Livestream Recordings |
Virtual Dhamma Talks on Zoom
with Ajahn Achalo
Zoom meetings are one way to encourage some people to contemplate the Dhamma and it’s practice together.
Please note: Any advertising that appears during any of these session on YouTube is due to a change in YouTube's policies, Ajahn Achalo offers his teachings free of charge and has not become a business partner of the platform. An annual subscription to YouTube however will resolve the issue, so that you can listen to Dhamma content without distracting or inappropriate interruptions. Another option could be to install on your device AdBlock Plus, a free download. The choices are yours.
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Latest - 24 April 2024
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Questions
Q1 - Dear Ajahn, I am having trouble understanding how a sotapanna becomes free from doubt in rebirth. Other factors of dependent origination one can observe directly, for example I can see in the present that feeling leads to craving.
Thus, one can overcome doubt regarding this aspect of Dhamma and many others. |
However, regarding rebirth, to directly observe the process driving it, one would have to have special psychic abilities to remember their previous deaths and rebirths. So, lacking the ability to see it, how can one overcome doubt regarding the process by which rebirth occurs? Even if one sees craving driving bhava (becoming) in the present, how could they be sure this would continue after death? Thank you.
Q2 - Whenever I try to meditate for a longer period I feel pressure building up on my head. How do I overcome this problem?
Q3 - Dear Ajahn, a close relative suffers from persistent neck, back, and other joint pain. In meditations, you have talked about directing your attention to pain to acknowledge that this is just pain in the body. Could you talk about this some more? Can mental practices like this help even outside of the meditation period?
Q4 - May I know if the words ‘sentient beings’ encompasses departed relatives, devas and locality deities too? I would like to offer merits to all the beings in all the realms whenever I do any offerings in future. I don’t wish to miss out anyone.
Q5 - Dear Ajahn. I read that humans make up just 0.01% of Earth’s life (i.e. animals). If the denominator includes beings such as hungry ghosts and hell denizens, then humans likely make up a much smaller percentage of the 6 realms of beings. This gives credence to the Lord Buddha’s statement that the human rebirth is extremely rare. I understand that a human rebirth is assured if one can hold the five precepts habitually. Most people around us seem to keep the 5 precepts and are generally decent, so it’s surprising that humans make up such a low percentage. Is it the case that the laws of karma are terribly strict (such that the effects of bad acts are magnified), or are the majority of beings really that wretched? Thank you!
Q6 - What is shunyata? I feel when all positives and negatives go to zero that state is shunyata. Please could you comment?
Q7 - Why do you think it is so difficult for one to look inwards compared to one looking outwards at others? I have to be very mindful 24/7 to bring my mind inwards and tell myself to mind my own business instead of others’ business. This practice isn’t easy, but I know it’s doable. However, in educating a child a parent one has to look outwardly at how the child behaves and correct them at appropriate times. In this case, how should a parent be practising to look “inwards” more than outwards.
Q8 - Dear Ajahn, I feel dispassionate with my household life since I started meditating, I used to love sport, not anymore, I don't like socializing, I prefer solitude. Can you give some advice, please. Thank you
Q9 - Sometimes in meditation there is a heaviness in the heart/diaphragm area as well as some dark clouds that cover parts of brightness in the mind. Can Ajahn provide some guidance on how to work with this energy?
Q10 - Dear Ajahn. I do not have any cravings to reach any stages of jhana, is this alright? I only strive to improve myself to let go on a daily basis and I have made strong aspirations to improve my sitting and cultivation, hoping to maintain mindfulness and calmness until my final liberation. Achieving jhana stage to me is like, aiming to get an ‘A’, gain a High Distinction. I feel stressed even thinking about it. Does one need to reach to a jhana stage in order for one to be fully liberated?
Q2 - Whenever I try to meditate for a longer period I feel pressure building up on my head. How do I overcome this problem?
Q3 - Dear Ajahn, a close relative suffers from persistent neck, back, and other joint pain. In meditations, you have talked about directing your attention to pain to acknowledge that this is just pain in the body. Could you talk about this some more? Can mental practices like this help even outside of the meditation period?
Q4 - May I know if the words ‘sentient beings’ encompasses departed relatives, devas and locality deities too? I would like to offer merits to all the beings in all the realms whenever I do any offerings in future. I don’t wish to miss out anyone.
Q5 - Dear Ajahn. I read that humans make up just 0.01% of Earth’s life (i.e. animals). If the denominator includes beings such as hungry ghosts and hell denizens, then humans likely make up a much smaller percentage of the 6 realms of beings. This gives credence to the Lord Buddha’s statement that the human rebirth is extremely rare. I understand that a human rebirth is assured if one can hold the five precepts habitually. Most people around us seem to keep the 5 precepts and are generally decent, so it’s surprising that humans make up such a low percentage. Is it the case that the laws of karma are terribly strict (such that the effects of bad acts are magnified), or are the majority of beings really that wretched? Thank you!
Q6 - What is shunyata? I feel when all positives and negatives go to zero that state is shunyata. Please could you comment?
Q7 - Why do you think it is so difficult for one to look inwards compared to one looking outwards at others? I have to be very mindful 24/7 to bring my mind inwards and tell myself to mind my own business instead of others’ business. This practice isn’t easy, but I know it’s doable. However, in educating a child a parent one has to look outwardly at how the child behaves and correct them at appropriate times. In this case, how should a parent be practising to look “inwards” more than outwards.
Q8 - Dear Ajahn, I feel dispassionate with my household life since I started meditating, I used to love sport, not anymore, I don't like socializing, I prefer solitude. Can you give some advice, please. Thank you
Q9 - Sometimes in meditation there is a heaviness in the heart/diaphragm area as well as some dark clouds that cover parts of brightness in the mind. Can Ajahn provide some guidance on how to work with this energy?
Q10 - Dear Ajahn. I do not have any cravings to reach any stages of jhana, is this alright? I only strive to improve myself to let go on a daily basis and I have made strong aspirations to improve my sitting and cultivation, hoping to maintain mindfulness and calmness until my final liberation. Achieving jhana stage to me is like, aiming to get an ‘A’, gain a High Distinction. I feel stressed even thinking about it. Does one need to reach to a jhana stage in order for one to be fully liberated?
If you are a subscriber to this website and would like to join the virtual gatherings:
Please contact JOYCE LIM, mention that you are a subscriber of this website and request the password and ID. If there is space available, you will need to download the zoom app. The free version is good enough. Please write your name and country in your user name so that we can see where people are joining in from. Questions or subjects to be covered in a follow up session can be asked via the chat function on the Zoom app once you’ve logged into the actual session.
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