Abhayagiri Talks

Ajahn Kaccana describes a recent visit which he and Tan Suhajjo made to DRBU at the the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. They shared their experience with sutta study, work, daily monastic life with members of the DRBU community. This talk was offered on May 4, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Nyaniko discusses the natural result of sila, non remorse, collected mind, and insight into impermanence. He encourages practitioners to recognize their own honest efforts and goodness, and take refuge in insight itself. This talk was offered on May 3, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Nyaniko discusses how to work with the root defilements of greed, hatred and delusion. Mindfulness, restraint and discernment can oppose the defilements. Over a long period of time, a purity and strength of mind then develops which can reduce and remove the mental afflictions. This talk was offered on April 6, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

On Upasika Renewal Day, Ajahn Nyaniko discusses precepts as a means to non remorse and non suffering, as gifts, and as streams of merit. The Ajahns address questions related to wholesome action in difficult situations, the role of intention, and others. This talk was offered on April 21, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

On Upasika Renewal Day, Ajahn Nyaniko discusses refuge in worldly concerns or alternatively true refuge in the external and internal Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha. He reads from the “Life of the Buddha”, the story of Yasa. Questions and answers follow. This talk was offered on April 21, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Nyaniko discusses the importance of faith (saddha) in the practice. Faith or confidence drives us to work at something that is beyond ourselves, sets an internal compass and allows us to see beneath the surface of things. It can hold us through what can be an unsettling experience of deep insight into impermanence. This talk was offered on April 20, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Karunadhammo discusses skillful ways to use thought in meditation. Instead of trying to annihilate thought, he suggests substituting coarse or negative thought with positive thought, cultivating thoughts of renunciation and simplicity to counter sensual desire, imagining the feeling of the absence of hindrances. These help to retrain the cognitive process and develop positive mind states. This talk was offered on April 4, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

At the close of the winter retreat, Ajahn Naniko offers gratitude to those who served the retreat and encouragement to see present moment dhamma in all experiences. This talk was offered on March 30, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Karunadhammo discusses the transition out of retreat and into the routine of monastery life. He encourages nurturing and protecting the wholesome and skillful qualities that may have been cultivated during the retreat period. He discusses mental fabrication and proliferation. Instead of entanglement with desire and aversion, one can rest in knowing awareness. This talk was offered on March 28, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Naniko discusses how we can make everyday activities such as work, conversation, and eating, dhamma practice instead of just worldly activity. This talk was offered on March 23, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.