Abhayagiri Talks

Having recently returned from a multi-week tudong with Ajahn Sek and Tan Tissaro, Ajahn Nyaniko discusses some of the principles of the tudong practice (primarily, the internal work of renunciation and the external work of being the fourth Heavenly Messenger) and mixes in a few anecdotes from their time on the road. This talk was offered on June 29, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Having recently returned to Abhayagiri from a traditional monastic wandering, Ajahn Nyaniko reflects on various current themes such as the returning of Luang Por Pasanno to Abhayagiri, a visit the next day to a senior monk, Abhayagiri community harmony and being an uncle for the first time.

Having recently emerged from a year of retreat, Luang Por Pasanno offers reflections on his time in solitude. This talk was offered on June 16, 2019 at Birken Forest Monastery

Ajahn Karunadhammo reflects on the second foundation of mindfulness, mindfulness of feeling. In particular, Ajahn Karunadhammo speaks on Majjhima Nikāya 44, The Shorter Set of Questions and Answers, which discusses the three kinds of feeling : pleasant, painful and neutral. For a translation of this sutta see https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN/MN44.html This talk was offered on July 25, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Karunadhammo speaks on a current theme in his own practice, mindfulness of the body. He touches on various topics mentioned in the Mahā Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta such as feeling the entire body through the breath; contemplating various body parts, such as hair of the head, hair of the body, nails, teeth and skin; and the unattractive aspects of the body. Ajahn Karunadhammo also mentions some of the disadvantages of identifying with the body and emotionally investing in maintaining its attractiveness.

This recording of Ajahn Chah speaking (in Thai) with translation by Kittisaro was played at Abhayagiri on June 17th, 2019 in honor of Ajahn Chah’s 101st birthday. Ajahn Chah is giving guidance to an elderly British woman who spent two months under his guidance around 1979. The translation of that recording was done by Kittisaro in 2001 at the Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend in Portola Valley, California. The teachings given by Ajahn Chah on that occasion include advice on how to relate moods as well as parting encouragements to the woman as she was returning to the United Kingdom. More talks from that weekend, are available on the Abhayagiri Website here as part of the 20th Anniversary Compilation. Scroll down the below page to find the talks from the Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend. https://www.abhayagiri.org/20/ Also, see Chapter 21 of the The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah for a written translation of this teaching. The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah

Ajahn Karunadhammo continues his reflections on the Ajahn Sucitto IMS retreat, and offers some reflections on cultivating the kusala citta (the wholesome/ skillful mind) through living a life committed to development of all the factors of the Eight-fold Path. Ajahn discusses the relationship between kamma (action) and cetana (intention), vipaka (result), and pamoja (ease of mind, delight, gladness). He encourages us to reflect on the good results that are produced from wholesome intention and action, which help to develop the kusala citta, and not to see kamma as a “deterministic, fatalistic law that we have no control over.” This talk was offered on June 15, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery. Audio of Ajahn Sucitto’s talks from the IMS retreat can be found here: https://dharmaseed.org/teacher/9/?page=1

Ajahn Jotipalo recently completed a fellowship for his work in iconography at the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, in Collegeville, Minnesota. In this talk, he offers reflections on his nine-month residency, particularly on the hospitality, harmony, culture and kindness of the community there. This talk was offered on June 1, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Having recently returned to Abhayagiri from a month-long retreat with Ajahn Sucitto at Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge, Ajahn Karunadhammo shares some first impressions/ reflections of his month away, with an emphasis on the impact of the monastic presence at the retreat. This talk was offered on June 10, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery. Audio of Ajahn Sucitto’s talks from the IMS retreat can be found here: https://dharmaseed.org/teacher/9/?page=1

Ajahn Nyaniko discusses the historical background of observance night and the taking of precepts. He details the meaning of the eight precepts for both monastics and lay people. This talk was offered on May 11, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.