Abhayagiri Winter Retreat, Jan. 5, 2016 to Mar. 29, 2016
Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in Redwood Valley, California
22 sessions, 56 excerpts, 3:50:38 total duration
Show featured excerpts (2)
During the Winter Retreat 2016 teaching sessions, Abhayagiri monastics took turns reading from senior Western disciples of the Thai Forest Tradition. Ajahn Pasanno and other teachers responded to questions after the readings.
External websiteSession 2: Walking Meditation
Session 3: The Five Hindrances
Session 4: Purpose
Session 5: The Path of Non Contention
Session 6: Awe; Strengthening Mindfulness
Session 7: Presence
Session 8: Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way; Bright Kamma
Session 9: Why Come to a Monastery?
Session 10: The Beauty of Sila
Session 11: Levels of the Breath; The Four Jhanas
Session 12: Cultivating Gratitude
Session 13: Being Awareness Itself
Session 14: Khanti – Patient Endurance
Session 15: What is the Timeless?; The Middle Way of Knowing Mental Formations
Session 16: Head and Heart Together
Session 17: Invincibility; The Road Towards the Exit from the Prison of Hatred
Session 18: Hindrances and their Cessation; Emptiness and Form
Session 19: Who Will Feed the Mice?
Session 20: Recollecting Our Goodness
Session 21: We are all Translators
Session 22: Rude Awakenings
Session 23: Self
[Session] Reading: Walking Meditation by Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo. Read by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Posture/Walking]
[Session] Reading: “The Five Hindrances” from The Anthology Vol. 1 by Ajahn Sumedho, pp. 35–44. Read by Ajahn Ñāṇiko.
1. [22:18] “Should we judge the quality of our meditation only by the time we spend in focused concentration?” Answered by Ajahn Jotipālo, Ajahn Ñāṇiko, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Abhayagiri Saṅgha. [Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo] [Meditation/Results] [Concentration] // [Mindfulness] [Right Effort] [Investigation of states] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Hindrances]
Reference: Walking Meditation by Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo.
Story: Ajahn Tate and the bhavaṅga states. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Tate] [Wrong concentration] [Ajahn Mun] [Mindfulness of body]
Story: Ajahn Khao meditates all night with no awareness. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Khao]
[Session] Reading: “Purpose” by Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho in Uncommon Wisdom: The Life and Teachings of Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho by Ajahn Dick Sīlaratano, pp. 133-145. Read by Ajahn Jīvako.
1. [23:35] “Has anyone had personal experiences of Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho?” Answered by Ajahn Pesalo. [Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho] // [Dhamma] [Teaching Dhamma] [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Personal presence] [Faith]
2. [27:38] You get more of the vibe of Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho by listening to recordings than reading. Comment by Ajahn Jīvako. [Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho] [Teaching Dhamma] [Dhamma books] [Dhamma recordings]
Reference: Many recordings of Ajahn Paññavaḍḍho are available on forestdhamma.org.
[Session] Reading: “The Path of Non Contention” by Ajahn Amaro in Beginning Our Day Vol. 1 by Abhayagiri Saṅgha, pp. 215-217. Read by Ajahn Kassapo. [Non-contention]
1. [8:36] Comments by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo about understanding metta as radical acceptance. [Goodwill]
2. [9:39] “What is the relationship between truthfulness, the truth of the way things are, and metta?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.
Bhikkhu Bodhi presents the Ten Perfections in linear order. Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Perfections]
Reference: A Study of the the Pāramīs by Bhikkhu Bodhi.
The preception of not-self helps us avoid denying unskillful mind states. Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Not-self] [Truth] [Unskillful qualities] [Self-identity view]
1. [0:00] Reading: “Awe” from Meditations Vol. 6 by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro, pp. 47-49. Read by Ajahn Kaccāna.
2. [6:36] Reading: “Strengthening Mindfulness,” a Dhamma talk given by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro on January 4, 2012. Read by Ajahn Kaccāna.
3. [22:45] Comments about the translation of saṃvega as fear, terror, or awe. Contributed by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Spiritual urgency] [Translation] [Fear]
[Session] Reading: “Presence” by Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho in Uncommon Wisdom: The Life and Teachings of Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho by Ajahn Dick Sīlaratano, pp. 147-156. Read by Ajahn Pesalo.
1. [21:06] Comments about the Middle Way being different for different people. Contributed by Ajahn Ñāṇiko, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pesalo. [Middle Path] [Unwholesome Roots] [Idealism]
[Session] Readings: “Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way,” pp. 12-19 and “Bright Kamma,” pp. 26-31 from Kamma and the End of Kamma, First Edition by Ajahn Sucitto. Read by Ajahn Suhajjo. [Kamma]
Note: These readings come from the first edition, which Ajahn Sucitto has substantially corrected and revised. Please use the second edition when possible.
1. [26:41] Appreciation for Ajahn Sucitto’s detailed descriptions of the maneuverings of the mind. [Ajahn Sucitto] [Teaching Dhamma]
Reference: Kamma and the End of Kamma by Ajahn Sucitto.
2. [28:13] “Does Ajahn Sucitto describe sati as more a mind quality and sampajañña more a heart quality?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Sucitto] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] [Heart/mind]
Reference: Kamma and the End of Kamma, First Edition by Ajahn Sucitto, p. 30.
3. [29:22] Ajahn Sucitto suggests cutting out habitual reaction patterns by bringing up the perception of not-self. Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Ajahn Sucitto] [Right Effort] [Habits] [Not-self] [Conditionality] [Relinquishment]
Reference: Kamma and the End of Kamma by Ajahn Sucitto.
4. [30:37] The habitual perceptual patterns condition what we seek out to experience. Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Habits] [Perception] [Craving] // [Ignorance]
Reference: Kamma and the End of Kamma by Ajahn Sucitto.
We can see how our body and mnd are in constant flux, but we see others as fixed and solid. Comment by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Impermanence] [Views] [Community]
Story: A peaceful sīladhara no longer tells stories in her mind. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Proliferation] [Equanimity]
[Sensual desire] [Naturalness] [Craving]
[Session] Reading: “Why Come to a Monastery?” by Ajahn Candasiri in Friends on the Path by Ajahn Sundarā and Ajahn Candasiri, pp. 13-21. Read by Ajahn Khantiko.
1. [14:40] Discussion about desire as natural and the reduction and eventual elimination of desire. [Desire] // [Aversion] [Cause of Suffering] [Judgementalism] [Cessation of Suffering]
Reference: “Why Come to a Monastery?” by Ajahn Candasiri in Friends on the Path by Ajahn Sundarā and Ajahn Candasiri, pp. 13-21.
The word natural carries positive connotations in English. Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Language] [Culture/West]
2. [19:41] “Is desire itself the problem or is clinging to and identifying with desire the problem?” [Desire] [Clinging] [Self-identity view] [Naturalness ] [Craving ] // [Feeling] [Dependent origination]
Quote: “Taṇhā is eliminate-able.” [Cessation of Suffering]
Comment about distinguishing between hunger and taṇha at meal time. [Food] [Moderation in eating]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Views]
3. [24:54] Further discussion about the role of desire in practice. Led by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Desire] // [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Conditionality] [Human] [Monastic life] [Judgementalism]
Comment: If you aren’t willing to see desire as a dhamma, then you’ll never see Dhamma. [Dhamma] [Culture/West] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy]
Reference: “Why Come to a Monastery?” by Ajahn Candasiri in Friends on the Path by Ajahn Sundarā and Ajahn Candasiri, pp. 13-21.
A practitioner tells Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho that sexual desire is natural. He replies, “So is the Dhamma.” [Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho]
Recollection of Ajahn Karuṇadhammo’s advice to an anagārika about different approaches to dealing with lust. Recounted by Ajahn Pesalo. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Unattractiveness] [Characteristics of existence]
[Session] Reading: “The Beauty of Sila” by Ajahn Jayasaro in Forest Path by the Wat Pah Nanachat Saṅgha, pp. 57-68. Read by Tan Gambhīro. [Virtue]
1. [22:02] Comment: I have to brace myself when someone is about to kill a bug. [Killing] [Judgementalism]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Conscience and prudence] [Aversion] [Admonishment/feedback] [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Goodwill] [Precepts]
1. [0:00] Reading: “Levels of the Breath” from Meditations Vol. 5 by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro, pp. 47-51. Read by Tan Kondañño. [Mindfulness of breathing]
2. [12:00] Reading: “The Four Jhanas” from Meditations Vol. 5 by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro, pp. 52-57. Read by Tan Kondañño. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Jhāna]
[Session] Reading: “Cultivating Gratitude” by Ajahn Pasanno in Gratitude by Ajahn Chah Saṅgha, p. 53. Read by Tan Jāgaro. [Gratitude]
1. [15:44] “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]
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. [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. [26:51] 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.” [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. [29:46] 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. [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. [32:53] Story: Carrying wood to the Cloth Yurt. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Ajahn Jotipālo] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Lodging] [Work] [Abhayagiri]
5. [33:33] 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]
[Session] Reading: “Being Awareness Itself” from Don’t Take Your Life Personally by Ajahn Sumedho (commercial). Read by Tan Suddhiko. [Knowing itself]
1. [31:22] Ajahn Pasanno delights in Ajahn Sumedho’s ability to share Dhamma. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Teaching Dhamma] [Empathetic joy]
2. [33:22] Quote: “Sumedho will teach you about Nibbāna. I can teach you how to look after your bowl.” — Ajahn Chah to young Ajahn Vajiro. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Vajiro] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Nibbāna] [Almsbowl] [Protocols]
3. [34:15] “Can you recommend a book of koans for inspiration?” [Zen] [Koan] [Dhamma books] // [Ajahn Sumedho] [Hua tou] [Master Hsu Yun]
Story: Ajahn Chah encourages Ajahn Sumedho to develop the hua tou technique. [Ajahn Chah] [Mahasi Sayadaw] [Ven. Ñāṇatiloka]
Reference: Word of the Buddha by Ñāṇatiloka Mahāthera.
4. [38:00] Story: Harata Rōshi’s response to a question about koans. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Harata Rōshi] [Koan] // [Translation]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Knowing itself]
[Session] Reading: “Khanti – Patient Endurance” from The Real Practice by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 20. Read by Debbie Stamp. [Patience]
1. [25:24] Question about the idea of punishment in the Vinaya. [Vinaya] [Disciplinary transactions] // [Thai] [Translation] [Kamma]
2. [28:29] “Where does the story in the reading come from?” [Stories] // [Commentaries]
Reference: “Khanti – Patient Endurance” from The Real Practice by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 20.
3. [30:03] “Could you give some guidance on when to patiently endure and when to use discernment to deal with something?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Patience ] [Discernment] // [Right Effort] [Skillful qualities] [Unskillful qualities]
Story: A fortune teller reads Ajahn Chah’s palm. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Aversion]
[Session]
Reading: “What is the Timeless?,” a Dhamma talk by Ajahn Vīradhammo at Tisarana Monastery in 2016. Read by Beth Steff.
Reading: “The Middle Way of Knowing Mental Formations,” a Dhamma talk by Ajahn Vīradhammo at Tisarana Monastery in 2016. Read by Beth Steff.
1. [23:22] Comment by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: This reading reminds me of a sutta where the Buddha defines “apparent here and now.” [Recollection/Dhamma] // [Investigation of states] [Mindfulness of mind]
Sutta: AN 3.53
2. [23:51] Story: Entering a cold river is just saṅkhāra, told by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Ajahn Kusalo] [Bhante Rahula] [Volitional formations] // [Ajahn Jotipālo] [Arrow River]
[Session] Reading: “Head and Heart Together” from Head and Heart Together by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro, pp. 51-60. Read by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.
1. [24:35] Comments by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo on right view and skillful cause and effect regarding the brahmaviharas. [Right View] [Right Intention] [Conditionality] [Kamma] [Divine Abidings] // [Insight meditation] [Goodwill]
2. [26:12] “Did Ajahn Chah emphasize generosity and service more for Westerners than for Thais?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Chah] [Generosity] [Service] [Culture/West] // [Culture/Thailand]
3. [28:32] Comment: In “Selves and Not-Selves,” Ajahn Ṭhānissaro talks about generosity and metta as wisdom practices. [Ajahn Ṭhānissaro] [Generosity] [Goodwill] [Discernment] // [Self-identity view]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Becoming] [Not-self]
1. [0:00] Brief biography of Ajahn Khemadhammo. [Ajahn Khemadhammo] [Prisons] // [Monastic titles] [Service]
2. [1:06] Reading: “Invincibility” by Ajahn Khemadhammo from Seeing the Way Vol. 2 by Ajahn Chah Saṅgha, pp. 11-13. Read by Ajahn Jotipālo.
3. [3:19.5] Reading: “The Road Towards the Exit from the Prison of Hatred,” a Dhamma talk by Ajahn Khemadhammo at 2015 Amaravati Kaṭhina. Read by Ajahn Jotipālo.
4. [21:30] “How has work with prisoners affected Ajahn Khemadhammo?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Ajahn Khemadhammo] [Prisons] // [Determination] [Service] [Truth]
5. [24:53] “Where does Ajahn Khemadhammo live?” [Ajahn Khemadhammo] // [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support]
6. [25:36] Story: Ajahn Khemadhammo creates Buddha groves in prisons. [Ajahn Khemadhammo] [Prisons] [Buddha images] // [Ceremony/ritual] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Tranquility]
7. [28:05] Story: The inmate leading the Buddhist group was caught selling drugs. [Ajahn Khemadhammo] [Prisons] [Intoxicants]
Comments about intoxicants, crime, and prisons. Contributed by Beth Steff and Ajahn Pasanno. [Crime]
[Session]
Reading: “Hindrances and their Cessation” from The Anthology Vol. 2 by Ajahn Sumedho pp. 47-51. An older version is available online in Mindfulness: The Path to the Deathless. Read by Ajahn Ñāṇiko.
Reading: “Emptiness and Form” from The Anthology Vol. 2 by Ajahn Sumedho pp. 53-57. An older version is available online in Mindfulness: The Path to the Deathless. Read by Ajahn Ñāṇiko.
1. [16:35] “Is Ajahn Sumedho saying that art is always coming from a place of ego?” [Artistic expression] [Self-identity view] // [Doubt]
Quote: “How do we respond to doubt? ...out of fear, out of worry? How do we try to make things certain and sure? That’s what we have to figure out.” [Fear] [Impermanence]
2. [17:42] Comment about the arising of self even in abstract thought. Contributed by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Proliferation] [Self-identity view]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Cause of Suffering]
3. [19:37] Comments by Ajahn Jotipālo, Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko about self in creative endeavors. [Artistic expression] [Self-identity view] // [Christianity] [Discernment] [Tranquility] [Buddha/Biography] [Ajahn Liem]
[Parents]
[Session] Reading: Who Will Feed the Mice? by Ajahn Amaro. Read by Ajahn Jīvako.
1. [18:43] Comments about the role of parents.
Quote: “Our mothers are our umbilical cord to the universe.” — Reverend Heng Sure. [Birth] [Death]
[Session] Reading: “Recollecting Our Goodness” by Ajahn Amaro in Beginning Our Day Vol. 1 by Abhayagiri Saṅgha, pp. 23-26. Read by Ajahn Kassapo.
1. [11:52] “At what point does it become unskillful to continue to reflect on one’s own good deeds?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Beth Steff. [Recollection/Virtue] [Unskillful qualities] // [Self-identity view] [Right Effort] [Recollection/Generosity] [Culture/West] [Christianity] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy]
Quote: “In Buddhism, we don’t believe in original sin. We believe in original purity.” — King Rama IX to a BBC interviewer. [King Rama IX] [Nature of mind]
Reference: The 1979 BBC interview on YouTube.
Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 104: Forty subjects of meditation.
Story: Western researchers find Tibetans who have been tortured don’t suffer post-traumatic stress. [Abuse/violence] [Vajrayāna] [Three Refuges] [Compassion]
Story: God’s finger over the “Smite” button. [God] [The Far Side]
Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: The Dalai Lama emphasizes the effect of faith in the law of kamma. [Dalai Lama] [Kamma] [Faith]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right View]
2. [24:37] Discussion about evaluating the results of practice. [Meditation/Results] [Right Effort] // [Faith] [Investigation of states] [Self-identity view] [Not-self]
Comment: I notice that I have preconceptions about the way I evaluate my practice.
Response: Ajahn Pasanno distinguishes between investigation and evaluation.
The very pattern, “What will make me good enough?” is suffering. Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Habits] [Cause of Suffering]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
Story: Aversion towards the nada sound and the importance of having a teacher. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Teachers] [Ajahn Jotipālo] [Sound of silence] [Aversion] [Insight Meditation Society] [Ajahn Amaro]
[Session] Reading: We Are All Translators by Ajahn Munindo. Read by Ajahn Kaccāna.
1. [25:09] “We Are All Translators by Ajahn Munindo mentions the virtue of using different techniques by different teachers in the practice. Was this part of your decision to choose this reading?” Answered by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Meditation/Techniques]
[Session] Reading: Excerpts from Rude Awakenings by Ajahn Sucitto and Nick Scott. Read by Ajahn Pesalo.
1. [29:41] “Was your experience (in India) similar to what is described in Rude Awakenings by Ajahn Sucitto and Nick Scott?” Answered by Ajahn Pesalo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Culture/India] [Ajahn Sucitto] // [Tudong] [Almsround]
2. [30:38] “How does the opportunity to go on pilgrimage in India come about for monastics?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Visiting holy sites] [Monastic life] // [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Ajahn Achalo] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]
3. [31:37] “Ajahn Ñāṇiko, during your time in India, was there a big takeaway from your experience or stories or experiences you would be willing to share?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Visiting holy sites] // [Culture/India] [Sickness] [Poverty]
Story: Going almsround outside Bodh Gaya: “It’s rare to be able to give to a samaṇa.” [Perception of a samaṇa] [Types of monks]
4. [38:39] Comment: I enjoyed the counterpoint between Ajahn Sucitto and Nick Scott in Rude Awakenings. [Ajahn Sucitto] [Personality]
Responses by Ajahn Jotipālo and Ajahn Pesalo.
[Session] Reading: “Self” by Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho in Uncommon Wisdom: The Life and Teachings of Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho by Ajahn Dick Sīlaratano, pp. 235-244. Read by Ajahn Suhajjo.
1. [21:57] “Ajahn Pasanno, did you have a chance to spend much time with Ajahn Paññavaddho?” [Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho] [Ajahn Pasanno]
2. [22:18] “Can you say anything about the “voice of dhamma” Ajahn Paññāvaḍḍho describes [in the reading “Self”] versus the voice we hear inside our head? is it like the voice of conscience?” [Dhamma] [Conscience and prudence] // [Knowing itself]