Foreword

These teachings were originally talks given by Venerable Ajahn Sumedho during his stay at Wat Pah Nanachat, the International Forest Monastery in the North-East of Thailand, in May 1989. The talks were usually given during the evening meetings, when the Sangha would come together for chanting, meditation and listening to the Dhamma. Venerable Ajahn Sumedho is the senior Western disciple of Venerable Ajahn Chah, a well-known and highly respected meditation master of the Forest Tradition. Venerable Ajahn Sumedho was the first abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat, which was established in 1975 to teach and train Westerners. In 1977 he was sent to England by Venerable Ajahn Chah. He established Chithurst and Amaravati Buddhist Monastery as well as several branches, spreading the particular lifestyle and teachings that he had taken on as a Buddhist monk with Venerable Ajahn Chah in Thailand, to the West. After living and teaching based in England for over thirty years, he is now coming back to quietly live in Thailand again. The community of Wat Pah Nanachat feels very fortunate to be able to welcome him soon, and this little booklet of his teachings is meant to remind specifically the monastic community of the timeless and priceless teachings he has offered to young men leading the life of a forest monk over all those years. May he now be retiring happily and peacefully from all the burdens of being a true pioneer both in Thailand and in the West, and peacefully partake in the fruits of all the hard practices he has patiently undertaken for all our benefit. We wish him a peaceful retirement.

The Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat, Ubon Rachathani, September 2010.

 

Excerpt From: Ajahn Sumedho. “Nothing is More Joyless Than Selfishness.”