References – MN 39: The Longer Discourse at Assapura 
Readings by Ajahn Pasanno:
Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization by Venerable Anālayo, pp. 182-187. [Hindrances]
Sutta: MN 39: Mahā-Asupura Sutta.
The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness [2013], Session 12
“I heard somewhere that the Buddha regretted giving the teaching on the Ten Fetters. Is this true?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Fetters] [Buddha/Biography] // [Great disciples] [Rebirth] [Realms of existence]
Sutta: AN 9.12 Sariputta asks the Buddha whether anyone still subject to rebirth is safe from the lower realms.
Sutta: MN 39: Don’t be content with virtue, etc.
Readings from The Island [2025], Session 14, Excerpt 3
“You talked about the end of striving, the end of straining, the end of forcing just now. Yesterday you were talking about standing on one side and neither straining nor moving back. It seems to be a bit of a paradox. Do we strain now and stop when we get there?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. [Right Effort] [Energy] // [Middle Path] [Learning] [Aspects of Understanding]
Sutta: MN 39: Don’t be content with wholesome states.
Sutta: AN 2.5: The qualities that allowed the Buddha to realize full Awakening.
Readings from The Island [2025], Session 49, Excerpt 3
Ajahn Pasanno elucidates the Buddha’s similes for the Five Hindrances (MN 39.14). He encourages us to investigate the tone of the mind to identify the presence or absence of hindrances and to delight in the inherent well-being of the mind when the hindrances are relinquished. [Hindrances] [Similes]
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 4
Simile: Sensual desire is like being in debt. (MN 39.14) — Ajahn Pasanno. [Sensual desire] [Hindrances] [Similes]
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 4, Excerpt 1
Simile: Ill-will is like being sick. (MN 39.14) — Ajahn Pasanno. [Ill-will ] [Hindrances] [Similes] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Sickness] [Happiness]
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 4, Excerpt 2
Simile: Sloth and torpor is like being in prison. (MN 39.14) — Ajahn Pasanno. [Sloth and torpor] [Hindrances] [Similes]
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 4, Excerpt 3
“In the Five Hindrances, does ill-will apply only to people?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances] [Aversion] [Ill-will] // [Similes]
The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness [2013], Session 18, Excerpt 6
“How is sensual desire like being in debt (MN 39.14)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sensual desire] [Similes]
The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness [2013], Session 20, Excerpt 2
“Can one enter the absorptive states through mindfulness of breathing or is single-pointed jhāna meditation required?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Jhāna] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Sutta: MN 39.15: Descriptions of jhāna.
Thanksgiving Retreat 2010, Session 6, Excerpt 15
“That sukha (happiness) is still experienced through the sense object of the mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Happiness] [Rapture] [Sense bases] [Jhāna] // [Mindfulness of body]
Quote: “The way the Buddha describes the jhāna factors, all the images are grounded in the body.” (MN 39.15) [Similes]
Jhāna: A Practical Approach [2015], Session 3, Excerpt 14
“In the jhāna similes (MN 39.15), ‘He makes...’ seems very active. In dropping away things, is it a conscious dropping or an allowing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Right Concentration] [Relinquishment] [Jhāna] // [Volitional formations] [Conditionality] [Right Effort]
Quote: “Ajahn Chah emphasizes the doing within a sphere of detachment and letting go.” [Ajahn Chah]