postulants]

Debbie Stamp travels in Asia, hears a talk by Ajahn Buddhadāsa, spends ten months at Amaravati and Chithurst, then volunteers to help start Abhayagiri. [Debbie Stamp] [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Amaravati] [Chithurst]

Quote: “She’s the mother of our monastery.” — Ajahn Yatiko.


Western Disciples of the Thai Forest Tradition, Session 53 – Mar. 25, 2016

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3. “How is Dzogchen similar to the Thai Forest Tradition?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Amaro] [Vajrayāna] [Thai Forest Tradition] [Emptiness]

Ajahn Pasanno describes the context of the Small Boat, Great Mountain retreat. [Spirit Rock] [Tsoknyi Rinpoche] [Theravāda]

Reference: Small Boat, Great Mountain by Ajahn Amaro.


Abhayagiri’s 20th Anniversary, Session 5 – Jun. 4, 2016

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1. Recollection: The friendship between disciples of Ajahn Chah and the disciples of Master Hua. Recounted by Bhikshu Heng Shun. [Spiritual friendship] [Ajahn Chah lineage] [Master Hsuan Hua] // [Abhayagiri] [Mahāyāna ] [Theravāda]

Sutta: SN 45.2: Half of the Holy Life.

Story: Master Xuanzang writes that the Abhayagiri Vihara has “Mahāyāna Theravādins.” [Master Xuanzang] [History/Sri Lankan Buddhism] [Theravāda]


Devotion and Ritual: Becoming the Buddha, Session 1 – Apr. 30, 2017

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5. Story: A visiting monk gives extensive teachings about the meaning of each word in the recollection of Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Three Refuges] // [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Theravāda]

Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, pp. 4-8.


Abhayagiri 25th Anniversary Retreat, Session 1 – Jun. 9, 2021

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8. Story: The original Abhayagiri Monastery. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Abhayagiri (Sri Lanka)] [History/Sri Lankan Buddhism ] // [Theravāda] [Mahāyāna] [Commentaries] [Study monks] [Conflict] [Royalty] [Stupas/monuments] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Abhayagiri]

Reference: The Path to Freedom (Vimuttimagga), translated by Bhikkhu Ñāṇatusita.


Abhayagiri’s 30th Anniversary Part 2, Session 8 – Jun. 27, 2026

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4. Story: Ajahn Sumedho invites Ajahn Amaro to lead the first temporary vihara in San Francisco. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Amaro] [Pre-Abhayagiri vihāras] // [Amaravati]

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Story: Master Hua invites ten of Ajahn Sumedho’s monks to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to participate in a 1989 ordination. [Master Hsuan Hua] [Elders' Council] [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas] [Vinaya] [Mahāyāna] [Theravāda] [Ordination]

Quote: “It was the dream of my life to bring the Northern and Southern Traditions together. And I didn’t think I could do it until I met Sumedho.” — Master Hsuan Hua. [Theravāda]