Thai Forest Masters: History and Teachings
These links are to a 3 part video series given by Ajahn Thanissaro Bhikku. This gives historical context from the time of Ajahn Mun, delving into Buddhist Theravadin history in Thailand since before the time of tape recorders when the teachings were just given from teacher to student. The history of Buddhism in Thailand is pretty interesting and there is also some mention of how the Pali Canon existed and was used (or not used!) by monks in Thailand.
The focus is these talks is primarily on 3 forest masters: Acariya Mun, Ajahn Lee, and Acariya Maha Boowa. Acariya Mun left little to no written teachings. Ajahn Lee left many written teachings of his own and also of what he received from Acariya Mun. Many of Acariya Maha Boowa’s Dhamma talks were tape recorded and have been translated.
The speaker here, Ajahn Thanissaro Bhikkhu, translated many Thai talks and texts into English. He was a student of Ajahn Lee.
The Thai Forest tradition is an ascetic Buddhist tradition. One may, of course, identify with the ascetic practices and not so much with the doctrine. These practices include the anatta (no self) doctrine. That is misleading because it’s a realization and not a doctrine. The practices lead to the realizations of knowing and seeing the 3 characteristics of existence , namely, 1) unsatisfactoriness (suffering) 2) impermanence, and 3) not self (insubstantiality; no permanent self).
I share this series and the other Thai Forest Dhamma talks I’ve posted to give accurate information straight from the most accurate sources that are currently available.
In the inSelf yoga tradition there is much reliance on mystic communication. You may still find some benefit from the historical documentation given in sources like these video talks and in some of the books mentioned in these talks. One can certainly be inspired by a practice that one does not follow in entirety.
May you be well!
May you achieve the goals for which you strive!
https://youtu.be/JPbuv2dmPYk?si=1VQYBC6axkgnUOn6
