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8 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS
Listening Beyond Words
By Ajahn Chah (1918-1992)
Ajahn Chah was born into a large,
comfortable family in a rural
village of northeast Thailand. In
his early youth, he took samanera
(novice monk) ordination and
on reaching the age of twenty,
he became a bhikkhu (a fully
ordained Buddhist monk). In
his early monastic life, Ajahn
Chah studied Buddhist teachings
and scriptures, but yearning
for meditation guidance and discipline and moral conduct, in his lineage also began to be
dissatisfied with the slack meditation and contemplation, established. Many new branch
standard of discipline at his and a transformative inner monasteries have continued to
monastery, he took on the life of experience rather than a reliance be established even after his
a tudong or wandering monk. on scholarly knowledge. Although death in 1992. At present there
As a tudong monk, Ajahn Chah these Forest tradition elements are more than three hundred
lived austerely in forests, caves were held in common, every Forest branch monasteries in
and cremation grounds, and Forest monastery and teacher Ajahn Chah’s lineage spread
sought out the guidance of local also had their own flavor. In his throughout Thailand and the
meditation masters, including teachings, Ajahn Chah placed world. Environmental conditions
Ajahn Mun. an emphasis on community may cause the details of life
living and right view as essential amongst these many monasteries
In 1954, after many years of aspects of the path to liberation. to vary somewhat; but in all of
practice without a permanent them, simplicity, heedfulness,
home, Ajahn Chah was invited Ajahn Chah was remarkable and the strict adherence to
to settle in a dense forest near for his integrity, humor, and monastic discipline support and
his birth village. Over time, a humanness; for his sense of encourage residents to live a pure
large monastery called Wat surrender to spiritual practice life focused on the continuous
Pah Pong was established there and to the present moment; and cultivation of virtue, meditation,
as monks, nuns, and laypeople for his ability to connect with and wisdom.
came to hear Ajahn Chah’s people from many backgrounds in
teachings and train with him. a spontaneous, straightforward, Stillness Flowing, the English-
His teachings and community and joyous manner. He taught in language biography of Ajahn
contained elements commonly a simple, yet profound style and Chah, was released in 2018 to
held throughout the Forest emphasized practice in everyday commemorate the hundred-year
tradition, focusing on a simple, life. As disciples gathered around anniversary of his birth.
aesthetic, and rigorous lifestyle, Ajahn Chah, branch monasteries
