Than-Geoff interview

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CJMacie, modified 8 Years ago at 12/2/15 5:39 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 12/2/15 5:25 AM

Than-Geoff interview

Posts: 856 Join Date: 8/17/14 Recent Posts
A friend just pointed me to a printed interview with Thanissaro Bhikkhu, available on-line at:

http://www.oberlin.edu/alummag/spring2004/feat_monk.html

FYI for some here who may be interested in some of his background.

Here's a sample that obliquely pertains to a theme of DhO:

Did it take a long time to adjust to a celibate lifestyle?

The first hurdle you face is not wanting to take care of it, the attractiveness of lust itself. But after a while I began to realize that I was suffering because of this. But if I focused on the lust itself, rather than the object of the lust, I began to realize lust was not that good a thing to have in my mind.

Do you ever feel lustful?
No.

Never?
You have meditation to take care of it. As soon as lust comes into the mind, you've got to take care of it.

You sound so pragmatic.

It's very pragmatic.
That was one of the lessons I got from Ajaan Fuang: Get over the drama and sit down and do the work. I remember the first time he said to me, "Okay, we're going to meditate all night." I said, "My God, I can't do that! I've been working hard all day!" He said, "Is it going to kill you?" No. "Then you can do it."
Mark, modified 8 Years ago at 12/2/15 6:16 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 12/2/15 6:16 AM

RE: Than-Geoff interview

Posts: 554 Join Date: 7/24/14 Recent Posts
That is a good quick read, thanks. He comes across as a very nice person. If he was doing something that society dispproved of I'm pretty sure there would be claims he was inducted into a cult. Unimaginable levels of concentration skills with that amount of practise! I can see a need for rules with that ability to switch thoughts/emotions off.
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Noah, modified 8 Years ago at 12/3/15 4:07 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 12/3/15 4:07 AM

RE: Than-Geoff interview

Posts: 1467 Join Date: 7/6/13 Recent Posts
The interviewer asks TG a clarifying question about the monk's daily schedule:
You said that people here gather together at 5 p.m. Is that for Happy Hour?

LMFAO
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CJMacie, modified 8 Years ago at 12/3/15 5:27 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 12/3/15 5:26 AM

RE: Than-Geoff interview

Posts: 856 Join Date: 8/17/14 Recent Posts
Noah:
The interviewer asks TG a clarifying question about the monk's daily schedule:
You said that people here gather together at 5 p.m. Is that for Happy Hour?
LMFAO

Apparently Than-Geoff (i.e. as Geoffrey), the interviewer, as well as the photographer are all college buddies, so there may be a bit of regression going on.
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Noah, modified 8 Years ago at 12/3/15 5:56 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 12/3/15 5:56 AM

RE: Than-Geoff interview

Posts: 1467 Join Date: 7/6/13 Recent Posts
Yes thats the sense I got from what the interviewer said.  I didn't know about the photographer.  Very nice.

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