Monk's Picks: Best of Abhayagiri Dhamma Talks

There are now nearly 1,000 Dhamma talks on the Abhayagiri web page, and the sheer number of talks can be a bit daunting. Recently the volunteers who mail our books told us that prisoners who don’t have access to mp3 players are still requesting audio CDs. Thus we posted a question in the monk’s room: “If you were in prison and had access to only two Abhayagiri Dhamma talks, which would you choose?” The five talks suggested by various monks were so inspiring that we thought we would share the list on our website.

Ajahn Pasanno, Developing in Virtue, May 19, 2012 Ajahn Pasanno describes the importance of sīla (virtue) as a foundation for practice. He bases the talk on two suttas (one of them AN 8.39) and includes the classic stories of Master Hsu Yun taming bandits on a bus and Ajahn Chah ordaining the hit man paid to kill him.

Ajahn Sucitto, Running Away from Phantoms, May 26, 2007.

Ajahn Pasanno, Mindfulness of Breathing, February 12, 2011. Ajahn Pasanno gives a short course on the 16 steps of anāpānasati. More detailed instructions can be found on the Anāpānasati CD.

Ajahn Dtun, Cutting Out Attachment to the Body (English only, English/Thai), May 9, 2013. After telling an anecdote from the day’s almsround, Ajahn Dtun goes on to describe the path to liberation. He emphasizes the importance of keeping precepts and then explains how contemplating the true nature of the body leads to each of the four stages of liberation. This talk was translated by Ajahn Tejapañño.

Ajahn Dick Sīlaratano, Living with Luang Ta Maha Boowa, June 9, 2007. Ajahn Dick Silaratano encourages the Abhayagiri community in their practice by describing how he arrived at Luang Ta Maha Boowa’s monastery and eventually became Luang Ta’s personal attendant for many years.

We hope that these talks are of benefit to your practice.