Abhayagiri Talks

On this first Wan Phra of August, lay resident Armand takes on the white robe of the Anāgārika, the first step of one who has gone forth. After the formal ceremony, Ajahn Pasanno speaks on “samaṇa sañña,” the perception required of a religious seeker. While his talk is directed primarily to Anāgārika Armand, Ajahn's reflections on five qualities beneficial to one who has gone forth offer a wealth of inspiration for all of us who seek to live the dhamma. This talk was offered on August 7, 2015 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery. Download File

As the Vassa period begins, marked by the Asalha Puja two nights earlier which celebrated the date of the Buddha's first discourse, Ajahn Pasanno reflects on the practical beauty of the Four Noble Truths, expounded by the Buddha in that first sermon. Ajahn teaches that the four truths are not something to be believed in but rather categories of experience to reflect on one's life with. When worked with this way we can begin to see that the condition of dukkha we find ourselves in so frequently is not of the world around us – it comes from a self projecting onto the world. This talk was offered on August 1, 2015 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery. Download File

Reflecting on his many years training under Ajahn Chah and twenty years as a bhikkhu (Ajahn Pabbakaro, 1972-1991), Joseph Kappel recollects themes of faith, gratitude, going against the grain, and the importance of the five precepts. This talk was offered on July 25, 2015 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery on the occasion of Asāhḷā Pūjā. Download File

On the night of Asāhḷā Pūjā, Ajahn Pasanno gives breath meditation instructions emphasizing Buddho, “being the one who knows.” This guided meditation was offered on July 25, 2015 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery. Download File

Ajahn Pasanno teaches how the skillful practice of mindfulness of breathing fulfills the seven factors of awakening. He discusses what is needed (and what is not) to practice mindfulness of breathing skillfully, and delineates the seven factors of awakening in a practical, down-to-earth way. This talk was offered on July 25, 2015 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery. Download File

Amidst various Dhamma themes, Ajahn Ñaniko describes four classical protective meditations: recollecting the Buddha, developing goodwill (metta), contemplating the unattractive nature of the body (asubha), and recollecting death (maraṇassati). This talk was offered on July 23, 2015 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery. Download File

Reflecting on Ajahn Liem's recent visit, Ajahn Pasanno contemplates a common theme he found in the venerable master's teachings to the community – that of the importance of the ordinary in our practice. Among the examples Ajahn Pasanno gives are the “worldly dhammas” - mental states of praise and blame, gain and loss, status and disrepute, happiness and suffering. He teaches that while these ordinary patterns of human nature bring about great dissatisfaction in our lives, it is the observation of them that can bring about our awakening. This talk was offered on July 18, 2015 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery. Download File

Beginning with a Thai poem telling the story of how Eye and Foot fought about who was superior, Ajahn Liem reflects on many elements of the Buddhist path including material offerings, forgiveness, contemplating the nature of the body, and refraining from unwholesome actions. This talk was offered on July 12, 2015 at Wat Buddhanusorn and was translated by Ajahn Thāniyo. Download File

Translated by Ajahn Thāniyo, Ajahn Liem gives instruction on how we can take full advantage of the great treasure of this human birth. He offers first three guiding principles for training one's own heart: moral conduct, restraint of the senses, and right effort. He then teaches the four wholesome dhammas for living in society fearlessly: truthfulness, restraint in actions, patience, and sacrifice. This talk was offered on July 11, 2015 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in the partially built Reception Hall. Download File

Before the meal in the partially-built Reception Hall, Ajahn Liem recollects that the Buddha was enlightened by understanding nature and exhorts us to do the same. This meal blessing was offered on July 11, 2015 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery and was translated by Ajahn Thāniyo. Download File