The Forest Path Podcast

Sol Hanna

Narrated translations of meditation masters of the forest tradition of Theravada Buddhism. read less
Religion & SpiritualityReligion & Spirituality

Episodes

Kammaṭṭhāna - the basis of work - Ajahn Maha Boowa
Mar 30 2024
Kammaṭṭhāna - the basis of work - Ajahn Maha Boowa
This episode is a talk given by the Thai forest meditation master Ajahn Maha Boowa and is titled “Kammaṭṭhāna”. It was first publish as part of the book “kammaṭṭhāna - the basis of practice” which was translated by monks at Wat Pah Ban Taad. The Pali work kammaṭṭhāna literally means “the place of work”. Inside Thailand, what we call in the West the “Thai Forest Tradition” refers to itself as the kammaṭṭhāna tradition, and the monks within it as kammaṭṭhāna bhikkhus. At first this description of “the place of work” or “the basis of work” (as Ajahn Maha Boowa translates it) doesn’t sound very interesting. But on the one hand it is a very down-to-earth and practical approach to Buddhist meditative practice and mental development, and on the other it leads into profound and deep states of mind that are almost completely unknown to Western culture at large. There is quite a lot of Pali terminology thrown into these talks, and it could be hard going for the beginner. It is after all, a teaching directed towards dedicated monks living in Ajahn Maha Boowa’s monastery. For beginners I recommend other teachers, especially western teachers from the Forest Tradition like Ajahn Brahm who are much more accessible in the way that they teach. However, for those who are on the Eightfold Path of practice and who are a bit more intrepid in their approach and seeking to open up the deeper states of mind, teachings like these can be of incalculable value. I endeavour to translate nearly all Pali terms into English on the first usage, and then lean more towards using the Pali - as Ajahn Maha Boowa does - subsequent to that. The translated text to this Dhamma teaching is available in the show notes below this episode. For free distribution No part of this teaching may be reproduced in any form of by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher unless it is to be reproduced for Free Distribution, in which case, permission is freely given. Links The Forest Path PodcastEveryday Dhamma Network
Establishing the Fundamentals | Ajahn Maha Boowa
Dec 8 2023
Establishing the Fundamentals | Ajahn Maha Boowa
This talk is called ‘Establishing the Fundamentals' and is by Thai Forest Meditation master Ajahn Maha Bua Nyanasampanno. This translated talk appeared in the publication Sanditthiko Dhamma which was translated by Steven Towler. Thankfully he made this translation available for free distribution for non-commercial purposes and as such we can present this audio version of the English translation for you on the Forest Path Podcast. A word of caution before proceeding any further: This talk contains a large number of untranslated Pali terms. If you don't have a reasonable familiarity with Pali terminology you may find this talk heavy going.Ajahn Maha Bua was known for his uncompromising style and the depth of his teachings. These teachings are mostly aimed at practicing monks, but will also be of benefit to lay people who have been practicing meditation for some time. People who are new to Buddhist teachings may find these teachings hard to understand or even just plain incomprehensible. If you are fairly new to Buddhist teachings or meditation practice then I recommend you go along to the Ajahn Brahm Podcast, or to the Treasure Mountain Podcast as the teachings there are usually more accessible to a general audience.If you are an avid fan of deeper Dhamma teachings then please proceed. This audio version is narrated by Sol Hanna. If you'd like to support my work by making a donation to help cover the costs of hosting and other services that make this possible, click on the "Buy me a coffee" link below (or go to https://ko-fi.com/solhanna ). Or you can become a regular patron via Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/SolHanna). More information about this episode can be found on the Forest Path Podcast website. The Forest Path Podcast is part of the Everyday Dhamma Network.