With Little Dust in Their Eyes

Luang Por Sudhiro

Luang Por Sudhiro, abbot of Wat Pah Kanjanabhisek in Khon Kaen, Thailand, offers reflections on the life of the Buddha during a short but auspicious visit to Chithurst. He details the Buddha-to-be’s renunciation of his comfortable lifestyle for one of asceticism, abandoning this when he remembered an experience of peace he experienced in childhood, and finally deciding to teach the way to enlightenment to those with little dust in their eyes.

Be a Light Unto Yourself

Ajahn Siripañño

Ajahn Siripannyo, abbot of Wat Dtao Dtum in Thailand, during a rare and auspicious visit to Cittaviveka, offers his thoughts on the many benefits and joys of living a monastic life. On the eve of the annual Kathina festival, he points out the harmony that is created during the sewing of the robe, and explains how it is the smaller rituals that bind together the larger tradition, establishing a conduit for goodness.

Fortune and the Blind Turtle

Ajahn Big

Ajahn Big remarks on the fortunate situation we find ourselves in, being in contact with Dhamma teachings and having the ability to practise them. He recounts how the Buddha likened the chance of being born as a human to a blind turtle emerging into a hoop on the surface of the ocean, and declares that the present moment is a gift to be utilized and cherished.

The Drawbacks of the Human Body

Ajahn Kaccana


Ajahn Kaccana shows the surprising benefits that can result from an honest assessment of the frailties and limitations of the body. He shows that by not looking for fulfillment or solidity in a body that is bound to change and eventually perish, we can instead find more secure refuges in elements of Dhamma such as morality and awareness.

The Only Way Out Is In

Ajahn Karuniko

As Cittaviveka’s Group Practice begins, Ajahn Karuniko investigates the asavas, the outflows of the mind, and shows how these always lead us to suffering. He suggests that an antidote to this activity is to find an object of meditation that keeps the mind away from this unskilful habit, and recalls his own personal experience many years ago in New Zealand, in which he calmed his anxiety by remaining with the breath.