Online Gatherings |
Livestream Recordings - May to Aug. 2024
08 August 2024
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To begin Ajahn shares some details about his trip to Australia
Q1 - Dear Tan Ajahn, I’ve been meditating more in the past month. I have been experiencing deeper and more consistent moments of peacefulness than before, and mindfulness in day-to-day life does appear to be better.
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However, this has also been accompanied by feeling increasingly overstimulated in daily life — socialising feels especially draining, and even sounds appear louder and more grating on the ears than before. I’ve also been experiencing emotions like happiness and peacefulness more intensely, but on the flipside this has been accompanied with an equally more pronounced experience of negative emotions, like sadness and irritation. I’ve noticed that even though the spike between good and bad emotions has increased, they’ve been lasting for shorter periods than before I started meditating more. Is this a normal part of the process, or could I be doing something wrong? Do you have any advice for me? Thank you Tan Ajahn.
Q2 - When I meditate, I feel sometimes a strong energy on my forehead. However, I lose it and lose my concentration. I discovered recently that once I open my eyes, I regain my focus and continue mindfully with my breath. Is there a better way to cultivate that energy I'm feeling?
Q3 - Why are some people born with medical issues such as Downs syndrome? Why the difference in people’s bodily abilities and mental faculties? Are there some lessons for us here. Is it their karma?
Q4 - I have a condition which causes excess of dopamine secretion in my brain...I have been asked not to do any kind of meditation, contemplation. What do you suggest for me?
Q2 - When I meditate, I feel sometimes a strong energy on my forehead. However, I lose it and lose my concentration. I discovered recently that once I open my eyes, I regain my focus and continue mindfully with my breath. Is there a better way to cultivate that energy I'm feeling?
Q3 - Why are some people born with medical issues such as Downs syndrome? Why the difference in people’s bodily abilities and mental faculties? Are there some lessons for us here. Is it their karma?
Q4 - I have a condition which causes excess of dopamine secretion in my brain...I have been asked not to do any kind of meditation, contemplation. What do you suggest for me?
24 July 2024
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Pilgrimage at Chinese Holy Mountains
Ajahn reviews the recent pilgrimage to China.
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04 July 2024
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Questions
Q1 - Dear Ajahn, for one who is just learning how to chant, what chant(s) do you recommend learning first?
Q2 - One of my friends has neck arthritis and can't sit long in a meditation pose. What do you suggest? Is it OK if she lies down whenever her pain starts? |
Q3 - Dear Ajahn, a friend has observed that my husband is a very selfless person, and that he is always be willing to sacrifice his own comfort to help others, which is very true. He can also afford to offer more dana than I can, as he has more income. So my friend said that “He will go to a higher realm’, than I. Is this true, Ajahn? I don’t have as much money to offer, however, I do regularly offer dana. Perhaps not with as much money, but with a lot of effort. I used to wake up at 4.30 everyday for almost 2 years to chant and finish my 1 hour of morning meditation session. I’m also giving up a lot in my life so that I can practice more and help out with the Ajahn’s and the Buddhist community. I also tend to be more consistent in the practice. Though I haven't been waking up as early as before, I have been either practicing meditation or chanting everyday consistently for the past 4 or 5 years. I would rejoice if my husband, who I love dearly and only wish good things for, went to a high or even a higher realm. However, what she said got stuck in my heart, and I have some confusion. Are my efforts not producing similar good kamma?
Q4 - May I know, if one knows their deeper intention, but they cannot let others know as one is selling/pitching a particular product or program. Will it be breaking the 4th precept? Is this a subtle form of lying? As it’s not possible to let others know the true intention. Also, is it true that business and dhamma has to be aligned in order for a business to truly flourish?
Q5 - Dear Ajahn, what questions can I ask myself every month* to assess whether my meditation practice is on the right track / helping me to become a better person? I want to ask myself these questions, because if it is not working, then I will ask a meditation teacher to help me refine or totally change my meditation technique. Thank you so much.
Q6 - Why are some people blessed with a long life, while others have to leave early?
Q4 - May I know, if one knows their deeper intention, but they cannot let others know as one is selling/pitching a particular product or program. Will it be breaking the 4th precept? Is this a subtle form of lying? As it’s not possible to let others know the true intention. Also, is it true that business and dhamma has to be aligned in order for a business to truly flourish?
Q5 - Dear Ajahn, what questions can I ask myself every month* to assess whether my meditation practice is on the right track / helping me to become a better person? I want to ask myself these questions, because if it is not working, then I will ask a meditation teacher to help me refine or totally change my meditation technique. Thank you so much.
Q6 - Why are some people blessed with a long life, while others have to leave early?
12 June 2024
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Questions
Q1 - Dear Ajahn, what types of meditations would you suggest for someone who meditates twice daily, with each session lasting 30 minutes? Could you also share a rough schedule?
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Q2 - Dear Ajahn, I have observed that many modern/city Buddhists are more self-absorbed and are perhaps less grateful to their teachers when compared to say the traditional Buddhists of previous eras. I was thinking about this and have some questions. Is having respect and gratitude important for modern practitioners? If so, what is the appropriate way or approach of showing respect to teachers in the Thai forest tradition? Is sending metta, sharing merits and offering practice a suitable means of paying respect? Thank you Ajahn.
Q3 -When I observe Theravada monks in a Theravada temple in Singapore, seeing that they do accept red packets with money inside from the laypeople on their birthday or on a special occasion like Chinese New Year, then I compare with the forest sangha tradition, I know that I shouldn’t be too judgemental, but I feel some confusion. Seeking your guidance here.
Q4 - Dear Ajahn Achalo, may I know if my views are correct in the following consideration below.I sense myself being judgmental and righteous here. I feel that Vesak Day should be celebrated by doing retreats and observing noble silence and meditating more, and not through attending stalls to see what is there to eat or buy etc. Some Mahayana temples have performances as well. Any thoughts?
Q3 -When I observe Theravada monks in a Theravada temple in Singapore, seeing that they do accept red packets with money inside from the laypeople on their birthday or on a special occasion like Chinese New Year, then I compare with the forest sangha tradition, I know that I shouldn’t be too judgemental, but I feel some confusion. Seeking your guidance here.
Q4 - Dear Ajahn Achalo, may I know if my views are correct in the following consideration below.I sense myself being judgmental and righteous here. I feel that Vesak Day should be celebrated by doing retreats and observing noble silence and meditating more, and not through attending stalls to see what is there to eat or buy etc. Some Mahayana temples have performances as well. Any thoughts?
29 May 2024
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Questions
Q1 - Please help me strengthen my ability to forgive. A precious friend’s actions hurt me a few years ago, so deeply that the echo of the pain is still present. I have offered prostrations, dedications, sutta chanting and metta. The blockage has lessened considerably, but I'm still unable to fully trust this person.
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Q2 - Dear Ajahn, how can one deal with the dispassion and Dukkha that arises deeply when looking at the suffering of the animals and other beings around me. Even helping them as much as possible is not enough to calm the mind down.
Q3 - I am a Reiki master. I heard briefly somewhere that you were not a fan of Reiki. Would you please explain why?
Q4 - I sometimes feel that celibacy is drying up my heart in the sense that there isn’t so much affective connection with beings. On some occasions, when I get to see people in a loving relationship I sometimes feel I’m missing out on that part of life. Although I do experience some of the benefits of maintaining celibacy such as being more contented, having a mind that is more focused on the practice, having more clarity, inner serenity and things like this.
Q5 - Dear Ajahn, as a layman is there anything we can do to protect ourselves, (such as chanting a mantra perhaps?) against imminent dangers from people with evil intentions like money lenders coming to demand payments?
Q6 - May I know the difference between the offering of Forest Cloth and Kathina Cloth?
Q7 - Dear Ajahn. Is it useful to seek forgiveness every time when we make any physically offerings to the Sangha? E.g. Medicine, Food or Shelter? Is seeking forgiveness like a reminder for us to be guided by Hiri and Ottapa? (Conscience).
Q3 - I am a Reiki master. I heard briefly somewhere that you were not a fan of Reiki. Would you please explain why?
Q4 - I sometimes feel that celibacy is drying up my heart in the sense that there isn’t so much affective connection with beings. On some occasions, when I get to see people in a loving relationship I sometimes feel I’m missing out on that part of life. Although I do experience some of the benefits of maintaining celibacy such as being more contented, having a mind that is more focused on the practice, having more clarity, inner serenity and things like this.
Q5 - Dear Ajahn, as a layman is there anything we can do to protect ourselves, (such as chanting a mantra perhaps?) against imminent dangers from people with evil intentions like money lenders coming to demand payments?
Q6 - May I know the difference between the offering of Forest Cloth and Kathina Cloth?
Q7 - Dear Ajahn. Is it useful to seek forgiveness every time when we make any physically offerings to the Sangha? E.g. Medicine, Food or Shelter? Is seeking forgiveness like a reminder for us to be guided by Hiri and Ottapa? (Conscience).
15 May 2024
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Questions
Q1 - Dear Ajahn. How can I be forgiven for having very unwholesome thoughts of anger towards my parent? I realise now that it arose from deep delusion and feel very guilty.
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Q2 - Dear Ajahn. May I know if one can one attain enlightenment or attain to stream-entry, while doing simple daily chores? It does not always need to be in a meditative state for one to become enlightened, right? I want to know if one way out is for one to be very mindful with all of the small tasks one is doing?
Q3 - Dear Ajahn. May I know how can one reduce their bad kamma and obstructions? I do put forth effort and determination into performing meritorious deeds. There are some occasions where I will tune in to YouTube to listen to some repentance chant/ purification chant, hoping this will be of help. However, I am aware that in Theravada tradition this doesn’t appear to be practiced. Seeking your guidance on this.
Q4 - How can I move on from my ex? It's been close to one and a half years but I still get depressed thinking about her and sad that she has already moved on.
Q3 - Dear Ajahn. May I know how can one reduce their bad kamma and obstructions? I do put forth effort and determination into performing meritorious deeds. There are some occasions where I will tune in to YouTube to listen to some repentance chant/ purification chant, hoping this will be of help. However, I am aware that in Theravada tradition this doesn’t appear to be practiced. Seeking your guidance on this.
Q4 - How can I move on from my ex? It's been close to one and a half years but I still get depressed thinking about her and sad that she has already moved on.
