From our 2015 Magha Puja Day. Ajahn Viradhammo introduces the historical tradition of Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha days, specifically addressing Magha Puja or Sangha Day. The discussion focuses on the underlying meaning of these traditional days as well as how they relate to our personal practice.… Read the rest
Ajahn Viradhammo speaks about how intellectually working with various Buddhist teachings, such as the Four Noble Truths, can aid in recollection and contemplation.… Read the rest
Ajahn Viradhammo fields questions from long term lay residents regarding: applying the Four Noble Truths, the process of narrative in memory, the use of the Brahmaviharas, and how to deal with the five hindrances.… Read the rest
Ajahn Viradhammo describes how to use the law of dependent origination as a skillful method for perceiving our experiences. Instead of habitually grasping at our khandas (aggregates) we can develop a view that sees conditions which simply cause phenomena to arise and cease.… Read the rest
Ajahn Thaniyo translates a talk given by Luang Por Liem. He covers many themes including mindfulness, generosity, sacrificing, not to be a slave to the worldly Dhammas and conditioned things, and seeing the nature of our bodies as impermanent and not self. This allows us to experience dispassion, helping us to put forth effort more easily so that wisdom can arise. He also answers two questions about desire and death.… Read the rest
Once a month, on Saturday afternoons, Tisarana Monastery is hosting an ongoing series of afternoon practice sessions based on a topic suggested by the OBS’s Noble Eightfold Path Study Group. In this talk, Ajahn Viradhammo speaks on the nuances of Right Effort.… Read the rest
Once a month, on Saturday afternoons, Tisarana Monastery is hosting an ongoing series of afternoon teaching and practice sessions based on a topic suggested by the OBS’s Noble Eightfold Path Study Group. In this recording Ajahn Viradhammo answers questions about the use of right effort.… Read the rest
If you have ever wondered how the Tisarana free distribution books are produced, here is a description by Lisa explaining the process. It also illustrates how the life of Tisarana Monastery is made possible by an extended family of volunteers . . .
In October of 2013, Philip and I began our “special volunteering project” for Tisarana Buddhist Monastery. At that time, its abbot, Luang Por Viradhammo, was contemplating publishing his second collection of Dhamma reflections based on 10 of his recorded Dhamma talks that had already been transcribed by a friend in the U.S. into a tentative essay format. But the abbot was still in need of two editors to steward these written texts into a publishable form. So Philip and I happily agreed to embark on the great – if not formidable – adventure of creating a new book for the author of these talks.
The creation of this book, which is now entitled The Contemplative’s Craft: Internalizing the Teachings of the Buddha, took place over the course of about 20 months. Needless to say, there were numerous steps involved in the completion of this project. First, my co-editor and I had to determine which of these 10 talks were (to our way of thinking) most worthy of publication.… Read the rest
On Tuesday, June 23, Ajahn Thaniyo translated Luang Por Liem’s Observance Day Dhamma talk in English (first 30 seconds in Thai). Luang Por encouraged the community to put forth right effort and take advantage of our suitable conditions so we can make progress in our practice.… Read the rest
A very short talk given by Luang Por Jundee about the seclusion of body and mind (kāya viveka, citta viveka, and upadhi viveka). He explains the difference between bodily seclusion and the refined difference between being secluded from unpeaceful mind states and being completely secluded from all defilements within the mind.… Read the rest
