“Is this similar to the Buddha’s teaching to let go of the path?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Eightfold Path] [Relinquishment] // [Ajahn Chah] [Non-identification] [Right Effort] [Ajahn Mun] [Thai]
Sutta: SN 1.1 Oghataraṇa: Crossing the Flood.
Our Roots in the Thai Forest Tradition [2014], Session 13, Excerpt 6
Dhamma talk: Ajahn Pasanno reflects upon the question: “What kind of effort do we need to conform with what the Buddha means by mindfulness?” He answers in terms of the four aspects of right effort, the seven qualities of Dhamma the Buddha taught to Upali (AN 7.79), and the Buddha’s description of how he crossed the flood (SN 1.1). Offered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Effort] [Mindfulness] [Dhamma]
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness [2015], Session 2
“Please explain more how did the Buddha cross the flood, by neither going forward nor standing still. What does this mean?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Becoming] [Cessation of Suffering] // [Middle Path ] [Saṃsāra]
Sutta: SN 1.1
2015 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 5, Excerpt 1
“From the Christian perspective, I understand we get knowledge or wisdom from God, but it is through our human effort that we get a taste of the wisdom. You mentioned [neither] moving backward, forward, or being still. In Zen meditation, they taught being present. Is this grace or effort?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Christianity] [Discernment] [God] [Human] [Right Effort] [Zen] // [Relinquishment] [Faith ] [Three Refuges]
Sutta: SN 1.1
Quote: “To me it’s much more faith that surrenders, that relinquishes, that’s willing to let go.” [Faith ]
Quote: “Suffering and being stuck in saṃsāra and in the world is just a bad habit.” [Suffering] [Saṃsāra] [Habits]
Interreligious Retreat-Seminar on Dhamma and Non-duality [2023], Session 2, Excerpt 1
Readings by Ajahn Pasanno:
The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 13, pp. 235-239:
Suttas: AN 10.2; MN 118.15; SN 56.11; SN 51.20.
Readings from The Island [2025], Session 27
“What is non-abiding?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Knowing itself] [Relinquishment] [Middle Path]
Sutta: SN 1.1.
Readings from The Island [2025], Session 27, Excerpt 7
“So in contemplation there is still mental movement, but not the translation of that movement into words?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Insight meditation] [Directed thought and evaluation] // [Clear comprehension] [Perception] [Chanting] [Lawfulness]
Sutta: SN 1.1.
Readings from The Island [2025], Session 38, Excerpt 4
Readings by Ajahn Amaro:
The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 9, pp. 158-165:
Suttas: Ud 8.1; Ud 8.3, Iti 43; Ud 8.4; Milindapañha 323; Milindapañha 326-328; SN 1.1.
The Magic of the Mind by Bhikkhu Ñāṇananda, pp. 58-60.
Ācariya Nāgārjuna, Mūlamadyamaka-kārika, Ch 25.
Ajahn Chah, personal letter to Ajahn Sumedho.
“What is Contemplation?”, Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, pp. 475-479.
Sutta: Ud 1.10: Bāhiya, quoted in The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, p. 65.