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1. “How much reading is appropriate?” [Learning] // [Culture/West] [Investigation of states] [Suffering] [Unwholesome Roots]
Quote: “If you have to read anything, read your heart.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Heart/mind]
1. “Can I respond to my thoughts in ways that I think are useful?” [Directed thought and evaluation] [Self-identity view] // [Right Effort] [Cause of Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering] [Knowing itself]
Reference: “Identity” in The Sound of Silence by Ajahn Sumedho (Anthology volume 4 or commercial).
Appreciation for Ajahn Sumedho’s image of the wheel. [Similes]
Sutta: MN 24: The purpose of Buddhist practice. [Liberation]
1. Comment about the meaning of saññā as memory. [Perception] [Memory]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli]
1. Comments on skillful happiness and the need for patient endurance. [Skillful qualities] [Happiness] [Patience]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Discernment] [Faith]
2. “Regarding internal happiness, is part of our problem that we don’t have enough means to access it?” [Happiness] [Gladdening the mind] // [Culture/West] [Learning] [Faith]
3. Discussion about the importance of spiritual friendship. [Spiritual friendship] [Renunciation] [Happiness]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 46: The Highest Blessings (Maṅgala Sutta, Snp 2.4).
Ajahn Pasanno reflects on his intention in coming to America. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/West] [Perception of a samaṇa] [Abhayagiri]
5. “Do people confuse the definitions of ego and self?” [Western psychology ] [Self-identity view] // [Four Noble Truths]
Story: An applicant to Wat Pah Nanachat writes a letter avoiding all personal pronouns.
6. Discussion about psychotherapy models, attachment, and self. [Western psychology] [Self-identity view] [Clinging] // [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Four Noble Truths]
Story: Meditation helps a psychiatrist treat other psychiatrists. [Meditation] [Language]
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]
2. “Contemplating the decline of Vesali, how can we distinguish saṃvega from sadness that has no purpose?” [History/Indian Buddhism] [Spiritual urgency] [Depression] // [Principles of non-decline] [Naturalness]
Reference: “The Deathless Drum,” Chapter 9 of Rude Awakenings by Ajahn Sucitto and Nick Scott.
Sutta: AN 7.21: Seven principles of non-decline.
Comments by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Pesalo about Buddhism relying upon principles rather than geographic location. [Dhamma] [Geography/India] [Visiting holy sites]
1. Discussion regarding mindfulness, the brahmavihāras, and radical acceptance [Mindfulness] [Divine Abidings] // [Conditionality] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Pain] [Spaciousness] [Aversion] [Dependent origination]
2. “What is the balance between sorting out feelings internally and expressing feelings externally, not repressing them?” [Emotion ] [Western psychology] [Community] // [Goodwill] [Compassion] [Discernment] [Learning]
3. Comment: Avoidance strategies can be both external and internal. [Pain] [Western psychology] [Meditation]
Responses by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Spiritual bypass] [Hindrances]
1. “The way Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho describes citta sounds like a soul. Can you discuss?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Kondannyo Bhikkhu and Ajahn Kaccāna. [Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho] [Heart/mind] [Doctrine-of-self clinging] // [Language] [Unconditioned] [Buddha] [Faith] [Direct experience] [Nibbāna] [Four Noble Truths] [Similes]
Sutta: Ud 8.3: Nibbāna Sutta (Chanting Book translation).
2. Discussion about Thai Forest Masters describing Nibbāna. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Nibbāna] // [Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Unconditioned] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Faith] [Direct experience]
3. “If, in meditation, one sees thought at the point it arises, is it the sense consciousness that sees that or the pure citta?” [Directed thought and evaluation] [Sense bases] [Consciousness] [Heart/mind] // [Knowing itself]
4. “How was “atta” defined in the Buddha’s time?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Doctrine-of-self clinging] [Culture/India] // [Happiness] [Rebirth]
Reference: Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Chanting Book translation).
5. Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna: The Thai Forest Tradition is looking for something that really works. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Attachment to precepts and practices]
Quote: “If you find something you think is a diamond, smash it with a hammer and see if it’s really a diamond.” — Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo. [Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Direct experience]
3. “Could you say something about the problem of swinging back and forth with restraint practices?” [Sense restraint] [Determination] // [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Learning] [Becoming] [Self-identity view] [Eightfold Path] [Discernment]
Follow-up: “I remember you saying something similar in respect to sīla.” [Virtue] [Attachment to precepts and practices]
4. “Would you speak on skillful and unskillful ways to approach restraint?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Kondannyo Bhikkhu. [Sense restraint] [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities] // [Self-identity view] [Vinaya] [Monastic life] [Culture/Natural environment] [Spiritual friendship] [Continuity of mindfulness]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno gets frustrated with meditation and starts sweeping. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Meditation] [Generosity] [Cleanliness]
Story: Paul Breiter did not consider Abhayagiri cushy. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Paul Breiter] [Abhayagiri]
Comment: When you see the danger in investing outside, you don’t need a straightjacket. [Disenchantment]
5. “How are contact and viññāṇa nutriment?” [Contact] [Consciousness] [Nutriment ] // [Feeling] [Aggregates] [Becoming]
Sutta: SN 12.63: Son’s Flesh.
6. “Regarding the Honeyball Sutta (MN 18), is withdrawal of external contact, e.g. eye contact, enough?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Kaccāna and Kondannyo Bhikkhu. [Perception] [Contact] [Proliferation] [Sense restraint] // [Translation]
Reference: Concept and Reality in Early Buddhist Thought by Bhikkhu Ñāṇananda.
1. “How much did you have to adapt Ajahn Chah’s training for your own practice?” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Chah] [Monastic life] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Generosity] [Mindfulness] [Discernment]
Quote: “Ajahn Chah didn’t have a template.” [Meditation/Techniques]
2. “Did Ajahn Chah have a common statement about his own core practice?” [Mindfulness of breathing] [Ajahn Chah] [Meditation/Techniques] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Teaching Dhamma]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta.
Story: Ajahn Piak reports that Ajahn Chah reaches jhāna quickly. [Ajahn Piak] [Psychic powers] [Jhāna]
3. Reflections by Ajahn Kaccāna and Ajahn Pasanno about Ajahn Sumedho and Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Chah] // [Habits] [Seclusion] [Monastic life/Motivation]
Story: Ajahn Sumedho becomes so fed up living with Westerners at Tam Seang Pet that he leaves. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Tam Saeng Pet] [Western Ajahn Chah lineage] [Tudong]
Description of Wat Tam Saeng Pet. [Culture/Natural environment]
4. “Why did you leave Wat Pah Pong to practice on your own?” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Pong] [Seclusion] // [Ajahn Chah] [Wat Keuan] [Wat Tam Saeng Pet]
5. Story: Ajahn Chah spends Vassa at Wat Tam Saeng Pet. [Ajahn Chah] [Sickness] [Wat Tam Saeng Pet] [Rains retreat] // [Health care]
6. Story: Ajahn Pasanno goes to Wat Pah Nanachat to work on a bowl stand and gets sick. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Monastic crafts] [Sickness] // [Rains retreat]
7. “Did you stay at Wat Pah Nanachat from then on?” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Wat Pah Nanachat] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Tudong]
8. “Were you on tudong for a year?” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Tudong] // [Seclusion] [Dtao Dum] [Ajahn Chah]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno takes a restless novice on tudong. [Novices] [Food]
9. Story: Ajahn Pasanno founds Dtao Dum Monastery. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Dtao Dum ] // [Environment] [Ajahn Chah] [Joseph Kappel] [Rains retreat] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Gavesako]
1. “Did Ajahn Sumedho have a period when he was more influenced by Zen teachings?” [Ajahn Sumedho] [Zen] // [Dhamma books] [Master Hsu Yun]
Reference: Ch’an and Zen Teachings by Charles Luk (commercial).
Reference: Word of the Buddha by Venerable Ñāṇatiloka (pdf unavailable).
Reference: The Four Noble Truths by Ajahn Sumedho.
2. Story: Master Hsu Yun is beaten twice by Chinese soldiers and holds on to life for their sake. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo and Ajahn Pasanno. [Master Hsu Yun] [Abuse/violence] // [Kamma] [Arahant] [Compassion]
1. “Does Abhayagiri have a Korwat Manual?” [Abhayagiri] [Protocols] [Wat Pah Nanachat] // [Vinaya] [Learning]
2. “Can you talk about the bowl washing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Abhayagiri] [Almsbowl] [Cleanliness] [Protocols] // [Animal]
3. “Ajahn Sucitto [in ‘Awareness: Nameless and Stopped’] described how dealing with the difficulties of jungle monastery life in Thailand developed the practice. How do you apply the same principles in well-supported monasteries?” [Thai Forest Tradition] [Lay life] [Culture/Natural environment] [Poverty] [Gain and loss] // [Truth]
5. “Does name and form cease or not arise?” [Aggregates] [Cessation] // [Language] [Proliferation]
Sutta: DN 11.85.10: Kevaṭṭasutta.
6. “Is there a precise definition of the saṅkhāra of delusion?” [Volitional formations] [Delusion] // [Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering]
3. “Did you go to his cremation?” [Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho] [Funerals] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Humility]
2. “Is sleepiness not dullness? Is there a separation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Sloth and torpor] // [Translation] [Concentration]
1. “Is it possible for a monastic to look after their parents while still practicing the vinaya?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Monastic life] [Vinaya] [Parents] // [Ajahn Vīradhammo] [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Liem] [Ajahn Dtun] [Ajahn Jayasaro]
Story: Two burka-clad women stare at Ajahn Jayasaro in Kuwait. [Robes] [Conventions]
2. Discussion about how monastics and lay practitioners can navigate visiting their relatives who are not Buddhists. [Monastic life] [Family] [Lay life] [Parents] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Patience] [Right Speech] [Suffering] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Killing]
3. “How can I change my motivation around trying to get my Buddhist parents to adopt the correct Right View?” [Right View] [Right Intention] [Parents] // [Compassion] [Patience]
Recollection: Ajahn Chah taught in a way that made you think that you figured it out yourself. [Ajahn Chah] [Teaching Dhamma] [Self-reliance]
Ajahn Ñāṇiko quotes the Dtao Te Ching regarding leadership. [Taoism] [Leadership]
1. Question about neutral feeling and awareness. [Feeling] [Neutral feeling] [Delusion] [Mindfulness] // [Unwholesome Roots]
Sutta: MN 44.22: Discussion of the three kinds of feeling.
2. “In what ways is neutral feeling delusion?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Kondannyo Bhikkhu, Ajahn Jotipālo and Ajahn Kaccāna. [Neutral feeling] [Delusion] // [Proliferation] [Self-identity view]
Reference: My Stoke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor (commercial).
3. “What does a delusion type of person look like?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Tan Jāgaro and Ajahn Kaccāna. [Delusion] // [Doubt] [Views]
Story: An anagārika with endless questions. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Postulants] [Ajahn Amaro] [Questions]
4. Discussion: Discussion of what Americans think when Ajahn Sucitto gives the image of skittles [Kalyāṇa by Ajahn Sucitto, p. 71]. [Similes] [Culture/West] // [Recreation/leisure/sport] [Food]
1. “What are your thoughts about developing wholesome qualities when there are so many things that mask them?” [Skillful qualities] [Delusion] [Equanimity] [Contentment] // [Spiritual bypass] [Sloth and torpor] [Goodwill] [Conflict] [Discernment] [Suffering]
Reference: Working with the Five Hindrances by Ajahn Tiradhammo, p. 27.
Sutta: AN 4.28: Noble Lineages. [Requisites] [Judgementalism]
1. “How does your relic pūjā work for you?” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Relics] [Pūjā] [Prayer] [Devotional practice ] // [Respect] [Chanting]
Reference: “Great Chant of Universal Blessings,” Bhikkhu Manual, p. 135.
2. Story: Ajahn Pasanno describes his time in India with Ajahn Jayasaro. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Jayasaro ] [Tudong] [Visiting holy sites] // [Impermanence] [Almsround]
Story: A month to be away from Wat Pah Nanachat. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abbot] [Ajahn Puriso]
Story: Ajahn Pasanno stays in Bodh Gaya to do pūjās. [Pūjā] [Determination]
3. “Did you find any particular holy sites especially affecting?” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Visiting holy sites ] // [Tranquility]
Reference: SN 56.11: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Chanting Book translation)
4. “Is it still safe to go on pilgrimage on foot in India?” [Culture/India] [Tudong] [Crime] // [Lodging]
5. “Did you get sick [during your pilgrimage in India]?” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Culture/India] [Tudong] [Sickness] // [Food] [Almsround]
6. “How did you find Ajahn Jayasaro again [in India]?” [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Jayasaro] [Visiting holy sites] // [Tudong] [Lodging] [Ajahn Koon (Chiang Rai)] [Ajahn Chai] [Ajahn Chah] [Culture/India]
7. Story: Ajahn Ñāṇiko stays in an Indian hotel. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Culture/India] [Lodging] // [Animal]
1. “Could you comment on the issue of feeling that there need to be certain conditions in place for me to practice?” [Meditation] [Conditionality] // [Ajahn Chah] [Mindfulness] [Discernment] [Continuity of mindfulness]
Quote: “You can go off to the forest and be happy on your own or you can stay here and I can teach you how to be happy all the time.” — Ajahn Chah to Ajahn BahnKow. [Ajahn BahnKow] [Happiness] [Seclusion] [Everyday life]
3. “Is divided consciousness the same as divided awareness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Kondannyo Bhikkhu. [Consciousness] // [Pāli] [Proliferation] [Concentration] [Sense bases] [Ignorance]
Story: A man born blind gains sight. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Contact]
Sutta: MN 43.6: Viññāṇa is to be understood and paññā is to be developed. [Discernment] [Kamma]
1. “What does “sabbe saṅkhārā dukkhā” mean in relation to the first Noble Truth?” [Suffering] [Volitional formations] [Noble Truth of Suffering ] // [Self-pity]
Quote: “Sumedho loves to suffer.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Fierce/direct teaching] [Compassion]
1. “Could you talk about how to integrate interaction and physical seclusion to develop citta viveka - mental seclusion?” [Seclusion ] [Community] // [Concentration] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Relinquishment] [Happiness] [Contact] [Proliferation]
Quote: “Cittaviveka is essentially samādhi.”
2. “What is the difference between upadhi viveka and citta viveka?” [Seclusion ] [Concentration] [Discernment] // [Relinquishment] [Aggregates] [Characteristics of existence]
Quote: “Upadi viveka is more transportable. You can carry it with you.”
Sutta: SN 22.22: The Burden (Chanting Book translation).
3. “How is Dzogchen similar to the Thai Forest Tradition?” [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.
4. “What is the value of assigning a monk to do chores rather than sitting practice?” [Ajahn Chah] [Work] [Meditation] [Sutta] // [Concentration]
Reference: Small Boat, Great Mountain by Ajahn Amaro.
5. Discussion about keeping the continuity of practice within engagement and daily life. [Everyday life] [Continuity of mindfulness] // [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Kinaree]
Story: Ajahn Chah sews a robe obsessively. [Robes] [Craving]
Follow-up: “Were Ajahn Mahā Boowa’s teachings less focused on daily life?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Pesalo. [Ajahn Mun] [Cleanliness] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Determination] [Ardency] [Personality]
Story: Ajahn Mun teases Ajahn Mahā Boowa for being like an old boxer.
Comment: You can read the suttas, but you don’t really get a feel for what the Buddha’s teachings are until you study and practice the Vinaya. [Sutta] [Vinaya] [Protocols] [Communal harmony] [Requisites]
6. “What is right effort? What is the right level, kind of effort so that mindfulness comes more easily?” [Right Effort ] [Continuity of mindfulness] [Ardency] [Long-term practice] // [Aids to Awakening]
Quote: “You look at the definition of Right Effort, and it’s not about what you do, but it’s about the quality of the mind.” [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities]
7. “How important is contentment and joy in the object you pick up [in meditation].” [Right Effort] [Contentment] [Happiness] // [Discernment] [Meditation/Techniques]
8. “What factor leads into Right Effort? How does inspiration relate to Right Effort?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Kaccāna. [Right Effort] [Faith] // [Factors of Awakening] [Investigation of states] [Energy] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Disenchantment]
Reference: MN 95.16 Caṅkī Sutta.
Comment about maintaining continuity of mindfulness of breathing. Contributed by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Continuity of mindfulness] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Tranquility]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Desire] [Contentment] [Happiness]
1. Question about views on whether the cause of suffering is desire or clinging to desire. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Craving] [Clinging] [Cause of Suffering] // [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Idealism] [Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering]
Reference: Salutation to the Triple Gem: “Rūpūpādānakkhandho …”
Follow-up: “Is the greater suffering the reaction to pain?” [Pain] [Feeling] [Aversion]
Quote: “All these different teachings and expressions of teachings. … We don’t have to make them mesh, but try to figure out what they are pointing to.” [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Recollection/Dhamma]
1. Discussion about the translation, meaning, and interpretation of the “Reflection on the Off-Putting Qualities of the Requisites” chant. [Chanting] [Requisites] [Unattractiveness] [Translation] // [Emptiness] [Culture/West] [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Elements] [Thai] [Self-identity view]
2. “Do others who have been to India share Ajahn Sumedho’s feeling that everything belongs?” [Culture/India] [Ajahn Sumedho] // [Devotional practice] [Commentaries] [Spiritual search]
Comment by Jeed Chaiboonruang: A French director makes a 7-hour film trying to figure out what India is and then gives up. [Media]
Other reflections about India by Ajahn Pesalo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko.
1. “What is a good question to pose to yourself to investigate perception?” [Perception] [Questions] // [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro]
2. Discussion about perception and name and form. [Perception] [Aggregates] // [Thai] [Language] [Memory]
Reference: “Working with Perception,” by Ajahn Sucitto in The Insight Journal, Winter 2009, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies.
3. “Is there a way to stabilize the perception of impermanence?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Perception] [Impermanence] // [Cessation] [Relinquishment] [Suffering]
Sutta: SN 12.15: Kaccānagotta.
4. Discussion of saññā and paññā. [Perception] [Discernment] [Pāli] [Volitional formations] // [Abhidhamma] [Consciousness] [Recollection/Buddha] [Unwholesome Roots] [Aggregates] [Habits]
Reference: AN 10.60: Girimānanda.
1. Quote: “This is what heat is like.” [Weather] [Abhayagiri]
2. Story: Ajahn Pasanno attends Dharma Master Heng Lyu’s ordination. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Bhikshu Heng Lyu] [Ordination] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Weather]
3. Background of the 20th Anniversary celebration. [Abhayagiri]
4. Quote: “A monastery isn’t the buildings or the land, but it’s the people.” [Monasteries] [Community] // [Theravāda] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Ajahn Chah]
5. Story: Ajahn Pasanno’s first impressions of Wat Pah Pong. [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. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Abhayagiri] // [Western Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Ajahn Amaro] [Community]
7. Chanting: Explanation of paritta chanting. [Chanting] [Protective chants] // [Three Refuges] [Goodwill]
1. Story: Abhayagiri’s neighbors and origins of the Abhayagiri property. [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Mahā Prasert] [Father Damien] // [Master Hsuan Hua] [Lodging] [Christianity]
2. Ajahn Pasanno expresses gratitude to the Saṅghapāla board members. [Abhayagiri] [Saṅghapāla] [Gratitude]
3. Reading: Reflections from Reverend Heng Sure. [Abhayagiri] // [Rev. Heng Sure] [Pacific Hermitage] [Communal harmony] [Master Hsuan Hua] [Almsround]
1. Ajahn Pasanno introduces Ajahn Mahā Prasert. [Ajahn Mahā Prasert]
3. Laying the foundations for inner happiness. Teaching by Ajahn Mahā Prasert. [Happiness] // [Chao Khun] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Similes] [Generosity] [Lodging]
6. Chanting: The monks of Holy Transfiguration Monastery sing a blessing; Ajahn Pasanno expresses appreciation. Offered by Father Damien and Ajahn Pasanno. [Chanting] [Holy Transfiguration Monastery]
1. Ajahn Pasanno introduces Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] // [Abhayagiri] [Ordination]
1. Chanting: The Sharing of Blessings (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 33). [Merit]
2. Chanting: Closing Homage (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 16). [Three Refuges]
1. “You mentioned suttas about meditation and practical life issues. Are there any other general categories of suttas?” [Sutta] [Human]
2. “How do these particular teachings (AN 5.48: Situations) fit with kamma?” [Kamma] [Sickness] [Sutta] [Human] // [Lawfulness] [Characteristics of existence]
3. Comment: I appreciate that AN 5.48 includes devas and Māra. Contributed by Rik Center. [Deva] [Māra] [Realms of existence] [Sutta] [Human]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
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]
5. “In this sutta (AN 5.48), there’s the assumption that everyone has enemies. It’s making me a little paranoid.” [Fear] [Sutta] [Human] // [Judgementalism]
6. “With development (bhāvanā), is one able to shape the course of sickness or heal oneself to a degree?” [Meditation] [Sickness] [Healing] // [Happiness] [Medicinal requisites]
7. Comment: I’ve been reflecting on how AN 5.48 applies to environmental and collective well-being–engaging without the expectation that actions will have a certain result. [Environment] [Politics and society] [Sutta] [Human]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [History/Thai Buddhism]
8. Comment: I find it difficult to find the line between what you can change and what you can’t. [Politics and society] [Everyday life] [Equanimity]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Clear comprehension] [Delusion]
9. Comment: Michael Olds translates sutta as ‘magical spell.’ The format, repetition, and structure of the suttas has a certain potency. When I read the suttas after meditating, it’s completely different. [Sutta] [Psychic powers] [Meditation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha] [Teaching Dhamma]
[Session] Readings: AN 7.6: Treasures. Translated by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro. [Treasures]
1. Story: A man in an airport asks Ajahn Chah, “If everyone is Buddhist, why are there so many thieves in Thailand?” [Ajahn Chah] [Culture/Thailand] [Stealing] [Virtue] [Precepts]
2. Comment: When I practice and share Dhamma as a lay person, others complain when I make mistakes. [Lay life] [Virtue] [Buddhist identity]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
4. Comment: When I hear the word “shame,” it’s.a cousin of guilt. But in this context (AN 7.6), it seems more acceptable. [Treasures] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Conscience and prudence]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Language] [Christianity]
5. “This year my whole family got lice. How do we respond to this skillfully?” [Lay life] [Family] [Killing] [Animal] // [Human] [Patience]
6. Story: Ajahn Pasanno visits the elderly Cambodian monk Mahāghosānanda who has Alzheimer’s disease. [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.” [Ajahn Phut] [Psychic powers] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Lunar observance days] [Dependent origination]
7. A diligent early support of Wat Pah Nanachat reflects, “I don’t have money, but I’m not poor.” [Treasures] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Wat Pah Pong] [Lay life] [Poverty] // [Lunar observance days] [Thai]
8. “Is the list of Seven Treasures sequential?” [Treasures] // [Stream entry] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma] [Conditionality] [Eightfold Path]
9. “I like the translations ‘conscience’ and ‘concern’ for hiri and otappa. Having done unskillful actions in the past that create suffering, and being aware of the tendency to personalize, how can it be over and done?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Treasures] [Conscience and prudence ] [Unskillful qualities] [Suffering] [Kamma] [Self-identity view] // [Four Noble Truths] [Divine Abidings]
Quote: “As a human being, I have the opportunity to learn from the past and move on to skillful action in the future. I don’t have to be like a dog that barfs stuff up and goes back and eats it again.” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Human] [Learning] [Skillful qualities] [Similes]
Quote: “The not-self refrain, ‘This is not me, this is not mine, this is not what or who I am,’ is not an abdication of responsibility but an understanding, ‘This is the way I can put things down and move on, move past the things that are still creating suffering.’” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Not-self] [Relinquishment]
Suttas: SN 42.8 The Conch Blower; AN 3.100: A Lump of Salt.
10. “What is a good balance between listening to Dhamma and practicing more deeply? How long should one keep one’s practices, and when to expand or shrink them?” [Hearing the true Dhamma ] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma ] [Determination ] [Dhamma online] // [Four Noble Truths] [Direct experience] [Ajahn Chah] [Dhamma books] [Mindfulness of mind] [Learning]
11. Comment: I listen to the Abhayagiri Dhamma talks, focusing more on the timbre of the voice rather than trying to get an intellectual grasp of what was said. That projects me into a dimension of well-being. [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Abhayagiri] [Happiness] [Learning]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Tranquility]
12. Comments by Rik Center about ongoing Dhamma practice and coming back to the heart. [Long-term practice] [Suffering] [Cessation of Suffering] [Ill-will] [Forgiveness] [Mindfulness of mind]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Merit]
Quote: “We’re making choices all the time anyway; we may as well choose to be happy.” [Volitional formations] [Happiness]
13. “When you’re living on the precepts, how do I relate to (for example) a friend who tells me about an affair they are having?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Precepts] [Spiritual friendship] [Sexual misconduct] // [Skillful qualities] [Admonishment/feedback] [Discernment] [Right Speech] [Vinaya] [Abhayagiri]
Quote: “Don’t admonish your fellow monks before the meal.” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Monastic life] [Food] [Eating after noon]
14. “Could you comment on the tendency to use one aspect of the teaching to bypass another?” [Spiritual bypass] // [Four Noble Truths] [Recollection/Dhamma] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “With some things, letting go means you’re willing to commit to hard work, and other times you’re willing to put down what is burdensome.” [Ardency]
15. “AN 5.38 says, ‘Not by sorrow can even the slightest good come.’ How does this work with the natural process of grieving?” [Grief] [Skillful qualities] // [Cultural context] [Family] [Ajahn Chah] [Death] [Characteristics of existence]
16. “Part of the sense of loss and sorrow is the joys that have created attachment. How to approach this?” [Grief] [Happiness] [Clinging] // [Naturalness] [Human] [Spaciousness]
Sutta: Thag 1062: Mahākassapa delights in nature. [Great disciples] [Culture/Natural environment]
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