Noble Eightfold Path, Day 5, Q-A

On the fifth day of a 2015 retreat on the Noble Eightfold Path at the Bhavana Society Theravadan Forest Monastery in West Virginia, abbot Bhante Gunaratana answers retreatants questions. Among the questions: How can work with sounds we hear during meditation? Does the Buddha talk about self-forgiveness or self-compassion? Can one take a temporary ordination if a child is still dependent on her? How do we develop equanimity in working with sounds others make in the mediation hall? In the Buddha’s time there were many who became enlightened. Who was the one keeping track? How did they know someone was really enlightened? Can a retreat led by lay teachers be as powerful as one led by monastics? For more on the monastry's upcoming retreats, visit http://bhavanasociety.org