Ajahn Pasanno describes the five hindrances as the mind’s unsuccessful strategy to deal with suffering. He encourages us to investigate the hindrances and be aware of the swings of the mind - from sinking/inertia to the momentum of being swept along by a particular mind object. He describes antidotes for the hindrances and reminds us that awareness of greed, for example, is not greed. The fruit of this training in awareness is the recognition: “I am mindful; I am content.” This talk was offered on May 18, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Pasanno discusses the purposes of loving kindness meditation: as an antidote to anger and other unskillful mind states, and to brighten and settle the mind. He mentions different ways to develop the feeling of loving kindness towards our self and towards others. Loving kindness meditation can facilitate investigation since peaceful, clear states which result are subject to change. This talk was given on May 13, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Going forth and right effort towards the beautiful. This talk was given at Tan. Cunda’s ordination on May 22, 2008. This talk was featured on the 20th anniversary compilation of talks.

On Vesākha Pūjā evening commemorating the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death, Ajahn Pasanno describes the importance of happiness and well-being in the practice. A happiness borne from what is wholesome, skillful, and beneficial leads to concentration. He cautions us to practice in a balanced way - not to hold the precepts too tightly or force the mind in meditation. Using the example of a small bird in the hand, he advises to hold it firmly, but not tightly. He urges us to emulate the Buddha’s qualities in our heart and live out the refuges of Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha in our daily life. This talk was offered on May 10, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Anagārikas Jeff, Dorian and Hector request and receive the sāmaṇera precepts to further their monastic training. Ajahn Pasanno reflects on the purpose and benefit of living according to the precepts and the monastic form. He describes the Buddha’s teaching on contentment with the training: contentment with the requisites as they are given, contentment with relinquishing the unwholesome and cultivating the wholesome, and contentment without comparison to others. At the end of the ceremony, Ajahn Pasanno gave Jeff, Dorian and Hector their new names: Guṇavīro, Tissaro and Ṭhitasukho respectively. This talk was given on May 6, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Jotipalo explains the cultivation of the ten paramis or perfections. He gives different ways to practice them - in chanting, during walking meditation, and as aspirations. He suggests we focus on the parami that is called for in a particular situation. He reminds us that cultivation of the paramis is not just for our own spiritual development, but for the welfare of others. This talk was given on May 3, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

At Upāsaka Renewal Day, Ajahn Pasanno reflects on the role of devotion and ritual in practice. He discusses the chants and suttas included in the recent consecration ceremony of the new Buddha image in the new Dhamma Hall. These talks and reflections were given at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery on April 30, 2017.

Ajahn Pasanno recalls Ajahn Chah’s description of the six sense bases—sight, sound, taste, smell, touch, and mind as our six teachers. Ajahn Pasanno urges us not to reject or block out sense experiences but to reflectively investigate them; to use them in training the mind. The problem is not sense experience itself; it is our leanings or biases (aversion, attraction fear, delusion) in response to it. The training (sikkhati) is to learn from these experiences, see these biases and relinquish them. That is freedom. This talk was offered on April 29, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Skip to English translation: In his last talk before departing Abhayagiri, Luang Por Piak offers reflections on different topics: his early years, Ajahn Chah, bringing the Thai Forest tradition to the west, and Abhayagiri as a place to develop the Dhamma-Vinaya. He reminds us to understand three things: “not me, not mine, not self” and to use body contemplation to see the body as empty. This talk was offered on April 25, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Luang Por Piak responds to questions about the transition to a novice, dealing with illness in meditation practice, breath meditation, body contemplation, death contemplation, mindfulness during eating, mantra recitation, inspiration in the midst of daily routine and others. This question and answer period was offered on April 24, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery and translated by Ajahn Siripañño.