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Livestream recordings October to December 2020

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30 December 2020 

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 Questions

1 - One of the good outcomes of the pandemic was to get myself more immersed in Buddhism and meditation. I am also following Bhante Mahinda and doing some sessions with the Tzu Chi group, Lotus Sutra/Sutra of Infinite Meanings. Am I going on too many paths or seeking different methods? Please comment.

2 - This morning I had a strange experience when meditating. I was using the rising-falling breath meditation. At one point, my breathing slowed a lot. It felt like the body didn't want to breathe; the very act of breathing seemed almost forced at that moment. Simultaneously, I had the sensation of my shoulders rounding up in front. Both ceased after a while partly due to interruptions of thought and external factors. I was wondering if you provide some insight into it. Thank you.

3 - Could you speak a little on how practitioners should engage with time? Meditation and mindfulness emphasize coming to the present moment, while some sutra's sometimes bring the mind to vast cosmic time scales, such as aeons. Both seem to take the practitioner's mind away from habitual, ordinary ways of thinking of time. Yet we also need conventional time to plan things and live our day to day lives.

4 - Do we need to achieve certain level of jhana to be a stream enterer?

5 - I’m crying a lot during metta meditation and am unable to generate any metta. Should I stop the meditation & wait for the feeling to subside when the crying is too much or continue to try generating metta? On the days I generate metta, I am quick to get upset. Why is that?

6 - Should we be afraid of death and rebirth?

16 December 2020 

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Questions

1 - Kindly advise on how to do the proper counting method for breathing meditation for us to calm the mind?
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2 - In your new book (The Process of Realisation), you mentioned Ajahn Anan can come out of a particular meditation state and he can then decide to spread loving kindness into the world element. Can you elaborate on this?

3 - In conjunction with Anandagiri’s 10th anniversary, can Phra Ajahn share some teachings about balancing among personal practice, building the monastery, guiding the monastic order, sharing your teachings online, leading retreats & pilgrimages and also working with kind villagers & supporters. We believe Phra Ajahn has a lot of interesting stories from building a beautiful monastery in the past 10 years and many beautiful examples of service, generosity and endurance during tough periods.

02 December 2020 

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Questions

1 ​- Could you please guide us, in a step by step manner on how to practise vipassana?

2 - Since meditating consistently before sleeping, I am aware of more unpleasant dreams, with feelings of fear and anxiety. Am I doing something wrong?

​3 - Since doing the Kwan Yin Compassion meditation of yours, I am more aware of sadness and loneliness. Any thoughts on this?

04 November 2020 

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Questions

1 - During my breathing meditation, I notice that my in-breath is very subtle. I can only follow my out-breath. Should I just let it be? 

2 - Does metta meditation leads to deep concentration or it is essential to do Anapanasati meditation after metta meditation?

3 - Can vivid nightmares be a means of working out karma?

4 - Is it possible to dream of one's bad deeds from a past life? 

5 - What is the meaning of ‘karmic creditors’? 

6 - How do we keep pure intention in our daily practice and not let it fall into being a desire to ‘be someone’ or to ‘be enlightened’, or a desire to have or to want etc. as this could turn into an attachment or clinging.

15 October 2020 - Talk on Kathina and rains retreat

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Questions

1 - Will we be able see the Kathina Ceremony from Anandagiri…live? (No).

2 - How can we relate to the arisen painful feelings skilfully, especially after prolonged trying
of applying the 'remedy'?

​3 - What's the wholesome way to "go with the flow" of impending conditional events in maintaining peace and calm within?

Virtual gatherings with Ajahn Achalo

Watch and listen to more livestream recordings of all virtual gatherings with Ajahn along with full details on all topics discussed and the questions answered month by month since the beginning of the pandemic.

Return to the monthly listings