Ajahn Anan Podcast

Ajahn Anan teaches us on the nature of our emotions, and how we can avoid letting them pull us under.

The day after Visakha Puja, Ajahn Anan praises the novices in India that joined the ceremony. He also gives us a talk about the various fabrications that we experience through the khandhas. If you would like to join Ajahn Anan and the Wat Marp Jan Community online for daily chanting, meditation, and a Dhamma talk every day via Zoom from 7-9 p.m. Indochina Time (Bangkok, GMT + 7), you can send an email to wmjdhamma@gmail.com for the link.

In these seven short teachings, we learn how to cultivate mindfulness—the very heart of our practice. It's the ability to keep the mind aware and centered in the present moment, knowing what's going on. At the beginning it appears as just individual drops. Over time, however, these join together into a steady stream that brings clarity into our lives and minds, helping us to resolve any difficulties we may be dealing with. As we continue to cultivate mindfulness, both on our meditation cushion and throughout our day, it becomes a safe haven that we can always return to and abide in.

In this videoconference talk from 18 September 2020, Ajahn Anan discusses refuge. One can read talk transcripts with Q and A here: https://watmarpjan.org/en/dhamma-reflections/

When untroubled and calm, the nature of the mind is like clear water. In this talk, Ajahn Anan speaks about how we can remove the coloring of mental impressions and defilements that "color" our heart.

From cultivating ethical action to strengthening the perception of inconstancy, Ajahn Anan describes the basic practices that lead towards realization.

In this videoconference talk from 11 September 2020, Ajahn Anan discusses the meaning of life. For what have we been born? One can read talk transcripts with Q and A here: https://watmarpjan.org/en/dhamma-reflections/

In these five short teachings, Ajahn Anan talks about a side of meditation that is often neglected—using our minds' activity to bring inner calm and direct knowledge into truth. Both the recollection of life's impermanence and chanting are effective tools to cut off distracted thought. And with a clear mind we can examine what the Buddha called the 'three characteristics of existence,' thereby gaining true insight.

During the course of this talk, Ajahn Anan tells some stories from Ven. Ajahn Chah, and how he used his Zen-like wisdom to teach his disciples that it's better not to attach.

Ajahn Anan talks on the importance of grounding our minds, both at work and on the meditation cushion. He then describes the recollection of emptiness and how it's possible for us to remain at peace even during troubled times.

In this videoconference talk from 4 September 2020, Ajahn Anan discusses how to choose one's friends in order to succeed in life and in Dhamma. Included in this talk are discussions on the qualities of good and bad friends, the goodness of one's parents, a story of Ajahn Anan's past, and more. One can read talk transcripts with Q and A here: https://watmarpjan.org/en/dhamma-reflections/

If we try to force our minds to be a certain way, or hold high expectations, meditation can be a pretty stressful experience, can't it? In these short teachings, we learn to bring a sense of acceptance and mindful knowing to our cultivation. We can also reflect on the Buddha's beautiful qualities and the Four Sublime Abidings to allow the heart to relax and recharge.

In this talk, Ajahn Anan expands on the four reflections contained within the Ratthapala Sutta (MN 82), one of the most profound discourses in the Pali Canon. Ven. Ratthapala relates the Buddha's teachings on how the world "is swept away and does not endure", "is without shelter, without protector", "without ownership" and "a slave to craving." These disenchanting reflections lead towards liberation.

In this talk, Ajahn Anan expands on the four reflections contained within the Ratthapala Sutta (MN 82), one of the most profound discourses in the Pali Canon. Ven. Ratthapala relates the Buddha's teachings on how the world "is swept away and does not endure", "is without shelter, without protector", "without ownership" and "a slave to craving." These disenchanting reflections lead towards liberation.

In this videoconference talk from 28 August 2020, Ajahn Anan discusses overcoming obstacles. One can read talk transcripts with Q and A here: https://watmarpjan.org/en/dhamma-reflections/

Presented here are the foundation meditation practices taught by Ajahn Anan, leading to collectedness, stillness and joy. Initially, he talks about posture and methods of watching the breath, then explains how to use a mantra. When we develop this practice, feelings of bliss and increasingly refined levels of concentration will naturally arise within us.

In this talk, Ajahn Anan teaches about how small, consistent acts of effort on the path lead to profound results and a transcendent happiness.

Ajahn Anan teaches us the importance of being close to those who have seen clearly into the truth for themselves, and how they can help guide our lives, transforming tragedy into opportunity. Recorded on May 4th, 2020

In this videoconference talk from 21 August 2020, Ajahn Anan discusses laziness, its causes, and ways to overcome it. One can read talk transcripts with Q and A here: https://watmarpjan.org/en/dhamma-reflections/

Everyone wants to be happy, and we can see that in our lives we experience many different kinds of happiness. Those that come from external things have their drawbacks, however. Because they don't last, they can easily turn into disappointment. So true happiness—one that we can rely on—has to be found within our own hearts. The first two chapters of this book were posted on the podcast least year, but we never got around to posting the rest. So, we'll start again from chapter one, adding a new chapter each Friday.