Live from Birken: Dhamma Q&A with Ajahn Sona (11.16.2025)

Join us on Sunday as Ajahn Sona answers Dhamma questions from listeners around the world. Questions may be submitted during the live chat (opens ~8:00am day of stream) or in advance, here: https://bit.ly/LivestreamQnA

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Question & Answer Archive
https://birken.ca/qaa/qaa.php

INDEX OF QUESTIONS

00:00 - ​INTRO
00:33 - SOTAPANNA: How does a puthujjana differ from a sotapanna if they have both practised satipatthana all their lives? ​​Does attenuation of sensual desire and ill will only become permanent for a Sotapanna and if so, why?
05:51 - BALANCE IN LAY LIFE: How does one best balance having a practice and living in the world while avoiding being overly austere with oneself. I have found practice can feel liberating but cold and isolating at times. I want to strengthen and maintain my moral/mental fortitude to gain peace of mind while avoiding scorn and self admonishment, but find engaging in modern life a slippery slope fraught with proverbial moral landmines. At times I find myself asking how I let myself get here. Seeking your advice on finding stability and balance.
12:22 - WHAT TO DO WHEN THERE'S NOTHING TO DO: ​​As a fairly busy working lay person with a family, I often feel like I am always “doing something”. In the moments when I don’t have something to do, what should I be doing with my mind?
16:14 - ENERGY TRANSCENDING DISTANCE/TIME: When we meditate in group of people, filled with loving kindness, can those from a distance can feed off their positive energy? What about meditation, blessings and chanting that took place in the past but recording is available on line? To sum it up - can energy can transcend distance and time?
20:45 - SAMADHI VS. CONTENTMENT: A monastic recently told me that by wanting to access samadhi, I was in fact hindering my ability to do so. They said that much of the path is contentment, and that being content with ​​own current level of attainment is important. This seems to be in conflict with right desire and right effort, or have I misunderstood? Did the Buddha speak of contentment in this way?
28:47 - KUNDALINI: what is kundalini awakening & how it is connected to spiritual awakening? Do our souls sometimes choose traumatic events like car accidents for its spiritual & kundalini awakening?
32:21 - TIME IN MEDITATION: During a meditation session, assuming no timer is used, what is the best time to end the practice?
37:38 - MANTRAS: Would you recommend the use of word Buddho while meditating and developing mindfulness
41:35 - EQUANIMITY: I struggle with normalizing dopamine levels. I experienced a sudden dopamine rush yesterday when I shopped for a winter coat. A mundane experience became "exciting" because I purchased a luxury brand coat for 66% off the retail price. After the rush, I became anxious to secure another "bargain." Essentially, I struggle to maintain equanimity.
46:03 - EYES IN MEDITATION: When meditating where should the pupils of the eyes rest? Could they be moving? Do they have to be still?
47:50 - PILGRIMAGE: Do you think going to to the holy sites of Buddhism in India enhances one’s practice as a lay Buddhist? And what did it do to your own practice?
50:15 - ANGER: I'm a Hindu, but find Buddhism helpful in my life, how best can I reduce anger in my life especially when I'm interrupted during puja/meditation? Especially towards family.
54:25 - METTA & OPPOSITE GENDER: I find that sensual desire can arise when trying to generate metta for people of the opposite gender, and completely obstructs the generation of metta. Is there a good way of working with this?