Ajahn Viradhammo points to the bringing in of more silence into the mind rather than trying to control thoughts. He points to another dimension of the mind that he is interested in...the unchanging, the timeless, nibbana...turning towards just this moment in a very simple way...stillness of being...non-desire

So training in non preconception...availability.......

Listen to sound....let the sounds come to you ...notice that sound is in awareness...

Ajahn Viradhammo encourages sleepy retreatants to choose to opt out of the sitting and have a cold shower, or do walking practice or to take a nap if their fatigue is too much. Fore the others he begins by asking them to listen to sound and feel the body. . .notice silence . . . awareness is unchanging . . . the foreground changes . . the background is silent.. conscious.. awareness. . .be the background.. . . .

Ajahn Viradhammo speaks about his early spiritual search, this search has a loneliness that we have no language for. He continues with sharing his experience of entering into the spiritual life.

Ajahn Viradhammo receives a request to give or lead the retreatants in ‘taking on’ the eight precepts for the length of the retreat.

After 7 minutes approximately he offers reflections on this path as a contemplative, a monk in the Thai Forest Sangha tradition of Ajahn Chah. It is from this perspective that ‘Luang Por Viradhammo speaks of his understanding of ‘homage’ to the Buddha and knowing the possibility of awakening in this life. This path brings optimism to his life as has living within the vinaya (the precepts taken on by the monks in a Buddhist Sangha) . . . . .

Bhante Rahula answers meditation questions about Right View by encouraging first the development of mindfulness of the body, mindfulness of feelings, and mindfulness of mind. With increased concentration using mindfulness then mindfulness of Dhamma and Right View and Dhamma Vipassana can be understood. He speaks to about restlessness, how his day is structured and ends leading a guided meditation.

Tan Sirimedho reflects on the Buddha's teachings on three areas - attending (thinking) to a task or something; giving up

(sensations, habits, hindrances) and abiding (developing) in the attainment say faith. Tan Sirimedho thinks of it as stages of development.

Bhante Rahula speaks about sankharas or mental imprints, which are all part of conditioned phenomena that we begin to perceive through meditation practice.

He says.." we need to fish them out of the sea of samsara"

Bhante J leads a guided meditation ( 20 minutes) where our mind is focusing with right thinking and happiness on the breath. He encourages us to recognize the joy that comes with the breath and centre of gravity of the body.

Ajahn Pavaro reads from Stillness Flowing, The Life and Teachings of Ajahn Chah. He offers his reflections and answers questions.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/index.html#benefits

Ajahn Cunda starts his dhamma talk by quoting Ram Dass .." If you ever think you're enlightened you should go live with your parents and see how that works outs". Ajahn Cunda then goes on to explain he attended his nieces wedding and how this challenged him to develop non violent communication skills. Compassion can mean setting boundaries.

Ayya Nimmala answers questions and encourages abiding in awareness and to use the qualities of wise reflection. Analysis can lead to paralysis.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/index.html#benefits

Bhante Jinananda speaks about becoming a monk at 12 years old in Sri Lanka. This is a very traditional practice in a Buddhist culture and also after visiting the temple and paying respects the family will usually make a wish for good fortune.

Bhante J points out good fortune, nirvana is not possible through wishing.

Rather he explains the benefits of practicing morality, the five precepts that the Buddha taught brings benefits...

Virtue sila © 2005

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/index.html#benefits

Ajahn Sona induces a sense of joy into the meditation period and then follows with a dhamma talk that draws the similarities between the time of the 5th Century BC and now 2022.

Bhante Rahula speaks about the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the Satipathana Sutta

Tan Amarasiri remembers when Ajahn Sumedho visited Tisarana two years earlier and he was sitting at the feet of Ajahn Sumedho watching the sunset and the silence in their presence is perceptible.

Does silence need to be complicated? Is it not a matter of being receptive, of waiting..?

He then talks about a depth of understanding possible in the Mangala Sutta. What is auspicious, that touches the heart? I am going to watch what's happening.

He references the last Stanza of the 38 Blessings of the Mangala Sutta, and asks is there something that is without sorrow, without stain that is safe an secure unshakeable ..is there something that remains steady if we can touch that - be with the silence, be in the background..then none of these things shake us. He asks..where does the joy spring from?

Life's Highest Blessings

The Maha Mangala Sutta translation and Commentary by Dr. R.L. Soni

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soni/wheel254.html#ch4-1

Ajahn Achalo leads a guided breath meditation then starts his dhamma talk with one paragraph from the Anapansati Sutta, the Buddha's teaching on mindfulness of breath..."Mindfulness of in-&-out breathing, when developed & pursued, is of great fruit, of great benefit. Mindfulness of in-&-out breathing, when developed & pursued, brings the four frames of reference to their culmination. The four frames of reference, when developed & pursued, bring the seven factors for awakening to their culmination. The seven factors for awakening, when developed & pursued, bring clear knowing & release to their culmination." Ajahn restates freedom liberation, the whole of the Path can be realized through mindfulness of the breath" ...

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.118.than.html

Ajahn Pavaro teaches .." we use natural sights and sounds as part of our practice because its interesting - things just being what they are - can remind the mind of what it is."

Bhante Rahula speaks to this foundational teaching of the Buddha Paticca Samuppada Dependent Origination. - cause and effect.

Ajahn Viradhammo, speaking for the first time after the three month winter retreat, reflects on the realm of thought and its limitations. There was a tragic loss of lives in the Buddhist community in Ottawa. The feeling in the funeral home was heartbreaking, it was not thinking.

Tension, worry are not resolved with thinking. Try practicing a face meditation where one listens and waits abiding in and awakening to the way things are. The tension, worry opens with the attention of the heart. The tension in the face becomes known and resolved through this deeper feeling - the awareness and compassion available with the heart. The body comes alive, not through thought. This was very liberating, it can bring joy (mudita) to trust in awareness, a path with heart.