Abhayagiri Talks

Tan Nisabho gives some history of the monks’ Tudong practice and describes his walking journey in Australia. He discusses his brief visit to Dharma Realm Buddhist University where he and Tan Kovilo stayed as part of their recent Tudong. The beauty of Tudong affirms ones faith and surrender to the goodness of others. This talk was offered on November 22, 2018 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Using the example of the massive wildfires in the area, Ajahn Karunadhammo asks, “In what do we take refuge?” when external conditions are difficult and threatening. Since the world is inherently unstable, one needs to take refuge in developing internal stability and wholesome mental qualities. When we see and understand the first noble truth of suffering, we can begin to accept instability and change. Questions and answers follow. This talk was offered on November 14, 2018 at Yoga Mendocino, Ukiah, California.

Tan Kovilo describes the one week Tudong walk which he and Tan Nisabho completed from Windsor, California to Abhayagiri. Cold temperatures, shelter, recollecting the Dhammapada, and gratitude sustain them on their pilgrimage home. This talk was offered on November 15, 2018 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Kaccana discusses the importance of anapanasati or breath meditation practice. He describes the Buddha’s simile of a skilled lathe turner. One attends to or knows the qualities of the breath just as a lathe turner knows he or she has made a short or long turn of the lathe. See a video of a bow lathe turner: (https://youtu.be/wnv0DAR_gWA). Ajahn discusses attention to posture, focus on the meditation object, awareness of hindrances, patience, and beginning again. This talk was offered on November 18, 2018 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

This talk was offered on October 28, 2008 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

This talk was offered on October 28, 2008 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Amaro asks, How do we relate to activity? It is not correct to view any kind of activity as disturbing our peace, in meditation or outside it. The key is the attitude we bring to the activity. An attitude without self view, based on attuning to time, place, conditions is key. Our capacity to be receptive and to act is also part of the natural order. He describes right effort and non self. Questions and answers follow. This talk was offered on November 6, 2018 at Berkeley Buddhist Monastery in Berkeley, California.

Ajahn Amaro offered reflections at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas on failure and success. When integrating the Dhamma perspective, one moves further away from “what I like or dislike” and closer to “what can I learn from it?” As we come upon the sweet and bitter tastes of life experiences, we can growingly understand them as impermanent experiences we can learn from. He emphasized the importance of having good and wise friends, and their role in offering feedback on our conduct and starting the process of coming out of greed, hatred, and delusion. He also answered the assembly’s questions, including how to give feedback and receive feedback, how to contemplate on death, how to fully engage in meaningful projects without attaching to the outcomes, etc.

Every year at the end of the vassa, the junior monastics at Abhayagiri offer reflections on their spiritual path. 0:00 Ajahn Kaccāna: Stages of the Bhikkhu Life 7:44 Sāmaṇera Cittapālo: Consciously Sitting with Uncomfortable Feelings 12:30 Anagārika Nick: Taking Back Control from Craving 22:54 Upāsikā Debbie: Dealing with Loss 33:52 Ajahn Ṭhitapañño: Reflecting on Death and Appreciation of the Monastic Culture 41:36 Anagārika Jordan: Facing Bleakness with Loving Kindness These talks were offered on October 24, 2018 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.