Ajahn Buddhadasa

[lyallben]

I'm practising anapana and have tried Ajahn Buddhadasa's method and found it effective.

I just wonder if anyone else on the board uses his method or has been influenced by him?

I was trying the Pa Auk technique but i find that following the breath from the nose to the navel (the first of 3 techniques)that Ajahn B recommends, really calms me.I was planning a 5- 6 week stay in Myanmar at the Pa Auk centre but now am reconsidering.

Does anybody know of Monks or Teachers who practise in a similar way to Ajahn Buddhadasa?

By the way thanks for making this board possible. I live in a country where there is little Theravada and a city where there seems little Dhamma practice so it is a real help. Kalayana Mittas.

Lyallben

[LonesomeYogurt]

What country/area do you live in?

I practice primarily in Buddhadasa's technique. What have your read of his?

[lyallben]

Ive read a short intro to anapanasati by Ajahn Buddhadasa translated by Santikaro Bhikku and some of a more voluminous book on Anapanasati for serious beginners.
I live in China.

[nomorecurries]

only person I know is an american teacher Larry Rosenberg who's book i have read "Breath by Breath". It is a great book and is structured around the anapanasti sutta. Definitely worth a read if you are following Buddhadasa technique.

If you click on the link below and look at all the different meditation centres in Thailand it shows the ones which do anapanasati. Suan Mokk is Buddhadas one as you probably know (but think they only do 10 day courses although not 100% sure)

http://www.dhammathai.org/e/meditation/page23.php

Good luck

[lyallben]

Yes, I would like to get Larry's book.I've read it before some years ago, and before i committed myself to anapana.

I find fixing on one spot only, is, somehow too constricting- sometimes too intense, too fixated, too striving. I need to at first relax, to discern the subtleness of the touch, or the spot.

Buddhadasa's initial following the breath from the nose to the abdomen- makes the breath longer, and is relaxing.

Please, bear in mind with all this that I am not a very good meditator- I plod away. But I have been helped and surprised by the efficacy of the Ajahn B technique.

[bodom]

Yes, I would like to get Larry's book.I've read it before some years ago, and before i committed myself to anapana.

I find fixing on one spot only, is, somehow too constricting- sometimes too intense, too fixated, too striving. I need to at first relax, to discern the subtleness of the touch, or the spot.

Buddhadasa's initial following the breath from the nose to the abdomen- makes the breath longer, and is relaxing.

Please, bear in mind with all this that I am not a very good meditator- I plod away. But I have been helped and surprised by the efficacy of the Ajahn B technique.

Ajahn Chah teaches mindfulness of breathing the same way and
even recommended to his students that if there going to read
any books on meditation to read Buddhadasas books. Do
yourself a favor and look into his teachings as well if you haven't
already.

[Mal]

I find fixing on one spot only, is, somehow too constricting- sometimes too intense, too fixated, too striving. I need to at first relax, to discern the subtleness of the touch, or the spot.

Ajahn Brahm in MBB also suggests not fixing on one spot - he suggests just asking yourself how you know if it is an in breath or out breath. "The experience that tells you what the breath is doing, that is what to focus on. Let go of the concern about where this experience is located. Just focus on the experience itself."

[nomorecurries]

this is good article re Ajahn Brahm meditation method that I read not so long ago: http://www.dhammaloka.org.au/articles/i ... ation.html

If you look at Ajahn Chah, a book called "A Still Forest Pool" is very good. Is quite short and easy to read and quite uplifting (his character comes through in the book)