Ajahn Pasanno
Ordained in 1974
Ajahn Pasanno took ordination in Thailand in 1974 with Venerable Phra Khru Ñāṇasirivatana as preceptor. During his first year as a monk he was taken by his teacher to meet Ajahn Chah, with whom he asked to be allowed to stay and train. One of the early residents of Wat Pah Nanachat, Ajahn Pasanno became its abbot in his ninth year. During his incumbency, Wat Pah Nanachat developed considerably, both in physical size and reputation.
Spending 24 years living in Thailand, Ajahn Pasanno became a well-known and highly respected monk and Dhamma teacher. He moved to California on New Year’s Eve of 1997 to share the abbotship of Abhayagiri with Ajahn Amaro.
In 2010 Ajahn Amaro accepted an invitation to serve as abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in England, leaving Ajahn Pasanno to serve as sole abbot of Abhayagiri for the next eight years. In spring of 2018, Ajahn Pasanno stepped back from the role of abbot, leaving the monastery for a year-long retreat abroad. After returning from his sabbatical, Ajahn Pasanno now serves as an anchor of wisdom and guidance for the community [at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, CA, USA]
Books
Die Insel
2022 — Deutsch
NIBBĀNA (Nirvāna in Sanskrit) ist ein Wort, das verwendet wird, um eine Erfahrung zu beschreiben. Wenn das Herz frei von allen Verdunkelungen ist und sich in völliger Übereinstimmung mit der Natur, der...
Nourishing the Roots
2021 — English
A collection of four talks given by Ajahn Pasanno in January 2021. This booklet was first offered as a gift commemorating Abhayagiri’s 25th Anniversary and Ajahn Pasanno’s 72nd birthday.
Visión Amplia, Corazón sin Límites
2020 — Español
Charlas transcritas de Ajahn Pasanno y Ajahn Amaro. Ajahn Pasanno describe la práctica de los Brahmaviharas: benevolencia, compasión, alegría apreciativa y ecuanimidad. Ajahn Amaro ofrece una visión general del budismo Theravada y...
La Isla: Una antología de las enseñanzas del Buda sobre Nibbāna
2018 — Español
Introducción de Ajahn Sumedho (fragmento) Una dificultad con la palabra Nibbāna es que su significado está más allá del poder de las palabras para describirlo. Es, esencialmente, indefinible. Otra dificultad es que...
Beneath the Bodhi Tree
2018 — English
A collection of teachings by Ajahn Pasanno published in 2018 with gratitude to Ajahn Pasanno. The four teachings included are “Gradual Instruction”, “Balancing the Mind”, “Enjoying the Breath” and “Beneath the Bodhi...
Abundant, Exalted, Immeasurable
2017 — English
When Luang Por Pasanno completed the teaching of the retreat that is the source of this book in September of 2008, a handful of us declared enthusiastically that we would produce a...
Don't Hold Back
2013 — English
Just as a bird, wherever it goes, flies with its wings as its only burden; so too is a monk content with a set of robes to provide for his body and...
On Becoming and Stopping
2012 — English
The word “becoming ” is an innocuous little term. It doesn’t really evoke much of an image or much feeling. But the reality is that it is because of the nature of...
Ajahn Chah's Teachings On Nature
2012 — English
A Dhamma talk given at Abhayagiri Monastery in September of 2011 by Pasanno Bhikkhu.
The Island
2008 — English
A difficulty with the word ‘nibbāna’ is that its meaning is beyond the power of words to describe. It is, essentially, undefinable. Another difficulty is that many Buddhists see Nibbāna as something...
Like A River
2008 — English
Todd’s life was like a river that flows gently to make all who came to know him happy. He always cared about others without expecting anything in return. He shared his favorite...
A Dhamma Compass
2007 — English
A Dhamma Compass is a collection of three dhamma talks that Phra Ajahn gave in the three winter retreats during 2003-2005 at Abhayagiri. Debbie Stamp was most helpful and instrumental in ensuring...
The Last Breath
2003 — English
The following story is of a person who was able to utilise the adverse circumstances of incarceration Death Row in San Quentin Prison and develop the inner resources to face his death...
Broad View, Boundless Heart
2001 — English
Ajahn Pasanno deals with the practice of the Brahmavihāras in two teachings, while Ajahn Amaro gives an overview of Theravāda Buddhism and Ajahn Chah’s teaching of Right View in that tradition.
The Dhamma and the Real World
2000 — English
We are often asked, “What does a Buddhist monastic know about real life?” This is a very good question because many people may think that we don’t have to deal with real...