Abhayagiri Talks

Using the lyrics of the 1977 song “Dust in the Wind” as a springboard, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo contemplates the depth of suffering experienced by beings through endless rounds of samsara. He encourages the community to take advantage of the upcoming three months of retreat to move away from the surface reactions of the everyday mind that keep us bound to this cycle and to move instead into a deeper level of practice. This talk was offered on December 28, 2014 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Pasanno discusses placing a frame around our meditation object to investigate our experience and recognize skillful and unskillful patterns. We can see what moves in and out of the frame and also modulate it. If the frame is too big, we can lose focus. He speaks about the importance of seclusion of the mind from attraction and aversion, and from the sense of self. He emphasizes developing contentment with the practice, with each in breath and out breath. This talk was offered on September 10, 2016 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Jotipalo discusses the creation of his shrine to Siladhara Rocana which will be hung at the entrance to Casa Serena. She was the first siladhara nun ordained by Ajahn Sumedho. Reading from her obituary, “what she cared about most was recognizing that the three gems (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha) can help to remedy the ailments of our western society.” This talk was offered on September 5, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Siripanyo discusses right effort and the influence of cultural attitudes in developing motivation to practice. He urges us to know ourselves. For example, how do we respond to teachers’ methods, to stimulus? What is the right balance of effort and patience so that the practice is enjoyable, sustainable and leading to growth? When we get it right, then meditation can be effortless; like a springboard diver who performs a flawless dive. This talk was offered on September 3, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

Ajahn Siripanyo reflects on the question,” Does sila, samadhi, panna (ethics, meditation, wisdom) work? Using examples from lay and monastic life, he explains the internal benefit to oneself and the external benefit to others of cultivating this path. He describes these factors as interdependent and mutually reinforcing, For example, sila and wisdom are like two hands washing each other. The path offers something beyond the “factual” reality of the conditioned world. Our challenge is to discover this.

Ajahn Pasanno tells the Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat participants that by taking the Three Refuges and the Eight Precepts they have begun a process of leaning away from desire and inclining toward a clarity of heart. This period of ten days, he tells us, is an opportunity to move away from the habit of complexity and toward simplification.

Ajahn Jotipalo discusses the aspects of Right Intention:  renunciation, non ill will, and non cruelty as practiced in the daily life of monastics.   This talk was offered on August 29, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

This morning reflection was offered on September 2, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

This morning reflection was offered on September 1, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

This morning reflection was offered on August 31, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.