Dhamma with Ajahn Sujin

(Excerpt from the EN-VN Dhamma discussion with Ajahn Sujin on Zoom - Sun Feb 19th 2023 pm - 2nd part -) 0:00 - Chanda, when thinking that it's time to have dosa [Tam B.] At moment of dosa the dosa dislikes the object but there is chanda, interest in that object, so maybe you can talk a little bit more about it. [A. Sujin] Sometimes, in some situations, there can be moment of thinking that it's time to have dosa because it has to be dosa, for example, Ukraine and Russia, what do you think about that? [Maybe that] one should have that moment of dosa, otherwise such and such would happen and so on, but in truth what is there, kusala or akusala? Is this the way to stop it, to remedy the situation? That's why understanding what is there, correctly, truly, is very useful to understand the truth of it, whether it's wholesome or unwholesome. 1:10 - Always forgetting that the truth is closer than any thing So, what is there, having dosa or understanding of the trut...

(Excerpt from the EN-VN Dhamma discussion with Ajahn Sujin on Zoom - Sun Feb 19th 2023 pm) 0:00 - Is there chanda now? [Hang] Could you please differentiate between lobha and chanda, thank you very much. [A. Sujin] Many realities are there now, unknown, but we can begin to understand what are there. Otherwise there must be "I" of that which appears in a day. Is there some time in the day that chanda is there, appearing? Unknown, but it's there. But when it's not there, we talk about it. For example, is there chanda now? For you or anyone, to understand it. No one can tell what chanda is there for the others, but for oneself, is there any chanda in the day? So, think about it, is there any chanda in a day, today, can anyone tell? [Yes] So, do you know the moment when there's chanda? Or now you're thinking about [if there] is anything you're interested in? And in truth chanda is there arising, so very weak, not clear enough, to be understood that i...

(Excerpt from the Dhamma discussion with Ajahn Sujin Boriharnwanaket in Bangkok / on Zoom - Sat Feb 4th 2023) 0:00 - The chief, the master of the world because without that reality nothing can appear at all. [Nina V. G.] I'm so grateful to Ajahn for all the talks in these weeks and it became more apparent how much ignorance we still have so I'd love to hear more about citta as the chief and the difference between citta and cetasikas. [A. Sujin] There is a reality, the chief, the master of the world because without that reality nothing can appear at all. So it's the reality which arises to just experience what is there as it is, clearly, so clear, whether it's pale or hard or soft or whatever, beyond words. For example at moment of tasting, the reality which tastes the taste is there, no words, but the taste appears to that very reality, when it's tasted only. Only, not to others at all. That's why who knows that at that moment no idea about chili or f...

(Excerpt from the Dhamma discussion with Ajahn Sujin Boriharnwanaket in Bangkok / on Zoom (am Fri Feb 3rd 2023). Suitable for beginners.) [Mai] When Sarah gives more information in details I think it's so difficult for me to keep thinking about that so I just accept it. [A. Sujin] What do you mean "I accept it", is it true? [Jonothan] We cannot necessarily say it's true if there's no actual understanding we can only say what the Buddha taught... [A. Sujin] Accepting untruth? [Jonothan] Who knows, possible. [A. Sujin] No use to just accept, whether it's true or not, but to understand the truth: it cannot be denied. [Jonothan] The key word there is: understand. [Tam B.] What about when things cannot be verified by our current understanding? [A. Sujin] But the Buddha didn't just say the words: what is there? Seeing is only one moment and after that what conditions what? Without vitakka (cetasika, mental factor) the next moment cannot s...