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Thai Forest Teachers
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Thai Forest Teachers
by ccharles » Sat Sep 15, 2012 1:09 am
I've read a lot of good things about the Thai Forest Tradition. I'm interested in finding a teacher within this tradition that can provide me with thorough instructions in meditation practice. Within this tradition, who would you recommend for what I'm looking for?
Last edited by ccharles on Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
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ccharles - Posts: 99
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Re: Thai Forest Teachers
by LonesomeYogurt » Sat Sep 15, 2012 2:26 am
I'm not sure where you heard that, as Thai Forest monks are very, very focused on meditation. I doubt there is a tradition out there more focused on it, honestly.
A good teacher in this tradition is Ajahn Brahmavaso.
Others include Bhante Sujato, who recently retired as abbot of Santi Forest Monastery, and of course the late Ajahn Chah.
A good teacher in this tradition is Ajahn Brahmavaso.
Others include Bhante Sujato, who recently retired as abbot of Santi Forest Monastery, and of course the late Ajahn Chah.
Gain and loss, status and disgrace,
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.
Knowing this, the wise person, mindful,
ponders these changing conditions.
Desirable things don’t charm the mind,
undesirable ones bring no resistance.
His welcoming and rebelling are scattered,
gone to their end,
do not exist.
- Lokavipatti Sutta
Stuff I write about things.
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.
Knowing this, the wise person, mindful,
ponders these changing conditions.
Desirable things don’t charm the mind,
undesirable ones bring no resistance.
His welcoming and rebelling are scattered,
gone to their end,
do not exist.
- Lokavipatti Sutta
Stuff I write about things.
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LonesomeYogurt - Posts: 900
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- Location: America
Re: Thai Forest Teachers
by Hanzze » Sat Sep 15, 2012 2:30 am
ccharles wrote: however I've heard that the Thai Forest Tradition does not emphasize meditation necessarily.
Sounds strange... maybe a interesting article Kammatthana: “The Centre Of Work Or The Workplace Of Meditation”. I guess, where ever there is forest left one would find his teacher there.
Just that! *smile*
...We Buddhists must find the courage to leave our temples and enter the temples of human experience, temples that are filled with suffering. If we listen to Buddha, Christ, or Gandhi, we can do nothing else. The refugee camps, the prisons, the ghettos, and the battlefields will become our temples. We have so much work to do. ... Peace is Possible! Step by Step. - Samtach Preah Maha Ghosananda "Step by Step" http://www.ghosananda.org/bio_book.html
BUT! it is important to become a real Buddhist first. Like Punna did: Punna Sutta Nate sante baram sokham _()_
...We Buddhists must find the courage to leave our temples and enter the temples of human experience, temples that are filled with suffering. If we listen to Buddha, Christ, or Gandhi, we can do nothing else. The refugee camps, the prisons, the ghettos, and the battlefields will become our temples. We have so much work to do. ... Peace is Possible! Step by Step. - Samtach Preah Maha Ghosananda "Step by Step" http://www.ghosananda.org/bio_book.html
BUT! it is important to become a real Buddhist first. Like Punna did: Punna Sutta Nate sante baram sokham _()_
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Hanzze - Posts: 1906
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Re: Thai Forest Teachers
by Kamran » Sat Sep 15, 2012 5:28 am
The Thai forest tradition is almost solely focused on meditation.
As the tradition's name indicates, the monks often wander in the forest by themselves meditating for years on end.
Sutta and book learning are not emphasized, Ajahn Chah said "The only book worth reading is the your heart"
There are some Thai forest monasteries throughout the world but depending on where you live it might not be easy to find one nearby.
Thanissaro Bikhu is a senior Thai Forest Monk and publishes the daily talks he gives at his monastery in California on dhammtalks.org.
This a great resource, especially if you don't have a teacher nearby.
As the tradition's name indicates, the monks often wander in the forest by themselves meditating for years on end.
Sutta and book learning are not emphasized, Ajahn Chah said "The only book worth reading is the your heart"
There are some Thai forest monasteries throughout the world but depending on where you live it might not be easy to find one nearby.
Thanissaro Bikhu is a senior Thai Forest Monk and publishes the daily talks he gives at his monastery in California on dhammtalks.org.
This a great resource, especially if you don't have a teacher nearby.
When this concentration is thus developed, thus well developed by you, then wherever you go, you will go in comfort. Wherever you stand, you will stand in comfort. Wherever you sit, you will sit in comfort. Wherever you lie down, you will lie down in comfort.
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Kamran - Posts: 136
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Re: Thai Forest Teachers
by Cittasanto » Sat Sep 15, 2012 6:40 am
The Forest tradition of any country emphasises meditation.
Ajahn Thanissaro has instructions online as does Ajahn Amaro.
Ajahn Thanissaro has instructions online as does Ajahn Amaro.
This offering maybe right, or wrong, but it is one, the other, both, or neither!
With Metta
Upāsaka Cittasanto
Blog - Some Suttas Translated.
"Others will misconstrue reality due to their personal perspectives, doggedly holding onto and not easily discarding them; We shall not misconstrue reality due to our own personal perspectives, nor doggedly holding onto them, but will discard them easily. This effacement shall be done."
With Metta
Upāsaka Cittasanto
Blog - Some Suttas Translated.
"Others will misconstrue reality due to their personal perspectives, doggedly holding onto and not easily discarding them; We shall not misconstrue reality due to our own personal perspectives, nor doggedly holding onto them, but will discard them easily. This effacement shall be done."
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Cittasanto - Posts: 5493
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Re: Thai Forest Teachers
by Goofaholix » Sat Sep 15, 2012 8:55 am
The nearest to you should suffice, where are you located?
"Whenever we feel that we are definitely right, so much so that we refuse to open up to anything or anybody else, right there we are wrong. It becomes wrong view. When suffering arises, where does it arise from? The cause is wrong view, the fruit of that being suffering. If it was right view it wouldn't cause suffering." - Ajahn Chah
"Remember you dont meditate to get anything, but to get rid of things. We do it, not with desire, but with letting go. If you want anything, you wont find it." - Ajahn Chah
"Remember you dont meditate to get anything, but to get rid of things. We do it, not with desire, but with letting go. If you want anything, you wont find it." - Ajahn Chah
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Goofaholix - Posts: 1549
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Re: Thai Forest Teachers
by twelph » Mon Sep 17, 2012 5:43 am
ccharles wrote:I've read a lot of good things about the Thai Forest Tradition. I'm interested in finding a teacher within this tradition that can provide me with thorough instructions in meditation practice, however I've heard that the Thai Forest Tradition does not emphasize meditation necessarily. Within this tradition, who would be best suited for what I'm looking for?
The word "best" is not very useful in this situation. Only you can decide what is best for you. I've been enjoying the teachings of Thanissaro Bhikkhu lately, you can hear his meditation instructions here: http://www.dhammatalks.org/
If you really want the best instructions though, I believe that reading what the Buddha said and deriving your own practice from those teachings would be your best solution.
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Re: Thai Forest Teachers
by Maarten » Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:11 am
You could give Ajahn Brahm A try.
Here are some resources:
http://www.holybooks.com/mindfulness-bl ... -handbook/
http://www.youtube.com/user/AjahnBrahmRetreats
http://www.youtube.com/user/daniapercy
http://www.dharmaweb.org/index.php/The_ ... rahmavamso
http://www.dhammaloka.org.au/
Good luck!
Here are some resources:
http://www.holybooks.com/mindfulness-bl ... -handbook/
http://www.youtube.com/user/AjahnBrahmRetreats
http://www.youtube.com/user/daniapercy
http://www.dharmaweb.org/index.php/The_ ... rahmavamso
http://www.dhammaloka.org.au/
Good luck!
- Maarten
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Re: Thai Forest Teachers
by Magoo » Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:23 pm
ccharles wrote:I've read a lot of good things about the Thai Forest Tradition. I'm interested in finding a teacher within this tradition that can provide me with thorough instructions in meditation practice, however I've heard that the Thai Forest Tradition does not emphasize meditation necessarily. Within this tradition, who would be best suited for what I'm looking for?
I would recommend Ajahn Brahms book, "Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond". One resource that with details describes the meditaion process and methods for finding powerful meditation.
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Magoo - Posts: 50
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