Day 3 Afternoon Anapanasati Sutta: Ajahn Brahm 21/11/20
Channel: Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project
Date: 21/11/2020

"Bliss Upon Bliss Upon Bliss:" 6-day retreat with Ajahn Brahm & Ven Canda 
Q&A from 53:10

Mindfulness consists of present-moment awareness and silence—without inner commentary—and has many different degrees of power. One benefit of slowing down and developing powerful mindfulness is that the 5 senses are experienced with greater vividness and beauty. Ajahn touches on the Vipallasas – the Buddha’s account of how our views, perceptions, and thoughts are distorted and mutually distorting. The correction of this through insight arising from deep meditation is the subject of the last part of Anapanasati—seeing clearly and more deeply into impermanence, fading away, cessation, relinquishment. Ajahn calls this “exploring” rather than “contemplating”, to emphasise that it is not through discursive thought that these insights occur. The mind has the stillness and courage to see truths it did not necessarily want to see, such as the complete disappearance of what we took to be ourselves.  

Q&A on: Anapanasati and the air element; the formless attainments; distinguishing self-kindness from following defilements; nimittas; how to value silence; how to initially develop mindfulness; how the other factors of the Eightfold path support samadhi; the sound of silence; past life recollections; physical illness; obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety; Adhitthana & resolutions in meditation; working with sleepiness; preparing for death & letting go of attachments; loving-kindness and well-wishing; the meaning of “Samma” in the Eightfold path.

This is part of a special retreat online, given by Ajahn Brahm and assisted by Ven Canda in support of Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project, also headed by Ven Canda in the UK. To enable us to continue spreading the priceless teachings and contribute towards the development of the first Theravada Bhikkhuni Monastery in the UK, where women can train towards full ordination, donations are extremely welcome and gratefully received. Please visit http://www.anukampaproject.org/donate