Dhamma Talks, Chanting, Precepts and Meditation
with Ajahn Dhammasiha, Ajahn Moneyyo,
and other experienced Senior Buddhist Monks
in the Theravada Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah.
Recorded at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage,
Brisbane, Australia.
Our website:
https://www.dhammagiri.net
Our Youtube Channel,
including regular live streams on the weekend
"Dhammatalks at Dhammagiri":
https://www.youtube.com/@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724
Our email Newsletter:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter
Our Spotify Playlists are here:
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Christa Pike Survives Execution Protected by Loving Kindness | Metta vs Poison | Ajahn Dhammasiha
Recently the case of Christa Pike's "botched execution" in Tennessee went viral, as she is apparently the first person ever in the US to survive an "execution" after the poison (pentobarbital) was administered. In fact, after the first "lethal" dose failed to kill her, a second "lethal" dose was given to her. When she was still alive an hour after that second injection, an ambulance was called to get her into intensive care at a nearby hospital.
Christa remained unconscious and intubated on a ventilator for several days. Apparently, she was considered "brain dead" by October 5, and it was planned to disconnect Christa's life support on October 6.
However, to everyone's surprise and consternation, on the day of the planned termination of life support, Christa suddenly regained consiousness and started speaking. Although still very ill, she made progress in her recovery, and was transferred back from hospital to the prison on October 10.
What's rarely mentioned in the media reports is the fact that
CHRISTA PRACTISED LOVING KINDNESS (METTĀ) DURING THE "EXECUTION"!
Her Buddhist spiritual advisor explained in an interview that Christa has been practising Mettā for more than two years. She went into the execution chamber radiating unconditional Loving Kindness to everyone, including herself, the persons who were "executing" her, and even those behind the viewing window who wanted her dead and specially came to personally watch her being killed - she even included those in her Mettā!
Ajahn Dhammasīha points out that the Buddha mentioned 'Protection from Poison' as one of the benefits of Loving Kindness.
Anguttara Nikāya / Numerical Discourses of the Buddha, Book of Elevens No 15 'Mettānīsamsa Sutta / Benefits-of-Loving-Kindness Sutta:
https://suttafriends.org/sutta/an11-15/ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljRmlWOWNEVXhrNjFURWhOSG5iNGNQOHxBSTVJdTV1dGtqVzVqcXJIV2hKQU9GSU14WFBGWjNGdU9KbV9BRkcxTk5sN2JuTU9WTEZ6ek9aR1VMcG1EVERFMENQUXNkSk9aWWdMM3V5OHBJc2QxTlpHQmU3bGZJVUdWc3lK&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsuttafriends.org%2Fsutta%2Fan11-15%2F&v=Phvd2Dbl8gI)
Ajahn Dhammasīha considers it highly likely that Christa's diligent practice of Mettā is a crucial factor in her unprecedented survival of two lethal doses of pentobarbital.
Christa's case also highlights the cruel and degrading nature of "capital punishment", which will hopefully contribute to increasing awareness of the unacceptable ethical, moral, spiritual, social and practical implications of the "death panelty", and ultimately lead to the global abandonment of all executions.
Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/news (https://www.dhammagiri.net/news)
Our email Newsletter:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter (https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter)
Pics:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/photo-albums (https://www.dhammagiri.net/photo-albums)
(https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net)
Our Youtube Channel:
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#capitalpunishment #metta #mettameditation #lovingkindnessmeditation #poisoning #buddhism #buddhistmeditation
9 Oct 2026
AJAHN MONEYYO | Pali Recitation: Buddha's Enlightenment to First Discourse | Vinaya Mahavagga 1. 1-6
Ajahn Moneyyo recites the first chapters of the Vinaya Piṭaka, Mahāvagga 1. 1. to 1.6. in the original Pali language.
These passages are the oldest and most authentic record of the events from the Buddha's supreme awakening (Sammā-sambodhi) under the Bodhi Tree at Uruvela (now Bodh Gaya) near the river Nerañjana, until the Buddha reunites with his first five disciples (Pañca-vaggiyā Bhikkhū) at the Deerpark near Vārānasī.
Nowadays, these passages are rarely memorised and recited by monks; and even less known in the lay community, due to their inclusion in the Vinaya Pitaka, the part of the Tipitaka concerned with monastic discipline. However, they are truly inspiring, as they are providing the earliest record of the events directly following the Buddha's supreme enlightenment, in his own words.
Fortunately, Ajahn Moneyyo has committed these passages to heart as part of his Dhamma practice in this year's vassa, and shared them with the other residents at Dhammagiri one morning, when we also did this recording.
You can read an English translation, that also provides the original Pāli side-by-side here:
https://www.dhammatalks.org/vinaya/Mv/MvI.html#burmese1
Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/news (https://www.dhammagiri.net/news)
Our email Newsletter:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter (https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter)
Pics:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/photo-albums (https://www.dhammagiri.net/photo-albums)
(https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net)
Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/ (https://www.youtube.com/)@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724
#buddhistchanting #palichanting #palirecitation #buddha #awakening #buddhastory #lifeofbuddha #vinaya
4 Oct 2026
How to Overcome Bad Karma | Diluting Unwholesome Kamma with Powerful Good Actions | Ajahn Dhammasiha
Ajahn Dhammasīha talks about the power of Good Karma (Puñña) to to weaken and dilute even extremely bad old karma.
The Buddha explained the process with the simile of drinking salty water:
🚰💧 The good, healthy spring water is the good karma we create.
🧂 Loads of salt mixed into the water is the bad karma we create.
🫗 Drinking the mix is experiencing the results of the karma we've created.
🤮 If there's lots of salt in the water (lots of bad karma), the experience is very unpleasant.
Naturally, we can't take the salt out of the water. So what to do?
Certainly, not to put even more salt! (Don't make more bad karma)
Add loads of fresh water to DILUTE the salt, until it's barely noticable 😊 (Create heaps of good karma)
This way, we can weaken the bad karma so much that even the results of very evil actions may be experienced and exhausted with just a few days of headache. The story of Angulimāla, who killed 999 humans but later completely reformed on meeting the Buddha, became a monk, and experienced enlightenment, can be found here:
https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN/MN86.html (https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN/MN86.html)
Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/news (https://www.dhammagiri.net/news)
Our email Newsletter:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter (https://www.dhammagiri.net/newsletter)
Pics:
https://www.dhammagiri.net/photo-albums (https://www.dhammagiri.net/photo-albums)
(https://latest-pics.dhammagiri.net)
Our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/ (https://www.youtube.com/)@dhammatalksatdhammagiri8724
#karma #kamma #badkarma #transformation #redemption #goodkarma #buddhism #buddhistwisdom
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