MN128: The Last Obstacles to Jhana | Ajahn Brahm | 25 June 2025

In a class that combines suttas and personal stories, Ajahn Brahm discusses a simile comparing steps along the path to Enlightenment to seven types of people who have fallen in water. He then references a second sutta about the “jhanagami” shortcut and tells stories of two famous non-returners, one of whose stories dispels the myth that the Buddha was perfect even in previous lives. This is part of a series of teachings for the "Living in Harmony with the World" weekend retreat led by Ajahn Brahm & Ajahn Canda in the UK, Oxford, November 2025. Sutta references: AN 7.15: A Simile with Water https://suttacentral.net/an7.15/en/su... AN 3.94: Autumn https://suttacentral.net/an3.94/en/su... SN 6.1: The Appeal of the Divinity (Brahmā Sahampati) https://suttacentral.net/sn6.1/en/suj... MN 81: Ghaṭīkāra Sutta https://suttacentral.net/mn81/en/suja... Teaching retrieved from Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gESTtqPmF78&t=1s Ajahn Brahm is the Spiritual Adviser of Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project. Donations to Anukampa are welcome, please visit https://anukampaproject.org/donate/ Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available from: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube

Long Weekend Retreat with Bhante Cunda & Bhante Bodhidhaja at Jhana Grove Retreat Centre in Serpentine, Western Australia, 27th February - 2nd March 2026. Track 9 :  –  Conclusion & Guided Meditation 2nd March 2026. See the full retreat on bswa.org here. Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available from: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube Copyright Buddhist Society of Western Australia www.bswa.org  

Long Weekend Retreat with Bhante Cunda & Bhante Bodhidhaja at Jhana Grove Retreat Centre in Serpentine, Western Australia, 27th February - 2nd March 2026. Track 8 :  –  Dhamma Input & Guidance into Meditation – Session 5 – 2nd March 2026. See the full retreat on bswa.org here. Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available from: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube Copyright Buddhist Society of Western Australia www.bswa.org

Long Weekend Retreat with Bhante Cunda & Bhante Bodhidhaja at Jhana Grove Retreat Centre in Serpentine, Western Australia, 27th February - 2nd March 2026. Track 7 :  –  Q & A – 1st March 2026. See the full retreat on bswa.org here. Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available from: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube Copyright Buddhist Society of Western Australia www.bswa.org

Long Weekend Retreat with Bhante Cunda & Bhante Bodhidhaja at Jhana Grove Retreat Centre in Serpentine, Western Australia, 27th February - 2nd March 2026. Track 6 :  –  Dhamma Input & Guidance into Meditation – Session 4 – 1st March 2026. See the full retreat on bswa.org here. Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available from: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube Copyright Buddhist Society of Western Australia www.bswa.org

Long Weekend Retreat with Bhante Cunda & Bhante Bodhidhaja at Jhana Grove Retreat Centre in Serpentine, Western Australia, 27th February - 2nd March 2026. Track 5 :  Dhamma Input & Guidance into Meditation – Session 3 – 1st March 2026.   See the full retreat on bswa.org here. Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available from: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube Copyright Buddhist Society of Western Australia www.bswa.org

Apologies, our live streaming started a little late due to technical issues. Ajahn Mudito discusses sutta AN5.57 from the Anguttara Nikaya: Abhiṇhapaccavekkhitabbaṭhāna Sutta, "Subjects for Regular Reviewing" using this translation. Read AN5.57 on Sutta Central here. "Topics that are worthy regularly reflecting on, whether as a lay person or renunciant.", Sutta Central. Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available from: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube

Ajahn Brahm discusses sutta MN128: Upakkilesa Sutta regarding the obstacles that can arise in the last stages before entering deep meditation (jhana). This teaching was given on a retreat during Ajahn Brahm’s visit to Anukampa in the UK.   Read MN 128 on Sutta Central: https://suttacentral.net/mn128/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin “A second discourse set at the quarrel of Kosambi, this depicts the Buddha, having failed to achieve reconciliation between the disputing mendicants, leaving the monastery. He spends time in the wilderness before encountering an inspiring community of practicing monks. There he discusses in detail obstacles to meditation that he encountered before awakening", Sutta Central. Teaching retrieved from Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lADq04Brvik&t=9s Ajahn Brahm is the Spiritual Adviser of Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project. Donations to Anukampa are welcome, please visit https://anukampaproject.org/donate/ Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available from: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube

Long Weekend Retreat with Bhante Cunda & Bhante Bodhidhaja at Jhana Grove Retreat Centre in Serpentine, Western Australia, 27th February - 2nd March 2026. Track 4 :  - Q & A – 28th February 2026. See the full retreat on bswa.org here. Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available from: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube Copyright Buddhist Society of Western Australia www.bswa.org

Long Weekend Retreat with Bhante Cunda & Bhante Bodhidhaja at Jhana Grove Retreat Centre in Serpentine, Western Australia, 27th February - 2nd March 2026. Track 3 :    Dhamma Input & Guidance into Meditation – Session 2 – 28th February 2026. See the full retreat on bswa.org here. Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available from: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube   Copyright Buddhist Society of Western Australia www.bswa.org