In this videoconference talk from 23 November 2018, Ajahn Anan discusses a parable about three old men: love, wealth and success.
An excerpt: “In our daily lives we may meet with many types of suffering. If our money and wealth lessens, then suffering arises. But it’s not that if we have more money and wealth, then we will have more happiness. Because we will have clinging arise, right? So if we have no wisdom, then suffering will arise in our hearts.”
Note: One can read Dhamma talk transcripts at the Wat Marp Jan ‘Reflections’ page. These include questions and answers with Ajahn Anan, which are not in the audio files. See this talk’s transcript here: https://watmarpjan.org/en/three-old-men/
This Dhamma talk was recorded on the night of April 7, 2020. In this talk, Ajahn Anan discusses how to reflect skillfully on the Covid-19 pandemic with teachings on death reflection, building goodness, and heedfulness.
From this videoconference talk from 3 May 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses a dog, Bunrod, miraculously surviving in the ocean.
An excerpt: “The workers helped to nurse the dog. They helped to wipe the dog down, because the sea water that was in the fur would make the fur fall off in some areas. The dog had some minor wounds. But they gave the dog water and food. They named the dog Bunrod, which means ‘merit saves’, because, by the power of the dog’s merits, it was able to escape danger.”
Note: One can read Dhamma talk transcripts at the Wat Marp Jan ‘Reflections’ page, which also includes questions and answers with Ajahn Anan, which are not in the audio files. See: https://watmarpjan.org/en/dhamma-reflections/reflections-archive/
From this videoconference talk from 24 May 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses perception and a Zen story about seeing with the eyes of Dhamma.
An excerpt: “So can you see that the way we see things is different. The true monk or the true Dhamma practitioner, they will see all things according to Dhamma. But if our mind is not yet true, and the mind still has attachments, then one will see things according to worldly ways.”
Note: One can read Dhamma talk transcripts at the Wat Marp Jan ‘Reflections’ page, which also includes questions and answers with Ajahn Anan, which are not in the audio files. See: https://watmarpjan.org/en/dhamma-reflections/reflections-archive/
From this videoconference talk from 17 May 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses Visakha Puja and The Four Noble Truths.
An excerpt: “This week we are approaching the commemoration of the Visakha Puja… And we know well that this is the day that the Buddha was born, became enlightened and entered parinibbana, or final enlightenment, on the full moon of the 6th lunar month. The Perfectly Awakened One was born as a Bodhisattva on the full moon of Visakha, with his parami, or spiritual perfections, completely full. And this would allow him to fulfil an aspiration to become enlightened as a Buddha in this very life. But to get to this day the Buddha needed to build the 10 paramis such as effort, endurance, sila, metta, wisdom, and so on, to the level where he was willing to sacrifice his own bodily parts, and even his own life for the purpose of becoming enlightened as a Buddha.
Can we see that the virtue of great compassion that the Buddha possessed is unlimited and unbounded?”
Note: One can read Dhamma talk transcripts at the Wat Marp Jan ‘Reflections’ page, which also includes questions and answers with Ajahn Anan, which are not in the audio files. See: https://watmarpjan.org/en/dhamma-reflections/reflections-archive/
From this videoconference talk from 10 May 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses winning the lottery and one’s merits.
An excerpt: “This topic today should teach us that we should be firm in goodness, we should have virtue, maintaining the 5 moral precepts. We don’t steal from others. We have lovingkindness (metta) and compassion (karuna) to others.”
Note: One can read Dhamma talk transcripts at the Wat Marp Jan ‘Reflections’ page, which also includes questions and answers with Ajahn Anan, which are not in the audio files. See: https://watmarpjan.org/en/dhamma-reflections/reflections-archive/
In this videoconference talk from 5 April 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses his recent birthday celebration and the quality of mudita.
An excerpt: “Today on the occasion of my birthday, all of you, the monastics, lay men and women, are intent to show your respect and ‘mudita’ (sympathetic joy). This pali word, mudita, also translates as tenderness. It is the mind that has tenderness. When we meditate by bringing up thoughts of sympathetic joy for others good fortunes, this can lead us to experience a very blissful state of mind. Developing this mind of mudita is very difficult to develop in meditation. This is because it is the nature of the mind to have regular thoughts of envy, ill-will, and harm. When we have delusion in the mind, then we have this feeling of “me” and “mine” and then there is no acknowledgment of the goodness of others.”
Note: One can read Dhamma talk transcripts at the Wat Marp Jan ‘Reflections’ page, which also includes questions and answers with Ajahn Anan, which are not in the audio files. See: https://watmarpjan.org/en/dhamma-reflections/reflections-archive/
In this videoconference talk from 5 October 2018, Ajahn Anan discusses the proper way of practice – how to relate to the desire for enlightenment, how to let go with wisdom, and more.
An excerpt: “It is important to be able to enter the stream of the Dhamma of the Buddha, and for us to become an ariya puggala, a Noble being, in the Buddha-sasana. But when we practice Dhamma, we have desire (craving) arise. This desire becomes an obstacle…. Because the desire that arises is like a rock that lies on top of our heart and makes it heavier. And it makes Dhamma practice progress slowly. The real practice must purify the mind, or it takes away the heaviness.”
Note: One can read Dhamma talk transcripts at the Wat Marp Jan ‘Reflections’ page. These include questions and answers with Ajahn Anan, which are not in the audio files. See: https://watmarpjan.org/en/dhamma-reflections/reflections-archive/
In this videoconference talk from 30 November 2018, Ajahn Anan discusses the stories of two monks from the Buddha’s time who dealt with different sicknesses but both succeeded in their practice in the end.
An excerpt: “Though his body wasn’t strong and his health was no good, but with his wisdom and intelligence, he could listen and receive the Dhamma of the Buddha, and could have knowing and clear seeing arise instantly. He could overcome his mental defilements, and there was no need to be born again into samsara, this round of birth and death and suffering, again. Can you see that wisdom and intelligence is important to fully cut off the mental defilements.”
Note: One can read Dhamma talk transcripts at the Wat Marp Jan ‘Reflections’ page. These include questions and answers with Ajahn Anan, which are not in the audio files. This talk’s transcript can be found here: https://watmarpjan.org/en/two-sick-monks/
In this videoconference talk from 12 October 2018, Ajahn Anan discusses the vegetarian festival and the benefits of vegetarianism.
An excerpt: “So may we be confident that the good things we do in the present will certainly have good results which will arise, and the bad things that we receive are from the past bad actions that we have done. May we be confident in this and then be determined to give up unskilful actions, to do meritorious actions , and to purify the mind.”
Note: One can read Dhamma talk transcripts at the Wat Marp Jan ‘Reflections’ page. These include questions and answers with Ajahn Anan, which are not in the audio files. See: https://watmarpjan.org/en/dhamma-reflections/reflections-archive/