NEW UPLOAD: Join us on Sunday as Ajahn Sona answers Dhamma questions from listeners around the world. Questions may be submitted during the live chat (opens ~8:00am day of stream) or in advance, here: https://bit.ly/LivestreamQnA Ajahn Sona Podcast: Apple - http://bit.ly/AppleAjSona Spotify - http://bit.ly/SpotifyAjSona Podbean - http://bit.ly/PodbeanAjSona Question & Answer Archive https://birken.ca/qaa/qaa.php INDEX OF QUESTIONS: 00:00 - INTRO - 03:54 - OVERCOMING DISAPPOINTMENT: How can one overcome disappointment, particularly with people on whom one depends? 08:10 - GOOD FRIENDS: ​​My friend overseas is old and alone with nobody to talk to in a foreign country. Is it her bad kamma? How can she change, is it too late for her? She complains it’s due to the fact that she can’t find the right people to be friends with - they don’t have much in common! She also tried to explain that she’s vegan and a Buddhist, so many people find that she’s different. How can she help herself? Or how should I help? 11:05 - PARINIBBANA: ​​Could a Buddha die at will and “enter” Parinibbana as part of his supernormal abilities? If so, why would he stay around and teach, knowing it ultimately doesn’t make any difference - his teachings will be forgotten, there will be infinite more Buddhas who may or may not decide to teach, they’ll be forgotten too, and this cycle will never end. Why prolong Samsara if you could end it now? 18:33 - ENLIGHTENMENT AND KAMMA: Does an ariya carry a protective kamma? Since, if a Sotapanna must become an arahant within seven lifetimes, does it mean that their lives cannot be cut short? 22:00 - JUDGING OTHERS: What are ways to work with a tendency to judge others negatively? I have a habit of judging others in a negative way and it agitates my mind and causes remorse. How can I work on this? 24:54 - JINXED?: I am beginning to feel as if my karma affects people close to me in extremely negative ways. For example​​: death of friends, bodily harm of my daughter and broken leg of new friend, etc....​​I am afraid this is because of their interaction with me. Am I overreacting? 27:42 - NIBBANA/JHANA: Why is it that the far shore represents nibbana and not jhana 30:34 - ENTERTAINMENT AND THE PRECEPTS: mean that the Buddha thinks that creating and enjoying and shows etc is inherently unskillful? For someone who aspires to be an upasaka, what are your thoughts on being artistic and still a Buddhist? ​​ 35:25 - CRAVING: My mind craves for things and people I probably will not ever have or meet. I know the objects my mind craves are unrealistic, but I just can't stop it. What do I do? 38:43 - SAMATHA: There seems to be a new trend where some say breath meditation and other samatha practices are not practised in a correct way.They emphasize mostly wise reflection, sense restraint and insight. What are your thoughts on this view? Is it skillful to dismiss traditional samatha methods? 46:58 - AI: What are your thoughts on A.I. What might the Buddha have thought about artificial intelligence? 52:34 - INDIFFERENCE: Could you say anything about the difference between indifference and neutrality and what to do about feeling grey or flat in life. Is that a subtle kind of aversion?