2. “When you spent time with family, did you notice any old habits resurfacing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Family] [Habits]
3. “Can you please speak about faith? How to develop it? How to maintain it through the ups and downs of practice? How have you maintained your faith over forty years of practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Faith ] [Long-term practice] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Language] [Ajahn Chah] [Patience] [Mindfulness]
5. “I understand that there is a council of Theravada elders who are a ‘decision making panel’ guiding the tradition. Who exactly is part of this council and who or what determines their eligibility? Will the honor being bestowed upon you and Ajahn Amaro next month make you eligible? Are there other monks in modern times who have received this honor?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [History/Thai Buddhism] [Saṅgha decision making] [Monastic titles] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Chah] // [Politics and society] [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Ajahn Sumedho] [P. A. Payutto] [CALM Group]
10. “Can you tell us what you find interesting about the breath? What insights have arisen for you from watching the breath?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Ajahn Pasanno]
16. “How does the process work to get a title as you do? Is this title only for monks? Will you be the only one in the USA?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic titles] [Ajahn Pasanno]
20. “What is the pill in the little vial that sits next to you?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Medicinal requisites] [Health]
24. “I’m curious about the ceremony to bestow the honorific title. What does it entail? What is the new title? Does it change the appropriate way for us to address or refer to you?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic titles] [Ajahn Pasanno]
1. “During the development of Abhayagiri over the years, has there been a shift in how strictly some practices, activities are followed?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Debbie Stamp. [Amaravati] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ascetic practices] [Culture/West] [Divine Abidings] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Chah] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Work] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Admonishment/feedback] [Protocols] [Ajahn Amaro] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy]
Story: Can we ask for soymilk? [Food] [Simplicity] [Ajahn Pasanno]
Recollection: The effects of the gap in seniority between Ajahn Amaro and (then) Tan Karuṇadhammo. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Sequence of training]
Recollection: Ajahn Pasanno is lighter and softer now. Recounted by Debbie Stamp. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Personal presence]
Recollection: The gung-ho early days of Chithurst and Amaravati. Recounted by Debbie Stamp. [Chithurst] [Disrobing]
Recollection: The beginning of sharing circles. Recounted by Debbie Stamp. [Sharing circles] [Culture/Thailand]
2. Comment by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: 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.” [Ajahn Pasanno] [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. Recollection: Ajahn Pasanno consults the group rather than dictating decisions. Recounted by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Abbot ] [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha decision making] [Leadership]
Quote: “Sometimes it’s better to be harmonious than to be right.” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Communal harmony] [Views]
Quote: “I must hurry, for there they go, and I am their leader.” — Sign above a boss’s desk. Quoted by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Humor]
4. Story: Carrying wood to the Cloth Yurt. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Ajahn Jotipālo] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Lodging] [Work] [Abhayagiri]
5. Story: “How is it going? There are a lot of weeds growing on your walking path.” Told by Debbie Stamp. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Work] [Posture/Walking]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Gratitude]
6. Story: Ajahn Khemadhammo creates Buddha groves in prisons. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Khemadhammo] [Prisons] [Buddha images] // [Ceremony/ritual] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Tranquility]
1. “Ajahn Pasanno, did you have a chance to spend much time with Ajahn Paññavaddho?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho] [Ajahn Pasanno]
3. “Ajahn Sumedho talks about Ajahn Chah making him miserable, testing him. Was that your experience when you were practicing with Ajahn Chah?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Mentoring] [Ajahn Pasanno]
2. “Does insight arise from deeper concentration or can it also arise from different things?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Concentration] [Insight meditation] // [Tranquility]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno experiences insight on a bus in Bangkok. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Contact]
4. Story: Personality of the Abhayagiri co-abbots: “Is he the one with the personality or is he the one who laughs all the time?” Told by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Personality] [Humor]
1. Ajahn Pasanno recollects visiting the Japanese temple in Vesali described in Chapter 9 of Rude Awakenings by Ajahn Sucitto and Nick Scott. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Visiting holy sites] // [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Nichiren Buddhism]
1. “How much did you have to adapt Ajahn Chah’s training for your own practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] [Monastic life] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Generosity] [Mindfulness] [Discernment]
Quote: “Ajahn Chah didn’t have a template.” [Meditation/Techniques]
4. “Why did you leave Wat Pah Pong to practice on your own?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Pong] [Seclusion] // [Ajahn Chah] [Wat Keuan] [Wat Tam Saeng Pet]
6. Story: Ajahn Pasanno goes to Wat Pah Nanachat to work on a bowl stand and gets sick. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Monastic crafts] [Sickness] // [Rains retreat]
7. “Did you stay at Wat Pah Nanachat from then on?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Tudong]
8. “Were you on tudong for a year?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Tudong] // [Seclusion] [Dtao Dum] [Ajahn Chah]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno takes a restless novice on tudong. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Novices] [Food]
9. Story: Ajahn Pasanno founds Dtao Dum Monastery. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Dtao Dum ] // [Environment] [Ajahn Chah] [Joseph Kappel] [Rains retreat] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Gavesako]
3. “Did you go to his cremation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho] [Funerals] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Humility]
2. Story: Ajahn Pasanno describes his time in India with Ajahn Jayasaro. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Tudong] [Visiting holy sites] // [Impermanence] [Almsround]
Story: A month to be away from Wat Pah Nanachat. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abbot] [Ajahn Puriso]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno stays in Bodh Gaya to do pūjās. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Pūjā] [Determination]
3. “Did you find any particular holy sites especially affecting?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Visiting holy sites ] // [Tranquility]
Reference: SN 56.11: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Chanting Book translation)
5. “Did you get sick [during your pilgrimage in India]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/India] [Tudong] [Sickness] // [Food] [Almsround]
6. “How did you find Ajahn Jayasaro again [in India]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Visiting holy sites] // [Tudong] [Lodging] [Ajahn Koon (Chiang Rai)] [Ajahn Chai] [Ajahn Chah] [Culture/India]
2. Story: Ajahn Pasanno attends Dharma Master Heng Lyu’s ordination. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Bhikshu Heng Lyu] [Ordination] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Weather]
5. Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first impressions of Wat Pah Pong. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Pong] // [Temporary ordination] [Ajahn Chah] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Lunar observance days]
6. Recollections: Ajahn Pasanno’s motivations for moving to Abhayagiri; twenty years went by quick. Recounted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Abhayagiri] // [Western Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Ajahn Amaro] [Community]
1. Reflection by Bhikshu Heng Lyu: The relationship between Abhayagiri and The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. [Abhayagiri] [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas] // [Master Hsuan Hua] [Ajahn Sumedho]
Story: Master Hua invites Ajahn Sumedho to be the precept master for an ordination at The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas [Ordination] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Bhikshu Heng Lyu]
2. Story: Heng Shun meets Ajahn Pasanno at Wat Phleng Vipassanā in 1973. Told by Bhikshu Heng Shun. [Bhikshu Heng Shun] [Wat Phleng Vipassanā] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Temporary ordination]
5. Story: Dharma Master Heng Shun meets Ajahn Pasanno at Wat Pah Nanachat. Told by Bhikshu Heng Shun. [Bhikshu Heng Shun] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat]
6. Story: More details about the 1991 City of Ten Thousand Buddhas ordination. Told by Bhikshu Heng Shun. [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas] [Ordination] // [Bhikshu Heng Shun] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Khantipālo]
11. Recollection: Origins of the Abhayagiri co-abbotship. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Abbot] [Abhayagiri] // [Master Hsuan Hua] [Three Conditions Monastery] [Jealousy] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Leadership]
Quote: “You can’t have two tigers living in the same cave.” — Ajahn Mahā Prasert. [Ajahn Mahā Prasert] [Culture/Thailand]
4. “In the West, we personalize every bit of suffering. Is it different in Thailand?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Culture/West ] [Suffering] [Self-identity view] [Culture/Thailand] // [Language] [Liberation]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno can’t translate guilt into Thai. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Thai] [Translation]
Quote: “That’s really suffering. Tell them not to do that.” — Ajahn Paññānanda. [Ajahn Paññānanda]
Reference: Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast (commercial). [Ageing] [Sickness] [Parents] [Health care]
6. Story: Ajahn Pasanno visits the elderly Cambodian monk Mahāgossānanda who has Alzheimer’s disease. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Preah Mahāghosānanda] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Sickness] // [Dalai Lama] [Divine Abidings] [Ajahn Chah] [Heart/mind]
Quote: “That thing you learn in meditation—that you don’t lose.” — Ajahn Fuang. [Ajahn Fuang] [Meditation] [Liberation]
Story: A monk known for psychic powers visits Ajahn Chah’s sick room and reports: “You don’t have to worry about Ajahn Chah. His heart is so bright.” [Psychic powers] [Dependent origination] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Lunar observance days]
6. “Luang Por, for this ten day retreat, what is your Dhamma wish for us?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Meditation retreats] // [Tranquility] [Clear comprehension] [Faith]
10. “Does having no craving mean doing things in the world knowing they won’t bring lasting satisfaction? For example, planning a vacation realizing that it will eventually end or taking measures to cure a headache without expecting to feel completely better. I am trying to understand how this would look like in real life without one becoming apathetic and depressed about the meaninglessness of basically all activities except meditation. How to balance the ability to still enjoy life with abandoning all craving?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Craving ] [Characteristics of existence] [Depression] [Happiness] // [Cause of Suffering] [Desire] [Generosity]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno is planning to take his mother to Hawaii. “And I think I’ll enjoy it too!” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Parents] [Travel]
16. “Will you tell a bit of your story in becoming a monk, early family life, how you came to Thailand, at what age you ordained?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life/Motivation]
8. “Do you have any inspiring stories to share of practicing with strong fear (animals,etc)? I’m inspired when I hear such stories from monks of this tradition.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Fear] [Stories] [Animal]
Story: A tiger circles Ajahn Pasanno’s walking path. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Dtao Dum] [Posture/Walking]
Sutta: MN 4: Fear and Dread.
Story: A tiger kills a 1,500 pound Brahma bull.
10. Story: Someone asks Ajahn Pasanno, “You’ve been putting a lot of effort into protecting forests in Thailand. Do you think the forests will be protected?” Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/Thailand] [Environment] [Activism] [Politics and society] // [Learning] [Right Livelihood]
11. Story: Ajahn Pasanno returns to Dtao Dum and sees the forest regenerated. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Dtao Dum] [Environment] [Politics and society] // [Industry] [Happiness] [Conditionality]
13. “Did Ajahn Chah ever speak about politics?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Politics and society] // [Fear] [Proliferation] [History/Thai Buddhism] [Military]
Story: Driving through military checkpoints on the way to Ajahn Fun’s funeral. [Ajahn Fun] [Funerals] [Ajahn Pasanno]
15. “One of the reflections that was sent online described Ajahn Chah’s response to monks who wanted to go out and help refugees. Can you speak to this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Monastic life] [Service] [Politics and society] // [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Military] [Conflict]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno spends time at a Cambodian refugee camp. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Preah Mahāghosānanda]
1. “What meaningful impact do Buddhist monks have on the community?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support ] [Community] [Saṅgha] // [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Lunar observance days] [Abhayagiri]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first visit to Wat Pah Pong. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Pong ] [Temporary ordination] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries]
3. “When you first ordained, you were just starting to learn about Buddhism. What changed that made you want to dive in?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Meditation/Results] [Ajahn Chah]
Story: “If you want to stay with me, you have to stay at least five years.” — Ajahn Chah [Ajahn Pasanno]
5. “What was the hardest thing to give up?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Renunciation] // [Family]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first visit back to Canada. [Ajahn Pasanno]
7. “I have doubts about the concept of personal property. How does activism following the Five Precepts work in a country whose water supply has been bought out by private interests?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Politics and society] [Environment] [Five Precepts] // [Community] [Virtue] [Discernment]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno investigates a logging operation at Dtao Dtum. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/Thailand] [Dtao Dum]
8. “If you could give your younger self one piece of information, what would it be?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Restlessness and worry] [Fear]
9. “What were you like when you were 18?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Delusion] [Spiritual search] [Intoxicants] [Relationships]
11. “Can you talk about your environmental work in Thailand? What qualities of heart and inner strength help us live without being completely overwhelmed?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Environment ] [History/Thai Buddhism] // [Politics and society] [Culture/Thailand] [Greed] [Teaching Dhamma] [Panyaprateep School] [Food] [Dtao Dum] [Activism]
Story: Sri Lankan monastic kidney donors. [Health] [History/Sri Lankan Buddhism] [Generosity]
13. Story: Ajahn Pasanno teaches communication skills to Thai villagers. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [History/Thai Buddhism] [Media] [Community] // [Environment] [Politics and society]
14. “What are the biggest misconceptions about being ordained?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life ] // [Selfishness ]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno visits Ajahn Buddhadāsa: “Don’t be selfish!” [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Ajahn Pasanno]
15. “What was your greatest desire as a kid?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Desire] // [Monastic life/Motivation] [Truth]
17. “Have you broken any precepts where only you know if you broke them?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Vinaya] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Right Speech]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s uncle offers him alchohol. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Intoxicants] [Truth]
25. “When’s your birthday?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno]
3. “I heard the word samatonsin all my life, but never knew it means ‘to hold it rightly.’ Is there a way to hold it wrongly?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai] [Clinging] // [Precepts] [Attachment to precepts and practices] [Three Refuges]
Story: Ajahn Passanno accidentally drinks fruit juice mixed with vodka at a family gathering. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Intoxicants]
6. “Can you talk more about “Skillfully contributing to an upredictable situation”?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Impermanence] [Skillful qualities] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Clear comprehension]
7. “Have you been in situations where you didn’t know what to do?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Impermanence]
8. “I appreciate your saying “The trancendance of doubt isn’t getting the answers to your doubt, it’s being comfortable with the doubt.”” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Doubt]
2. “Who were imporant mentors for you?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Teachers] [Mentoring] [Monastic life] // [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Jun] [Ajahn Mahā Amorn] [Ajahn Liem] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Ajahn Baen] [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [P. A. Payutto] [Wat Pah Pong]
Story: Ajahn Mahā Amorn goes to study with Ajahn Chah. [Learning]
4. “Have you had strong relationships with Buddhist lay teachers in the West?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Lay teachers] [Ajahn Pasanno] [History/Western Buddhism]
1. “What can we learn when we pay respects to mentors?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Respect for elders] [Monastic life] // [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Almsround] [Ajahn Pasanno]
Story: Ajahn Mahā Boowa visits after Ajahn Chah’s death. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno]
Story: Ajahn Baen admonishes Ajahn Pasanno at Ajahn Chah’s cremation. [Ajahn Baen] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Fierce/direct teaching]
Quote: “You don’t have to visit me! You know what to do already! It’s all right here (pointing at his heart).” — Ajahn Baen to Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno]
6. “What about relics?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Relics] [Monastic life] // [Ajahn Mun] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Khao] [Mae Chee Kaew] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Ajahn Chah]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s mother observes multiplying relics. [Ajahn Pasanno]
17. “Abhayagiri’s daily and yearly schedule provide a good balance of individual and communal practice. How did this happen?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Seclusion] [Monastic life] [Saṅgha] // [History/Western Buddhist monasticism]
7. “Have you done much memorization practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Learning] // [Eightfold Path] [Pāli] [Right Mindfulness] [Chanting] [Energy]
7. “So you’ve asked all your questions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Questions] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life]
16. “Can you speak about regret?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Conscience and prudence] [Restlessness and worry] // [Guilt/shame/inadequacy ] [Determination] [Skillful qualities] [Culture/West] [Kamma] [Goodwill]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno can’t translate guilt into Thai. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Thai] [Suffering]
7. Reading: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 647-648 “Por Am” Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] // [Right Livelihood] [Views] [Intoxicants]
Story: Ajahn Chah teaches Por Am herbal medicine so he can avoid killing animals. [Culture/Thailand] [Food] [Precepts] [Medicinal requisites] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Health care] [Lunar observance days]
Quote: “It’s not possible to defeat the Dhamma, you know, and that’s why you fainted.” — Ajahn Chah to Por Am. [Dhamma]
4. Story: Learning the Paṭimokkha. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāṭimokkha] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Chanting] // [Ajahn Chah] [Culture/India]
Responses by Ajahn Ñāṇiko, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Kaccāna.
5. Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s mother notices that he chants in tune. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Family] [Chanting] // [Almsfood] [Mindfulness]
6. Story: Ajahn Pasanno spends Vassa on the Burmese border, but can’t chant smoothly with two monks of different nationalities. Told by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Rains retreat] [Chanting] [Pāli]
1. “Do you find labelling helpful?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Noting] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Proliferation]
Simile: The hammer looking for nails everywhere.
8. Story: The cook assigned to look after Ajahn Pasanno doesn’t understand what he can and needs to eat. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Dtao Dum] [Almsfood] [Food] // [Industry] [Meditation] [Energy] [Health] [Patience] [Culture/Natural environment]
9. Story: Founding Dtao Dum Monastery told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Dtao Dum] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Culture/Natural environment] [Environment] [Commerce/economics]
11. “Did Ajahn Soṇa go on one of the trips to Dtao Dum with you?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Soṇa] [Dtao Dum] [Ajahn Pasanno]
12. “When you weren’t getting enough food, had you been older and smarter, would you have been able, as a monk, to ask for vegetables?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life] [Health] [Vinaya] [Almsfood] // [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Generosity]
20. “Did Buddhism find you in Northern Manitoba, or did you leave? What led you to Buddhism?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Learning] [Culture/West] [Zen] [Culture/Thailand]
13. “I live with my 96-year old mother. Her mind is quite good, but her body is ageing and there is pain in both legs. She has a stubborn will to carry on. We have our fights, but get through them quickly. I’m wanting to go to another level to develop patience. Can you comment?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ageing] [Parents] [Pain] [Patience] // [Empathetic joy] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Relinquishment] [Gratitude] [Idealism]
Quote: “Even monks have mothers.” [Ajahn Pasanno]
5. “I recently went to a Zen gathering. My understanding is that they don’t focus on the Four Noble Truths. They try to be present in the moment and get to some sort of no-mind state. How did this arise and why is it considered Buddhism?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Zen] [Four Noble Truths] [Present moment awareness] [History/Mahāyāna Buddhism] // [Emptiness] [Buddha]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno visits a Dzogchen master who says, “Whatever teachings you hear, if they don’t fit into or fulfill the Four Noble Truths, then it’s just not Buddhism.” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Vajrayāna] [Hearing the true Dhamma]
1. “What is your favorite thing you’ve gotten from monastic life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Monastic life/Motivation] // [Virtue] [Teachers] [Contentment]
Quote: “You really get to see the best of the human condition as a monastic. That’s a real treat.” [Human] [Monastic life]
6. “Is there something called fierce compassion in the Theravāda tradition? If so, how is that different from resentment or anger?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Fierce/direct teaching] [Compassion] [Theravāda] [Ill-will] [Aversion] // [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Suffering] [Teaching Dhamma] [Admonishment/feedback] [Spiritual bypass] [Ajahn Chah]
Story: Ajahn Chah calls newly-arrived Tan Pasanno lazy. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Chanting]
1. “You have so much community-building experience. Can you talk about what you have found challenging or effective in this? How did Ajahn Chah build community?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Community] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] // [Saṅgha] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Virtue] [Trust] [Communal harmony] [Compassion] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Chah lineage] [Recollection/Saṅgha] [Sequence of training] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abhayagiri] [Eightfold Path] [Learning]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambiya Sutta [Principles of Cordiality] [Goodwill] [Generosity] [Right View]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno pays respects to Ajahn Chah: “If you want to stay here, you have to stay at least five years.” [Ajahn Pasanno]
Quote: “The whole path of the Buddha is a path of learning, of education.”
5. “How to reach the state of peace and serenity when we’re just human beings and we strive to be good people?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Tranquility] [Equanimity] [Human] [Virtue] // [Happiness] [Generosity] [Association with people of integrity] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Hindrances]
Sutta: DN 2: Sāmaññaphala Sutta - Fruits of the Holy Life
Quote: When asked about his attainments as a monk, “I’m just really happy about all the things I didn’t do.” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Stages of awakening] [Monastic life] [Sense restraint]
2. Story: Ajahn Pasanno offers to help Ajahn Amaro with the California monastery project. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Abhayagiri] // [Chithurst] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Saṅgha decision making]
3. The property next door: “You can either buy it or forget it.” [Abhayagiri] // [Saṅghapāla] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support]
4. Stories: The day before Abhayagiri opened; Ajahn Pasanno moves to Abhayagiri. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Festival days] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Abhayagiri] // [Saṅghapāla] [Wat Pah Nanachat]
5. Story: Abhayagiri’s first kutis. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Lodging] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Building projects]
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
9. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Our warm relationship with the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas ] [Communal harmony] [Abhayagiri] // [Master Hsuan Hua] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Non-contention]
Story: Ajahn Sumedho is invited to teach from Master Hua’s Dhamma seat. [Teaching Dhamma]
Recollection: The first days of Wat Pah Nanachat. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Pasanno]
1. Recollection: The idea that Ajahn Pasanno would leave Wat Pah Nanachat never occured to us. Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Ajahn Sudanto] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Jun] [Funerals] [Upatakh]
2. Recollection: Ajahn Pasanno advices Ajahn Sudanto to stay in Thailand for his navaka training. Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Sudanto] [Sequence of training] [Abhayagiri]
6. Story: Ajahn Pasanno invited Ajahn Sudanto to return to Abhayagiri in 2002, where he spends most of the next 12 years. Told by Ajahn Sudanto. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Sudanto] [Tudong] [Abhayagiri]
Quote: “Twenty-five years on, we’re still building the monastery. It’s a bit like a cathedral project.” [Building projects]
10. Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s involvement in the Abhayagiri project. Told by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Abbot] [Abhayagiri] // [Forest versus city monks] [Humility] [Ajahn Amaro] [Personality] [City of Ten Thousand Buddhas] [Hua tou] [Three Conditions Monastery] [Communal harmony]
12. Quote: “Ajahn, maybe if you just taught Theravāda Buddhism, that would be great.” — A Saṅghapāla board member to Ajahn Amaro. Quoted by Ajahn Amaro. [Saṅghapāla] [Ajahn Amaro] [Theravāda ] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/West] [Spiritual traditions] [Monastic life] [Idealism]
Quote: “It wasn’t sensible to try to be all things to all people.”
13. Quote: Abhayagiri ethos: “We all live in the forest. Everyone’s in a kuti.” — Ajahn Amaro. [Lodging ] [Culture/Natural environment ] [Abhayagiri] // [Amaravati] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Weather]
Quote: “Mindfulness of the body is an absolute necessity.” [Mindfulness of body]
2. Story: Ajahn Ñāṇiko’s first all-night sit. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Pūjā] [Sloth and torpor]
3. Story: Ajahn Pasanno teaches Chi Gong on Wan Phra after the 3 am pūjā. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Chi Gong] [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Health]
9. Quote: “When you go to Thailand, you will realize how American you are.” — Ajahn Pasanno or Ajahn Amaro. Quoted by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]