The Human Family
Ajahn Sumedho From a talk originaly given at Amaravati and to be published in The Mind and The Way by Wisdom Publications later this year.Immorality, Confession & Forgiveness
Venerable VaradoSutta Class from Edition 32
In Memory of Luang Por Jun - Part 1
In Memory of Luang Por Jun - Part 2
Sister Sanghamitta reflects on the life of Luang Por Jun who died in Ubon Rajathani on April 2nd this year.Is Buddhism A Religion?
Ajahn SumedhoThis is the first chapter in The Mind and The Way, a forthcoming book of Ajahn Sumedho's talks to be published by Wisdom Publications in 1995. It was edited from a talk given at Lancaster University in 1989.
Images of Sri Lanka
Sr. SiripaaThe second and final part of Sr. Siripaa's account of the visit she and Sr. Upekkha made to Sri Lanka last Autumn to attend the International Conference of Buddhist Women.
Following the conference, they were invited to visit various places of Buddhist interest.
Impressions from Bodhinyanarama
Ajahn Vajiro, who has been Abbot of Bodhinyanarama Monastery in New Zealand for almost three years, was interviewed by Ajahn Sucitto about his time there so far.The Law of Kamma and the Roots of Wholesome Action
Ajahn Thiradhammo Sutta Class from Edition 34Lay Practice: Buddhism comes to Essex
Pamutto, the senior teacher of the Harlow Buddhist Society, describes the evolution of the Society over twenty years, toward the growth of a lay sangha as its nucleus.A Letter From California
Ajahn AmaroLetters from Sri Lanka
People here are really interested in what made a foreigner become a monk, so there is the opportunity to give powerful encouragement to a lot of people.Ajahn Vipassi left the community about a year ago in order to experience bhikkhu life in Asia, in a Theravadan Buddhist culture. These extracts are from letters he has written to the Sangha and friends over the year.
The Key to Liberation
Extracts from a recent (1999) publication of Ajahn Cha's talks.A Little Awakening
Bhikkhu Chandapalo sends news from Santacittarama in ItalyLove Unbounded
In April this year, Sister Candasiri and Sister Medhanandi spent three days with the Sisters of the Love of God - one of the few Anglican contemplative Orders - at Fairacres,The Convent of the Incarnation, on the outskirts of Oxford.Sister Candasiri presents some impressions of their experience.
The Magic and the Muck
The following article outlines the history of Harnham Monastery and presents an update on its current legal difficulties as an appeal for funds toward a settlement. It has been prepared by trustees of the Magga Bhavaka Trust which was established fifteen years ago under Ajahn Sumedho's guidance to provide stewardship for the monastery.Maha Ghosananda: Cambodia's Nobel Nominee
Alan Channer.Maha Ghosananda, Cambodia's spiritual leader, talks about peace, suffering and trees.
Reprinted, with permission, from `For a Change', Oct.1994
Mature Emotions
Ajahn Vajiro"Mature emotionsare . . . those emotions that allow other people to mature."
An article on the four Brahma Viharas.
Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension - Part 2
In 1993, Ajahn Sucitto gave a series of classes at Cittaviveka covering basic themes of meditation practice. This is the second section of his talk.Morality, Transformation and Liberation
Ajahn Sucitto Sutta Class from Edition 33Morals and Ethics
Sutta Class from Edition 35No Ease in the Isahn
Ven. Natthiko BhikkhuVen. Natthiko Bhikkhu is a monk of Swedish nationality who spent his second pansah (rains-retreat), at a branch monastery in the Isahn - North-East Thailand. He sent this letter to the Sangha at Wat Pah Nanachat.
The Path to Peace
Venerable Ajahn Chah passed away six years ago this January; from time to time new translations of his talks get published. Here are some selections from The Path to Peace, a small collection that came out last year.On being and becoming
Ajahn VipassiSutta Class from Edition 31
On Making a Mistake
Can you think of all the mistakes you have make in the last week? Can you let them be, can you still be a friend to yourself?Ajahn Brahmavamso is the Abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia. These Dhamma reflections are extracted from a talk he gave at the Dhammaloka Centre in Perth in 1990.
Punna and Papa (Sutta Class No. 38)
Venerable Asabho demythologises commonly held distinctions between the practice of punna [meritorious action] and bhavana [cultivation of meditation].Practice as Process
Ajahn Pasanno One of the things that could be brought up concerns attainment or progress in practice. It's something which we worry about: we talk about it, we get caught up in it in various ways. That's the attitude we have to our progress in practice. Are we progressing? Are we not are we regressing? Are we getting worse at practice, or . . ? How do we measure our practice?From a talk given at Chithurst.
A Profile of the Venerable Ajahn Gunhah
A noted disciple of Luang Por Chah who is gaining respect in his own right as a teacher is his nephew, Venerable Ajahn Gunhah. At age 44, with 27 years as a monk, he is part of a new generation of up-and-coming meditation masters in the Thai forest tradition.by Venerable Chandako
Remembering our Goal:
An interview with Ajahn Pasanno
"The reason why you keep moral precepts is in order
to be happy, to be free from a sense of oppression
from the things that agitate the mind.
This sense of restraint is to allow the mind
to really dwell in well-being, so it's not bounced around all the time.
If one practises meditation, the whole reason why
samadhi actually establishes itself in the mind is because of happiness.
If the mind isn't happy, then meditation doesn't
come to a point of fruition."
Renunciation & Devotion: The Stalk and the Fragrance
Ajahn Munindo As the Buddha says in the Dhammapada, it is wisdom that encourages us to give up a lesser happiness for a greater happiness.From a talk given at Ratanagiri on August 6th 1994.
The Retreat of Light
For the first time, Ajahn Amaro and 3 other bhikkhus of our samvasa have spent the three months rains retreat together in California. Here they give some of their impressions.Right Effort: Making It Work
Ajahn Siripanna gave this talk at the Insight Meditation Centre, Barre, Massachsetts, in April 1996.The Sangha and its Trusts
This article explains the work of the trust bodies that act as the stewards to the Sangha.Saving Forests So There Can Be Forest Monks
Ajahn Pasanno is the Abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat, the monastery for Western monks set up by Ajahn Chah in Thailand. He recently spent a year on retreat in the forest at Chithurst Monastery. It was there that he was interviewed by Nick Scott.Sharing the Blessings
The daily chant of dedication for those who have made offerings to the Sangha can be a source of real joy, especially when taken out of the familiar context.Here, Venerable Thanuttaro describes just such a spontaneous occasion this summer, while on tudong to his mother's home in Kent.
The Sima Ceremony: An historic event
Ajahn AttapemoA Slice of Life
Kathryn Guta, a close associate of Abhayagiri and the Sanghapala Foundation, worked as a nurse. Then one day, noticing some small marks on her arm, she went to see the doctor...The Spiritual Faculties
Ajahn Nyanadhammo is the vice-abbot at Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia. He made his first visit to Europe in the spring of 1998, and time gave this talk during his stay at CittavivekaSuffer the Little Children
Venerable Sobhano writes of his tudong through the Balkans which took him to an orphanage in the remote north-east of Romania.Supporting the Temple Project
Krishnan Padayachi One of the chief fundraisers remembers the day of the Ground Breaking ceremony in May.A Temple Arises
Ajahn Amaro Here Ajahn Amaro reports on a conversation with Ajahn Sumedo who explains the place of the temple in the Buddhist monastic tradition and its function for the whole Buddhist community.The Temple Project at Amaravati
The plans, the action and the communion of paradoxes.Timeless Teachings
On 16th January we will be commemorating the fifth anniversary of Luang Por Chah's death. These Dhamma reflections come from a collection of his teachings assembled by Paul Breiter during the seventies. They are presented as an expression of reverence and gratitude.Traceless Traces
At the Funeral of Venerable Master Hsuan HuaA Tudong Letter From Macedonia
Venerable SobhanoThe Upasika Precept Ceremony
Venerable Sobhano reflects on the significance of the first Upasika precept ceremony held at Amaravati on October 15th 1994The Venerable Ajahn Tate 1902-1994
The Venerable Nyanaponika Mahathera 20th July 1901 - 19th October 1994
Vision and Focus
Sister Thanasanti reflects on the joys and sorrows of practice in the sometimes challenging environment of Amaravati.Who We Really Are
The thrust of meditation is to begin to realise the true nature of the mind that isn't conditioned by perception, cultural conditioning, thought or memory.
In this talk Ajahn Sumedho explains how, with an understanding of the
conditioning process, through meditation practice and the skilful application
of spriritual discipline we are able to discover the true nature of the
enlightened mind for ourselves.
Why go to a monastery
Sister Candasiri
We might ask: what kind of freedom is this? Tying oneself down in a situation
where one is constantly restrained, always having to conform?
From a talk given at Amaravati.
The Wisdom of Samadhi
Ajahn Pannavaddho was one of the first bhikkhus to live and practise in the
Hampstead Vihara with Kapilavaddho Bhikkhu in the 1960's. He has since taken
up residence in Wat Pa Barntard, the forest monastery of Ajahn Maha Boowa of
whom he is a close and respected disciple. In the following piece he
illuminates the importance of samadhi as a basis for the deepening of wisdom.
Return to the front page of FSN