The Fourth Messenger Podcast

Ordained for over forty years, Ajahn Sucitto trained under Ven. Ajahn Sumedho in the lineage of the Thai forest master, Ven. Ajahn Chah. He was part of the group that established Cittaviveka, Chithurst Forest Monastery, in England.

The Kalama Sutta is most famous for its encouragement not to place total trust in traditions and texts, but it also encourages you not to place total trust in your sense of reason and preferences. So where can you place your trust? This talk focuses on the dilemma posed by the sutta's recommendations, and the way in proposes out of the dilemma. More information and monastic teachings may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

Ven. Canda went forth as a Buddhist nun in Burma in 2006 and subsequently took full ordination with Ajahn Brahm. She founded the Anukampa Bhikkhuni project in England, which aims to create a monastic home for bhikkhunis. To support their vision, visit https://anukampaproject.org/donate/. More information and monastic teachings may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

Ayya Santussika, in residence at Karuna Buddhist Vihara (Compassion Monastery), spent five years as an anagarika (eight-precept nun), then ordained as a samaneri (ten-precept nun) in 2010 and as a bhikkhuni (311 rules) in 2012 at Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles. More information and monastic teachings may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

From ideas of cosmic cycles to descriptions of the solar system, the model of the universe put forward in the suttas corresponds to a surprising degree with modern understanding. In his essay, Ajahn Brahmali investigates the implications of these unlikely parallels. More information and monastic teachings may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

Ajahn Sona is a first-wave Western Theravada ordained monk and the Abbot of Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery (‘Birken’). More information and monastic teachings may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

Ven. Thubten Chodron, abbess of Sravasti Abbey in Newport, WA, went forth over forty years ago. Here she reflects on the eight "worldly winds" described by the Buddha and elaborated on by her teacher, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. More information and monastic teachings may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

In 2015, after seven years in various monasteries, 'Tahn' Pamutto began a period of ascetic wandering practice and came to the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. Over the next three years, he often dwelt in the forest and ate almsfood placed in his bowl, living up to some of the most rigorous forest monk practices. He traveled constantly by foot, seeking new ways to develop his practice and delighting in the community and support he found along the way. He is currently looking to found a community in Massachusetts (https://www.upavana.org/). More information and monastic teachings may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

Ordained for over forty years, Ajahn Amaro trained under Ven. Ajahn Sumedho in the lineage of the Thai forest master, Ven. Ajahn Chah. He helped found Abhayagiri Monastery in California and is the current abbot of Amaravati Monastery in the UK. More information and monastic teachings may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

Ordained for over forty years, Ajahn Sucitto trained under Ven. Ajahn Sumedho in the lineage of the Thai forest master, Ven. Ajahn Chah. He was part of the group that established Cittaviveka, Chithurst Forest Monastery, in England. More information and monastic teachings may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

Ordained for nearly forty years, Ajahn Candasiri is the most senior sīladhārā nun of the Ajahn Chah Thai Forest Lineage. After helping found Chithurst and Amaravati monasteries in England, she moved to Milntuim Hermitage in Scotland where she now resides. More information and monastic teachings may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

A monk of over forty years, Ajahn Pasanno is the most senior ordained disciple of Ajahn Chah in the United States. He helped found Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in Redwood Valley, California, where he currently resides. More information and monastic teachings may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

Ayya Anandabodhi, the senior teacher at Aloka Vihara Monastery, speaks about understanding the First Noble Truth as attachment to the five aggregates of clinging. More information and monastic teachings may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

Renowned Thai Forest meditation master and disciple of the late Ajahn Chah, Ajahn Anan Akiñcano is known for his ability to teach the Dhamma on many levels, from the mundane to the super-mundane. This talk, translated by long-time disciple Ajahn Kalyano, gives a sweeping summary of the entire path of Buddhist practice, from the early stages of meditation to refined states of concentration and insight. An accompanying article can be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org. More teachings from Ajahn Anan may be found at his monastery's website, https://www.watmarpjan.org/en

Ajahn Ṭhānissaro reviews the Four Noble Truths as the categorical teaching of the Buddha—true and always beneficial. He describes the duties that enable us to fully understand and comprehend them and how the three characteristics—Dukkha, Anicca, Anatta—are used in support of these duties and this understanding. An accompanying article can be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

Ajahn Dick Sīlaratano reflects on his training under Luangta Maha Boowa, one of the most respected teachers of the twentieth-century Thailand. An accompanying article can be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

Few have told the story of the Buddha's life as well as Grevel Lindop in his poem, "Touching the Earth". Ajahn Jayasāro's reading of an excerpt from the epic infuses the story of the Bodhisatta's birth with faith come from of a life of practice. A PDF of the full poem can be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi speaks on the three themes the Buddha said should be reflected upon by "one who has gone forth" in Sutta 101 of the Anguttara Nikāya. A relevant teaching for all practitioners, this talk was given at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, California, in 2007.  An accompanying article may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.

Ajahn Jayasaro, a senior monk in the Thai Forest Tradition and a disciple of Ajahn Chah, speaks with the Buddhist Community at Stanford (BCAS) about his work in Thailand's schools, finding an appropriate teacher, how to approach conflict, and other aspects of the practice. More information and monastic teachings may be found at https://www.fourthmessenger.org.