Continuing a theme from the Upasika Day teachings the day before, Ajahn Jotipālo contemplates the somewhat mysterious word from the Buddha's time, papañca. Traditionally translated as “mental proliferation” and more recently translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu as “objectification,” Ajahn Jotipālo reflects on it as a process by which the natural peaceful state of mind is cut off by obstacles of thoughts and mental states that bring us into the realm of “self.” He explores two different angles to come at papañca - paying attention to the resulting actions, and watching how sense contact leads to feeling, which more often than not begins a descent into dukkha. He also relates this phenomenon to the act of asking forgiveness for unskillful actions and speech. This talk was offered on October 9, 2016 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.