The Essence of the Buddha's Teachings

Ajahn Pasanno gives this evening talk near the end of Abhayagiri’s winter retreat, asking what is essential to carry forward. He retells the discourse on the wonderful and marvellous (MN 123): Ānanda recounts miracles from the Buddha’s conception and birth, and the Buddha adds that he knows feelings, perceptions and thoughts as they arise and pass. Ajahn Pasanno takes this clear knowing as the heart of the teaching, links it to vipassanā as seeing through, and says difficulties can be used to sharpen wisdom, like a blade on a stone. He then discusses samadhi as lucid calm, Ajahn Chah’s image of a bowl that holds its fruit, and bringing attention to a mood until it settles into stillness.