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The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
 
Ajahn Sucitto's Dharma Talks
Ajahn Sucitto
As a monk, I bring a strong commitment, along with the renunciate flavor, to the classic Buddhist teachings. I play with ideas, with humor and a current way of expressing the teachings, but I don't dilute them.
2024-03-02 Gathering what's helpful. 19:49
Attention is a natural faculty but developing the wisdom of what to focus on and how to focus, allows cultivation of meaning in the heart.
Emoyeni Retreat Centre :  Regaining the Centre
2024-03-02 Retreat - an authentic and encompassing space 42:10
We practice sensing the whole before we can find the centre. The Buddha taught that all forms of wisdom find their fruition in mindfulness of the body.
Emoyeni Retreat Centre :  Regaining the Centre
2024-03-01 Determining the centre we want to regain 40:51
In a retreat we become very fundamental, putting things aside.
Emoyeni Retreat Centre :  Regaining the Centre
2024-02-25 The empty field 30:28
Here volition stops and we can examine what normally clogs the heart. We discard the endlines and deadlines. Observe conditionality without becoming.
Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat :  Cultivating the Empty Field
2024-02-25 Q&A 16:02
Q1 This person says that they are very sensitive and that things like traffic signs, noises, imperfections and the bustle of reality disturbs them. Do you have any advice? Q2 01:23 Could you comment on aging, sickness and death. Most of my friends and myself are in their late 70s or 80s and want to be more skilled in working with different stages and pain so as to be as prepared as possible for the dying phase.
Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat :  Cultivating the Empty Field
2024-02-25 Practicing with direct experience 39:04
Examining direct experience we go deeply, beyond the constructions, finding in the heart that which is worthy of praise and emulation. This generates sangha, a living teaching.
Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat :  Cultivating the Empty Field
2024-02-24 Right effort is fulfilling effort with 20 min GM 34:53
Notice the potency of unskillful language and how it can seem to squeeze us and create limitations in the mind.
Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat :  Cultivating the Empty Field
2024-02-24 The satipatthāna 47:33
The framework of body, feeling, heart, and phenomena arising is helpful and can be continued throughout the day.
Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat :  Cultivating the Empty Field
2024-02-24 Q&A 43:11
Q1 Yesterday I had this thought that there is no shame in suffering. I'm wondering what is noble about the noble about the suffering in the first noble truth. Q2 06:17 Could you differentiate between awareness and consciousness? Q3 16:18 Please speak about bowing. Q4 20:39 Do you start and end your day with any reflections or recollections or practices? Q5 28:03 What is happening when right view and release become partially obscured again after right view has been attained? Why is it becoming obscured? Is cultivation of the empty field the main practice then and purification? Q6 33:32 It's taken several retreats to uncover this tremendous sense of guilt. When it arises it makes sense to avoid reconstructing the stories. the habit is to shut down the feeling. It appears as a pain in the chest. It shifts to holding back tears. Is this karma rather than the person?
Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat :  Cultivating the Empty Field
2024-02-23 Q&A 51:13
Q1 Is chi a teaching of the buddha? How does it affect dhamma practice? Q2 12:25 How do you know when the body is telling you something? Q3 20:25 When sitting if truly inspired thoughts arise, do we treat them the same as we would any other thoughts? Letting them go? Is there no value in storing them for later contemplation? Q4 24:31 Attention and intention, which comes first? How does restraint work in relation to these two for well-being? Q5 36:15 I've heard teachers translate upekkha in other words other ways other than equanimity. Equipoise or perspective, clear perspective. Do you have any insights you can share please? Q6 40:26 I investigate the causes of my suffering. Sometimes I get the impression that some of it may have been handed over through body memories by past generations. Sort of unfinished business. Can you comment on this? Q7 43:04 Can you comment on the importance of rituals and symbols, and one's ancestral language and healing tools. How can they be used to transform whatever I may be carrying from my ancestors? Q8 48:43 Can you speak more about the power of craving?
Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat :  Cultivating the Empty Field
2024-02-23 How we know who we are 54:58
Examining the mechanisms of the body-mind we see the absence of identity and the presence of experience in consciousness.
Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat :  Cultivating the Empty Field
2024-02-23 Tools for examining direct experience 26:13
Looking into dhammas means looking into the mental, psychological and emotional experiences that arise and saturate, that we cling to.
Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat :  Cultivating the Empty Field
2024-02-22 GM - Basics of reclining meditation 35:08
Ajahn outlines some basic considerations on reclining
Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat :  Cultivating the Empty Field
2024-02-21 Using a communal form 18:18
A retreat is a practice container that emphasizes cooperation and presence in a steady and communal form.
Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat :  Cultivating the Empty Field
2024-02-18 Learning from the retreat 17:06
Pay attention to what demands more attention, what to be glad about, what to remember whenever you are transitioning.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Regaining the Center
2024-02-18 GM - Starting the day 31:19
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Regaining the Center
2024-02-17 Q&A 24:12
Could you speak more on Buddha mind? Does it involve the heart? Is it with us all the time like an inner guide, below the ego and self-constructed identity?
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Regaining the Center
2024-02-17 Reference points for practice 45:34
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Regaining the Center
2024-02-16 Q&A 35:35
00:10 Q1 Please share tips to manage the flurry of emotions that might arise when we're back in our day today busy lives. 20:18 Q2 Sometimes when I think of my own death I don't care. How do we manage acceptance in a way that doesn't become apathetic or dull sense of I don't care. 27:47 Q3 How do you establish presence and find your center when your body is in unbearable pain? 34:16 Q4 Can you speak about the use of pharmaceuticals for perceived mental and physical imbalances?
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Regaining the Center
2024-02-16 Anussati - recollection 35:12
In meditation we practice staying mindful in the presence of something. What are the things that are worthy of being “in mind”?
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Regaining the Center
2024-02-16 Centre and path 50:28
The epitome of the path to an ancient city described by the Buddha exists between the extremes of affirmation and denial, destroying things and holding on to things.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Regaining the Center
2024-02-15 Q&A 43:24
Questions are précised: Q1 Do we have to unattach ourselves from intense bonds to our parents and children to attain enlightenment? Also, can you explain what the Buddha meant to “fully understand suffering” as the first noble truth? 26:42 Q2 If we don't purify our mindstream or cleanse our karmic baggage and live virtuous lives, we will not attain our Buddha self and seek a cyclical existence as we would have failed to realize the wisdom of reality. 27.54 Q3 Can you suggest some guidance on waking up in the mornings? 32.18 Q4 Reclining posture somehow feels less than the other postures. Is this so? When is the reclining posture appropriate? 37:29 Q5 can you speak on non-aversion? Is it possible?
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Regaining the Center
2024-02-15 Me and you arising 54:28
In place of the “I” that thinks, we can enter the “we” sense, deconstructing and creating a “not to do” list.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Regaining the Center
2024-02-14 Q&A 23:41
00:08 Q1 How do we remain at ease in the face of great suffering? 06:50 Q2 I have been practicing a long time but I cannot relate to Buddha images in an authentic way. Can you help? 13:02 Q3 Is it a luxury to immerse oneself in the scriptures? What about the need to be good and to help others in basic ways? 17:29 Q4 If you didn’t teach would you still find purpose in contemplation and study of scriptures?19:22 Q5 Where does tiredness come from? How to tackle chronic exhaustion?
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Regaining the Center
2024-02-14 GM - The brahmavihara 25:57
The brahmavihara provide a dwelling place where ideas pop up that can resolve our dilemmas.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Regaining the Center

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