In this talk given at the end of the traditional rains retreat, Luang Por Anan speaks of the importance of maintaining the practice even as the monastery enters its usual schedule. He reflects that, if the practice is going well, all other regular comforts cease to occupy one, and so encourages the monks to put forth effort.
In this Friday night videoconference Dhamma session from October 18th, 2019, Venerable Ajahn Anan discusses the Kathina ceremony that occurs after the annual monastic rains retreat. He talks about a story of a great donation made in a past Kathina and the origin story of the Kathina ceremony.
Note: One can read this talk and others 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 Friday night videoconference Dhamma session from October 11th, 2019, Venerable Ajahn Anan discusses the Great Invitation Day that occurs at the end of the annual monastic rains retreat. He talks about the 7 factors of group harmony, the importance of forgiveness, and more.
Note: One can read this talk and others 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 session, Luang Por answers questions about the nature of mindfulness versus clear awareness, cultivating sati in the midst of daily life, developing specific insights into oneself, and giving up the habit of street racing.
In this Friday evening video-conference talk from 4 October, 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses the biography of the right-hand chief disciple of the Buddha – Venerable Sariputta, the bhikkhu foremost in wisdom. Venerable Sariputta is known for his gratitude, as well. The Kalama Sutta is also discussed.
Note: One can read this talk and others 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 talk, given on the Uposatha Day of September 28th, 2019, Luang Por Anan reminds the monastics and laity that the 2019 rains retreat has almost past, and that the fleeting nature of time, our possessions, and our bodies demand that we look with urgency towards that which does not decay. While he acknowledges continuity of mindfulness during daily life as a cornerstone of practice, on this occasion Luang Por Anan encourages those present to put forth special effort in sitting together through the night, not rising from the posture for a period of at least five hours. To practice occasionally in such a way, he reminds all present, represents a method of crossing over painful feeling and achieving a peace of mind above and beyond painful feeling.
A translation of a talk given at the Friday night videoconference, 27 September, 2019, in which Ajahn Anan describes the life of Khujjuttara, the foremost female lay disciple of the Buddha in terms of learning. Her story is one of difficulty and unexpected blessings that led her to become a source of liberation and inspiration for many, from her time until the present day.
Note: One can read this talk and others 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/
This Friday videoconference talk was given 13 September, 2019. The topic is effort. The story of the monk foremost in effort from the Buddha’s time, Venerable Sona Mahathera, is given as an example.
Note: One can read this talk and others, including questions and answers with Ajahn Anan here: https://watmarpjan.org/en/making-balanced-effort/
The translation of a talk in which Ajahn Anan describes the life of Venerable Khema Theri, a prominent bhikkhuni during the time of the Buddha. Declared one of the chief disciples, Venerable Khema Theri came from a royal family and, after renouncing her wealth, achieved awakening and became renowned for her mindfulness and wisdom.
A talk given one Saturday morning by Venerable Ajahn Anan. This talk covers a range of topics, from contemplating the body in terms of the four elements, Christian ideas of salvation and how they relate to Buddhism, the nature of nibbana (nirvana), the meaning of not-self, and more.