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

Join Ajahn Sona’s live every Sunday at 9 am PST on YouTube. You can send in your questions live or in advance. At 39:00 Ajahn Sona explains that what you do and what you say is your teaching. That inspired me to release this stream of videos here on BitChute. And at 56:00 he talks about Seers who can see into things. I relate that to myself and this inspired me further. 4,568 views Streamed live on Mar 3, 2024 Join us on Sunday as Ajahn Sona answers Dhamma questions from listeners around the world. Questions may be submitted during the live chat (opens ~8:00am day of stream) or in advance, here: Ajahn Sona Podcast: Apple - Spotify - Podbean - Question & Answer Archive Index of Questions 00:00 - INTRO 00:25 - FEAR: My nervous system is stuck in a freeze response. I have trouble breathing due to a brain that is full of fear. What meditation should I do to relieve this constant stress? 06:03 - ENLIGHTENMENT: Is awakening inevitable for all beings either in this life or some future life? If all things are impermanent, does this necessarily include ignorance itself? 10:31 - MEDITATION PRACTICE: I have a pattern repeating itself: I meditate a lot, things start to go well, the mind gets bright and energetic, I start sleeping less, and then there’s a crash, a hard check. The meditation dries up, I get miserable. Some things are not quite right, maybe I’m getting caught up in finally becoming the bright, happy person I’ve always wanted to be. 14:33 - SELFLESSNESS: Can you talk about what has been referred to as “selflessness“ or “egolessness“ in Buddhism, and describe how the meditation practices you teach are related to it? 26:52 - SELF: How do you square the idea that there is no self with the following quote by the Buddha: “Ananda, stay as those who have the self as island, as those who have the self as refuge”? 29:53 - VINAYA: Is it appropriate for laypeople to learn the vinaya, even if the rules don’t apply to them? 35:07 - SOCIAL/ECONOMIC INEQUALITY: Did the Buddha have any teachings or thoughts related to social and economic inequality? I know that he questioned caste hierarchy. 38:56 - POLITICAL ACTION: Is it better to have nothing to do with this world, or fight for justice? For example, stand up for oneself or one’s beliefs? If we aren’t interested in preserving ones’ own life then is there a problem with suicide instead of enduring physical pain? 47:43 - ANGER: Could you please give advice for how to skillfully deal with anger in others, especially in children? 50:55 - BUDDHIST COSMOLOGY: My question pertains to Buddhist cosmology. Does that information come to us from Siddhartha or other monks later on? 56:32 - COMPLACENCY IN PRACTICE: When I practice the Buddha’s teachings as truth, I often think that I should let go of a lot of desire in my heart. At some point, there is a conflict with worldly life. At that time, I choose to become a little complacent rather than devote myself. Please give me words of wisdom.