Monday, January 31, 2011

Ajaan Maha Boowa Attains Parinibbana

The bhikkhu who was perhaps the principal representative of Ajaan Mun and the Thai Forest Ascetic tradition (the tradition that I was a monastic in from 2004-2007) has "dropped his mind and body". Widely believed to be an Arahant (completely enlightened master according to the oldest Buddhist lineage, the Theravada) Luangta (venerable grandfather) is believed to have attained Parinibbana (complete unbinding) Sunday in Thailand. With his death comes the end of an era in Thailand, the end of the first generation of the revival of the Thai Forest tradition. This tradition brought us such masters as Ajaan Chah, Ajaan Lee, Ajaan Suwat, Ajaan Thate, and Ajaan Fuang, all of whom were instrumental in creating a wave of renewed intensive Buddhist practice in Thailand and in introducing the Thai Forest Dhamma to the West. Through western students of theirs like Ajaan Sumedho, Ajaan Thanissaro, Ajaan Passano, Ajaan Amaro, Ajaan Sucitto, Ajaan Sona, Jack Kornfield and Joseph Goldstein, these Thai Forest Masters introduced both lay practice and Forest monastic practice in the style of the Buddha to Europe, the US, and Canada, as well as their widespread influence in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Burma.
For a (somewhat superficial) article on Ajaan Maha Boowa see:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/01/31/national/Thailands-most-revered-monk;-a-guiding-light-has-p-30147547.html

For teachings see: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/boowa/index.html
and: http://luangta.com/English/site/books.php

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