Practice Develops Qualities – a Refuge in the Heart

Greetings Fellow Practitioners,

This update brings both some sad and some happy news… 
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Ajahn Pavaro is a Canadian born Bhikkhu who has lived with me for around 6 years as my 2nd monk here at Anandagiri. We've shared a noble friendship and also had some great adventures while on Pilgrimages over the years. Last year he felt that it would be good to check in with folks back in Canada and so spent the rainy season retreat away. We had planned to meet up again and co-lead a retreat in Malaysia as we have done several times before. Ajahn was very tired and a little forgetful when I met him in Kuala Lumpur, but we both thought this was just jetlag. As the retreat progressed Ajahn seemed to become more tired and forgetful, but neither of us knew for sure what was wrong. A head scan shortly after the retreat revealed that there was blood caught between his skull and brain, probably the result of a knock on the head many months earlier. As the blood was hardening it was pressing against the brain and this was what was causing the forgetfulness. A surgical procedure was needed, holes then had to be literally drilled into his skull in order to release the build up of pressure.

This talk is a personal sharing about impermanence and uncertainty, ageing and sickness, but also about the qualities of Ajahn Pavaro, his habits of mind, and how they were clearly a support to him during this difficult time. Ajahn's qualities also made him an easy monk to take care of, which made an already difficult situation much more easy to bare. Although given to a group of junior monks at Wat Pah Nanachat, (The International Forest Monastery) many of the subjects touched upon are relevant to all practitioners still 'practicing with' the human situation and predicament.

The good news is that although subsequent procedures were required, Ajahn is now in good health and good spirits and recovering well.

Hope something in this talk is useful to you wherever you find yourself just now.

With Loving Kindness

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Ajahn Achalo Bhikkhu

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Listen to this talk - Practice Develops Qualities

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