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/
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