Live from Birken: Dhamma Q&A with Ajahn Sona (01.22.2023)

Join us on Sunday as Ajahn Sona answers Dhamma questions from listeners around the world. Questions may be submitted during the live chat (opens ~3:00pm day of stream) or in advance, here: bit.ly/Livestr...
Ajahn Sona Podcast:
Apple - bit.ly/AppleAjSona
Spotify - bit.ly/SpotifyA...
Podbean - bit.ly/PodbeanA...
To support more virtual Dhamma from Birken Monastery, visit: birken.ca/supp...
Index of questions:
00:00 - WELCOME
00:24 - RIGHT VIEW: Would you kindly advise on embodiment of supramundane Right View once non-self is realized, but it hasn't yet taken root completely? What is the practice advised at this point?
04:43 - METTA: I recall in your talks that for Metta we can even make a Metta catalogue for all the different things to spark Metta and start the fire. In all your years of practice, what have been your personal favourite Metta objects for starting the spark?
09:05 - SOTAPANNA: - The Buddha tells us a sotapanna cannot transgress the five precepts. In terms of right speech, are they unable to engage in all forms of wrong speech or only false speech?
11:32 - THE REMOVAL OF DISTRACTING THOUGHTS: Can you explain a little bit about the five ways to deal with distracting thoughts as taught by the Buddha?
27:33 - MUSIC: I find myself humming, singing or whistling music involuntarily almost all the time throughout the day. Any comments on this condition and/or guidance to stop it?
30:09 - MEDITATION & STRESS: Is it ok to meditate during a stressful period in life? Or should we wait for things to get better?
32:10 - TAKING CRITICISM: Can you offer advice on how to take criticism well?
36:10 - CHANTING: Can one chant taking the three refuges and five precepts by oneself every morning? If so, who am I requesting this from, and can I change the wording in English & Pali to make this work?
40:02 - FASTING: Is there a benefit to fasting before meditation? Does it help calm the mind?
44:15 - COSMOLOGY: According to Buddhist cosmology, is there a finite quantity of consciousness in the universe?
46:53 - LOOKING AT ONES PROGRESS: I've been looking at my practice's progress (or not) and I'm thinking so much that I'm confusing myself. Can I bring these thoughts to my heart instead, or does that awareness happen in my mind?
51:11 - ​PRECEPTS & RELATIONSHIPS: Regarding the precepts and romantic relationships: what about 'emotional misconduct'? Why only sexual? Isn't emotional betrayal even more of a misconduct?
54:25 - THOREAU & JHANA: In some of your talks/interviews you mentioned Thoreau and that it is discussed if he attained jhana. Is it possible, and how could it be explained that people have experiences like the jhanas or 'supernormal' insights, although they seem not to be Buddhists or follow the teachings?