General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
For some time I have been interested in the metta bhavana technique of the Thai bhikkhu Ajahn Mahâ Chatchai. I became acquainted with his teaching through Ajahn Sujato's metta meditation instructions but would like to know more as even the instructions I found from Ajahn Sujato were in the form of mp3. I have a 29 page document which represents notes taken by T.Gunaviro on the technique but, as he says himself, they are not sufficient to learn the technique from scratch and they are filled with lots of transliterated Thai.
If anyone has any information about Ajahn Mahâ Chatchai's techniques and or other resources in English that they could provide me with or point me to I would be extremely appreciative. Mettaya.
Mike
To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to cleanse one's mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
-Dhp. 183
I have a word document I found using google, which I believe came from an FTP on a computer at a monastery associated with Ajahn Mahachatchai (although I cant say for sure) . It appears to be some sort of conglomerate of Ajahn Mahachatchai's comprehensive instructions on attaining Jhana using Metta , as well as q&a, various notes, and some letter to Bhante Sujato. It's a bit difficult to sort out it logical order and appears to have been added to many times. That being said, its a great resource!
This forum wont let me upload word documents, so if you PM me your email I will send it to you.
"It's easy for us to connect with what's wrong with us... and not so easy to feel into, or to allow us, to connect with what's right and what's good in us."
A little off topic, but the system will let you upload .zip files, so you can always create a zip file (which most OS's do easily, e.g. create a "compressed (zipped) folder" in Windows) and upload that.
Khalil, the document I've attached is 31 pages so it may be worthwhile for you to check it out as it appears to contain some extra editing (although I havent read through both thoroughly to make sure). You could also contact Bhante Sujato directly http://santifm.org/santi/contact/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"It's easy for us to connect with what's wrong with us... and not so easy to feel into, or to allow us, to connect with what's right and what's good in us."
Bhante Sujato mentioned that the editing of the letters into a more formal and structured work is work-in-progress. No publication date promised, as he also needs Ven Mahachatchai's feedback.
Just digging up this old thread because I am in Bangkok now and looking to find Ajahn Maha Chatchai. Does anyone know where he is or the name of his Wat? Thanks so much!
Jesse wrote:Just digging up this old thread because I am in Bangkok now and looking to find Ajahn Maha Chatchai. Does anyone know where he is or the name of his Wat? Thanks so much!
It's Wat Pleng in Thonburi. Inconveniently there happen to be two wats of this name in Thonburi. One has the full name Wat Pleng Vipassana and is quite famous as its late abbot, Ajahn Praderm, was a highly regarded Abhidhamma teacher. The other is a small obscure wat that nobody has ever heard of. The latter, I'm afraid, is the one that you want.
Yena yena hi maññanti,
tato taṃ hoti aññathā.
In whatever way they conceive it,
It turns out otherwise.
(Sn. 588)
Jesse, if you do find Wat Pleng and Ajahn Maha Chatchai, do feel free to report back on the Wat, and if you are able to access any of his Metta teachings while there. I've wanted to make the visit myself, but was unsure if the Wat was locatable and whether there was anyone at the Wat that can speak English. All of the instruction videos I've found from Ajahn Chatchai are in Thai. Thanks in advance.
I made it to meet Ajahn Maha Chatchai. The monastery is in a suburban neighborhood in Bangkok. He received us very kindly after we found a monk to take us to his building. We enjoyed meeting him but he spoke very little English and no one around at the time spoke English it would seem. There is a Sunday talk where someone should speak English, but that might be uncertain. So if you want to go Sunday is best, but otherwise you will defintely need to speak Thai or have a translator. I have posted the correct google map for the monastery below.
