I agree with Rett, who said in a recent post (see msg 9645) that "What
makes Theravada Buddhism remarkable is its no-nonsense detailed
analysis of religious emotions, insights and techniques. Elements that
are present in murky, mythological ways in other religions are placed in
crystal-clear, sober, systematic order within the Theravada system."
I do not know about others, but to me, it is not only the Theravada
system but what the entire Buddha's teachings is all about. To me,
there is no mystery, but understanding and the lack of it.
Over the past months, we have seen arguments by members over methods of
practice. In a response to Piya's latest post on Ajahn Maha Boowa (see
msg 9638), I decided to do a little write-up on the Thai Forest
Tradition, and so here it is...
Kammathana: Thai Forest Tradition
Uncovering its thin veil of mystery
This short article aims to provide an overview of the contemporary Thai
Forest Tradition. Although it has a well thought-out subtitle (laugh),
I have to confess that there is little resources on my hand, and I am
not an expert in the field of contemporary Southeast Asian Buddhist
history either. I had only spent a few hours on Christmas Day browsing
through the Web, and taking down points that I find relevant for this
short introduction. I hope this comes as a nice little present for this
festive season. Happy belated Winter Solstice!
The forest ascetic tradition can trace its roots back to the Buddha
2500 years ago. However, the contemporary Thai Forest movement is a
recent establishment by Bhikkhu Mun Bhuridatto (1870-1949) and his
teacher Bhikkhu Sao Kantasilo (1861-1941). It originated in northern
Thailand, in the forests of the Mekong River Basin.
Bhikkhu Bhuridatto was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1893. After his
ordination, he spent the remainder of his life as a wandering monk in
Thailand, Burma and Laos, dwelling for the most part in the forest,
engaged in the practice of meditaion. He attracted an enormous
following of students and, together with Bhikkhu Kantasilo, his
teacher, established the forest meditation tradition that subsequently
spread throughout Thailand and to several countries abroad. Today, the
Kammatthana tradition is well established in Southeast Asia and several
Western nations, including Thailand, the United States, the United
Kingdom, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.
I shall next give an account of some of Bhikkhu Bhuridatto's students,
and living practitioners of the thai forest tradition, particularly
those in the English-speaking world. Each shall be presented with a
little lineage barline that is so common across all Buddhist traditions.
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Lee > Fuang > Geoff
1. Bhikkhu Lee Dhammadharo (1906-1961): One of the foremost teachers in
the kammathana tradition, and the first to bring the forest tradition
into the mainstream of Thai society in central Thailand.
2. Bhikkhu Fuang Jotiko (1915-1986): The most devoted student of
Bhikkhu Dhammadharo, and an outstanding forest monk.
3. Bhikkhu Geoff Thanissaro (1949- ): Born in America, and studied in
the forest tradition for twenty years in Thailand under Bhikkhu Jotiko.
Bhikkhu Thanissaro is popular for his sutta translations, which are
available on the ATI website. He has also translated into English many
books by masters of the Thai forest kammathana tradition. He is
currently the abbot of Wat Mettavanaram (Metta Forest Monastery) near
San Diego, USA.
1. Bhikkhu Chah Subhaddo (1918-1992): The most widely known adherent of
the Thai forest ascetic tradition, he is affectionately known as Ajahn
Chah, and was conferred the title of Chao Khun Bodhinyana by the King
of Thailand. Ajahn Chah's books has been translated into many Asian and
European languages. He teaching style had a special appeal to
Westerners, so much so that he set up Wat Pah Nanachat in 1975 to cater
specially to Westerners.
2. Bhikkhu Liem Thitadhammo (?- ): A prominent student of Ajahn Chah
and the current abbot of Wat Nong Pah Pong, the head monastery
established by Ajahn Chah.
3. Bhikkhu (Robert) Sumedho (1934- ): A widely venerated monk, and one
of the most senior Western disciples of Ajahn Chah, and probably the
longest ordained Western monk today. Bhikkhu Sumedho was born in
America, and is currently the abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in
Hertfordshire, England.
4. Bhikkhu (Reed) Pasanno (1949- ): Bhikkhu Pasanno was born in Canada,
and is currently the co-abbot of the Abhayagiri Monastery in
California, USA.
5. Bhikkhu (Peter) Brahmavamso (1951- ): Better known as Ajahn Brahm to
followers in Southeast Asia, Bhikkhu Brahmavamso was born in England,
and is currently the abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery (which was named
after his teacher, Ajahn Chah) in Perth, Australia.
6. Bhikkhu (Jeremy) Amaro (1956- ): Bhikkhu Amaro was born in America,
and is currently the co-abbot of the Abhayagiri Monastery in
California, USA.
7. Jack Kornfield, Ph.D.: Lay Buddhist, cofounder of Insight Meditation
Society in Massachusetts, USA, and founding teacher of the Spirit Rock
Meditation Center in California, USA. Author of several books on
meditation and the forest tradition.
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Boowa
1. Bhikkhu Boowa Nanasampanno (1914- ): Probably the only living
student of Bhikkhu Mun Bhuridatto, the founder of the kammathana
ascetic tradition. Bhikkhu Nanasampanno is well known for the fluency
and skill of his Dhamma talks, and their direct and dynamic approach.
He is currently the abbot of Wat Pah Bahn Tahd in Udon Thani, Thailand.