Categoria: Tributes

Story by Santikaro, Bangkok Post, May 27, 2007 To mark the 101st anniversary of the birth of the late Buddhadasa Bhikkhu today, his former disciple and translator looks back on the precious years he spent with Thailand’s great spiritual teacher In my very personal estimation, Ajahn Buddhadasa Bhikkhu has been the most significant, creative and… Continuar lendo My Best Friend: Living and learning under Tan Ajahn Buddhadasa

Buddhadasa’s birth centenary would be best celebrated by returning to his teachings on the essence of Buddhism  There’s one big challenge in the ongoing commemoration of one of Thailand’s most revered Buddhist monks, the late Buddhadasa Bhikkhu. It’s the question of how we can avoid breaching, naively perhaps, his core teachings in the process. If… Continuar lendo Remembering a truly great soul

“Buddhadasa explained that if we can overcome the myself/mine mindset, we can then break out of the cycle of suffering. We can realise enlightenment at any moment in time – every minute, every second of the day – if we approach the world as it is, without any involvement of the self.”

“The fact that an increasing numbers of people in the West are becoming interested in Buddhism and its logical explanation of life and suffering is an illustration of people failing to find the answer to life through material success.”

More than 70 youths from all over Thailand have started Thursday a 24-day, 750-kilometre walk for religious understanding from Surat Thani province to Bangkok.

What does the Buddha mean to people? The title “Buddha” has three meanings. Firstly, it means Buddha images or amulets, for the fool or the untrained. A step higher, the Buddha is a man in history, the Prince Siddhatha Gotama. The third level is the Buddha in its abstract meaning. It is not a person but rather attributes that make a person a Buddha, namely wisdom, compassion and purity. In this light, Buddha is not something remote. Any human being, after cultivating these attributes can become a Buddha. The Buddha himself said that, anyone who sees Dhamma or Paticcasamuppada, sees the Buddha. It means Dhamma is Buddha, and also means that the Buddha is not far from us, not the man who lives 2,500 years ahead of us.

The instructions for a beginner are simple: Feel your breath entering your nostrils; follow the breath to your navel; feel the breath going back out through your nose; think of nothing else. Yet this is a pursuit that precious few mortals can boast to have mastered in one lifetime.

Buddhadasa Bhikkhu 100 YEARS ON Story by Vasana Chinvarakorn, Bangkok Post, May 28, 2006 The work of the monk who built Suan Mokkh continues Suan Mokh, Thailand — The fine, greyish-white powder hung briefly in the air before descending into the cooling stream below. Thus were the ashes of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu returned to the embrace… Continuar lendo 100 years

Young Thais told to study Buddhism after much loved Buddhist monk TNA News, May 26, 2006 BANGKOK, Thailand — Caretaker Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang on Friday urged young Thai Buddhists to study and adopt the practices of one of the country’s most respected religious leaders, Buddhist monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, who was recognised by the United… Continuar lendo Young Thais