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This is the concluding session of our 1 Day Meditation Retreat at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage with Ajahn Medhino. Venerable Ajahn Medhino has been ordained as a bhikkhu for 33 years. Originally from the Netherlands, he received his ordination as a Buddhist monk at Wat Pah Nanachat in Thailand. However, for the last 12 years he has lived in Sri Lanka, where he has established a hermitage in Badulla district, at Udakiruwa Forest, located roughly between Bibile and Monaragala. Ajahn plans to develop the hermitage into a full fledged monastery that will be called Mahāvana Aranya Senasanaya / Wat Pa Mahavana. Luang Por Medhino speaks fluent English, Sinhala and Thai; and also some French and German (and native Dutch, of course 😉). Luang Por has kindly agreed to our invitation to visit Dhammagiri from 31 March to 07 April 2026, including leading a One Day Retreat on Easter Sunday 05 April. Details of Ajahn Medhino's program at Dhammagiri can be found here: ⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/post/ajahn...⁠⁠ Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #retreat #buddhistretreat #meditationretreat #vipassana #mindfulness #samadhi #samatha #awareness #dhammatalk

This is the initial session of our 1 Day Meditation Retreat at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage with Ajahn Medhino. Ajahn explains the program and provides instructions for meditation, including a guided meditation. He also leads the community in taking the Triple Refuge and the five or eight precepts. Venerable Ajahn Medhino has been ordained as a bhikkhu for 33 years. Originally from the Netherlands, he received his ordination as a Buddhist monk at Wat Pah Nanachat in Thailand. However, for the last 12 years he has lived in Sri Lanka, where he has established a hermitage in Badulla district, at Udakiruwa Forest, located roughly between Bibile and Monaragala. Ajahn plans to develop the hermitage into a full fledged monastery that will be called Mahāvana Aranya Senasanaya / Wat Pa Mahavana. Luang Por Medhino speaks fluent English, Sinhala and Thai; and also some French and German (and native Dutch, of course 😉). Luang Por has kindly agreed to our invitation to visit Dhammagiri from 31 March to 07 April 2026, including leading a One Day Retreat on Easter Sunday 05 April. Details of Ajahn Medhino's program at Dhammagiri can be found here: ⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/post/ajahn...⁠ Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #retreat #buddhistretreat #meditationretreat #vipassana #mindfulness #samadhi #samatha #awareness #dhammatalk

Ajahn Dhammasiha explains suitable meditation objects for investigation (vipassana/insight/wisdom) that we can direct our attention to, after the mind emerges from Samatha/Samādhi meditation. Samādhi/Concentration imbues the mind with calm, tranquillity, hightened mindfulness, brightness and radiant awareness, as well as wholesome joy, rapture and bliss. At the same time, the five hindrances of sensual desire, aversion, laziness, restlessness and doubt are suppressed (or at least reduced). Of course, all these things are desirable and very pleasant to experience in and by themselves. However, even more important is that they provide the conditions for profound insight to arise. Whenever our mind has developed a certain level of calm/samatha, we should these mental qualities to develop insight/vispassana. We're not merely enjoying the bright and blissful qualities of samādhi, we're using them to do the work of developing wisdom, to see things as they really are (yathā-bhūta-ñāṇadassana), to investigate and analyse. So what are the areas of investigation the Buddha recommended for that purpose? And how are we to investigate them, in which way should we contemplate them? In this reflection, Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about the 5 groups of clinging (pañcupādānakkhandhā) as suitable objects for profound insight contemplation: Rūpa = Form Vedanā = Feeling (pleasant of unpleasant of neutral) Saññā = Perception (Recognizing, labelling) Sankhārā = Mental formations, in particular intention (cetana) & thinking (vitakka)Viññāṇa = Consciousness Ajahn also mentions the four foundations of mindfulness, which are highly suitable meditation objects for developing insight as well, and which tend to be easier to contemplate than the 5 groups of clinging.

Venerable Ariyananda Thero explains fundmental Buddhist contemplations. We have been circling through Saṃsāra, the wheel of repeated death and rebirth, since beginningless time. We don't know where we came from (what was our last rebirth?), we don't know where we're going (what will be our next rebirth?), and still we pretend everything's fine and try to be merry. Instead, the Buddha ecourages us to contemplate death and impermanence, so that we don't get lost in negligence, but make the effort to escape the round of death and birth through practising the Buddha's teaching and realizing the supreme securtity from bondage, the Deathless Element, Nibbāna. Venerable Angulgamuwa Ariyananda Mahāthera is the abbot of Na Uyana Aranya, the largest forest monastery in Sri Lanka: ⁠https://nauyana.org/⁠ He has kindly accepted our invitation to visit Dhammagiri from 2nd to 4th April. You can find all details of his program with us here: https://www.dhammagiri.net/post/visiting-senior-monk-at-dhammagiri-buddhist-monastery Bhante will be accompanied by Bhante Pāsādika Thera (abbot of Dhamsuwa Forest Monastery near Melbourne), Bhante Buddhavihārī Thera, and Bhante Jinaratana Thera. Bhante has been a monk for 33 years. He has visited Dhammagiri once before in November/December 2010, giving special blessings to our newly arrived main Buddha statue. This visit was actually the first time Bhante Ariyananda gave formal teachings in English ourside of Sri Lanka. Bhante Ariyananda and Ajahn Dhammasiha have known each other for 31 years. Bhante has been a true Kalyāna Mitta to Ajahn Dhammasiha during his arrival at Nissaraṇa Vana: preparing him for ordination, helping him with his visa, teaching him some Sinhala, and introducing him to his Upajjhāya, Most Venerable Kadawedduwe Jinavaṃsa Mahāthera. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #buddhism #dhamma #dhammatalk #buddhistmonk #buddhistmeditation #meditation #death #impermanence

Ven. Ariyananda Thera explains fundmental priciples of Buddhist meditative practice, emphasising that the Buddha uses a scientific method that doesn't require belief based on pure faith, but that is open to and actually inviting investigation. Venerable Angulgamuwa Ariyananda Mahāthera is the abbot of Na Uyana Aranya, the largest forest monastery in Sri Lanka: https://nauyana.org/ He has kindly accepted our invitation to visit Dhammagiri from 2nd to 4th April. You can find all details of his program with us here: https://www.dhammagiri.net/post/visiting-senior-monk-at-dhammagiri-buddhist-monastery Bhante will be accompanied by Bhante Pāsādika Thera (abbot of Dhamsuwa Forest Monastery near Melbourne), Bhante Buddhavihārī Thera, and Bhante Jinaratana Thera. Bhante has been a monk for 33 years. He has visited Dhammagiri once before in November/December 2010, giving special blessings to our newly arrived main Buddha statue. This visit was actually the first time Bhante Ariyananda gave formal teachings in English ourside of Sri Lanka. Bhante Ariyananda and Ajahn Dhammasiha have known each other for 31 years. Bhante has been a true Kalyāna Mitta to Ajahn Dhammasiha during his arrival at Nissaraṇa Vana: preparing him for ordination, helping him with his visa, teaching him some Sinhala, and introducing him to his Upajjhāya, Most Venerable Kadawedduwe Jinavaṃsa Mahāthera. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #science #buddhism #dhamma #dhammatalk #buddhistmonk #buddhistphilosophy

Venerable Ajahn Medhino has been ordained as a bhikkhu for 33 years. Originally from the Netherlands, he received his ordination as a Buddhist monk at Wat Pah Nanachat in Thailand. However, for the last 12 years he has lived in Sri Lanka, where he has established a hermitage in Badulla district, at Udakiruwa Forest, located roughly between Bibile and Monaragala. Ajahn plans to develop the hermitage into a full fledged monastery that will be called Mahāvana Aranya Senasanaya / Wat Pa Mahavana. Luang Por Medhino speaks fluent English, Sinhala and Thai; and also some French and German (and native Dutch, of course 😉). Luang Por has kindly agreed to our invitation to visit Dhammagiri from 31 March to 07 April 2026, including leading a One Day Retreat on Easter Sunday 05 April. Details of Ajahn Medhino's program at Dhammagiri can be found here: https://www.dhammagiri.net/post/ajahn... Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #buddhistmonk #hermit #srilanka #buddhiststory #dhammatalk #buddhisthermit

In response to a question about the supernatural psychic powers and unique knowledge of the Buddha, Ajahn Dhammasiha examines a passage from 'Mahā Sīhanāda Sutta' ('The Greater Discourse on the Lion's Roar'), Majjhima Nikāya / Middle Length Discourses No 12. In this passage on the 'Tathāgata Bala' , the Buddha himself describes 10 powers he is endowed with, and 4 unshakeabilities. You can read and download the whole sutta in English here: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN/MN12.html Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #buddha #buddhism #sutta #sutra #suttaexploration #palicanon #majjhimanikaya

With the visit of Bhante Ariyananda coming up, Ajahn Dhammasiha reminds us all: When it comes to listening to Dhamma, it's not about quantity of input. It's about quality, and in particular about the quality of the mind of the listener. Many of us have heard the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (First Discourse of Buddha) receited many times. But did we have the vision of Dhamma arising, did we attain stream entry like Ven. Aññā Kondañña did while listening to it only once? All the listening and reading and studying will not lead to awakening if the mind is not ready. We have to reduce the hindrances/defilements (nīvaraṇā), and increase the spiritual faculties (indriya), to boost our pāramī up to a level sufficient that we can realize the Dhamma we hear of contemplate. Like a 3G phone will not be able to connec to 5G signals, we won't be able to comprehend the Dhamma on a deep level if the foundations are still too week. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #dhammatalk #listening #spriritualteacher #buddhism #dhamma #buddhistmonk

Ajahn Nyanadipo is the abbot of Bodhipala monastery, the Ajahn Chah monastery near Adelaide. https://www.bodhipalamonastery.org He has recently passed the formal Thai examinations to qualify as an upajjhāya (preceptor who can ordain monks), being only the second foreign monks to do so. Ajahn shares inspiring stories of his monastic life, in particular meeting senior monks of our tradition and attending the Ajahn Chah commemoration at Wat Nong Pah Pong. Ajahn also talks about the large stupa project that he's overseeing: the construction of the 'Subhadda Cetiya', a 15 meter high stupa dedicated to Ajahn Chah, at Bodhipala monastery. Ajahn has visited Dhammagiri before, for instance in March 2021 he joined us for Magha Puja, when he gave the following Dhamma Talk Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #dhammatalk #buddhistmonk #stupa #ajahnchah #buddhiststory #buddhistwisdom #buddhism

After our guided mettā meditation, Ajahn Dhammasiha shares some strategies how to overcome typical difficulties in our development of Loving Kindness, and to deepen our meditation. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #metta #lovingkindness #meditation #buddhistmeditation #empathy #compassion

Ajahn Dhammasiha praises participants of our One Day Meditation Retreat for their commitment to virtue and unshakable ethical principles. By committing ourselves, without any if or when, to non-violence; to commit ourselves to abstain in all possible circumstance from any act of killing, we're making a powerful statement against war, and remove ourselves from any participation in war and violence. By developing bhāvanā to weaken and ultimately abandon greed, hatred and delusion, we work on removing the deep causes of any forms of war and violence. Ajahn shares several stories of persons who decided not to kill/not to shoot in very challenging situations, some of them possibly even saving the world from global nuclear war through their courageous decisions. These heros of not-killing and non-violence are unfortunately much less famous and much less appreciated than "heros" who receive the Victoria Cross and similar medals of "bravery" for killing. Often their steadfastness in obeying their conscience goes completely unnoticed, or worse, it may even lead to them being denigrated and attacked. Similar for those who dare to state the truth in challenging circumstances. Stating a simple truth, though it is disagreeable to those in power, can be a truly heroic act with far-reaching consequences. It may break the spell of false narratives and propaganda, and be of great long term benefit to many beings, even though the truth tellers may be attacked, or may even end up sacrificing their life for their act of truthfulness. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #nonviolence #precepts #notkilling #commitment #ethics #buddhism #compassion

Ajahn Moneyyo discusses the very first Sutta in Suttanipāta: "The Snake" / "Uragasutta". Snakes regularly have to shed their old skin, as it becomes too restrictive for their growing body. In the wilderness, one can sometimes find this old, worn out skin, left behind by the snake. The Buddha uses this process as a simile for a monk who abandons anger, desire and delusion, leaving all mental defilements behind, just like the snake leaves behind it's old skin. Naturally, abandoning defilements is no easy task, just as he snake has to struggle quite a bit to wriggle out of the old skin. But it is possible, it can be done. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #suttanipata #uragasutta #snake #serpant #buddhism

Ajahn Dhammasiha was asked via email to talk about bringing peace to ourselves regarding Iran, Israel and US war, and all the other evil and insanity we witness being committed globally. As Brisbane just witnessed a total lunar eclipse ('Blood Moon') on Magha Puja Full Moon day, Ajahn shares the ancient Indian myth how Rāhu the evil demon swallows the moon deity Chandimā during an eclipse. In his distress, Chandimā remembers the Buddha and takes refuge in him. The Buddha chants a verse to Rāhu requesting him to release Chandimā, and Rāhu indeed lets go of the moon. Although this myth totally contradicts our astronomical understanding how an eclipse works, Ajahn Dhammasiha declares himself a true believer in its truth: meaning his is convinced of the metaphorical truth of the matter, not the literal meaning 😉 The moon is a simile for our heartThe moon being swallowed by Rāhu is an allegory for our heart becoming dark due to sadness, anger or despair Taking refuge in the Buddha, and remembering that the Buddha's complete release from all oppression can be experienced by ourselves, frees our heart from darkness and unwholesome statesAjahn encourages us to remember the symbolism of the lunar eclipse whenever we notice our heart going dark. If we remember the Buddha and take refuge in him, the forces of evil will not be able to darken our heart. This is the most important thing. We may not be able to stop the evil happening externally, in the extreme we may even get killed ourselves by evil. However, as long as evil can't take over our own heart, we've still won the most essential battle. This doesn't mean that we have to be completely passive regarding evil. It only means that we do not commit evil ourselves in opposing it. We oppose evil only by means that are not violent, keeping the Buddhist precepts, and most importantly, based on compassion, kindness, truth and equanimity, never baswed on anger or hatred. To do that, we have to first make sure that anger, hatred, delusion or fear are not influencing our heart. We also have to keep in mind that it is utterly impossible to turn this human world into a perfect place without evil. It is part of the first noble truth that we live in a world with war and atrocities. However, if we free our own heart from evil, we will experience a devine world without evil in our next rebirth. And if we free our hear from any trace of greed, hatred & delusion, we will experience the state of total release, Nibbāna, where no trace of evil can ever reach. You can listen to a recording we did of Dhammagiri monks chanting the Moon Protection (Canda Paritta) during the total lunar eclipse for Veask Full Moon 2021 here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/canda-paritta-moon-protection-recitation-at-lunar-eclipse/id1534539834?i=1000523371067 Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #evil #war #darkness #release #freedom #deliverence #lunareclipse #bloodmoon #chandaparitta

At our Pa Ba Ceremony of Offering Forest Cloth on Magha Puja Full Moon, Ajahn Dhammasiha gives a Dhamma Talk about the Ovādapātimokkha: Abstain from any evil deed accomplish what is good and true, And fully purify your mind - That is what all the Buddhas teach. Enduring patience is the best of all ascetic practices; The best of everything at all is called Nibbāna by the sage. If you cause harm to anyone you can't be called a genuine monk! Refrain from harming and abuse, and strictly keep the Buddha's rules; Be moderate when taking food, and dwell alone in solitude devoted to the Higher Mind - That is what all the Buddhas teach. The Buddha recited this concise summary of the whole practice leading to Nibbāna on the full moon of Magha, at the 'Sāvaka-sannipāta', the spontaneous gathering of 1,250 Arahant Bhikkhus, all of them ordained by the Buddha himself. Ajahn Dhammasiha also explains that the Veluvana (Bamboo Grove Monastery), the location of Magha Puja, was the first monastery ever offered to the Buddha. King Bimbisāra of the Kingdom of Magadha offered a park to the sangha, located outside the gates of his capital Rajagah. The Buddha accepted it and declared that the monks are now allowed to accept property the to be owned by the sangha communally (but not by individual monks). However, the monks continued to live in the open and under trees even in the newly offered monastery. The billionaire banker of Rajagaha saw the monks still living in the open, and asked the Buddha for permission to erect buildings for them. The Buddha granted permission, and from then on numerous structures were erected and offered to the sangha. Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #buddhism #buddha #buddhistmonastery #rajagaha #rajgir #maghapuja #ovadapatimokkha

Abstain from any evil deed accomplish what is good and true, And fully purify your mind - That is what all the Buddhas teach. Enduring patience is the best of all ascetic practices; The best of everything at all is called Nibbāna by the sage. If you cause harm to anyone you can't be called a genuine monk! Refrain from harming and abuse, and strictly keep the Buddha's rules; Be moderate when taking food, and dwell alone in solitude devoted to the Higher Mind - That is what all the Buddhas teach. The Buddha recited this concise summary of the whole practice leading to Nibbāna on the full moon of Magha, at the 'Sāvaka-sannipāta', the spontaneous gathering of 1,250 Arahant Bhikkhus, all of them ordained by the Buddha himself. Ajahn Dhammasiha introduces us to the location of the event, the Bamboo Grove Monastery ('Veḷuvana') at Rājagaha, and goes through the Ovādapātimokkha line by line (By the way, it's actually 14 lines of verse in the Pāli. When Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about 16 lines, he was thinking about the English translation, which has two lines more. It can be difficult to express meaning in English as succinct as in Pali, often one requires more words in modern languages to get the meaning accross) Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/news⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our email Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Latest Photos ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724 #buddhism #buddha #arahants #magha #maghapuja #ovadapatimokkha