Still, Flowing Water

by Ajahn Chah, Thanissaro Bhikkhu (translator)

Genres: Buddhism, Religion

121 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Ajahn Chah was born in 1918 in a village located in the north-eastern part of Thailand. He became a novice at a young age and recieved higher ordination at the age of twenty. He followed the austere Forest Tradition for years, living in forests and begging for almsfood as he wandered about on mendicant pilgrimage.

He practised meditation under a number of masters, among whom was Ajahn Mun, a highly respected and accomplished meditation teacher of the time. Ajahn Mun had an indelible influence on Ajahn Chah, giving his meditation practice the direction and clarity that it lacked. Ajahn Chah later became an accomplished meditation teacher in his own right, sharing his realization of the Dhamma with those who sought it. The essence of his teaching was rather simple: be mindful, don't hang on to anything, let go and surrender to the way things are.

Ajahn Chah passed away in peace after a long bout of illness on January 16, 1992, at his home monastery, Wat Pah Pong, in Ubon Ratchatani.

Reviews

[Sher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading if you are interested in Theravada Buddhism and more specifically the Thai Forest tradition. This magnificent volume is an intellectual, spiritual, and cultural biography/history of a revered teacher in this tradition. The 800 plus page story covers Ajahn Chah as a young man in Thailand and his practice, and then moves on to cover the story of his founding a prominent Thai Forest Monastery. _Stillness Flowing_ covers Ajahn Chah's teaching methods, and finally the influx of Western interest in his teachings which leads to monasteries being started in Britain and eventually the United States. An interesting comparison between Thai teaching methods and Western methods based on the needs of very different students. Thai culture as it relates to Buddhism is covered in depth. The book is filled with wisdom and pieces from Chah's teachings that impact the reader far beyond the historical information. An admirable, impressive, well researched and well written work about the Thai Forest Tradition.

[Olivier Goetgeluck · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to understand that all your mood are lies. There's nothing true to them at all.

[Sami · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with all of ajahn chah's talks, pure gold.