Abhayagiri Talks

Ajahn Karunadhammo discusses right concentration. He begins with a guided meditation to broaden ones focus on knowing sight, sound, thought, and bodily sensation. He suggests an inclusive and broad approach to concentration that does not close off fields of experience. He reminds us that right concentration also depends on other qualities of mind such as right view, and sila based practices. Samadhi can be based on relaxation and openness, instead of exclusion and annihilation of sense experience. The result is always broad focused, expansive, and not exclusive. This talk was offered on February 9, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Nyaniko discusses the prudence of taking a short break to restore oneself while on long retreat, and ways to gladden the mind. He covers subjects for positive reflection such as being content with the requisites, gratitude for teachings, support for practice and the training, and using the breath to uplift and settle the mind. This talk was offered on February 4, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

For a recent Saturday talk, the Abhayagiri community was treated to a Dhamma talk by Ajahn Sucitto, or at least a recording thereof. This talk was originally given on 22 November 2016 at Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge Retreat Center in Barre, MA, uploaded to Dharma Seed (https://dharmaseed.org/), and played at Abhayagiri on 26 January, 2019. Dharma Seed offers this regarding Ajahn Sucitto’s talk: “Upadana (clinging) is a reflex, not a rational choice. It can be released at the point where perception (sanna) triggers reaction (sankhara), through widening attention.” The Original recording can be found here: https://dharmaseed.org/teacher/9/talk/38125/ About Dharma Seed: https://dharmaseed.org/about/us/ From the Dharma Seed website: Content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Dharma Seed is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization. email: [email protected]

Ajahn Kaccana discusses the appropriate attention needed to see and lessen the five hindrances to meditation. He also discusses the practice of good will and the appropriate attention necessary to bring it forth. This talk was offered on January 26, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Naniko offers ways to deal with hindrances and difficulties encountered in undertaking the path, and in meditation during long retreat. He discusses applying the truth of uncertainty, mindfulness of the body, contemplation of the five aggregates affected by clinging, and wholesome and unwholesome desire. This talk was offered on January 20, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Karunadhammo discusses death, contemplation of body and feelings, clinging, and relinquishing the suffering we add to experience. We can reduce the chaotic pull of sense activity by grounding our attention in mindfulness of the body. This talk was offered on January 19, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

In this reading from the Winter Retreat of 2018, Luang Por Pasanno continues reading from chapter 2 of Stillness Flowing. The first section describes the cultural role monasteries have had in Thailand since Buddhism was established in the country, and the second section briefly touches on Ajahn Chah’s life as a novice in his early teenage years. In the following discussion, Luang Por describes Wat Pah Pong’s and Wat Nanachat’s relationship with other local monasteries, and the discussion launches into an in-depth Q/A on dhamma practice where Luang Por answers questions on topics such as distracting thoughts, pesky mental habits, anxiety, and death. This talk was offered on March 7, 2018 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery

Ajahn Naniko discusses hindrances during retreat, misconceptions about blissful states, measuring progress, and developing a mind of endurance and the long view. This talk was offered on January 12, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Approaching the start of the winter retreat, Ajahn Karunadhammo gives guidance on moving from activity to retreat, settling the mind, contemplations on the body, and gratitude for support and the Dhamma. This talk was offered on January 5, 2019 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Karunadhammo discusses a teaching on the kamma of negative actions. Developing wholesome mind states such as loving kindness and compassion is a way to ameliorate the effect of past negative actions. He suggests ways to understand and let go of remorse, to forgive, and to reconcile, internally and with others, our past unwholesome acts. This talk was offered on December 31, 2018 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.