Freedom from Suffering | Ananda Thilakasiri | 11 September 2026

Ananda was born in Sri Lanka went to the village temple with his Grandfather from a very young age. Yet he came to practise meditation only after meeting the then Ajahn Jagaro & Ajahn Brahm, around 1987. He has been meditating for about 25 years and considers Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Brahmali & Bhante Sujato as his spiritual teachers. He and his family started visiting Bodhinyana and Dhammaloka regularly in 1991 and he has served in the Committee in different capacities including Treasurer and the Secretary. He has also contributed to Buddhist communities overseas in various ways and is a student of early Buddhist texts from the Tripitaka, relying mostly on Bhante Sujato’s English translations of Sutta on SuttaCentral & also, Dhammaloka Sutta classes & Sutta Retreats at Jhana Grove. Please find the the list of Suttas quoted during the talk: (A) During Guided Meditation: AN 3.101 Paṁsudhovaka Sutta (The Soil Remover) - https://suttacentral.net/search?query=AN3.101 (B) During the Dhamma Talk: SN 56.11 Dhammacakkappavattana sutta (Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Dhamma) - https://suttacentral.net/search?query=SN56.11 MN 34 Cūḷagopālaka Sutta (The Shorter Discourse on the Cowherd) - https://suttacentral.net/search?query=MN34 SN 25.1 Cakkhu Sutta (The Eye) - https://suttacentral.net/search?query=SN25.1 AN 4.49 Vipallāsa Sutta (Perversions) - https://suttacentral.net/search?query=AN4.49 MN 41 Sāleyyaka Sutta (The Brahmins of Sala) - https://suttacentral.net/search?query=MN41 SN 47.3 Bhikkhu Sutta (A Bhikkhu) - https://suttacentral.net/search?query=SN47.3 SN 55.5 Dutiyasāriputta Sutta (With Sāriputta (2nd)) - https://suttacentral.net/search?query=SN55.5 MN 43 Mahāvedalla Sutta (The Greater Series of Questions; Answers) - https://suttacentral.net/search?query=MN43 AN 8.37 Sappurisadana Sutta (The Good Person’s Gifts) - https://suttacentral.net/search?query=AN8.37 SN 12.41 Pañcaverabhaya sutta (Five Fearful Animosities) - https://suttacentral.net/search?query=SN12.41 SN 13.1