Video Recordings #3 |
Dhamma Talks & Presentations - Dec. 2022 to May 2023
by Ajahn Achalo, and more ...
Giving Birth to the Deathless
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Giving Birth to the Deathless -
A talk to Bandar Utama Buddhist Society in Kuala Lumpur on Mother's Day - May 14, 2023 |
Daily Devotion and Discipline
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Daily Devotion and Discipline -
A talk hosted in Singapore - 07 May 2023 |
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Q&A Singapore - 07 May 2023
Q1: If experienced meditators can control their entry into jhana at the time of death, does it mean they can choose their rebirth? Q2: When we transfer merit, does it really work given what the Buddha said about being the owner and benefactor of our kamma? |
Q3: Should we practice differently before we sleep and how? How can I deal with sloth and torpor?
Q4: What is the best thing to say to a loved one who is dying?
Q5: How do you know you are practicing well and yet encouraging yourself to commit to the practice? Is meditation always about the breath?
Q4: What is the best thing to say to a loved one who is dying?
Q5: How do you know you are practicing well and yet encouraging yourself to commit to the practice? Is meditation always about the breath?
Breath Meditation for Liberation
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Breath Meditation for Liberation -
A talk hosted in Singapore - 06 May 2023 |
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Q&A Singapore - 06 May 2023
Q1: As I’ve grown older I feel very attached to my parents. How can I overcome this? Q2: Can you offer some guidance about the use of a cushion please? Q3: What time of the morning would you suggest for meditation? |
Q4: Often when we sit we tend to slouch. Are we supposed to be mindful of our back and keep it straight?
Q5: Can you explain what are vipassana and yoniso manasikara?
Q6: In the six elements chant, space is mentioned. Can you elaborate on what is meant by that?
Q7: I’d like to understand the difference between samatha and samadhi better.
Q8: When we are doing body contemplation, is it to think? For example about our hair turning white. Are we actually meditating at the same time?
Q9: In the anapanasati sutta, what is meant by gladdening the mind?
Q10: If energy is low with illness and fatigue, how do we press on to have a daily practice?
Q11: During meditation I feel myself in an empty room and feel lost as there is nothing in the room. Is this normal?
Q12: In your earlier sharing about a Thai person who died, and then was seen in his house again on the second day, was that a rebirth?
Q13: Can you share any comment about your receptiveness to all the main schools of Buddhism?
Q14: Is it right view to try not to incur the wrath of any one or not to make ourselves angry?
Q15: How can we stop rebirth?
Q16: As parents, how do we balance and manage our parental roles with [the need for] detachment?
Q17: During meditation, how do we handle the problems of itchiness and pain? Do we need just to endure it?
Q5: Can you explain what are vipassana and yoniso manasikara?
Q6: In the six elements chant, space is mentioned. Can you elaborate on what is meant by that?
Q7: I’d like to understand the difference between samatha and samadhi better.
Q8: When we are doing body contemplation, is it to think? For example about our hair turning white. Are we actually meditating at the same time?
Q9: In the anapanasati sutta, what is meant by gladdening the mind?
Q10: If energy is low with illness and fatigue, how do we press on to have a daily practice?
Q11: During meditation I feel myself in an empty room and feel lost as there is nothing in the room. Is this normal?
Q12: In your earlier sharing about a Thai person who died, and then was seen in his house again on the second day, was that a rebirth?
Q13: Can you share any comment about your receptiveness to all the main schools of Buddhism?
Q14: Is it right view to try not to incur the wrath of any one or not to make ourselves angry?
Q15: How can we stop rebirth?
Q16: As parents, how do we balance and manage our parental roles with [the need for] detachment?
Q17: During meditation, how do we handle the problems of itchiness and pain? Do we need just to endure it?
Reflective Meditations
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Reflective Meditations -
Utilizing the Thinking Mind A talk and Q&A at Wat Marp Jan on the occasion of Ajahn Anan's birthday. - 30 March 2023 |
Q1: May I know how can one start to train patient endurance? If one does not have any virtue, [does it mean] one cannot practice patient endurance?
Q2: Virtues mean high moral standards. How can one develop virtues?
Q3: How can I start to integrate meditation practice in my daily life when I feel I am still a slave to my cravings and often fall into their control and indulge in them?
Q4: How can I apply metta to myself and others and really mean it, when it comes to practicing in the sangha community. There is a difficult member in the sangha and saying may he or she be well is not working at least in my case it seems.
Q5: How do we train to rejoice in others’ good fortune when we are having a bad time in our life?
Q6: What is your advice on doubt regarding which tradition to follow?
Q7: You spoke about developing equanimity [towards dukkha]. How can we practice this if the dukkha is overwhelming and we just want to escape the pain?
Q8: If I am unable to control my craving for food, does it mean I do not have virtue? I find myself gobbling down food and then it is never enough. I always tell myself it will be the last time but the cycle repeats tomorrow.
Q9: Could you give more detail about how to make an aspiration for one’s next life? [example given]
Q2: Virtues mean high moral standards. How can one develop virtues?
Q3: How can I start to integrate meditation practice in my daily life when I feel I am still a slave to my cravings and often fall into their control and indulge in them?
Q4: How can I apply metta to myself and others and really mean it, when it comes to practicing in the sangha community. There is a difficult member in the sangha and saying may he or she be well is not working at least in my case it seems.
Q5: How do we train to rejoice in others’ good fortune when we are having a bad time in our life?
Q6: What is your advice on doubt regarding which tradition to follow?
Q7: You spoke about developing equanimity [towards dukkha]. How can we practice this if the dukkha is overwhelming and we just want to escape the pain?
Q8: If I am unable to control my craving for food, does it mean I do not have virtue? I find myself gobbling down food and then it is never enough. I always tell myself it will be the last time but the cycle repeats tomorrow.
Q9: Could you give more detail about how to make an aspiration for one’s next life? [example given]
Increasing Determination
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Increasing Determination -
An online Dhamma talk - 01 March 2023 |
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Consistent Commitment increases Capability -
A dhamma talk and Q&A to a Canadian group in Toronto Q1: We all often slip in the practice. What is the best way to get back into it?
Q2: How can we maintain mindfulness when we don’t accomplish what you set out to do? How can we not let that frustration set us further back? |
Q3: I’ve noticed a real cultural difference between the East and the West in the sense of guilt and shame. Can you comment?
Q4: During meditation what should I do to control my thoughts?
Q4: During meditation what should I do to control my thoughts?
The Practice of Forgiveness
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The Practice of Forgiveness
09 February 2023 |
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Forgiveness Practice Supporting Insight -
From an online retreat at Wat Marp Jan, Day-3 Afternoon Q1: Regarding metta, do we keep repeating and radiating out the metta until we achieve concentration?
Q2: When your mind is not pure, how effective is that loving kindness to others? How pure do we have to be to spread metta? |
Q3: When I meet difficult persons, it seems very difficult to generate loving kindness
Q4: How can I know if I have really forgiven myself?
Q5: Can you please elaborate on using gestures to forgive ourselves.
Q6: In metta practice, may we include teachers who have passed away, as well as beings in nibanna?
Q7: Is it OK to meditate using metta for a little while and then anapanasati for 40-45 minutes and finish with Buddha anussati?
Q8: I am a busy wife and mother and I feel angry with myself when I cannot find the time to cultivate. How can I find the balance?
Q4: How can I know if I have really forgiven myself?
Q5: Can you please elaborate on using gestures to forgive ourselves.
Q6: In metta practice, may we include teachers who have passed away, as well as beings in nibanna?
Q7: Is it OK to meditate using metta for a little while and then anapanasati for 40-45 minutes and finish with Buddha anussati?
Q8: I am a busy wife and mother and I feel angry with myself when I cannot find the time to cultivate. How can I find the balance?
The 28 Benefits of Meditation
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Dhamma talk given in Bodhgaya.
- 08 December 2022
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Ajahn Achalo at Bodhgaya 2022
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Ajahn gives a dhamma talk and answers questions at the 17th International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony.
- 04 December 2022
Q1: On retreat I can sit for about 45 minutes before I have to move, but outslde retreat, I can sit still for only about 20-25 minutes. Can you advise me please? |
Q2: Can you clarify please – I read a translation that says one mark of awareness is “holding”. But my experience is that it is discernment or acknowledgement that is a mark.
Q3: I have read the word “feeling” being applied to the body and also “feeling” applied to the mind. But my understanding is that feeling is in the mind only and what the body experiences in called a sensation, not a feeling. Can you clarify this?
Q4: Why is “form” included in the 5 kandas / skandas? It seems I experience “feeling”, not form.
Q5: Can you please describe the 37 path factors? (Ajahn says he will address it in his talk on Dec 8th).
Q6: Regarding attachment, how can we relinquish attachments when we also want to live in a state of love and compassion with others? Is there not a conflict there?
Q7: We do meditation to empty our minds, but can we live in this world with an empty mind?
Q8: I am new at this and struggle to conduct a practice and not being imposed on by kalyanamitta who advise me not to meditate but only to serve.
Q9: (in view of your answer) Should we then practice alone and not have kalyanamitta? What is sangha then?
Q10: Is consciousness really conscious in itself or is it dependent?
Q3: I have read the word “feeling” being applied to the body and also “feeling” applied to the mind. But my understanding is that feeling is in the mind only and what the body experiences in called a sensation, not a feeling. Can you clarify this?
Q4: Why is “form” included in the 5 kandas / skandas? It seems I experience “feeling”, not form.
Q5: Can you please describe the 37 path factors? (Ajahn says he will address it in his talk on Dec 8th).
Q6: Regarding attachment, how can we relinquish attachments when we also want to live in a state of love and compassion with others? Is there not a conflict there?
Q7: We do meditation to empty our minds, but can we live in this world with an empty mind?
Q8: I am new at this and struggle to conduct a practice and not being imposed on by kalyanamitta who advise me not to meditate but only to serve.
Q9: (in view of your answer) Should we then practice alone and not have kalyanamitta? What is sangha then?
Q10: Is consciousness really conscious in itself or is it dependent?
