Thank you Ajahn for telling your experiences. Your talks take away some ignorance of our delusional mind. I hope I can benefit more from ur talks and follow the path of cessation of suffering.
Most people believe only in what they can see. That's their right. Some people also believe in other realms of existence. Some people who have seen them (either ghosts, demons, or light beings), will have different views on life and the universe. The whole universe is energy. Most people cannot see energy. But, most people can experience what energy is like, for example, most people can experience heat or cold. Everything in the universe consists of neutron, positron and electron. They all vibrate in different range of speed. Everything that vibrates has frequency. Every frequency has colour. Some colour are visible. Some are subtle. Our mind has interactions with all sorts of frequencies whether those frequencies are from external or are generated as results of the actions, speech or thoughts. So, throughout our lifetime, we have done all sorts of things that in turn leave impressions on the mind. These impressions are energy that has been left in the mind. And, these different kinds of energy will continue to come to the surface and/or affect internal and/or external circumstances that will in turn produce other kinds of results. This is what we call the law of causes and effects. Of course, there are still other universal laws that operate in the universe. Anyway, throughout the lifetime of a person, one has created many actions whether through body, speech or mind. Those energy that has been left in the mind will accumulate. And, any of them will affect the mind (the consciousness) to be affected (read "to be drawn") towards other place that has synchronicity with the state of that mind in that particular moment. This is what we call the process of rebirth. To me, these are all really logical.
Hi Ajahn Achalo!! I'm back and I Want to listen to all your talks again. You are so easy to listen to. You are such a good speaker.Easy to remember when a speaker can completely hold a students attention. You are good at that. I Wish you would do more video"s.Thank for this talk. Many blessings. __/I\____/I\____/I\__.
When I first stayed at a monastery I started craving burger King breakfast. Croissantwich to be exact. On weekends lay followers come with lots of food. Guess what someone brought... Croissantwiches from burger King. A whole platter of them... This was a few years ago.
I feel like the whole smoking being o.k. in Theravada Buddhism for monks because the precepts don't forbid it is a clear example of how Theravada takes the wrong turn in adhering to the letter rather than the spirit of the teachings. It should cause one to question the Theravada model of blindly adhering to the precepts rather than using logic and common sense in determining good from bad. It seems quite obvious, on rational consideration that if the Buddha were around these days he would not permit monks to smoke. Not only is it bad for the health, it is expensive, and it looks atrocious as well. Even in the Vajrayana smoking is considered something very bad which is said to block ones path to liberation at the time of death in certain cases. It is clear that in many cases people who adhere to precepts are just creating a cocoon for themselves in which they can feel good about following the precepts without really thinking what the spirit is behind the letter. I am not saying precepts are bad, but we must try to understand the intention of the Buddha with thoughtful consideration.
complete bullshit! i stayed at a thai temple for 3 month, all the monks were smoking like chimneys,...but that didn't affect their meditative or spiritual abilities its written clearly that drugs, who are altering the mind, are not to be used. nikotin doesent do such things. PLUS: another white cat from the " west " trying to lecture the masters from east. go, get yourself a coffee and a cigarette, hang with em thai monks at the temple,... and you will " get it " maybe,...
Nothing is really forbidden in Buddhism. Though we are given some advice on how to avoid suffering. Does smoking cause suffering? Indeed it does, to the smoker and even worse, to those around the smoker. However, Buddha taught non-attachment. Are these people attached to their smoking? I would say in most cases, yes they are. This is not about Theravada, this is about some people making excuses for their habits. In fact it is NOT OK to have attachment to smoking, or anything else. Do not mistake religion and tradition or even interpretation for reality. Theravada is very good and very real. Unfortunately, there are many schools of it, and many ideas and excuses have been added. Stick to the Tripitaka and what the Buddha actually shared.
I don't think you really understand either Theravada Buddhism or the role of the precepts. One challenges oneself to undertake the precepts as a training aid , not as a unbreakable code of conduct.
24:42 they don't have to be around. In Florida, they can be miles away, and influencing your emotions while reading your thoughts. it's abusive and i need help stopping them cause theyre sadists framing me a threat to society. i would love to cleanse my chakras but they wont really let me, when i stop the med, i can't think of anything, but killing them, and they made me that way on purpose.
And furthermore he seems to be making up the teaching and rules as he goes along. Craving cigarettes and justifying egotistical reasons to indulge in attachment to material pleasures. Not very encouraging must say
![Ajahn Achalo - Ghosts, Devas,Merit, Rebirth etc, metaphor, metaphysics or matter of fact? [3-7]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
