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6 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS
Mindfulness is
the Path to the
Deathless
By Venerable Ajahn Amaro
Born in England in 1956, Ven. Ajahn Amaro has written a Today is Easter Sunday according
Amaro Bhikkhu received a BSc. number of books, including an to the western European calendar.
in Psychology and Physiology account of an 830-mile trek According to Christian mythology
from the University of London. from Chithurst to Harnham this is the day Jesus rose from
Spiritual searching led him Vihara called Tudong - the the dead. However, the very word
to Thailand, where he went Long Road North, republished ‘Easter’ itself points to the fact that
to Wat Pah Nanachat, a in the expanded book Silent its symbolism reaches beyond the
Forest Tradition monastery Rain. His other publications Christian stories.
established for Western include Small Boat, Great
The east is where the sun rises.
disciples of Thai meditation Mountain (2003), Rain on
The birth of the light of the world
master Ajahn Chah, who the Nile (2009) and The
happens in the east. This time of
ordained him as a bhikkhu Island - An Anthology of the year, spring is the reawakening
in 1979. Soon afterwards the Buddha’s Teachings on of the land. Flowers come out,
he returned to England and Nibbana (2009) co-written leaves start budding and life comes
joined Ajahn Sumedho at the with Ajahn Pasanno, a guide to back into the world. Animals start
newly established Chithurst meditation called Finding the pairing off, building nests. It’s
Monastery. He resided for many Missing Peace and other works the time of life being reasserted,
years at Amaravati Buddhist dealing with various aspects of coming out of the dark into
Monastery, making trips to Buddhism. waking, living form. We have the
California every year during the imagery of Easter eggs and even
1990s. In December 2015, along with the word ‘oestrogen’ is associated
Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Amaro with this time. There are many
In June 1996 he established was honoured by the King of mythic stories associated with it
Abhayagiri Monastery in Thailand with the ecclesiastical too. Ēostre was a Northumbrian
Goddess of the dawn, way back
Redwood Valley, California, title ‘Chao Khun’. Together
in the ancient past. So, we have
where he was co-Abbot with with this honor he was given
images of dawn, east, springtime,
Ajahn Pasanno until 2010. He the name ‘Videsabuddhiguna’.
birth … as well as the imagery of
then returned to Amaravati In July 2019, again with Ajahn
the story of Jesus.
to become Abbot of this large Pasanno, he was honoured
monastic community. with the title ‘Chao Khun The Buddha also used the image of
Rāja’ and received the name breaking out of the shell for someone
‘Rājabuddhivaraguṇa’ who has developed the appropriate
spiritual qualities. His simile is of
