12. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Ajahn Sumedho was a catalyst for Abhayagiri to happen. [Ajahn Sumedho ] [Abhayagiri] // [Western Ajahn Chah lineage] [Elders' Council]
Quote: “You should appreciate all that Ajahn Sumedho has done. He’s been the tank that has prepared the way for all the rest of you.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Respect for elders] [Similes]
Comment by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Ajahn Sumedho is the most senior American bhikkhu in the world.
1. Story: Anagārika Lief requests to become a novice. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Postulants] [Abhayagiri] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Sequence of training] [Lunar observance days] [Ajahn Amaro]
1. “How do I put the Four Noble Truths into practice in daily life?” [Four Noble Truths] [Everyday life] // [Discernment] [Suffering] [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Cause of Suffering]
2. “Can you talk more about the shift from feeling unsafe to feeling safe?” [Fear] // [Knowing itself] [Suffering] [Pandemic]
Quote: “Being alive has many inherent risks.” — Sondra Jewell. [Characteristics of existence] [Impermanence]
3. “In living with others, we tend to stick with our perceptions, causing potential conflict with them. How can we accept others as they are and be able to live with others harmoniously?” [Perception] [Conflict] [Communal harmony] // [Goodwill] [Judgementalism] [Generosity]
4. “How should a person cope with loneliness without having to rely on other things/people/contact?” [Loneliness] // [Seclusion] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Discernment] [Present moment awareness]
5. “What is the attitude to have towards others who are not on the path but are close family members?” [Family] // [Judgementalism] [Respect]
6. “How can you hold appreciation and gratitude and not lose an awareness of dukkha and understanding of dukkha?” [Gratitude] [Noble Truth of Suffering] // [Cessation of Suffering]
7. “‘Returning to the knowing’ was described as aware, awake, and bright. I understand aware and awake. Is the brightness something that comes up naturally because of lack of kilesas or something that the mind is lifted to?” [Knowing itself] [Conditionality] [Unwholesome Roots] [Gladdening the mind]
8. “In the ‘Verses of Sharing and Aspiration’ (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 33), what is the threefold bliss?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Happiness] // [Health] [Nibbāna] [Deva]
9. “Could you suggest some inquiry questions to contemplate and investigate the wisdom practice of equanimity?” [Recollection] [Discernment] [Equanimity] // [Kamma] [Judgementalism]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 55.
10. “For the next 25 years, what will be the leading light for the direction of Abhayagiri? Is there any collective vision?” [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] // [Building projects] [Lodging]
11. “What could I to to help myself fear death less?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Fear ] [Death] // [Virtue] [Restlessness and worry] [Truth] [Stream entry] [Impermanence] [Recollection/Death] [Present moment awareness] [Recollection/Virtue] [Self-identity view]
1. Recollection: Evolution of the Wan Phra all-night vigil at Abhayagiri. [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abhayagiri] // [Robes] [Pūjā]
2. Story: Ajahn Ñāṇiko’s first all-night sit. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Debbie Stamp] [Pūjā] [Sloth and torpor]
3. Story: Ajahn Pasanno teaches Chi Gong on Wan Phra after the 3 am pūjā. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Chi Gong] [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Health]
4. Recollection: A day building the chedi at Wat Phu Din Dang. [Building projects ] [Stupas/monuments] [Work] [Wat Phu Din Dang] // [Ajahn Mahā Suporn] [Ajahn Jayanto] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Liem] [Medicinal requisites] [Merit]
5. Reflection: Transplanting the wonderful energy of Thai Buddhism to Abhayagiri. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Abhayagiri ]
6. Recollection: The annual January gathering at Wat Pah Pong. [Ajahn Chah Remembrance Day] [Wat Pah Pong] [Abhayagiri] // [Lodging] [Food] [Ajahn Chah Stupa] [Communal harmony]
7. Recollection: The Community of Abhayagiri Lay Ministers sets up a food stall at Wat Pah Pong. Recounted by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [CALM Group] [Ajahn Chah Remembrance Day] [Wat Pah Pong] [Food] [Abhayagiri]
8. Reflection: Practice doesn’t have to be grim. [Eightfold Path] [Ardency] [Perfectionism] [Abhayagiri] // [Happiness] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]
Recollection: Old video footage of Abhayagiri. [Mae Chee Sansanee] [Kaṭhina]
9. Quote: “When you go to Thailand, you will realize how American you are.” — Ajahn Pasanno or Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]
10. Recollections of almsround and learning Thai at Wat Pah Nanachat. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Almsround] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Learning] [Thai]
Quote: “If you want to learn something, recite it every morning on almsround.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]
11. Reflection: Ajahn Liem’s ethos regarding building projects: creating a secluded place to practice. [Ajahn Liem] [Lodging ] [Building projects ] [Seclusion] [Meditation] // [Eight Precepts] [Generosity] [Sutta]
12. Reflection: The purpose of monastic facilities. [Lodging ] [Monastic life] // [Human] [Idealism] [Culture/Natural environment] [Sequence of training] [Rains retreat]
13. Reflection: The pulse of the year at Abhayagiri and the annual Vassa Vinaya studies. [Monastic life] [Rains retreat ] [Vinaya] [Learning] [Abhayagiri ] // [Protocols] [Not handling money] [Kaṭhina] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Meditation retreats]
1. “How do you or other monks deal with grief associated with the passing away of loved ones, especially parents or caretakers who have been kind to you? Do you also experience ‘crying out in isolation’ to heal that grief?” [Grief] [Death] [Parents] // [Impermanence] [Merit] [Gratitude] [Recollection/Death]
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?” [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]
3. “Can you expand on what is the korwat for how to treat teachers and how to treat guests?” [Protocols] [Respect for elders ] [Hospitality]
Vinaya: Khandhaka 18: Vattakkhandhaka and explanation in Buddhist Monastic Code Vol. 2, Chapter 13
4. “Could you please elaborate on rules for putting one’s hands in añjali when speaking to a monk at Abhayagiri? And what about bowing? It’s a weakness in my practice that I would like to improve.” [Respect] [Abhayagiri] [Bowing] // [Mindfulness] [Faith] [Devotional practice] [Continuity of mindfulness]
5. “When someone shows you how to do something correctly but the manner in which they convey the message is rude, what is the most skillful thing you can do to let the person know they were perceived as rude but fully absorb the content of their beneficial message?” [Admonishment/feedback] [Right Speech] // [Cultural context] [Equanimity] [Nonviolent Communication]
6. “Can you tell us about the history of female monastics or aspirants who stayed at the monastery in the early days and why it didn’t work out?” [Women's monastic forms] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Sundarā] [Ajahn Jitindriyā] [Sīladharā]
7. “How do you understand the phrase, ‘The body within the body?’” [Right Mindfulness] [Mindfulness of body] // [Views] [Discernment] [Relinquishment]
8. “What duty do we have to parents who often act foolishly and use harmful and abusive language?” [Parents] [Abuse/violence] // [Right Speech]
Story: Ajahn Ñāṇiko’s grandfather vows to treat his children with kindness. [Family] [Goodwill]
9. “Can you please describe the main stages of insight meditation?” [Insight meditation] [Progress of insight] // [Suffering] [Direct experience] [Cessation of Suffering] [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Ignorance] [Cause of Suffering]
Quote: “What are the stages of getting my hand out of this fire?” [Similes]
10. “What is the illumination that appears during sitting meditation? Is the false or the true? Is it from inside or outside or neither?” [Suffering] [Questions] [Proliferation]
Refer to the previous question.
Story: Well, I contemplated impermanence and nothing happened. [Impermanence] [Recollection] [Meditation/Results]
11. Ajahn Ñāṇiko responds to a long question about the situation in Burma/Myanmar. [Politics and society] // [News] [Buddha/Biography] [Māra] [Suffering] [Teaching Dhamma]
12. “If we don’t have a saṅgha close to where we live, should we move to a different place, or are online saṅghas good enough? Can non-Buddhist people be part of your saṅgha?” [Community] [Meditation groups] [Online community] [Buddhist identity] [Spiritual friendship]
Quote: “You don’t convert people to Buddhism.” — The Dalai Lama. [Dalai Lama]
13. “It seems that monks have a pretty strict schedule. What is the purpose of this?” [Monastic routine] [Time management] // [Vinaya] [Lunar observance days] [Eating after noon] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Ascetic practices]
14. “During the Q&A yesterday afternoon, I heard the recommendation to set a boundary (Session 12, question 6). I feel that creating a boundary is falling into the category of the Five Hindrances. The Buddha taught us to practice the brahmavihāras which are boundless. Please clarify why we need to set a boundary.” [Hindrances] [Divine Abidings] // [Aversion] [Abuse/violence] [Leadership]
2. “I have a family and family responsibilities. How do I know I’m on the path and making right effort?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Family] [Right Effort] [Doubt] // [Four Noble Truths] [Culture/West] [Mindfulness of feeling] [Direct experience]
3. “How do I know what is the Middle Path?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Middle Path] // [Four Noble Truths] [Direct experience]
Quote: “It’s not a concept. It’s like are you on your bike or are you on the ground?” — Ajahn Amaro.
4. “Can you talk more about the [Thanksgiving Retreat] theme this year on enjoyment? How did you come to the theme? What is the motivation behind it? Is there a Pāli word that describes the theme?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Happiness] [Pāli] // [Suffering] [Culture/West] [Culture/India] [Precepts] [Gladdening the mind] [Recollection/Virtue] [Calming meditation]
Quote: “Every part of the Eightfold Path is enjoyable.” — Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Eightfold Path] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Recollection] [Concentration]
Reflection: I used to care a lot about having fun, but I wasn’t happy. Now I don’t care about having fun, and I’m a lot happier. [Entertainment and adornment ] [Temple Monastery] [Recreation/leisure/sport]
1. “How about a teaching that is aspirational yet practical approach to stream entry? Or if stream entry is to rigid of a topic, how about talking about path and fruition?” [Stream entry] [Stages of awakening] // [Precepts] [Learning] [Ordination] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Faith] [Ajahn Chah] [Becoming] [Insight meditation] [Requisites] [Unattractiveness]
Story: Dabba Mallaputta becomes an arahant at age seven while his head is being shaved. [Great disciples] [Arahant] [Impermanence]
Reference: Dabba Mallaputta, The Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names by G P Malalasekera.
2. “I was investigating, and it seems that the body still wants to breathe to continue the life of the body saṅkhāras. Could the venerable ones speak more to this please?” [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of body] [Volitional formations]
3. “I am not able to ordain but would like to dedicate my life to the Dhamma. I have lived by Five Precepts for decades, but wonder if you can talk about taking Eight Precepts as a lay person and how possible/difficult that would be. Should one go to a monastery to take the Eight Precepts?” [Dhamma] [Purpose/meaning] [Eight Precepts ] [Lay life] // [Family]
Story of a Thai couple dedicated to the Dhamma. [Health care] [Dhamma books] [Merit] [Building projects] [Temporary ordination]
Reflection: People who have insight into the Dhamma are humble and generous. [Humility ] [Generosity] [Stream entry] [Conceit]
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?” [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]
1. “This morning, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo spoke of the arising and passing away of dukkha and the subsequent non-arising. Is the non-arising synchronous with knowing, spacious knowing, boundless knowing, unborn, uncreated, unformed, unconditioned, Deathless element, the amata Dhamma?” [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Impermanence] [Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering] [Knowing itself] [Unconditioned] [Deathless] // [Liberation] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Proliferation] [Relinquishment] [Language]
2. “Regarding the reading from the Udāna about the monks making a loud racket (Ud 3.3), the lynchpin for me was that the Buddha dismissed them by saying, ‘Go away,’ but Yasoja understood the words were said out of sympathy, wanting what’s best for them. It’s very difficult when someone admonishes you out of anger and judgement. How can one be inspired from admonishment rather than becoming defensive maybe even regardless of the other’s intent?” [Buddha/Biography] [Admonishment/feedback ] [Compassion] [Aversion] [Judgementalism] // [Impermanence] [Truth]
Sutta: Dhp 76: Admonishment likened to hidden treasure. [Similes]
Vinaya: Pc 54: Disrespect is to be confessed. [Harsh speech] [Vinaya]
3. “I’ve been thinking for a long time about how looking to practice in a comfortable way can really become a hindrance and also how hard it is to let go of practicing in a way I want, how I want. On one hand, I feel like I am finding my way and creating what works best for my personality and lay life conditions, but I’m afraid I’m avoiding the difficult things to look at or to do. Can you offer any advice or give me courage to meet the uncomfortable?” [Long-term practice] [Relinquishment] [Personality] [Lay life] [Spiritual bypass] // [Contentment]
4. “Thank you for this wonderful retreat. I would be grateful if you could share some teachings that would be a support to abstain from eating after 12 pm.” [Meditation retreats] [Eating after noon] // [Determination] [Health] [Simplicity] [Precepts] [Proliferation] [Medicinal requisites]
Metaphor of admonishing one’s own mind. [Admonishment/feedback] [Symbolism/metaphor] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]
Vinaya: Bhikkhu Nissaggiya-pācittiya 23; commentary in Buddhist Monastic Code Vol. 1, p. 333.
5. “My question is about setting an intention prior to meditation. For example, ‘I intend to use the meditation to investigate parts of the body.’ or ‘I intend to investigate why I am bothered by this person’s habits.’ Is it better to let the meditation unfold and work with what arises or have an intention to explore a subject?” [Meditation] [Meditation/Techniques] // [Meditation retreats] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Hindrances]
6. “I often have discomfort in my stomach when sitting. There is a lot of aversion to the discomfort. It’s my understanding that being with the aversion and really feeling the pain of it can be helpful in showing the mind that aversion just makes everything worse, and then through knowing that, the mind can start to let go of aversion. Is this the right idea?” [Pain] [Aversion] [Mindfulness] [Relinquishment] // [Posture/Walking] [Posture/Sitting] [Tranquility] [Health]
7. “I often hear the saying that we live in the Dhamma Ending Age, that cultivation is difficult, chaos is everywhere, and Dhamma declines. What are your thoughts on this?” [Dhamma] [Time] // [Theravāda] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Determination] [Ajahn Baen] [Buddha]
Sutta: A 4.77: The four imponderables.
Sutta: DN 16.5.27: If people are practicing the Noble Eightfold Path, the world will not be devoid of arahants. [Eightfold Path] [Arahant]
8. “I have found that since following this path, my family and people I care about have felt disappointed much more often by choices I have made, from big things like life goals to small things like not accepting an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner. Quite a bit of dukkha arises from disappointing those you love. Reflecting on the cause, it feels like it comes from wanting/craving to make people you care about happy. How can we let go of this craving when it feels like it is a good thing to make others happy?” [Family] [Purpose/meaning] [Clinging] [Craving] [Happiness] // [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Spiritual friendship] [Zen] [Respect]
9. “During lunch I was contemplating the four elements as I ate, and a question arose in my mind: If all things are made of only four elements, why does an orange taste, smell, and feel only like an orange and not like an apple? How can there be so much variety in food?” [Food] [Elements] [Sense bases]
Story: A Zen master confronts Kalu Rinpoche with an orange. [Zen] [Vajrayāna] [Koan]
10. “This morning’s talk referred to Nibbāna. Can a layperson attain Nibbāna or is it just for monastics?” [Nibbāna] [Lay life] [Monastic life] // [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Teaching Dhamma]
Quote: “The heart ordination” — Ajahn Baen. [Ajahn Baen] [Heart/mind] [Ordination] [Stream entry]
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.7: Yasa attains arahantship and then ordains. [Arahant]
Sutta: Ud 1.10 Bāhiya attains arahantship and is killed by a cow. [Great disciples]
Suttas: SN 41.1; SN 41.5; SN 41.7: Anāgamī householder Citta gives teachings to monks. [Non-return]
2. “In the Ānāpānasati Sutta there are many steps. Is there space in these to investigate the causes and conditions for greed, anger, and delusion?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Investigation of states] [Conditionality] [Unwholesome Roots] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Mindfulness of mind] [Heart/mind] [Calming meditation] [Hindrances] [Mindfulness of dhammas] [Impermanence]
Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Mindfulness of breathing is not a linear process. You have to work with what’s actually helpful.
4. Comment: Sometimes when I contemplate maraṇassati, a strong sense of saṃvega will come over me and work seems pointless. But I’m currently in lay life, so if I get so much saṃvega that I don’t want to work, this is a problem. [Recollection/Death] [Spiritual urgency] [Work] [Lay life]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Right Effort] [Discernment] [Skillful qualities]
5. “How is suicide reconciled with the First Precept, the precept against taking life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Suicide] [Killing] // [Vinaya]
Sutta: SN 35.87: Channa Sutta.
8. I arrived when Abhayagiri turned five. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko ] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Ajahn Sudanto] [Ordination] [Debbie Stamp] [Sīladharā]
Recollection: The little house was the beating heart of Abhayagiri. [Lodging] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Questions] [Gratitude] [Goodwill]
Quote: “I want to ordain. What do I do?” — Ajahn Ñāṇiko’s first email to the Abhayagiri guestmonk. [Ajahn Achalo] [Idealism]
Story: “Look, I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to practice.” [Spiritual friendship]
Quote: “Don’t think about it too much.” — Ajahn Pasanno to Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Monastic life/Motivation] [Proliferation]
[Session] Dhamma talk offered by Ajahn Damrong: “Beyond Home: What Are We Really Seeking?” in Thai and English. [Thai audio]
1. Dhamma talk offered by Ajahn Damrong: “Beyond Home: What Are We Really Seeking?”
2. Reflection by Ajahn Damrong: “I’ve seen so many cremations; I’m not sure who’s going to go next.” [Death] [Funerals] [Impermanence] // [Ageing] [Monastic titles]
3. Reflection by Ajahn Damrong: “If we understand how to practice, then we can know Dhamma, and the heart can be at ease. It can be so wonderfully peaceful.” [Dhamma] [Tranquility ]
4. Recollection: When I first went to Wat Pah Pong. Recounted by Ajahn Damrong. [Ajahn Damrong] [Wat Pah Pong] // [Tranquility] [Ajahn Chah] [Work]
5. Reflection by Ajahn Damrong: A place of mutual respect. [Abhayagiri] [Respect ] // [Humility] [Merit]
Sutta: AN 5.37: The four results of respect.
6. Quote: “Sumedho, why do Westerners walk so fast?” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Ajahn Damrong. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Culture/West] [Pace of life]
[Session] Dhamma talk offered by Ajahn Jundee: “The Life-Saving Refuges” in Thai and English. [Thai audio] [Three Refuges]
1. Dhamma talk offered by Ajahn Jundee: “The Life-Saving Refuges.” [Three Refuges]
2. Reflection by Ajahn Jundee: We bow to the qualities of the Buddha. [Bowing] [Buddha] // [Ajahn Chah] [Buddha images] [Tudong]
Story: Venerable Sāriputta would bow in the direction of Venerable Assaji. [Great disciples] [Respect]
Vinaya: Mahāvagga 1.23: Venerable Sāriputta meets Venerable Assaji.
3. Recollection: Ajahn Chah would go to a village and ask, “Are there any people here?” Recounted by Ajahn Jundee. [Ajahn Chah] // [Virtue] [Similes]
4. Stories: Ajahn Jundee helps two suicidal men. Told by Ajahn Jundee. [Ajahn Jundee] [Suicide] // [Monasteries]