2021.06.28 | What is written in the scriptures is correct, but our interpretations of it are often misguided. Whether or not we have read a lot, what is important is that we come to practise in order to gain direct knowledge from our own experience.
To join Ajahn Anan and the Wat Marp Jan Community online for daily chanting, meditation, and a Dhamma talk, you can email wmjdhamma@gmail.com for the link. Daily live sessions at 7pm – 9pm, Indochina Time (Bangkok, GMT+7).
2021.06.27 | There are many types of fear. We begin to train our minds to be free of fear with generosity, virtue, and mental cultivation. When one sees the truth clearly, the sense of self is seen through and fear reduces. Having seen clearly, one truly enters the Triple Gem: the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha.
To join Ajahn Anan and the Wat Marp Jan Community online for daily chanting, meditation, and a Dhamma talk, you can email wmjdhamma@gmail.com for the link. Daily live sessions at 7pm – 9pm, Indochina Time (Bangkok, GMT+7).
There are many levels of wisdom. Listening to the Dhamma brings one kind, and contemplating what we’ve heard brings another. But the wisdom founded in a peaceful mind goes higher—it transcends the world.
The fetters of self-view, skeptical doubt, and attachment to precepts and rituals are what keep the cycle of birth and death going for limitless lifetimes. When one cuts these off through the strength of the Path, the heart becomes much lighter. Steadily, the defilements are reduced, until only purity remains.
To join Ajahn Anan and the Wat Marp Jan Community online for daily chanting, meditation, and a Dhamma talk, you can email wmjdhamma@gmail.com for the link. Daily live sessions at 7pm – 9pm, Indochina Time (Bangkok, GMT+7).
In this videoconference talk from 9 Jul, 2021, Ajahn Anan discusses about the importance of having the Triple Gem as our highest refuge in facing the many difficulties of life.
“So the deep rooted faith we have in the Triple Gem, we should make it to be full in our hearts, because the Buddha was one with the mind of purity and radiance. The Dhamma is the teaching of the Buddha that he has taught well. There is no one who can dispute and argue against the Buddha’s teachings. The Sangha that is included in the Triple Gem is the Ariya—Noble Sangha, those who have perfect and complete faith and confidence in the Triple Gem. Ones who are beyond worries and concern. The Buddha said that whoever has this supreme refuge, this highest refuge, by this refuge, one will make an end of all Dukkha, suffering. It is that which reduces the renewed births and deaths, cycling around in Samsara. And it also makes suffering cease in the present as well. That is why the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha is the supreme and highest refuge.”
Venerable Subadha, Venerable Anya Kondanya, Anathapindika, and Lady Visakha are amongst the Buddha’s most eminent disciples. Looking at their examples, we can gain strength of heart to practise ourselves – to practice giving, virtue, and mental cultivation, to practise the noble path of virtue, collectedness and wisdom, for the sake of true security and freedom, Nibbana.
To join Ajahn Anan and the Wat Marp Jan Community online for daily chanting, meditation, and a Dhamma talk, you can email wmjdhamma@gmail.com for the link. Daily live sessions at 7pm – 9pm, Indochina Time (Bangkok, GMT+7).
In this videoconference talk from 25 Jun, 2021, Ajahn Anan discusses about using our discernment with regards to current events.
“Do you really see it? If the economy is good, the pigs die, the chickens die, the ducks die, the cows all die. They are all food for humans. The more well they sell, the more animals die. And even all the animals aren’t crying, they aren’t complaining. But we also come to eat them and do other harmful things to them. We may have some loss, but at least we still have the breath. So we still have a lot of things, which is just this breath. We are born with this breath, so we are people who have something valuable. If we have no more breath anymore, then all the things we have now, will they still have meaning or not? So now, what do we possess? We still have the breath, we have time. So we should find the time to chant a lot. Exchange it for merit instead. Is this a good idea?”
In meditation we do need to set a goal and raise our efforts, but we also need to relax and let go.
Even though we have studied a lot at school, what we have received is a superficial knowledge. This is necessary to make our way in this world, but it cannot lead us out of suffering. It’s only the inner knowledge that we gain through cultivating our minds that can lead us to liberation.
To join Ajahn Anan and the Wat Marp Jan Community online for daily chanting, meditation, and a Dhamma talk, you can email wmjdhamma@gmail.com for the link. Daily live sessions at 7pm – 9pm, Indochina Time (Bangkok, GMT+7).
We practice to relieve suffering, not to heap it up upon ourselves. Great determination and self-aversion are a dangerous combination, something we need to be on the lookout for. If our minds do have self hate, it’s important to develop kindness towards ourselves. We must also have self awareness to know our own limits and resources, and how much we are capable of. Our efforts must come through wisdom.