1. “Should we judge the quality of our meditation only by the time we spend in focused concentration?” Answered by Ajahn Jotipālo, Ajahn Ñāṇiko, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and the Abhayagiri Saṅgha. [Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo] [Meditation/Results ] [Concentration] // [Mindfulness] [Right Effort] [Investigation of states] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Hindrances]
References: Walking Meditation by Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo; “The Five Hindrances,” from The Anthology Vol. 1 by Ajahn Sumedho, pp. 35–44.
Story: Ajahn Thate and the bhavaṅga states. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Thate] [Wrong concentration] [Ajahn Mun] [Mindfulness of body]
Story: Ajahn Khao meditates all night with no awareness. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Khao]
2. “Is desire itself the problem or is clinging to and identifying with desire the problem?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Desire] [Clinging] [Self-identity view] [Sensual desire] [Naturalness ] [Craving ] // [Feeling] [Dependent origination]
Quote: “Taṇhā is eliminate-able.” [Cessation of Suffering]
Comment about distinguishing between hunger and taṇhā at meal time. [Food] [Moderation in eating]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Views]
2. Comment: Abhayagiri works because the abbots empower members of the community to be in charge of different aspects of the monastery. [Abhayagiri] [Abbot] [Saṅgha decision making ]
Recollection: Ajahn Pasanno asks the Saṅgha before accepting invitations. [Ajahn Pasanno]
Quote: “Ajahn Pasanno is genuinely open to junior members’ opinions.” [Admonishment/feedback] [Humility]
Comment: Less admonishment in korwat is needed now at Abhayagiri because momentum has built and you can follow the group. [Protocols]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.
3. Comments by Ajahn Jotipālo, Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko about self in creative endeavors. [Artistic expression ] [Self-identity view] // [Christianity] [Discernment] [Tranquility] [Buddha/Biography] [Ajahn Liem]
Reference: “Inner Vigilance” from The Anthology Vol. 2 by Ajahn Sumedho pp. 59-62. An older version is available online in Mindfulness: The Path to the Deathless.
4. Story: Learning the Pāṭimokkha. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāṭimokkha ] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Chanting] // [Culture/India]
Responses by Ajahn Ñāṇiko, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Kaccāna.
4. “Are there books or online resources for the study of Pāli?” [Pāli ] [Dhamma books] [Dhamma online]
Reference: A New Course in Reading Pāli by James W. Gair and W. S. Karunatillake (pdf) [Learning]
Note: Bhikkhu Bodhi’s Reading the Buddha’s Discourses in Pāli was published in 2020.
1. Quote: “If you want to succeed in your practice, you have to think a lot. … You have to think all the time about Dhamma.” — Ajahn Baen. [Ajahn Baen] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Investigation of states] [Recollection/Dhamma ] [Recollection] // [Chanting]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 6.
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.
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]
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 ]
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]
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
4.1. Reflection by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: 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 ] [Happiness] // [Temple Monastery] [Recreation/leisure/sport]
3.1. “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]
3.2. Reflection: People who have insight into the Dhamma are humble and generous. [Humility ] [Generosity] [Stream entry] [Conceit]
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]
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]
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 ]
5. Reflection by Ajahn Damrong: A place of mutual respect. [Abhayagiri] [Respect ] // [Humility] [Merit]
Sutta: AN 5.37: The four results of respect.