General introduction to the one-month retreat theme together with the 3 modes of mindfulness, adjustable according to circumstances.

This talk discusses the first two conditional links described in the Kimatthiya Sutta (“What Purpose?”) (Anguttara Nikaya 10.1), where the Buddha teaches Ananda that wholesome ethical behavior leads to non-regret, which leads to gladness, .... ultimately leading to liberation. Parallels to Upanisa Sutta and Cetana Sutta are discussed.

This morning’s instruction is an invitation to investigate the first two (of the twenty-four) conditions outlined in the Patthana, the last section of Abhidhamma. The first is root condition (hetu-paccaya) and the second is object condition (arammana-paccaya). A brief Q/A by both Nikki Mirghafori and Sayadaw U Jagara ends the session.

This talk discusses the third, fourth, and fifth (piti —> passadhi —> sukha) conditional links described in the Kimatthiya Sutta (“What Purpose?”) (Anguttara Nikaya 10.1), where the Buddha teaches Ananda that wholesome ethical behavior leads to non regret, which leads to gladness, .... ultimately leading to liberation. Conditionality (root condition and object condition) are also discussed at the end of the talk, the latter related to the pith and profound teaching to Bahiya.

Both Sayadaw U Jagara and Nikki Mirghafori share answers and reflections on pre-written questions: What’s the nutriment for equanimity and doubt? What is the difference between a cause and a condition? Explain anatta — If there is not a self, whose kamma gets reborn? Etc.

What are your objectives in life? What are the situations, internal and external, that you find yourself involved in, from moment to moment, and how you can do something about it, to some extent. Small objectives finally come to be seen as not separate from the big picture, our Objective.

This talk discusses the sixth and seventh (Samādhi --> Yathā bhūta ñāna dassana) conditional links described in the Kimatthiya Sutta (“What Purpose?”) (Anguttara Nikaya 10.1), where the Buddha teaches Ananda that wholesome ethical behavior leads to non-regret, which leads to gladness, .... ultimately leading to liberation.

Samadhi (concentration) and seeing things as they are

Both Sayadaw U Jagara and Nikki Mirghafori share answers and reflections on pre-written questions.

This talk discusses the last conditional links described in the Kimatthiya Sutta (“What Purpose?”) (Anguttara Nikaya 10.1), where the Buddha teaches Ananda that wholesome ethical behavior leads to non-regret, which leads to gladness, .... ultimately leading to liberation. The penultimate stage of the list is Nibbida virāgo, which are often translated as disenchantment and dispassion (thought "free of enchantment and free of fire of passion" is a more appropriate translation, as discussed in the talk). The list in the sutta, as well as the talk, end with a brief discussion of knowledge and vision of liberation (Vimutti ñāna dassana), which is synonymous with nibbana.

Based on that sutta, we see the role of perception (sañña) in how we relate to our experience of the world.