Emptiness (suññatā)
Indeterminate qualities / Characteristics of existence / Emptiness
20 excerpts, 1:23:45 total duration

All excerpts (20) Most relevant (14) Questions about (7) Answers involving (5) Stories (1) Quotes (2) Readings (1) Texts (1)


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 3 – Apr. 28, 2001

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8. Story: Ajahn Sumedho wants Ajahn Chah to affirm whether he had attained a degree of insight. Told by Ajahn Jitindriyā. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Stages of awakening] [Ajahn Chah] // [Impermanence] [Liberation] [Bowing] [Becoming]

Reference: Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 606

Quote: “We talk about things to develop and thigs to give up, but there’s really nothing to develop and nothing to give up.” — Ajahn Chah. [Right Effort] [Relinquishment] [Emptiness] [Dispassion]

Reference: Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 102


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 34 – Apr. 29, 2001

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11. Presence and emptiness. Reflection by Jack Kornfield. [Gratitude] [Emptiness] [Ajahn Chah]


Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing, Session 14 – Jan. 17, 2005

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4. Emptiness is the experiential counterpoint of not-self. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Not-self] [Emptiness ] [Impermanence] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Characteristics of existence] // [Conditionality]


Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing, Session 17 – Jan. 20, 2005

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2. The cessation of self view is a window into emptiness. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Self-identity view] [Emptiness] [Becoming] [Cessation] [Cessation of Suffering] [Mindfulness of breathing]

Meditation instructions from Ajahn Jumnien: Rest attention midway between the eye and a visual object. [Sense bases] [Emptiness]

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Samatha practices allow us to become familiar with peaceful places in our mind. [Calming meditation] [Tranquility]

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Teaching by Ajahn Chah: Can you be continuously angry for two hours? [Aversion] [Impermanence]


Brightening the Mind, Session 2 – Aug. 19, 2012

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8. Comment: For me it is a question of whether I can believe it or not. It depends on where I place my mind. [Faith] [Science] [Emptiness] [Proliferation] [Deva] [Recollection/Devas] [Dalai Lama] [Death]

Response by Ajahn Yatiko. [Doubt] [Trust] [Tranquility]


The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Session 33 – Feb. 22, 2015

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6. Comment by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo comparing putting the mind towards the Deathless with Dzogchen practice. [Deathless] [Vajrayāna] [Emptiness] [Progress of insight]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Spiritual bypass]


The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Session 40 – Mar. 3, 2015

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1. Commentary on MN 121: The Lesser Discourse on Emptiness. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Emptiness] [Relinquishment] [Theravāda] [Not-self]


2015 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 1 – Nov. 21, 2015

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6. “What is the difference between piti and sukha? Also equanimity and emptiness as a felt sense?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Rapture ] [Happiness ] [Equanimity] [Emptiness ] // [Self-identity view] [Theravāda] [Relinquishment]

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The difference between pīti and sukha. [Rapture ] [Happiness ] [Emotion]

Commentary: Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, p. 139: Similes for pīti and sukha. [Similes] [Rapture ] [Happiness ]


Living in a Changing Society – Aug. 23, 2020

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3. “If you get the mind empty, you get everything.’ How to understand this?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Emptiness] // [Self-identity view]


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12. “What is the difference between emptiness, nothingness, and space? How can I use colors to develop the mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Emptiness] [Kasiṇa] // [Self-identity view] [Relinquishment] [Conceit] [Middle Path] [Etymology] [Not-self] [Elements] [Tranquility] [History/Early Buddhism] [Culture/West]


Awaken to the New Year Retreat, Session 2 – Jan. 1, 2021

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4. “What technique to use to realize the fruits of this practice in this life? What technique is easiest and most effective?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/Techniques ] [Stages of awakening] // [Ardency] [Energy] [Right Effort] [Learning] [Practicing in accordance with Dhamma]

Quote: “I can guarantee that looking for the easiest way is the least effective way.”

Quote: “Practice is one mistake after another.” — Dōgen. [Dōgen]

Story: Someone asks the Dalai Lama, “What is the easiest and quickest way to realize emptiness?” The Dalai Lama cries. [Dalai Lama] [Emptiness] [Fierce/direct teaching]

Sutta: AN 3.137: A teaching of effort.


Madison Insight Retreat 2023, Session 1 – Oct. 13, 2023

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2. “Tibetan Buddhism seems to have a stronger emphasis on compassion and emptiness as a practice. Can you talk about this from the perspective of the Ajahn Chah lineage, including steps as to how it is done?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Vajrayāna] [Compassion] [Emptiness] [Ajahn Chah lineage] // [Ajahn Chah] [Eightfold Path]

Quote: “What is the mind of an Arahant like?” – “Only compassion” — Ajahn Mahā Boowa. [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Arahant]


On Nibbāna – Aug. 24, 2024

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5. “How to contemplate the state of emptiness, stillness?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Insight meditation] [Emptiness] [Tranquility] // [Relinquishment] [Gladdening the mind]


Perspectives on Buddhist Practice from Ajahn Chah, Session 3 – Aug. 25, 2024

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6. Ajahn Chah’s letter to Ajahn Sumedho: “Whenever you have feelings of love or hate for anything whatsoever, these will be your aides and partners in buliding pārami. The Buddha Dhamma is not to be found in moving forwards, nor in moving backwards, nor in standing still. This, Sumedho, is your place of non-abiding.” [Ajahn Chah] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Feeling] [Perfections] [Dhamma] [Emptiness] // [Self-identity view ] [Knowing itself]

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Quote: “As long as we’re willing to be a somebody, we’ve got to be willing to suffer. We volunteered.” [Self-identity view ] [Suffering]