Abhayagiri Talks

Ajahn Jotipālo reflects on the five hindrances – desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry, and doubt – as more than just obstructions to tranquility at the early stages of the path, but as tools for wisdom no matter how far along the path one is. This talk was offered on March 1, 2016 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

The Buddha spoke of pabhassara citta - the luminous nature of mind. Ajahn Pasanno teaches that one of the ways we stain this luminous mind is by defining ourselves. He reflects on ways we might start to shed these limitations and become instead one who simply knows things as they truly are. This talk was offered on February 27, 2016 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

On the evening of Māgha Pūjā, a Buddhist holiday commemorating the auspicious day shortly after the Buddha's enlightenment when 1,250 arahants came to see the Buddha without being summoned, Ajahn Ñaniko reflects on the “Ovādapātimokkha” teaching the Buddha gave on that occasion. He illuminates each of the lines of this brief but essential teaching, placing a special emphasis on the power of “khanti” – patient endurance – to burn off our defilements as we struggle out on the edge of the wheel of samsara. This talk was offered on February 22, 2016 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Pasanno reminds us to keep returning patiently to an exploration of the three characteristics – aniccā, dukkhā, and anattā – in relation to our ordinary experiences of body and mind as we continue on this path of shaking off delusion and awakening to reality. This talk was offered on February 20, 2016 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Encouraging the community to experiment with spending more practice time outdoors, Ajahn Jotipālo reflects on several of his experiences practicing in nature. One particular incident taught him the power of metta meditation in the presence of fear, and this leads him into sharing an alternate perspective on working with metta. This talk was offered on February 15, 2016 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Pasanno teaches how cultivating loving-kindness – metta bhavana practice – can be a bridge to clarity of mind and the doorway to a deep understanding of the Four Noble Truths. This talk was offered on February 13, 2016 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Are you weary with saṃsāra yet? Or are you still intoxicated with it? To cultivate a weariness with grasping and fixating on worldly things, Ajahn Ñaniko teaches that we must first build a foundation of virtue. To that end, he explicates the Buddha's teaching on the ten courses of wholesome and unwholesome action. This talk was offered on February 7, 2016 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Reflecting on some helpful metaphors from the canon, Ajahn Pasanno teaches how to maintain a consistency of practice. This talk was offered on February 6, 2016 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Having been recently reading books that address the unique complexities of modern times and the ability of the human spirit to cope with them, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo reflects on what the Buddha's teachings have to offer us in dealing with disorientation in a rapidly changing world. This talk was offered on January 31, 2016 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Reflecting on his recent title "Chao Khun" bestowed by the king of Thailand and the many well-wishes he has received because of this honor, Ajahn Pasanno contemplates what the Buddha called “the calamitous nature of gain, honor, and fame.” While his heart is filled with gratitude for these expressions of appreciation, he teaches that viewing oneself and the world from the perspective of dispassion and relinquishment can lead us to an insight into the nature of identity that holds the key to stream entry. This talk was offered on January 30, 2016 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.