10% Happier with Dan Harris The Case for Devotion, Kittisaro and Thanissara
Nov 20, 2019
Thanissara, co-founder of Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat and former Buddhist nun, joins her partner Kittisaro, a Rhodes Scholar and ex-monk, to share their unique love story. They discuss the journey from disciplined monastic lives to a fulfilling partnership, intertwining romance with meditation practice. The couple explores the challenges of navigating conflict and emotional patterns in relationships, emphasizing the role of mindfulness. They also reflect on spirituality's connection to environmental awareness, urging a collective approach to community resilience.
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Thanissara's First Retreat
- Thanissara's first meditation retreat was a rigorous Vipassana retreat outside Oxford.
- Although initially hesitant, she found the practice impactful and ordained as a nun after meeting Ajahn Chah.
Kittisaro's Path to Meditation
- Kittisaro, a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, felt a weariness with achievement-oriented life.
- He attended his first retreat after seeing a notice about Buddhist monks chanting.
Meeting Ajahn Chah
- Kittisaro recounts meeting Ajahn Chah, who humorously critiqued his sweeping meditation technique by imitating a dog.
- Ajahn Chah advised him to focus on the breath, saying understanding one thing well leads to understanding everything.
