From this videoconference talk from 8 March 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses Bodhi trees and the four things a Buddha cannot do for others.
An excerpt: “The essence of the Dhamma cannot be conveyed through language. Ultimately, one needs to practice for oneself to see the reality of the universe. There is only one path that will lead one to experience the truth of Dhamma. Whatever nationality or language one has, if one is only learning the scriptures, one won’t be able to gain understanding into the Dhamma. It is just like the spoon in the curry, which is unable to taste the curry. One must practice to gain proof of the truth, and then one will truly understand the Dhamma.”
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 at: https://watmarpjan.org/en/bodhi-trees/
From this videoconference talk from 22 February 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses Magha Puja and Venerable Cula Panthaka.
An excerpt: ““My Lord Buddha, my brother drives me away, so I am going to disrobe.” The Buddha then said to bring up awareness in Cula Panthaka, “Cula Panthaka, when did you ordain for your older brother? Didn’t you ordain for yourself? When your older brother told you to leave, why didn’t you come to me? Come. Stay with me.””
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/magha-puja-and-culapanthaka/
A translation of a talk given by Ajahn Anan to resident monastics on February 8, 2020 on the afternoon of Magha Puja. In it, he discusses how the basic teachings in the Ovada Patimokkha may be applied in ones’ life, and gives detailed instruction as to how one should contemplate the body as the 32 parts, the 4 elements, and in progressive states of decay.
From this videoconference talk from 28 December 2018, Ajahn Anan discusses the foremost female lay supporter of the Buddha’s time, Lady Visakha, and the power of virtue.
An excerpt: “…Lady Visakha…wanted to make merit and do goodness within the dispensation of the Buddha. She had the state of mind that wanted her heart to have cleanliness and purity, that which we call nibbana. She saw the happiness in the present, she made merit and also gained the results of that merit.”
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 transcript can be found here: https://watmarpjan.org/en/lady-visakha-and-the-power-of-virtue/
From this videoconference talk from 27 March 2020, Ajahn Anan discusses Covid-19 and a Bill Gates TED Talk from 2015.
Much of this talk is a reading of the transcript of a TED talk given by Bill Gates in 2015, which can be found here: https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_the_next_outbreak_we_re_not_ready/transcript?language=dz
An excerpt: “Being born into this world, life follows according to the nature that all things arise, persist, then cease. When there is birth, there is aging. When there is aging, there is sickness. When there is sickness, there is death. This is the sacca dhamma, the truth of life.”
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/
From this videoconference talk from 15 March 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses putting forth effort, developing wisdom, meditation, and more.
An excerpt: “We go about the practice where if even in 1000 times or 10,000 times, we can win just once, it is still good. Later on, we should be able to win more and more. And each time one wins over them, each step we take, it is not easy at all. It’s really difficult. Because the kilesa are very firmly rooted. This is called sakkaya ditthi – seeing as “I” and mine. This is very deeply embedded. But this is the first barrier that is very firmly rooted! If we can penetrate this barrier, then the rest of the barriers are not that difficult.”
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/
From this videoconference talk from 28 June 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses having harmony despite having different viewpoints.
An excerpt: “There was no one who was wrong. Everyone was wondering and had doubts. They still did not understand. They had to keep going and keep practicing. Later on, they may be able to understand this matter.”
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 21 June 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses the history of “Sadhu”.
An excerpt: “The monks anumodana with the lay people, the lay people anumodana with the monks. Each person gives their anumodana and is joyous at the goodness that all of us have done. And this sadhu has a history behind it.”
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 19 July 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses the Venerable Anya Kondanya, a great disciple of the Buddha, as well as advice for our own practice.
Two excerpts: “The Venerable arahant Anya Kodanya, what was it that he knew? The Buddha gave the sermon of a very ordinary nature. He taught that all things of the nature to arise have the nature to cease.
“He listened to the Dhamma just once and he succeeded to attain to becoming a sotapanna, a stream-enterer.”
Note: One can read 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/
A translation of a talk given by Ajahn Anan on February 8, 2020 on the evening of Magha Puja. In it, he discusses what the day symbolizes and how we can use it as a recollection to spur us forward in practice. The talk moves from the higher levels of Dhamma practice to the fundamentals of cultivating mindfulness.