He is an excellent writer, commentator and translator of the Theravada tradition. He teaches a demystified and non-metaphysical version of Buddhism - what I think is the closest to the original teaching. His is a great modern voice in Buddhism and in healing psychology.
actually, Thanissaro has profound and well argued reverence for the more supernatural, cosmological, and metaphysical claims and implications to be found in the Suttas, and backs them up with meticulous knowledge of those scriptures, their coherence, their logic, and a rigorous practice that reinforces the conviction that what we think is possible is conditioned by where we're at on the path, conditioned by what cravings we're unable to examine and abandon. There are necessarily levels of letting go that we have no tools to comprehend, and indeed no interest to contemplate, and in those realms of experience function on different premises. Thanissaro always emphasizes that the point of the Buddha's progressive teaching is that our perception is ruled by our conduct. If we change our conduct radically, we WILL see life and death very differently, as well as all possibilities in between.
I came to the Dhamma largely because of Ajahn Thanissaro's translations of the Pali Nikayas, and his commentaries and Dhamma talks have clarified so many technical aspects in my own practice. Access to Insight is a great gift to any English speaking student of the Buddha's teachings. I hope one day to meet him. I'd really like to thank him personally for all he's done not just for me, but for students everywhere in the anglophone world. Until then, thanks BuddhaDhamma Foundation for making this content available!
im so grateful for coming across these Theravada teachings, i find them straight forward and sticking with "exactly" what the Buddha taught - suffering and the end of suffering, no woowoo waawaa, only what Buddha taught. Thank you for the refreshing teachings. Bless.
This monk is such a blessing, for years I've been listening to the Ajahn Chah lineage so to hear this lineage of Ajahn Lee has really cemented the teachings of the Thai tradition which is such a blessing 🙏
I've just heard my favorite teaching. "You're not suffering because of what comes into your mind. You suffer because of what comes out of your mind." Thanks
Thank you Ajahn, for your clarity, for your compassion, for your patient and clear teachings, and for the immense peace calm and joy that you have brought to the world. I along with countless beings have benefited greatly from your venerable presence. May your guidance help all beings to learn the path to true happiness.
The story about his mother keeping the ruined egg separator is really touching. Children have such a great opportunity to brighten their parents' world.
This is why ven. Thanissaro has no comments section, to avoid tribalism. Although I would like very much to be able to leave some question for more advanced meditators and so on. That kind of communication could be useful.
This School coming from Ajan Chan, including Thanissaro, Amaro, etc. at Abayagiri, etc. and are the GOLD STANDARD of authentic Dhamma today. I recommend the recording of the Winter 2018 readings from Acharya Mun's works as well. No where else in the western world is the standard of practice alive today.
apropos Ven Thanissaro remark on misconception about the practice that is to passively and dispassionately accept what's coming and what's happening, basically to go with the flow _I assert NON-DOING with regard to bodily, verbal, and mental MISCONDUCT; I assert NON-DOING with regard to the numerous kinds of BAD UNWHOLESOME QUALITIES. I assert DOING with regard to GOOD bodily, verbal, and mental CONDUCT; I assert DOING with regard to the numerous kinds of WHOLESOME QUALITIES. It is in this way, brahmin, that I assert a doctrine of deeds and a doctrine of non-doing._ (AN 2.34)
I read an account of a team of mountain climbers, one of the earliest group of westerners who traveled to nepal/tibet to climb a Himalayan peak. In their preparations they were told about a Tibetan Buddhist center nearby and they decided to go talk to the head monk there and get his blessing. After listening to the climbers' plans to scale this huge mountain peak the Tibetan lama simply said 'what a tremendous waste of effort.' The climbers left thinking that he simply didn't understand.
using notes for Q&A is a much more convenient and efficient method than asking orally, and also discreet which is useful for people reluctant to speak out for various reasons it needs to be adopted in the West
I greatly appreciate the effort Rev Thanissaro put into translating the Lord Buddha's teaching, making it available to the wider public, and the amounts of work do fill me with awe. I wonder how he, beautifully, completed such a great task--what a contribution!! I enjoy listening to audio sutta of his translation, my favorite, delightful I should say. Guess, like others, I have to associate myself more with his Dhamma talks, something new to me, but also with great enjoyment. Sadhu!!
Lovely talk. TB’s talks are always refreshing and hard hitting. When it comes to the precept of not killing and thus not eating meat, I think we have a greater say in it than we realize. If you choose not to eat meat because it’s killing an animal, you have chosen not to pay for the killing of it. If enough people stopped purchasing meat, I don’t think animal farmers would still go ahead and kill their animals. The only reason you can go to the market to buy meat is because you’re paying for the animal to be killed. Stop purchasing (demanding) meat and the supply will stop.
If we were not consuming farm animals for food purposes, they would go extinct. They are now entirely dependent upon their perhaps unfortunate symbiosis with us for survival.
At Tricycle magazine: "Just understand your mind: how it works, how attachment and desire arise." The attachments and desires, in all plants and animals, arise from the DNA molecules in their body cells. All plants and animals have three genetically programmed goals/desires: 1- SELF PRESERVATION 2- PERPETUATION OF THE SPECIES 3- DOMINANCE. The DNA dance has a sisyiphean goal. The Buddha taught renunciation. He lived the life of a renunciate.
Ven Thanissaro as an open minded person, whom he appears to be, and being a Westerner could actually be supportive of the revival of the bhikkhuni Sangha
Ajahn Brahm had certainly done so and is way ahead of the pack in that regard, and some other ways. I'm new to this teacher and don't know where he's at in that regard.
@John Wood I don't think that is his drawback, instead it shows how respectful he is to his ajahn's and the buddha's teaching. You know, to be supportive of ordaining female monks these days, according to theravada buddhism, is to be violating the buddha's teaching. Because the buddha said that bhikkhunis have to be ordained by both bhikkhus and bhikkhunis, and since theravada bhikkhunis have died out almost a thousand year ago, it is impossible that a bhikkhuni can rightly and fully be ordained.
Yes there is a higher happiness one can attain but it's not easy. You can meditate for 50 years and not find it. We are told not to "want it" because then we are craving and clinging. If we do get a taste of it we are told not to get excited and like it too much or we will lose it. It can be a very frustrating confusing path full of paradox so many different perspectives about what is the correct way etc.
I think motivation/ intention plays an important role in buddhism, but what Thanissaro Bhikkhu is saying is that breaking the precepts is always unskillfull, i.e. it will never lead to your long-term happiness, no matter what your motivation behind breaking them is.
It is incorrect to say that motivation doesn't matter. But I don't think he means exactly this: for example, later he talks about giving just out of the desire to win the lottery; this is not a good way to give, it's giving out of selfishness. There, the motivation does matter quite a lot. About breaking the precepts, I would have said that breaking the precepts is always wrong, not only just "because because'" but actually because the motivation in breaking the precepts IS always selfish and unwise, because the precepts forbid exactly those actions that lead to the most long term harm and suffering for oneself and for others. So if you think you are "doing good" in breaking them, then you are cheating yourself. e.g. lying for the sake of making more money and giving it to your mother is NOT a 'noble motivation." It is a selfish one. Lying, stealing, cheating, killing for the sake of one's health, one's wealth or one's relatives - all the motivation is still selfish, because you are just protecting the things to which you are attached, that are "part of me, mine, myself."
there is no self because u hv a mind n a body.... the body is the body of city whereas the mind is the mind of universe so how can there be self me myself mine n i.... our existence is we not i view....
Please BuddhaDhamma Foundation change the picture pause of the Ven. Monk in the youtube listing of this video with a better picture pause; as the present one is depressing and uninvting and even ugly looking to the new visitor !
