Livestream Recordings |
Online Meetings October - December 2023
23 December 2023
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Questions
Q1 Concerning the three levels of samādhi: khanika, upacara and appana. How much time can one spend in each level of samādhi? Also, is it the case that in the Theravada tradition when one reaches appana samādhi, one is not aware of the five physical senses? How could these three levels be described from the perspective of someone who is experiencing them?
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Q2 Dear Ajahn, if it's all empty, there is nothing, and there is no self, what is being reborn?
Q3 Dear Ajahn, may I know how can we tell the correct or suitable limit for the social media one should consume, knowing that one will get affected easily from social media especially, with the recent news of the war. I haven’t been looking at social media for the past week. This has been very helpful. But returning to the social lay life, we have to be in touch with some news. Thank you.
Q4 Dear Ajahn, you once shared that, as a novice, struggling with meditation, you left the meditation hall and encountered your teacher waiting for you on the path, who advised you to not try so hard during meditation. How can one find the right balance between too much and too little effort in meditation? Are there questions one can ask oneself to help steer oneself to the middle intensity? What signs in our practice indicate that we should actually lift our game and push ourselves to try harder? Conversely, if meditation feels miserable or boring, is that a sign that we’re meditating at too high an intensity or without gentleness /self-compassion?
Q5 Dear Ajahn, is it OK to experiment and come up with our own mediation techniques? For example, if I am doing breath meditation, and I experience a pang of emotion in my body, then can I project my mind deeper into this bodily sensation to explore it, and stop focusing on the breath? Or is that a bad thing to do, because during breath meditation, our focus is to drop anything that diverts our attention away from the breath, whether it’s emotions, thoughts or physical sensations? Can you please suggest any criteria or questions we can ask ourselves to help us assess when we might be going down the wrong path when one experiments with modifying meditation techniques?
Q3 Dear Ajahn, may I know how can we tell the correct or suitable limit for the social media one should consume, knowing that one will get affected easily from social media especially, with the recent news of the war. I haven’t been looking at social media for the past week. This has been very helpful. But returning to the social lay life, we have to be in touch with some news. Thank you.
Q4 Dear Ajahn, you once shared that, as a novice, struggling with meditation, you left the meditation hall and encountered your teacher waiting for you on the path, who advised you to not try so hard during meditation. How can one find the right balance between too much and too little effort in meditation? Are there questions one can ask oneself to help steer oneself to the middle intensity? What signs in our practice indicate that we should actually lift our game and push ourselves to try harder? Conversely, if meditation feels miserable or boring, is that a sign that we’re meditating at too high an intensity or without gentleness /self-compassion?
Q5 Dear Ajahn, is it OK to experiment and come up with our own mediation techniques? For example, if I am doing breath meditation, and I experience a pang of emotion in my body, then can I project my mind deeper into this bodily sensation to explore it, and stop focusing on the breath? Or is that a bad thing to do, because during breath meditation, our focus is to drop anything that diverts our attention away from the breath, whether it’s emotions, thoughts or physical sensations? Can you please suggest any criteria or questions we can ask ourselves to help us assess when we might be going down the wrong path when one experiments with modifying meditation techniques?
06 December 2023
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Questions
Q1: Dear Ajahn, can you talk a little about some tools to work with a tendency to want to always "be right", and how to practice on letting that unhelpful personality trait go, please?
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Q2: I am interested in psychology and the dynamic of human relationships. I am aware that I am a Highly Sensitive Person, ‘Extreme Empath’, and on the 16 Personalities scale I'm classed as The Advocate. I'm very seldom triggered by personal offense since I started learning and practicing Buddhism. But I still can get easily triggered by certain issues of injustice in social dialogues, or when standing up for an individual. I can feel that my emotional upset is underpinned by some judgement, and it is not wholesome at times. How can I overcome this?
Q3: Can you explain what is Mara's attack? Is it also known as the defilements? Or can Mara also cause obstacles to our practice? How to recognise or detect this? Or is it also the 'Devil in Us’.
Q4: I have a few questions for you, with reference to the recent war in Gaza. I saw these very saddening images of children severely hurt, people drenched in blood, loved ones mourning their losses etc.
Q4a: Why would the merit of being born as a human in fact bring so much suffering? I mean, if that being was an animal, say a bird, they could have flown away to safety and no one will make obstacles at immigration checkpoints etc.
Q4b: Does this also mean that there are infinite number of beings trapped in this vicious cycle, where they are born into darkness and fall into darkness forever and ever?
Q4c: Do you think these conflicts will get worse and more often in the future?
Q3: Can you explain what is Mara's attack? Is it also known as the defilements? Or can Mara also cause obstacles to our practice? How to recognise or detect this? Or is it also the 'Devil in Us’.
Q4: I have a few questions for you, with reference to the recent war in Gaza. I saw these very saddening images of children severely hurt, people drenched in blood, loved ones mourning their losses etc.
Q4a: Why would the merit of being born as a human in fact bring so much suffering? I mean, if that being was an animal, say a bird, they could have flown away to safety and no one will make obstacles at immigration checkpoints etc.
Q4b: Does this also mean that there are infinite number of beings trapped in this vicious cycle, where they are born into darkness and fall into darkness forever and ever?
Q4c: Do you think these conflicts will get worse and more often in the future?
18 October 2023
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Questions
Q1: Dear Ajahn, you recently encouraged people joining your upcoming pilgrimage to read The Great Disciples of the Buddha. May I ask who is your favourite great disciple?
Q2: I have heard you say that the 5 spiritual powers (bala) must be balanced. But how can there be too much pañña bala? If basically, the practice is about wisdom? |
Q3: Dear Ajahn, when I read a dhamma book recently, “Even in the darkest moment” by Venerable K Rathansara, I came across this phrase: “True dhamma will disappear from the world. We do not know when, but it will happen in due course..” I felt really disheartened, and fearful after I read this statement. I am thinking in the event if I am still not enlightened when this happens, how will I manage? There must be too much suffering to go through, It’s beyond imagination. Hence, I started recently to make aspirations with regards to meeting the future Buddha, and hoping to meet the Bodhisattva in tusita heaven before then, if I am not enlightened. I know deep down within me, that I really aspire to reach nibbana soonest. Hopefully, this lifetime. However, there are some doubts. I hope that Ajahn can give me some advice.
Q4: Why is it that after the passing of my sister, my mother and my rabbit, I still feel I contributed to their demise? There are things that I could have done, but did not do, and things that I should not have done but I did not. What force is at play here?
Q4: Why is it that after the passing of my sister, my mother and my rabbit, I still feel I contributed to their demise? There are things that I could have done, but did not do, and things that I should not have done but I did not. What force is at play here?
India Pilgrimage Preparation Talk - 08 October 2023
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Ajahn describes the way he conducts a pilgrimage and the variety of experiences that a pilgrim may encounter.
Q1: Can you comment on any personal safety issues?
Q2: You encouraged us to exercise or do more yoga as preparation. Anything else recommended? |
Q3: What about preparation for coming to stillness in the best way in a foreign place?
Q4: Some of our group are not going on this pilgrimage. What encouragement would you give them for a future opportunity?
Q4: Some of our group are not going on this pilgrimage. What encouragement would you give them for a future opportunity?
04 October 2023
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Questions
Q1: Are the five spiritual powers and five faculties one and the same? Faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom.
Q2: What is the best way to dedicate merits to a sick and/or dying friend? |
Q3: Do you have any advice for dealing with significant physical discomfort, without giving into sensuality as a means of distraction? I know I should try to be mindful and equanimous but this becomes difficult as the severity of discomfort increases. Thank you!
Q4: May I know if the feeling of intuition is the same as what we call gut feeling? And whether we can trust our intuition? Our intention?
Q5: Do you believe in the law of attraction? Meaning, if we think of something often, then will we get it?
Progress of Ajahn's watercolour practice.
Q4: May I know if the feeling of intuition is the same as what we call gut feeling? And whether we can trust our intuition? Our intention?
Q5: Do you believe in the law of attraction? Meaning, if we think of something often, then will we get it?
Progress of Ajahn's watercolour practice.