Ajaan Thanissaro: The Present Moment is Not the Goal

Dharma talk live streamed and recorded from the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA.

[@mrk-ism]

We are so blessed to have Thanissaro Bikkhu, someone who is able to see and express the dhamma so clearly..

[@lindam4259]

...And Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Brahmali, Ajahn Jayasaro, Ajahn Sona...all Theraveda Buddhist monks in the Forest tradition. All wonderful.

[@satyasauce4889]

Of all the teachers, Thanisarro provides richness and cleanliness through word. His speaking in a normal speed is also rare amongst these sort of talks. It’s easier to follow than slow motion soft speaking. For me. Absolutely great

[@judyj2551]

speaking at normal speed ? To me it sounded like he had a two hour talk , but they only gave him one hour to give it. I will definitely have to listen again .😉

[@chadkline4268]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIe9q4Gni7GAqa8 Maha Bua too 🙂👍

[@chadkline4268]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpmVlaOGjLdlpNE And Ajahn Chah too 🙂👍

[@zell2273]

I agree. Check out his podcast. They are short and informative

[@fingerprint5511]

Normal speed! He's a sensational teacher, but unfortunately speaks so fast and mumbles that the teachings are lost, we just don't hear well. Ajahn Sumedho is who speaks the best where there's space to absorb.

[@MatthewCahn]

Great talk! Here's an index of the Q&A Q&A: 31:03 Q: Once You Have it (Awakening) You Have it? 31:21 5 Descriptions of Nirvana: 31:49 A Battle? 33:19 Yawning, Sighing, Trouble Meditating on the Breath? 34:02 Anger? Q: 35:33 A: 37:51 Anger and Metta? 40:28 Self Sabotage? 42:27 Childish Voices in the Mind? Q: 44:45 A: 45:52 Meditation on Death? 47:42 Efficiency in the Practice? 48:20 Anger and Sensual Pleasure? Q: 50:57 A: 51:45

[@soundsnags2001]

Thank you. He said he has a website for "how to meditate" - do you know what that URL is?

[@oneheartpath]

Thank you 🙏🏽

[@solowarrior1145]

This is my favorite Ajahn. He is the purest form of buddhism that i have came across. It took many, many years for the teachings to soak into my understanding. One of the first things you have to do is approach the teachings with a beginners mind. There are a lot of misconceptions and false perceptions about the buddhas teachings. You have to completely make your mind anew. from there you have to be able to give the teachings a fair shot. that means thoroughly understanding the five precepts and four noble truths . But this isn't a course. You can't do one thing at a time and expect gradual progress. There are many teachings that needs to be developed such as generosity, virtue and a consistent meditation practice. The journey is treacherous and a up and down battle as he stated. But we are here to also understand how we cause ourselves suffering. The big misconception is that life is suffering, the buddha didnt say that. There is suffering in life and its only because we cling to unskillful thoughts and behaviors. Once you can comprehend that you are the owner of your actions and you are the aggregator of your happiness you will soon understand, what you think is YOU is actually an illusion and that is what we call the 5 aggregates, form, feeling, perception, fabrication and consciousness. Its our duty to take these aggregates and turn them into skillful factors of the path, until you can let them go completely, nirvana.

[@plutonicfireball1559]

This Ajahn is one sharp Dhamma teacher, SADHU!

[@tomastorasen9164]

This was the first time listening to this man for me. Very happy to find him. I will listen more.

[@zell2273]

Check out his podcasts. They are short and powerful

[@melissatoni8633]

Change the suffering inside instead of look for suffering on the outside to change-I LOVE THAT!

[@dzzzzzt]

I saw some comments about the speed of his speech. He talked about HUGE topics in a very brief window of time. He tried to lay out a huge chunk of the teachings in 30 minutes. I'm not sure why he was given such a topic and only one hour for it. He has talked about each of those points many times in his dhamma talks on the youtube channel dhammatalks. If you're interested in Thanssaro Bhikkhu's teachings, I urge you to listen to them or read any of his books or essays. His understanding of the dhamma has depth I have rarely seen elsewhere.

[@Shloopy420]

This video changed my life by changing my path dramatically. Thank you.

[@mrk-ism]

check out his book Undaunted on the same subject

[@fingerprint5511]

Lately this Ajahn has really inspired me to take the issues of Mara seriously, that peace is the precious gift thank you 🙏

[@Stillness1]

“If I ACT on my anger I’m going to do something stupid, and ‘this person’ is going to be pleased to see me do something stupid-Do I really want to please that bastard?” Such insight!! Brilliant. This is my first time listening to a dharma talk from Ajahn Thanissara. It will not be the last!!

[@chadkline4268]

He has done more translations than anyone I know. Most Buddhist texts you will find have been translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

[@anncallaway5479]

We are very fortunate to have access to this rare gift of a teacher.

[@jarrakis4834]

Real dharma

[@anniedamnit]

“Why did you like the anger in the first place? Which part of the committee liked the anger?” 😲 🙏🙏🙏

[@melissatoni8633]

And why does anger have an allure for your mind-that was one of my favorite parts too!

[@Shloopy420]

For me it's anxiety/fear, not anger. Same principles apply, I believe. This talk was eye opening.

[@patriciapaterson5355]

Shaping the present moment is our duty without judgement. Death is ever-present.

[@y9w1]

I'm half French (grew up there) and I would have loved to translate for Ajahn, especially watching Sagesses Bouddhistes... I like the point he's making on the present moment and the teachings who are all about "just accepting it". Good to hear a constructive criticism of them 👍 🙏

[@Skyelement84K]

I also love that "not patiently accepting" but continuing to take mental action of Samadhi.

[@simeshev]

Thank you, this was helpful.

[@digitalmagic475]

First time listen and see your name on KZbin. Thank you for teaching

[@Skyelement84K]

@satyasauce Very interesting. Although I enjoy slower softer speaking teacher, I also found THIS recording to be easily understood. SARDU! I speak English, but I don't speak or listen so rapidly. 🙃Other of Ajahn's T's recordings are impossible to understand. Had to STOP. Not all listener's are English for their first language. It should be a consideredation for his repertoire of excellent Dhamma. Where's the fire, accept for DEATH at next BREATH? Excellent understanding of present moment. Very helpful, I will listen 3 times to understand better. 💎 💎 💎 Refuge .

[@Skyelement84K]

I learn to listen at 75% replay speed 😊

[@galumpha]

Sadhu. Thank you.

[@ellensteadman7742]

Thank you so much Ajahn Thanissaro. sadhu.

[@dromgarvan]

Many thanks

[@waltercclark4682]

Amazing work. Thank you.

[@jackspicerisland]

THANK YOU

[@PGurgelSegrillo]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@thinktwice4227]

Sadhu สาธุ สาธุ

[@jodo6329]

53:48 "we have one minute" This made me spit out my coffee

[@smritimoybaruaspring2120]

nice buddha lesson, saw from bangladesh, chattogram

[@venom07786]

Thank you

[@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724]

Sādhu,, sādhu, anumodāmi 🙏 🙏 🙏

[@mangalakamble3920]

Sadhu sadhu sadhu 🙏🙏🙏

[@prachishende5159]

Very well explained about fabrication of anger

[@piyasilobhikkhu5805]

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu Luang Por Chao Khun Thanissaro

[@codydavidyates72]

"This is your story."

[@AbhinavKumar]

Devadaha Sutta and Upali Sutta

[@MatheusOliveira-rs4uj]

Does anyone knows how/where can I find that story about heedfulness he mentions around 10:29?

[@alanarcher]

This is not the same, but it has the same spirit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rH3ah3aDYp2riNU&ab_channel=Non-clingingAwareness

[@Anjali-mh5hg]

Which website was he talking about in the beginning for meditation?

[@hexistenz]

ruby d'souza you might want to have a look here : www.dhammatalks.org/mp3_guidedMed_index.html, and here insig.ht/DGeInWs5q8

[@OxinerProductions12]

He might also be talking about this: (Which is the actual article of the talk in the video I assume) tricycle.org/magazine/karma-of-now/

[@renaldo5925]

Sadhu! For me the most helpful thing has been Mahasi meditation.

[@melissatoni8633]

“You’re doing this, it’s causing you suffering…is it worth doing?” This is the perfect question for a mostly yang-centered person like myself, who often feels a need to constantly be creating, achieving, and expressing energy.

[@alanarcher]

I've had maybe half a dozen experiences of the Deathless since last year, but it never 'sticks'. And Thanissaro's teachings, writings and Dhamma Talks have helped me tremendously on the path. Does anyone know what is going on?

[@chadkline4268]

Describe it please. First let's see what you are talking about.

[@mrk-ism]

it is the exact opposite of sticking, watch out for those fabrications around it

[@nahanng7791]

Then that is not Nibbana. Just mind made experience

[@nicoleo6422]

1:43

[@sheikmunjah2241]

A river dies and ends when it mergers into the ocean. There it's mission is complete and it has no more goal for it cannot find itself anymore. Now tell me, when I die (ego death) into the present moment, who is left to go on and after a further goal?

[@livinglifefullywithlove1328]

After many years of studying all different types of buddhism, spiritualism, advaita etc... I have a problem with many things said apparently by the Buddha. Yes I agree fully with Ajahn Thanissaro that you can't just sit in a burning house and say "Its fine I accept i". Finally a Buddhist teacher says so!! But isn't it the same with cravings, longings etc. Aren't they what drives life ahead. If I stop all my carvings, whats the point in being here? I see none. I have moments when I don't crave anything more of this world, but then I feel what's the point of living. It's all so passive. If I look at children, they crave all the time and are so full of life! I get it less the more I study that stuff....

[@mytube650]

Go visit him a Wat Metta.

[@AbhinavJha95]

40:21 Great Ajahn, I have a question in follow up of your instruction on anger - I feel sometimes that my anger is justified as the reason for anger is justified, and the consequence of my actions in anger lead to others working more honestly and efficiently. How to reconcile the buddhist teaching with my experience?

[@plutonicfireball1559]

Anger is energy, a visitor, you are attached to something that fears its loss, hence the re-action of anger. When anger comes ask it questions, interview it, find out where in the body you feel it. Its the idea of who you are who is angry

[@satyasauce4889]

Plutonic Fireball dripping knowledge

[@noagenda4035]

I think if you find others have done something that you disapprove of (the most common reason why people get angry) the instruction is to calmly decide what your next course should be, anger on its own doesn’t serve any purpose, it only clouds your judgment. You do what you have to do - fire this person or fine them, or whatever other consequence you wish to assign- just no point doing it in anger.

[@dzzzzzt]

I've heard this from Ajahn Thanissaro: anger always feels justified. This is the problem. If there's no anger, how would you approach the same situation?

[@israelg6283]

There's so much fake Dhamma out there. This man really clears things up for me. Dhamma should clear the mind. Not make it more irritated.

[@ctumbles74]

But what about acceptance? The good points.

[@nicoleo6422]

10:30 death

[@a0um]

39:18 I agree with seeing the mind as a committee and that’s useful to relate with the members of the committee, but I don’t find it helpful to “throw out of the wall” (39:45) or inflict “karate chops“ to the members of the commette. What’s been useful to me has been the “Internal Family System” approach: mental impulses are sub-personalities trying to help using outdated means, recognizing their role and reassuring they can get help from yourself through skillful means is the key to transform their energy and attitude for good.

[@andrews7414]

Isn’t meditation an austerity? 😅

[@tudoravram2305]

I honestly don t understand what logic is this where one says the past karma shapes the present moment, but also we can change the present moment in order to reduce suffering. How could we ever change the present moment when each aspect of the present moment is shaped by the past? There is nothing separate from the karmic flow to act upon the present. If someone gets in touch with the teaching, it is because of the anterior moment, if someone starts applying the teaching and starts meditating, it is because of the anterior moment, if someone hears the teachings but is not interested or he's lazy and does it from time to time or he becomes a skillful practitioner, it is because of the anterior moment. Every process, every action, every thought, every emotion, every moment of attention and mindfulness, every moment of refraining from mind-wandering are dependent upon causes and conditions, everything is co-dependent...so how can one speak of the impact that we have on the present moment? What is that thing that can change the present moment which is not fully influenced / fully conditioned by countless causes and conditions of the previous moment?

[@spacendxinfinity9081]

The way I understand is that the present is shaped by both past and present actions So it is possible to change the present and future

[@tudoravram2305]

@@spacendxinfinity9081 Well, actually no. Present actions are conditioned by past actions. Present can not cause itself.

[@BELFIGORS]

Thanissaro sei entrato 3 volte (almeno) nel Brahman Immortale UNO? Perchè non dici che bisogna stendersi e dire "non mi fermerò e non dormirò sino a quando non arriverò nella Verità Assoluta"? E anche: "Non ho paura di morire, questo mondo non mi attrae e non mi illuderà mai più". E ancora: "Anche mi mancasse il respiro e dovessi trapassare altrove io continuerò a rilassarmi e "non più sentito il corpo e zittita la mente", continuerò nel relax trascendentale a guardare nel buio dei miei occhi, sino a superare i sogni, superare l'Atman coscienza infinita, superare spazio e tempo, superare il vuoto nero infinito, sino ad arrivare nel mondo Blù dell'Uno Immortale e là fondermi dentro il suo corpo cosmico .. perdendo la mia falsa coscienza individualistica e ritornando ciò che sono in REALTA" .. senza più corpi, mente, coscienza, spirito e tutte le maschere che ho creato immaginandole. -- Thanissaro have you entered 3 times (at least) in the Immortal Brahman ONE? Why don't you say you have to lie down and say "I will not stop and I will not sleep until I arrive in the Absolute Truth"? And also: "I am not afraid of dying, this world does not attract me and will never deceive me again". It's still: "Even if I miss my breath and have to pass elsewhere I will continue to relax and" no longer felt the body and silenced the mind ", I will continue in transcendental relaxation to look into the darkness of my eyes, until I overcome dreams, overcome Atman consciousness infinite, overcoming space and time, overcoming the infinite black void, until reaching the Blue world of the Immortal One and merging there into his cosmic body .. losing my false individualistic consciousness and returning what I am in REALITY ".. without more bodies, mind, conscience, spirit and all the masks I created imagining them. 👌

[@aviralmishra4492]

i dont mean any criticism by this, just curious- why so strict with time? i mean why not extend the so wise lesson by 5 mins and answer that last guy's question calmly. again no criticism, just curious about the strict schedule as i have seen in many lessons by monks, they ask - how much time we have left?

[@kathri1006]

Actually the truth is 'we 'are 'I am ' is already dead always, due to sensory delay in all modes of perception. The sense of living is due to delusion , the continued sense of existence we grasp and perpetuate the cycle. We just chase a dead thing, going round and round in samsara.When we can ' live' in this paradox, there is no suffering as there is no one. This needs understanding at a deep level and unravelling happens naturally, but slowly.

[@a0um]

46:28 “your child should understand”, is bad advice and shows he doesn’t know how to handle an inner child. What I found helpful is explained by the “Internal Family System”: you let the child talk you feel his feelings, you offer to take care of the situation. Sometimes the child is only feeling neglected and will be soothed knowing you’re looking over him, or sitting by its side. Meditation is essential to practice IFS, IFS can help dealing with mental states. I think something in Buddha’s tracing was lost during the ages and we’re rediscovering it: how to actively engage in the present moment with mental states; how to be a good parent.

[@alanarcher]

Or maybe you just came to the talk with the wrong attitude.

[@andrews7414]

⁠@@alanarcherit might not be that, it does seem like a lot of people wanted him to see and understand what they were saying, a young child can’t be reasoned with logically. There is a time when the child needs to be held lovingly, especially young children. One would say that is the only way. Kind of like a puppy 😂

[@a0um]

47:08 “ok, we heard you …” he sounds so detached and uninterested. As a child this would have enraged me. What you say to the child, after having understood its issue, is ‘do you trust me? Would you like me to take care of it?’ In other words, you have to respect the child autonomy. Every child trust its parent until they start neglecting or betraying it. If you inner child doesn’t trust you can handle the situation, you got to be patient because it’s been neglected and betrayed many times; you should be glad it’s still showing up as anger, etc. rather than giving up on you.

[@enkibumbu]

His Dharma talks work better on .75. However, he sounds drunk.

[@chadkline4268]

I use loop to hear a few times 🙂

[@lordbyron3603]

Goal ? Is there a goal ? IDK ! I do know that I spend every waking hour trying to be free ! Free from misery (both physical and mental). Free from the constant nagging of pleasure! Free from the constant demands of the self . If there’s a goal , for me it’s F R E E D O M !

[@Michieldering]

Thank you, this was helpful.