From this videoconference talk from 20 September 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses a story from the Buddha’s time, the story of Venerable Khema Theri, the Bhikkhuni foremost in wisdom.
Two excerpts: “And at that moment, the Buddha read Queen Khema’s mind and he made the beautiful maiden’s body gradually change little by little. From a young age to middle age, and gradually changing to old age. Then the Queen grew dispassion at seeing that when the beautiful maiden changed to being old, that her beauty disappeared.
“…Queen Khema, who had full spiritual development, attained to becoming an arahant with full mindfulness and wisdom, imbued with all the psychic powers, right at that time she was standing there.”
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/
From this videoconference talk from 23 August 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses making consistent effort and uses a Zen story to illustrate this point.
Two excerpts: “When people come to practice Dhamma, they want results quickly. The quicker the better. We don’t want patience, we don’t want effort. We want it easy.
“So, can we see? That the ones who will gain freedom from suffering do so from their effort. This is as the Buddha taught. All the Buddhas, whose virtues we praise, had great compassion that is unbounded and unequalled.”
Note: One can read this talk and others, including questions and answers with Ajahn Anan, which are not in the audio files. See: https://watmarpjan.org/en/making-effort/
From this videoconference talk from 27 December 2019, Ajahn Anan discusses a range of topics under the theme of reflecting on the past year and preparing for the new year. An interesting analogy that Luang Pu Chah used for the 4 Noble Truths is referenced.
An excerpt: “So we have to come to train the mind. And in this new year that is approaching, we have to be determined to make our mind new. We will have new things come in. The new exterior things are normal for the world, but we need to make the new things arise in the mind. Make the mind better than in the past. And this comes from mental cultivation.
May you be very determined in this life. We have a very good chance to train in the Dhamma. We have met the Dhamma of the Buddha. And the chance to meet the Dhamma and to have faith in it, this is not easy to get at all. It relies on our having built spiritual accumulations and merit. If you still have birth, then may you have completeness, until you reach Nibbana. May you grow in blessings”
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/
From this videoconference talk from 3 January, 2020, Ajahn Anan discusses the topics of the new year’s holiday, change, and the benefits of chanting.
An excerpt: “All the things of this world are of the nature to change. For a very long time, the bodies of the people who have been born into this world have been evolving according to nature. But the mind that has not been trained, doesn’t evolve. It doesn’t develop and improve…. So this year, we will come to improve our minds. We will have an unwavering determination to build goodness.”
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/
From this videoconference talk from 10 January, 2020, Ajahn Anan discusses the topics of homage and of relating to the new year.
An excerpt: “In this era we don’t hear the direct words of the Buddha, but his Dhamma is still here. If we learn it, it will be like we learn Dhamma in the Buddha’s time. So now is a good opportunity that we have good fortune and have this excellent wealth to meet the Jewel of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. When he taught on this good thing already – about how to respect and give honour, then we should practice following it, and then we will gain benefit in the practice. This will be our great merit and goodness. We need to do this because, though we are good people and our minds are imbued with sila, morality, and goodness, but it is normal that our minds are not strong enough yet to see deeply into the Dhamma.”
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 here for this talk’s transcript: https://watmarpjan.org/en/puja-respect-veneration-and-homage/
In this question-and-answer session held on January 7th, 2020, Ajahn Anan teaches about the inability of an arahant to remain in lay life, the realization of the fruit of stream entry, and other issues dealing with the transcendent.
From this videoconference talk from 31 January, 2020, Ajahn Anan discusses the development of the world, the spread of diseases, the Ratana Sutta, and other topics.
Three excerpts: “…material development means that darkness in the mind also develops.”
“…if we are at the end and we have no other refuge, then we have to hold on to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha as our highest refuge.”
“The Buddha had Ven. Ananda chant the Ratana Sutta, and well-being arose in the Licchavi Kingdom.”
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 question-and-answer session held on January 4th, 2020, Ajahn Anan gives a detailed exposition on how to contemplate the body in order to see its illusory nature.
From this videoconference talk from 7 February, 2020, Ajahn Anan discusses the special qualities of the Magha Puja holiday and the teachings of the Ovada Patimokkha.
An excerpt: “But if future generations of Buddhists and disciples, if they practiced following these teachings, then they would be able to see the Dhamma, attain to Dhamma, and attain to the supreme, which is Nibbana.
Nibbana is the supreme teaching, and this is what differentiates Buddhism from other religions.”
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/
The first chapter of the recently-uploaded audiobook, “Simple Teachings on Higher Truths”. The book includes talks aimed at capturing Ajahn Anan’s ability to help us overcome everyday difficulties and grow in skillful qualities of heart through the practice of Dhamma. The full audiobook may now be found on itunes. For more information, visit www.watmarpjan.org/en.