Dhamma Resources for a Pandemic
Updated on May 5, 2020 - Ongoing live streams and videos available :
Various monasteries in the Ajahn Chah tradition are freely offering live streams, videos and other Dhamma resources at this time.
Abhayagiri – Live stream of evening chanting and meditation every night at 7pm PDT, except the Day After the Lunar Observance Day. Saturday nights and lunar observance days will also have a Dhamma talk, which generally begins after 8pm.
Please go to the Abhayagiri YouTube Channel to view the live stream.
https://youtube.com/c/AbhayagiriBuddhistMonastery
Amaravati Monastery, Hertfordshire, England – Weekly live streams and video teachings by Ajahn Amaro and others.
https://www.amaravati.org/news/
https://vimeo.com/amaravativideo
Cittaviveka Monastery, Hampshire, England – Ongoing video teachings from Luang Por Sucitto from his dwelling.
https://www.cittaviveka.org/video
Harnham Monastery, Northumberland, England – Live stream of evening chanting and meditation every night at 7pm BST (11am Pacific Daylight Savings Time).
https://vimeo.com/event/32021
Dhamma Teachings for a Pandemic - April 2020
We would like to offer this initial list of Dhamma Resources for your consideration. These are just some of the resources that are available to support living and practicing accordance with Dhamma during this time.
Evening Pujas will generally be live streamed from Abhayagiri. Abhayagiri’s evening chanting and meditation start at 7pm PDT. Please note that there is not evening puja on the day after the lunar observance day. Dhamma talks are offered on the Lunar Observance days and Saturday nights at around 8pm. Please go to Abhayagiri’s YouTube Channel at 7pm PDT to view the Live Stream. Both video and audio of the Dhamma talks are also available afterward.
Abhayagiri YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AbhayagiriBuddhistMonastery
VIDEO
Grounded in Clarity & Wisdom, a talk by Ajahn Pasanno on Sat. March 28th
Ajahn Pasanno offers some perspectives on the current challenges, reflecting on how to skillfully relate to the current pandemic. Ajahn Pasanno also takes note of examples of goodness that are arising.
Practicing Metta, a talk by Ajahn Pasanno on Sat. March 21st
“They are certainly drawbacks to having a global pandemic, but is it all doom and gloom and complete misery? That’s certainly part of it, but it’s also an opportunity for stepping back and, as a society also, to be able to reflect more clearly…”
Reflections from Ajahn Sucitto’s kuti on March 28th by Ajahn Sucitto, 27 minutes
Ajahn Sucitto offers a video reflection from his kuti, addressing the greater community, using video to reach people, especially given that Chithurst is currently closed to the public. “Now is the time for Dhamma…”
VIDEO LINK: https://www.cittaviveka.org/video
Doubts and Questions in Troubled Times, a talk offered by Ajahn Amaro,
abbot of Amaravati Monastery, on Mar. 23rd
VIDEO LINK: https://vimeo.com/400523829
How to Deal with Distressing Situations, a brief five minute video of Ajahn Jayasaro answering a question on how to deal with distressing situations.
AUDIO
Latest Abhayagiri Dhamma Talks including those that have been live streamed are available in audio format at :
https://www.abhayagiri.org/talks
Running Away from Phantoms by Ajahn Sucitto – An engaging Dhamma talk touching on the themes of fear and anxiety offered at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery. Although offered in May 2007, the reflections touch on themes that are relevant today. Ajahn Sucitto offers reflections on how the mind frames the world, the real and imagined dangers of existing in the world and working directly with the fear that rises.
AUDIO: https://www.abhayagiri.org/talks/5425-running-away-from-phantoms-vintage-2007-talk
TEXT
Spreading Karunavirus, a reflection by Ajahn Sucitto, guiding elder of Cittaviveka Monastery
“So, the world has changed, we’re in lock-down, and Dhamma practice continues with heightened focus. Covid-19 just marched in… Consider any action that you can undertake to respect, protect or support others.”
FULL TEXT: https://sucitto.blogspot.com/2020/03/spreading-karunavirus.html
Heavenly Messages, a reflection by Ajahn Amaro, Mar. 21st
“These are frightening times. The uncertainty and stress in the air on account of the coronavirus pandemic is palpable and, at least for our human family, life as we know it has been radically disrupted…”
FULL TEXT: https://www.amaravati.org/heavenly-messages/
Heart-Felt Wish to All People in All Countries of the World & A Few Mindfulness Exercises for the Pandemic, a note by Ajahn Jayasaro, former abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat
“The more closely we contemplate our bodies and minds and the world we live in, the more profoundly we become aware of fragility and instability. When a crisis like this pandemic lays bare the unreliable and uncertain nature of the world, we are unsurprised…”
FULL TEXT: https://www.facebook.com/suanmokkhbangkok/posts/2804298666286655
A Few Mindfulness Exercises for the Pandemic, a note by Ajahn Jayasaro
Thank you to the Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives in Bangkok for help gathering these resources and for the idea for this article.