1. Ajahn Ñāṇiko compares Ajahn Liem to Ajahn Sao. [Ajahn Liem] [Ajahn Sao] // [Technology]
2. Reading: “Watch Your Mind and Escape Māra’s Snare” from Santi – Peace Beyond Delusion by Ajahn Liem, pp. 6-23.
[Session] Reading: “Watch Your Mind and Escape Māra’s Snare” from Santi – Peace Beyond Delusion by Ajahn Liem, pp. 23-36.
[Session] Reading: “Looking Within” from Me and Mine by Ajahn Buddhadāsa pp. 69-77.
2. Ajahn Ñaniko speaks about the time Luang Por Liem spent at Suan Mokh. [Wat Suan Mokkh] [Ajahn Liem]
Recollection: The Thai translations in the Wat Pah Pong chanting book come from Ajahn Buddhadāsa. [Chanting] [Wat Pah Pong] [Thai] [Translation] [Ajahn Buddhadāsa]
Recollection: Ajahn Liem reads and comments on the monthly poem in the Ajahn Buddhadāsa calendar. [Artistic expression]
2. “In the Pure Land tradition, there are practices that prepare one for death. Are there are specific recommendations that yourself or Ajahn Chah would give for preparation for that last moment before death?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pure Land] [Ajahn Chah] [Death] [Recollection/Death] // [Buddho mantra]
Story: Family members try to encourage a drunkard to recollect “Arahaṃ“ in his last moments. [Mantra] [Humor]
Story: Ajahn Chah’s response to Paul Breiter’s desire to teach meditation to dying people. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Paul Breiter] [Meditation] [Fierce/direct teaching]
Story: Ajahn Karuṇadhammo advises Iris Landsberg to recollect “sorrowless, spotless, secure.” Told by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Recollection]
Sutta: Sn 2.4: Maṅgala Sutta (English chanting translation).
Story: A couple asks Master Hua what kind of dog they should get. [Master Hsuan Hua] [Animal] [Rebirth]
8. Comment: Ajahn Chah’s brother didn’t have an inferiority complex. [Ajahn Chah] [Family] [Guilt/shame/inadequacy]
10. Story: Ajahn Ñaniko meets Ajahn Mun’s nephew. [Ajahn Mun] [Family]
7. “Does Ajahn Liem attend morning and evening pūjā?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Liem] [Pūjā] // [Culture/Thailand] [Wat Pah Pong]
Story: Ajahn Liem silently walks around and looks at the monks during morning pūjā. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko.
Follow-up: “Did Ajahn Chah go to morning and evening pūjā?” [Ajahn Chah]
Follow-up: “In the early years of Wat Ban Tad, was it always practice on your own?” [Wat Pah Ban Tat] [Thai sects] [Ajahn Tongrat] [Ajahn Baen]
Story: Too many monks skip pūjā to massage Ajahn Liem. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Upatakh]
Recollections: Bhante Gunaratana comes to morning pūjā early. Recounted by Ajahn Jotipālo and Beth Steff. [Bhante Gunaratana]
[Session] Reading: “The Dhamma-Truth of Samatha-Vipassana for the Nuclear Age” from Key to Natural Truth by Ajahn Buddhadāsa pp. 111-131.
2. Comment about the purpose and function of the path. Contributed by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Eightfold Path] [Cessation of Suffering] [Concentration] [Discernment]
Responses by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Right View] [Relinquishment] [Self-identity view]
3. Reflection on Ajahn Buddhadāsa’s use of analogies. [Ajahn Buddhadāsa] [Similes] [Suffering]
12. Comment: There is a belief that contemplating death can call death to you. [Recollection/Death] [Death] // [Fear]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
2. Story: Ajahn Somboon spends a vassa at Wat Pah Pong. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Somboon] [Wat Pah Pong] // [Abbot] [Thai Ajahn Chah monasteries] [Ardency]
3. “If you keep chipping away at a theme of contemplation, you keep doing it, doing it, and nothing is changing in your experience, at some stage you feel this isn’t working, do you just have to move on and try something else? Is it the case that you just have to try them all? No-one can tell you which is going to work for you?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Depression] [Recollection] // [Patience] [Spiritual friendship]
Story: Ajahn Wanchai has a spinal injury and is in chronic pain but doesn’t refer to himself. Told by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Wanchai] [Suffering] [Sickness] [Pain] [Conceit]
5. Recollections: Deciding who went on the different alms routes at Wat Pah Pong. Recounted by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Pah Pong] [Almsround] // [Rains retreat]
8. “You’d have one village supporting more than one monastery, is that right?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Almsround] // [Forest versus city monks] [Wat Pah Nanachat]
9. “How many villages are around Poo Jom Gom?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Poo Jum Gom] [Almsround]
1. “There seems to be a point of difference in teachings – some teachers emphasize mindfulness of the mind and others say “go for the body.” Do you have any reflections about that?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Mindfulness of mind] [Mindfulness of body] // [Cessation of Suffering] [Science]
7. “Ajahn Ñāniko and Tan Kassapo: ‘Why be a monk?’ Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu.” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Kassapo. [Monastic life/Motivation] // [Suffering]
1. “Is it easy for a person with attainments to deal with the world?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Stages of awakening] [Everyday life] // [Discernment] [Conceit] [Culture/West] [Wrong concentration]
Quote: “To push away the world is also to reifying it. One gives it power when one is afraid of it.” [Craving not to become] [Proliferation] [Fear]
Laypeople with highly developed meditation practice function well in the world. Comment by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Lay life] [Meditation/Results] [Energy]
6. Comment: There is the concern that we practice meditation to make something happen. [Meditation/General advice]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Neutral feeling] [Delusion]
Sutta: MN 44: Cūḷavedalla Sutta, The Small Discourse Giving an Elaboration. [Feeling] [Unwholesome Roots]
[Session] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 93-96.
Reading: Book of the Discipline Part 1 p. 116-121, Pārājika 3 origin story.
Reading: AN 9.36: Jhāna.
Reading: SN 54.8: Simile of the lamp.
[Session]
Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 96-99 [Mindfulness of breathing]
Reading: SN 22.79: Being Devoured.
Reading: SN 36.11: Alone.
1. “Why does the Buddha describe perception in terms of colors but consciousness in terms of tastes?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Perception] [Consciousness] [Sense bases] // [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Commentaries] [Ven. Analayo] [Memory] [Feeling]
Sutta: SN 22.79: Being Devoured; footnote 114 in Bhikkhu Bodhi translation.
Follow-up: “Could you say that perception is identification whereas consciousness is more refined?” [Aggregates] [Not-self] [Self-identity view] [Rebirth] [Translation] [Similes]
[Session]
Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 99-100. [Mindfulness of breathing]
Reading: Forest Desanas by Ajahn Mahā Boowa p. 52.
Reading: Unpublished Luang Por Baen talks.
[Session]
Reading: Right Mindfulness p. 100-105. [Mindfulness of breathing]
Reading: SN 46.53: Fire.
2. “Could anyone give examples of how to apply the enlightenment factor of pīti when the mind is sluggish?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Rapture] [Sloth and torpor] // [Ajahn Mahā Boowa] [Gladdening the mind] [Investigation of states]
[Session] Reading: Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, pp. 225-231: “A Gift of Dhamma.”
[Session] Reading: Chapter 2, “The Method of Developing Calm” in The Natural Character of Awakening by Chao Khun Upāli, p. 30-39. [Right Mindfulness]
1. Discussion of the reading and Tan Chao Khun Upāli as a scholar, administrator, and practitioner. Led by Ajahn Ñāṇiko, Ajahn Kaccāna and Ajahn Pasanno. [Chao Khun Upāli] [Study monks] [Types of monks] // [Ajahn Mun] [Tudong] [Geography/Thailand]
[Session]
Reading: MN 9: Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta, Right View (excerpt).
Reading: Readings on the suffering of birth and aging from Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand by Pabongka Rinpoche (commercial). [Birth] [Ageing]
3. “Are any of the lists in this sutta (MN 95) explained in other suttas?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Sutta] // [Bhikkhu Bodhi]
Reference: P.A. Payutto’s Dictionary of Numerical Dhammas (in Thai). [P. A. Payutto] [Tipiṭaka] [Pāli]
Explanation of volume and page numbers in the Pāli Tipitika.
Comment by Debbie Stamp: Similar listings often refer to the gradual training. [Gradual Teaching]
Sutta: MN 107: Gaṇakamoggallāna Sutta.
Sutta: MN 47: Vīmaṃsaka Sutta.
4. Comment: It’s remarkable how much pleasure can come from seeing other people be kind and generous. [Happiness] [Empathetic joy] [Generosity] [Monasteries]
Responses by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko.
2. Discussion about kamma and the results of kamma. Led by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Kamma] [Conditionality] [Feeling] // [Abuse/violence] [Abhidhamma] [Ajahn Chah] [Vajrayāna] [Sickness] [Compassion] [Culture/India] [Equanimity] [Disasters] [Christianity]
Quote: “Too much Dhamma.” — Ajahn Buddhadāsa. Quoted by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Buddhadāsa]
Sutta: AN 4.77 Acinteyya: “Vexation or madness.”
Story: Ajahn Chah to Ajahn Munindo: “If it wasn’t supposed to be this way, it wouldn’t have been this way.” Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Munindo] [Self-pity]
Thai saying: “That’s as far as their merit takes them.” [Culture/Thailand] [Death] [Merit] [Thai]
[Session] Reading: “The Peace Beyond,” Collectd Teachings p. 9-19.
[Session] Reading: “Santi,” Santi – Peace Beyond Delusion by Ajahn Liem, p. 39-53. [Ajahn Liem]
[Session] Reading: “Santi,” Santi – Peace Beyond Delusion by Ajahn Liem, p. 53-63. [Ajahn Liem]
1. “When did Luang Por Liem come to Wat Pah Pong?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Liem] [Wat Pah Pong] // [Ajahn Chah]
Reference: No Worries by Ajahn Liem. [Tudong]
[Session]
Reading: “A Matter of Life and Death,” p. 205-212 in The Mind and the Way by Ajahn Sumedho (commercial).
Reading: “Towards the Future,” p. 215-220 in The Mind and the Way by Ajahn Sumedho (commercial).
19. Comment: I keep coming back to true principle–what are we doing it all for? [Dhamma] [Killing] [Right Intention] [Buddhist identity]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Attachment to precepts and practices] [Suffering] [Happiness] [Skillful qualities]
[Session] Reading: “The Five Hindrances” from The Anthology Vol. 1 by Ajahn Sumedho, pp. 35–44.
1. “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]
3. Comments about the translation of saṃvega as fear, terror, or awe. Contributed by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Spiritual urgency] [Translation] [Fear]
1. Comments about the Middle Way being different for different people. Contributed by Ajahn Ñāṇiko, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Pesalo. [Middle Path] [Unwholesome Roots] [Idealism]
2. “Does Ajahn Sucitto describe sati as more a mind quality and sampajañña more a heart quality?” [Ajahn Sucitto] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] [Heart/mind]
Reference: Kamma and the End of Kamma, First Edition by Ajahn Sucitto, p. 30.
4. 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]
2. “Is desire itself the problem or is clinging to and identifying with desire the problem?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Desire] [Clinging] [Self-identity view] [Sensual desire] [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]
2. Comment: 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.
1. Comment: 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
[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.
3. 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]
1. “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. “How does the opportunity to go on pilgrimage in India come about for monastics?” [Visiting holy sites] [Monastic life] // [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Ajahn Achalo] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]
3. “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?” [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]
5. Story: Ajahn Ñāṇiko takes on too many adhiṭṭhānas as an anagārika. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Determination] [Abhayagiri] [Monastic life] [Ascetic practices]
8. Comment: But in a sense Por Am had wisdom, questioning Ajahn Chah from every possible angle. [Ajahn Chah] [Questions] [Discernment]
Reflection: Stillness Flowing by Ajahn Jayasaro, p. 647
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Thai] [Wat Pah Pong]
4. Story: Learning the Paṭimokkha. Told by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāṭimokkha] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Chanting] // [Ajahn Chah] [Culture/India]
Responses by Ajahn Ñāṇiko, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Kaccāna.
5. Comment: I also get tripped up chanting the fifth precept (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 130). [Five Precepts] [Intoxicants] [Chanting] [Pāli]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Thai]
9. “Are there any standards for the high and low tone marks?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Chanting] [Pāli] // [Thai]
1. “Are the paritta chants not as effective in English?” [Translation] [Language] [Pāli] [Chanting] [Protective chants] // [Devotional practice]
2. “Do you find these chants as resonant here as in Thailand?” [Culture/Thailand] [Culture/West] [Chanting] [Protective chants] // [Faith]
3. “I notice that most of the paritta chants don’t have English translations. Is there a place we can find these?” [Translation] [Chanting] [Protective chants] // [Sutta]
Suttas: DN 32: Āṭānāṭiya Sutta; SN 46.14-16: Sick [Sickness] [Factors of Awakening]
4. “Are there books or online resources for the study of Pāli?” [Pāli ] [Dhamma books] [Dhamma online]
Reference: A New Course in Reading Pāli by James W. Gair and W. S. Karunatillake (pdf) [Learning]
Note: Bhikkhu Bodhi’s Reading the Buddha’s Discourses in Pāli was published in 2020.
5. Comment: There are a couple books that have some parittas in English. [Translation] [Dhamma books] [Chanting] [Protective chants]
Reference: The Book of Protection by Piyadasi Thera
Response by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Suggestion to read the Suttanipāta commentaries available in Bhikkhu Bodhi’s translation of this text. [Sutta] [Commentaries] [Bhikkhu Bodhi]
6. Story: A monk at Poo Jum Gom dislodges a viper by chanting the Khandhaparitta despite believing that it won’t work. [Animal] [Poo Jum Gom] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Faith] [Chanting] [Protective chants]
7. “Is there a rule of thumb for the pitches for the paritta chanting?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Chanting] [Protective chants] // [Thai]
8. “The Verses of Sharing and Aspiration translates paccekabuddha as ‘The Solitary Buddha is my noble guide.’ What’s going on here?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Chanting] [Translation] [Paccekabuddha] // [Merit] [Teaching Dhamma]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 33
[Session] Reading from On Love by Ajahn Jayasaro.
1. Comment to Ajahn Ñāṇiko: I really appreciate the honest of your sharing. In terms of self-criticism over the years, what brought about any shift was being authentic, but whilst I wanted not to be critical, it was still there. By watching that process and not identifying with it so much, it gradually shifted until I was able to wish myself well more genuinely. [Truth] [Judgementalism] [Long-term practice] [Direct experience] [Not-self] [Goodwill] // [Buddhist identity] [Faith]
Response by Ajahn Ñāṇiko.
4. “I thought to be self-critical was to improve yourself, to know how and where you need to improve yourself. How is being self-critical not good for yourself?” [Judgementalism] [Right Effort] // [Guilt/shame/inadequacy] [Energy] [Goodwill] [Idealism] [Unwholesome Roots]
Story: Eight months to Enlightenment. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Abhayagiri] [Liberation]
5. Simile: Sculpting different materials requires different tools. This practice is more molding than hammering. [Similes] [Right Effort]
Response by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Ajahn Amaro used to say, “The beatings won’t stop until morale improves.” At a certain point, you have to decide to stop. [Goodwill] [Ajahn Amaro] [Judgementalism] [Cessation]
1. Quote: “If you want to succeed in your practice, you have to think a lot.... You have to think all the time about Dhamma.” — Ajahn Baen. [Ajahn Baen] [Directed thought and evaluation] [Investigation of states] [Recollection/Dhamma ] [Recollection] // [Chanting]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 6.
2. “On a daily basis, coming home, my mind is too distracted to pick up any of these objects of meditation. Would you recommend doing ānāpānasati first and then switching over?” [Everyday life] [Restlessness and worry] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Recollection] // [Mantra] [Recollection/Buddha]
3. “You mentioned the example of the monk who wanted to commit suicide and then he remembered his virtue and that uplifted him. In the Saṃyutta Nikaya there are a few instances where monks committeed suicide, but the Buddha said they attained Nibbāna (SN 22.87 Vakkali; SN 35.87 Channa). How is that possible?” [Monastic life] [Suicide] [Sutta] [Buddha/Biography] [Recollection] [Nibbāna] // [Jhāna] [Māra] [Saṃsāra] [Delusion]
5. “Can you say more about recollection of renunciation? How can this be used skillfully or not?” [Recollection/Generosity] [Renunciation] [Recollection] // [Contentment] [Self-pity] [Sickness] [Equanimity] [Buddha/Biography] [Fasting] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Lunar observance days] [Abhayagiri]
Recollection: Going without in the early days of Abhayagiri Monastery. [Almsfood]
4. “How to overcome rejection by your spouse and move on and not hang on to the hope that he will come back some day?” [Relationships] [Family] // [Self-reliance] [Goodwill]
5. “How can we recognize and know the present moment more clearly?” [Present moment awareness] // [Mae Chee Kaew] [Relinquishment] [Kamma]
7. “Why is turning the left side of your body to the Buddha disrespectful? How does one disregard another person in a skillful way to remove resentment? (AN 5.161)” [Respect] [Ill-will] // [Goodwill] [Culture/India] [Culture/Thailand] [Theravāda]
10. Comment: I had a stroke 3 1/2 months ago, and the health professionals say I can’t do this or that. I find this frustrating. [Sickness] [Health] [Aversion]
Response by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Dhamma] [Recollection/Dhamma] [Recollection]
11. Comment: I meditate much better kneeling than lying in bed. [Posture/Sitting] [Posture/Lying down]
Response by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Viradhammo]
13. “How to balance the practice of removing attachments but maintain responsibilities of caregiving to children or ageing parents?” [Clinging] [Relinquishment] [Family] [Parents] [Ageing] // [Gratitude]
11. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Ajahn Sumedho was a catalyst for Abhayagiri to happen. [Ajahn Sumedho ] [Abhayagiri] // [Western Ajahn Chah lineage] [Elders' Council]
Quote: “You should appreciate all that Ajahn Sumedho has done. He’s been the tank that has prepared the way for all the rest of you.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Respect for elders] [Similes]
Comment by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: Ajahn Sumedho is the most senior American bhikkhu in the world.
1. Story: Anagārika Lief requests to become a novice. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Postulants] [Abhayagiri] // [Wat Pah Pong] [Sequence of training] [Lunar observance days] [Ajahn Amaro]
1. “How do I put the Four Noble Truths into practice in daily life?” [Four Noble Truths] [Everyday life] // [Discernment] [Suffering] [Noble Truth of Suffering] [Cause of Suffering]
2. “Can you talk more about the shift from feeling unsafe to feeling safe?” [Fear] // [Knowing itself] [Suffering] [Pandemic]
Quote: “Being alive has many inherent risks.” — Sondra Jewell. [Characteristics of existence] [Impermanence]
3. “In living with others, we tend to stick with our perceptions, causing potential conflict with them. How can we accept others as they are and be able to live with others harmoniously?” [Perception] [Conflict] [Communal harmony] // [Goodwill] [Judgementalism] [Generosity]
4. “How should a person cope with loneliness without having to rely on other things/people/contact?” [Loneliness] // [Seclusion] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Discernment] [Present moment awareness]
5. “What is the attitude to have towards others who are not on the path but are close family members?” [Family] // [Judgementalism] [Respect]
6. “How can you hold appreciation and gratitude and not lose an awareness of dukkha and understanding of dukkha?” [Gratitude] [Noble Truth of Suffering] // [Cessation of Suffering]
7. “Returning to the knowing’ was described as aware, awake, and bright. I understand aware and awake. Is the brightness something that comes up naturally because of lack of kilesas or something that the mind is lifted to?” [Knowing itself] [Conditionality] [Unwholesome Roots] [Gladdening the mind]
8. “In the ‘Verses of Sharing and Aspiration’ (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 33), what is the threefold bliss?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Happiness] // [Health] [Nibbāna] [Deva]
9. “Could you suggest some inquiry questions to contemplate and investigate the wisdom practice of equanimity?” [Recollection] [Discernment] [Equanimity] // [Kamma] [Judgementalism]
Reference: Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 55.
10. “For the next 25 years, what will be the leading light for the direction of Abhayagiri? Is there any collective vision?” [Abhayagiri] [Saṅgha] // [Building projects] [Lodging]
11. “What could I to to help myself fear death less?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [Fear ] [Death] // [Virtue] [Restlessness and worry] [Truth] [Stream entry] [Impermanence] [Recollection/Death] [Present moment awareness] [Recollection/Virtue] [Self-identity view]
1. Recollection: Evolution of the Wan Phra all-night vigil at Abhayagiri. [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Abhayagiri] // [Robes] [Pūjā]
2. Story: Ajahn Ñāṇiko’s first all-night sit. [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Pūjā] [Sloth and torpor]
3. Story: Ajahn Pasanno teaches Chi Gong on Wan Phra after the 3 am pūjā. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Chi Gong] [Lunar observance days] [Devotion to wakefulness] [Abhayagiri] // [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Health]
4. Recollection: A day building the chedi at Wat Phu Din Dang. [Building projects ] [Stupas/monuments] [Work] [Wat Phu Din Dang] // [Ajahn Mahā Suporn] [Ajahn Jayanto] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Ajahn Liem] [Medicinal requisites] [Merit]
5. Reflection: Transplanting the wonderful energy of Thai Buddhism to Abhayagiri. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Abhayagiri ]
6. Recollection: The annual January gathering at Wat Pah Pong. [Ajahn Chah Remembrance Day] [Wat Pah Pong] [Abhayagiri] // [Lodging] [Food] [Stupas/monuments] [Communal harmony]
7. Recollection: The Community of Abhayagiri Lay Ministers sets up a food stall at Wat Pah Pong. Recounted by Ajahn Ñāṇiko and Ajahn Pasanno. [CALM Group] [Ajahn Chah Remembrance Day] [Wat Pah Pong] [Food] [Abhayagiri]
8. Reflection: Practice doesn’t have to be grim. [Eightfold Path] [Ardency] [Perfectionism] [Abhayagiri] // [Happiness] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]
Recollection: Old video footage of Abhayagiri. [Mae Chee Sansanee] [Kaṭhina]
9. Quote: “When you go to Thailand, you will realize how American you are.” — Ajahn Pasanno or Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Culture/West] [Culture/Thailand] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko]
10. Recollections of almsround and learning Thai at Wat Pah Nanachat. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Almsround] [Ajahn Ñāṇiko] [Learning] [Thai]
Quote: “If you want to learn something, recite it every morning on almsround.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah]
11. Reflection: Ajahn Liem’s ethos regarding building projects: creating a secluded place to practice. [Ajahn Liem] [Lodging ] [Building projects] [Seclusion] [Meditation] // [Eight Precepts] [Generosity] [Sutta]
12. Reflection: The purpose of monastic facilities. [Lodging ] [Monastic life] // [Human] [Idealism] [Culture/Natural environment] [Sequence of training] [Rains retreat]
13. Reflection: The pulse of the year at Abhayagiri and the annual Vassa Vinaya studies. [Monastic life] [Rains retreat] [Vinaya] [Learning] [Abhayagiri ] // [Protocols] [Not handling money] [Kaṭhina] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Meditation retreats]