All excerpts
65 events, 477 sessions, 3436 excerpts, 191:51:31 total duration
Most common tags:
Ajahn Chah
(799)
Ajahn Pasanno
(360)
Suffering
(276)
Relinquishment
(250)
Abhayagiri
(237)
Monastic life
(217)
Self-identity view
(216)
Mindfulness of breathing
(203)
Discernment
(198)
Teaching Dhamma
(198)
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1. Reading: AN 6.27, “Occasion.” Read by Ajahn Pasanno.
2. Reading: AN 10.61, “Ignorance.” Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ignorance] [Nutriment]
3. “How does good conduct bring about the Four Foundations of Mindfulness in AN 10.61?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Virtue] [Right Mindfulness] // [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]
4. “Could you elaborate on the difference between nutriment [AN 10.61] and the causal relationships in Dependent Origination?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Nutriment] [Dependent origination] [Conditionality] // [Commentaries] [Pāli] [Thai]
5. Reading: AN 10.95, “Uttiya.” Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Views]
[Session] Reading: MN 75: Māgandiya Sutta. Read by Ajahn Pasanno.
1. “Do you have any advice on how to approach unwholesome habits that are based on hindrances?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Habits] [Unskillful qualities] [Hindrances] // [Conditionality] [Mindfulness of dhammas] [Self-identity view]
Sutta: MN 75: Māgandiya Sutta.
2. “Would you say that clinging is around the senses and not the sensual desires?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Clinging] [Sense bases] [Sensual desire] // [Aggregates]
Follow-up: “How do we uproot clinging?” [Discernment]
Comment by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: One can only apply the concept of inverted perception from MN 75 to the other sense bases. [Delusion] [Perception] [Ajahn Khao]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno: Showeing after being exposed to poison oak. [Feeling]
Recollection: Ajahn Mahā Boowa perceived difficulty and problems as a whetstone for mindfulness. Recounted by Ajahn Pesalo. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Mindfulness]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Four Noble Truths] [Conditionality]
1. Reading: AN 5.161, “Removing Resentment (1).” Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ill-will]
2. “Could you speak about disregarding the person as a strategy for working with resentment (AN 5.161)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ill-will] // [Aversion]
3. “In the practice of removing resentment (AN 5.161), how does developing equanimity differ from reflecting on kamma?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Equanimity] [Kamma] [Ill-will] // [Divine Abidings] [Judgementalism]
4. Question about the practice of metta in response to ill-will. Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Language] [Goodwill] [Equanimity] [Ill-will] // [Discernment]
Sutta: AN 5.161, “Removing Resentment (1).”
5. Readings: AN 5.162, “Removing Resentment (2);” AN 7.64, “Anger.” Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ill-will]
6. “In the Five Hindrances, does ill-will apply only to people?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances] [Aversion] [Ill-will] // [Similes]
[Session] Reading: AN 7.61, “Dozing.” Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sloth and torpor]
reflects on the qualities described in the lesser-known second half of this sutta. [Contentment] [Seclusion] [Relinquishment]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānassati Sutta.
1. Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo: AN 7.61 is similar to the beginning of the Metta Sutta (Snp 1.8, Chanting Book translation). [Contentment] [Humility]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
2. “Do you have any thoughts about how to discern neutral feeling?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Neutral feeling] [Feeling] // [Delusion] [Mindfulness] [Patience] [Restlessness and worry]
Sutta: AN 7.61.
3. Comment by Ajahn Cunda about noticing restlessness even in peaceful meditation. [Restlessness and worry] [Tranquility]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Relinquishment] [Contentment] [Patience] [Impermanence] [Dispassion] [Cessation] [Mindfulness of dhammas]
[Session] Readings by Ajahn Pasanno:
Sutta: AN 4.128, “Astounding (2).”
Sutta: MN 23: Vammika Sutta.
Sutta: SN 42.13, Gāmaṇisaṁyutta, “Pāṭaliya.”
1. Discussion of the symbolism in MN 23. [Symbolism] // [Sensual desire] [Hindrances] [Thai] [Doubt]
2. “How is sensual desire like being in debt (MN 39.14)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sensual desire] [Similes]
3. Reflections by Ajahn Pasanno on SN 42.13: The Buddha’s clarity with definitions and bringing doubts about views back to conduct. [Teaching Dhamma] [Doubt] [Views] [Virtue]
4. Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: Reflecting on the results of good conduct is the basis for samādhi [in SN 42.13]. [Recollection/Virtue] [Concentration]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
5. Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna: I’m puzzled why the lucky throw on both counts happens in both cases in SN 42.13. [Views]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Virtue] [Kamma]
Sutta: AN 3.65: Kālāma Sutta.
[Session] Reading: MN 109: Mahāpuṇṇama Sutta. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aggregates]
1. Reflections by Ajahn Pasanno on MN 109: The danger in clinging to khandhas. [Clinging] [Self-identity view] [Aggregates]
Reference: Reflection on dukkha from the Morning Chanting.
Sutta: SN 22.59 Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Chanting book translation).
2. “How is nama-rupa usually defined?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Consciousness] [Aggregates] // [Volition]
Sutta: SN 12.67: Sheaves of reeds. [Similes]
3. “Have any teachers explained the meaning of the questions in MN 109?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Questions] [Aggregates]
Commentarial explanation of the context of MN 109. [Teaching Dhamma] [Culture/India] [Views] [Culture/West] [Christianity]
Sutta: DN 1: Brahmajāla Sutta.
4. “The obtuse bhikkhu who thought about what self is touched by the results of action (MN 109.14)—that’s the place where kamma comes into the question?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Kamma] [Aggregates] // [Views] [Middle Path] [Doctrine-of-self clinging] [Characteristics of existence]
Follow-up: “Right view talks about being being reborn. Is this a conventional use of language? It’s not talking about selves being reborn?” [Right View] [Rebirth] [Language]
Sutta: SN 5.10: Simile of the chariot. [Conventions]
[Session] Reading: MN 64: Mahāmālunkya Sutta and Bhikkhu Bodhi’s footnote explaining the Majjhima Nikāya Commentary. Read by Ajahn Pasanno.
1. Comment: MN 64 speaks about the underlying tendencies even in infants, which goes against the idea of getting back to your childlike purity. [Fetters] [Children]
Responses by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Jotipālo.
2. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno: MN 64.9 explains how jhāna forms the basis for insight. [Jhāna] [Characteristics of existence] [Insight meditation] // [Formless attainments]
Follow-up: “Does that imply that insight is realized during that absorption?”
3. Discussion of formless attainments and awareness of body. [Formless attainments] [Mindfulness of body]
[Session] Readings from A Burden off the Mind by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro, pp. 14-17 By Ajahn Pasanno:
§5: SN 22.100, Khandhasaṁyutta, “The Leash.”
§6: SN 22.48, Khandhasaṁyutta, “Aggregates.”
§7: excerpt from SN 22.79.
1. “What is your understanding of the moving picture show [in Ajahn Ṭhānissaro’s translation of SN 22.100]?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Similes] [Artistic expression] // [Culture/India]
2. Comment: The only difference between the aggregates and the clinging aggregates in SN 22.48 is that the clinging aggregates are clingable. [Aggregates] [Clinging]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
Sutta: SN 22.85.28: Yamaka Sutta: “...welfare and happiness for a long time.”
3. Comment: Bhikkhu Bodhi’s new translation for practices and precepts is behaviors and precepts. [Attachment to precepts and practices] [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Translation]
Note: See The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha p. 1882.
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Virtue] [Habits]
4. “The Morning Chanting [in the old Abhayagiri Chanting Book] first translates upādāna as clinging, but when it goes to the various khandhas, the translation is identification. Could you reflect on clinging as identification?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Clinging] [Translation] [Aggregates] [Self-identity view] // [Sensual desire] [Attachment to precepts and practices] [Doctrine-of-self clinging] [Fetters]
5. “How do you understand the description of fabrication in SN 22.79?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volitional formations] // [Aggregates] [Proliferation] [Ajahn Chah]
Reading: Bhikkhu Bodhi’s footnote to SN 22.79, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha p. 1071. [Translation] [Pāli] [Volition]
[Session] Readings from A Burden off the Mind by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro, pp. 17-20 By Ajahn Pasanno:
§8: excerpt from MN 28: Mahāhatthipadopama Sutta.
§9: excerpt from SN 22.57.
§10: excerpt from MN 44: Cūḷavedalla Sutta.
§11: excerpt from SN 22.57.
§12: excerpt from SN 22.57.
§13: excerpt from Sangīti Sutta (DN 33).
§14: excerpt from MN 44: Cūḷavedalla Sutta.
§15: excerpt from SN 22.57.
§16: excerpt from SN 22.57.
§17: excerpt from MN 109: Mahāpuṇṇama Sutta.
Sutta: SN 22.1, Khandhasaṁyutta, “Nakulapitā.”
1. “Is there another place in the suttas (besides MN 44.24) where neutral feeling is pleasant when conjoined with mindfulness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sutta] [Neutral feeling] [Happiness] [Mindfulness]
2. The meaning of perception. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] // [Sense bases] [Thai] [Memory]
Sutta: SN 22.79.
3. “Is it significant that SN 22.79 describes perception in terms of color and consciousness in terms of taste?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Consciousness] [Sense bases]
4. “How is it that knowledge makes neutral feeling pleasant (MN 44.24)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Neutral feeling] [Happiness]
5. “MN 44.14 defines perception and feeling as mental formations. I thought those were just conditional arising on account of contact (MN 109.9)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Perception] [Feeling] [Volitional formations] [Conditionality] [Contact] // [Pāli]
Ajahn Buddhadasā‘s translation of the Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118; Chanting Book translation) translates cittasaṅkhāra as the mental conditioner. [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Translation] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Reference: Mindfulness with Breathing by Ajahn Buddhadāsa, p. 72.
Follow-up: “The bodily fabrication doesn’t seem to involve volition, but vitakka and vicāra do.” [Body/form] [Volition] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Aggregates]
Comment: In the Ānāpānasati Sutta, much of the practice is intentionally calming different saṅkhāras. [Tranquility] [Mindfulness of body]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
6. Discussion about different meanings and contexts of saṅkhāra. [Pāli] [Volitional formations] // [Nibbāna] [Meditation] [Ven. Analayo]
1. Reading: SN 22.2, Khandhasaṁyutta, “At Devadaha” and Bhikkhu Bodhi’s footnote on p. 1045. Read by Ajahn Pasanno.
Reflection: This is a nice snapshot of the Saṅgha at the time of the Buddha. [Saṅgha] [Buddha/Biography] [Great disciples]
Simile: Sāriputta as a midwife (MN 141.5).
2. “In SN 22.2, Sāriputta equates unwholesome states with lust and attachment to the aggregates. What about ill-will and emnity?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Unskillful qualities] [Craving] [Clinging] [Aggregates] [Ill-will] [Aversion] // [Craving not to become] [Judgementalism]
3. “In SN 22.2, Bhikkhu Bodhi translates displeasure, but our morning chanting has grief. Are they the same?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Grief] [Translation]
4. “What does fever mean in SN 22.2?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli] // [Sensual desire]
5. “Why does Sāriputta recommend teaching the aggregates to people who don’t know about Buddhism (SN 22.22)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Teaching Dhamma] [Aggregates] // [Questions] [Culture/India]
6. “Was the word saṅkhāra used before the Buddha?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volitional formations] [Pāli] // [Language] [Teaching Dhamma] [Aggregates]
7. “Did the paradigm of the khandhas exist before the Buddha’s time?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Aggregates] [History/Indian Buddhism]
Sutta: SN 22.59 Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Chanting book translation).
8. Reading: SN 22.3, Khandhasaṁyutta, “Hāliddakāni (1)” and Snp 4.9 (Dr. Saddhatissa translation). Read by Ajahn Pasanno.
9. Explanation of “The Questions of Māgaṇḍiya” (Snp 4.9) and Dr. Saddhatissa’s translation of the Sutta Nipāta. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [History/Early Buddhism] [Dr. Saddhatissa] [Translation] // [Great disciples] [Pāli] [Culture/Sri Lanka]
Story: Ajahn Chah tells Ajahn Sumedho to take Dr. Saddhatissa as the Saṅgharāja of England. [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Study monks]
10. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: In SN 22.3, Venerable Mahākaccāna extrapolates from the literal to the figurative. [Great disciples] [Teaching Dhamma] [Symbolism] // [Commentaries] [Aggregates] [Sense bases] [Proliferation]
[Session] Readings by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: [Aggregates]
Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization by Venerable Analayo, pp. 202-207.
Sutta: SN 22.5, Khandhasaṁyutta, “Concentration.”
Sutta: SN 22.29, Khandhasaṁyutta, “Delight.”
Sutta: SN 5.1, Bhikkhunīsaṁyutta, “Āḷavikā.”
Sutta: SN 5.9, Bhikkhunīsaṁyutta, “Selā.”
1. Reading: Footnote in Satipatthana inferring that the concept of the Five Aggregates predated the Buddha. Read by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [History/Early Buddhism] [Aggregates]
2. “Have you contemplated the elements as a basis for contact?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Jotipālo. [Body/form] [Elements] [Contact] [Aggregates] // [Unattractiveness] [Not-self]
3. Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna: In contrast to the commentary, Venerable Analayo describes the aggregates as a tool for getting free of suffering. [Commentaries] [Ven. Analayo] [Cessation of Suffering] [Aggregates]
Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.
[Session] Readings by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: [Aggregates]
Sutta: SN 45.159, Maggasaṁyutta, “The Guest House.”
Sutta: SN 5.10, Bhikkhunīsaṁyutta, “Vajirā.”
The Questions of King Milinda, I.i, “No Person is Found,” p. 29-32 (Milindapañha 25).
1. SN 45.159 relates the Five Aggregates to the First Noble Truth, which must be understood. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Aggregates] // [Characteristics of existence]
2. Introduction to The Questions of King Milinda. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [History/Early Buddhism] [Sutta] [Aggregates]
3. Comment by Ajahn Jotipālo: Most people would say that all the parts together comprise the chariot. [Similes] [Not-self] [Aggregates]
Responses by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Cunda.
4. “How do you contemplate the Five Aggregates in practice?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Cunda. [Recollection] [Aggregates] // [Not-self] [Characteristics of existence] [Direct experience] [Ageing]
Sutta: SN 22.59 Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Chanting book translation).
5. “If the task is to fully understand and you have an affinity for understanding form, does that affect how you understand the other aggregates?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Body/form] [Aggregates] // [Thai Forest Tradition] [Mindfulness of body] [Insight meditation]
Sutta: AN 1.616: Mindfulness directed to the body and the deathless.
1. Readings: Buddhist Economics: A Middle Way for the Market Place by P. A. Payutto, p. 19; Buddhist Economics: A Middle Way for the Market Place by P. A. Payutto, p. 36. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Commerce/economics] [Requisites] [Right Livelihood]
2. “Lottery numbers?...Is the problem that the monks have the right numbers so everyone flocks to them?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Monastic life] [Psychic powers] [Right Livelihood]
3. “Could you talk more about the particular professions that the Buddha laid out as wrong livelihood (AN 5.177)? Why is being in the military not on the list?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Work] [Military] [Right Livelihood ] // [Unskillful qualities] [Kamma] [Killing] [Intoxicants] [Rebirth]
Story: The widow of a wealthy man divests from Singha Beer. [Commerce/economics]
4. “Is growing grapes right livelihood?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Intoxicants] [Commerce/economics] [Right Livelihood]
Story: The son of a winemaking family lives on the land but doesn’t participate in wine production. [Family]
5. “Can you speak about the people who sell these things [intoxicants] versus those who make them?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Intoxicants] [Commerce/economics] [Right Livelihood] // [Kamma] [Volition]
Story: A clerk at an organic food store asks about selling wine. Told by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.
6. “If the person selling the product enjoys selling it and the person buying it enjoys the product, what is the unpleasant consequence?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Commerce/economics] [Sensual desire] [Kamma] [Right Livelihood] // [Unskillful qualities] [Intoxicants] [Crime] [Heedlessness]
7. “What about people whose livelihood falls into one of these categories [AN 5.177] but they are convinced that it’s good for the world or that it had to be done?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volition] [Right Livelihood] // [Delusion]
8. Comment about the nuances involved in the activities comprising wrong livelihood. [Intoxicants] [Right Livelihood]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unskillful qualities] [Community]
9. “Is caffeine an intoxicant?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Intoxicants] [Right Livelihood] // [Medicinal requisites]
10. Comments about meat eating. [Food] [Killing] [Craving] [Vegetarianism] [Right Livelihood]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volition] [Human]
11. Quote: “Different people will be comfortable at different degrees of contentment and ability to live simply.” — P. A. Payutto. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [P. A. Payutto] [Personality] [Contentment] [Simplicity] [Right Livelihood] [Happiness]
12. “The Buddha taught the five forms of wrong livelihood [AN 5.177]. This is from the producer side. Is there a similar teaching from the consumer side?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Commerce/economics ] [Right Livelihood] // [Idealism] [Politics and society] [Buddha/Biography] [Skillful qualities]
13. “What is the view on medical or pharmaceutical professions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Health care] [Medicinal requisites] [Right Livelihood]
14. “What about things that have an ostensibly benign purpose, such as pesticides and fertilizers used for raising food, but then in fact have quite harmful effects?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Food] [Environment] [Right Livelihood] // [Commerce/economics] [Politics and society]
15. “Is there any instruction from the Buddha about how to deal with profit-motivated pharmaceutical research decisions?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha] [Health care] [Commerce/economics] [Right Livelihood]
16. “Some people want to help but find themselves in situations in which profit dictates the priorities. How can they protect their integrity in such situations?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Compassion] [Health care] [Commerce/economics] [Right Intention] [Right Livelihood ] // [Education] [Idealism] [Requisites] [Happiness]
Story: Ajahn Karuniko studies engineering, then quits a job in the arms industry to become a monk. [Military] [Monastic life/Motivation]
17. Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: It’s not easy giving up the things we’re used to in order to follow the path. [Renunciation] [Eightfold Path] [Clinging] [Happiness] [Right Livelihood]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Suffering] [Commerce/economics]
18. “When quitting a job, should you consider the welfare of the next person who will fill it?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Livelihood]
19. Comment by Ajahn Yatiko: Right Livelihood isn’t about judging other people’s livelihood. [Judgementalism] [Right Livelihood]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eightfold Path] [Pāli] [Cessation of Suffering] [Happiness]
20. Comments about Temple Grandon designing low-anxiety slaughterhouses. [Killing] [Food] [Right Livelihood]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
21. Quote: “The Buddha’s function was not to make grand pronouncements that apply universally, everywhere, all the time. He gave guidelines to reflect a variety of circumstances, personal effects, social effects, and then make a decision from there.” — Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha] [Idealism] [Discernment] [Conditionality] [Right Livelihood] [Kamma] [Community] [Politics and society]
22. Comments about thinking versus feeling out the quality of the heart in decision making. [Directed thought and evaluation] [Mindfulness of mind] [Discernment] [Clear comprehension] [Right Livelihood]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
23. Reading: A Constitution for Living by P. A. Payutto, p. 33. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Livelihood]
24. Reading: A Constitution for Living by P. A. Payutto, p. 35. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Livelihood]
25. “There are many people without access to resources for education or training without many choices. How does this all fit together?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Poverty ] [Learning] [Politics and society] [Right Livelihood] // [Buddha] [Idealism]
Sutta: DN 27: Agañña Sutta
26. “In DN 31.26, what is investment versus savings?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Commerce/economics ] [Right Livelihood]
Comments by various participants about the nature of investment. [Unskillful qualities] [Greed] [Work]
Sutta: DN 31.32: Siṅgālasutta Sutta: Five duties of an employer to employees; interpreted in A Constitution for Living by P. A. Payutto, p. 7.
27. Comments about the differences between ancient and modern economic systems and the importance of understanding and applying the Buddha’s principles. [Commerce/economics] [Cultural context] [Culture/West] [Work] [Right Livelihood] // [Food] [Poverty]
28. “Do you know the qualities the employee is supposed to give the employer?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Work] [Right Livelihood]
Sutta: DN 31.32: Siṅgālasutta Sutta
29. Story: The head of Lalanka Water invites monks to stay above his office and teach the employees. Told by Ajahn Yatiko. [Work] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Teaching Dhamma] [Right Livelihood] // [Lunar observance days] [Eight Precepts] [Meditation] [Dhamma discussion] [Respect]
Story: The ultra-competent assistant who wants to ordain. [Monastic life/Motivation]
Story: The king’s assistant who dives into the water to get 20 pounds of gold (DN 17).
[Session] Note: This session follows a period of small-group discussions.
1. Comment: As our group spoke, our different perspectives converged on objects of the mind and how we meet them. [Mindfulness of dhammas]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
2. Comments about the ways our work affects us. [Work] [Commerce/economics] // [Depression] [Unskillful qualities]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Human] [Appropriate attention]
3. “Everyone in our group is struggling with issues about livelihood. Does anyone here feel their livelihood is in tune?” Answered by Ajahn Yatiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Work] [Idealism] // [Contentment] [Eightfold Path] [Kamma]
Quote: “Maybe it would be better phrased ‘Right-enough livelihood.’” — Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Right Livelihood]
Story: An upright career police officer in Thailand transfers in and out of a corrupt assignment. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Community] [Crime] [Corruption] [Family] [Precepts]
Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo: Even monks face moral dilemmas. [Monastic life] [Vinaya]
4. Comment about the motivations of trying to fix the world versus compassion. Contributed by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Idealism] [Compassion] [Suffering]
5. “What is your take on satisfaction, being in tune, and stagnation?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Contentment ] [Energy] [Ardency ] // [Skillful qualities] [Discernment] [Buddha/Biography] [Spiritual search] [Right Effort]
Sutta: AN 2.5: Effort and non-contentment with wholesome states.
Story: The Thai government made it illegal for monks to teach contentment. [History/Thai Buddhism] [Monastic life] [Teaching Dhamma]
Comment about the simile of the lute. [Middle Path] [Similes]
Sutta: AN 6.55: Soṇa Sutta
6. “Regarding the lute simile (AN 6.55), I notice that even properly tuned instruments gradually creep out of tune. Is finding the balance a lifelong effort?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Middle Path] [Right Effort] [Similes] [Long-term practice]
Comment about the need to put work into perspective. [Work] [Culture/West]
7. Comment about the Buddha developing skills after enlightenment. [Buddha/Biography] [Liberation] [Learning]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Vinaya] [History/Early Buddhism]
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