Cittaviveka: Teachings from the Silent Mind

by Ajahn Sumedho

A selection of Dhamma talks by Ven. Ajahn Sumedho of Chithurst Forest Monastery, West Sussex, England; with narratives of the monastic life.

Genres: Buddhism, Meditation, Religion, Spirituality

Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Ajahn Sumedho was born Robert Jackamn in Seattle, Washington in 1934. He was raised as Anglican and from 1951 to 1953 studied Chinese and history at the University of Washington. He served as a medic for the US Navy until returning to the University to ccomplete a BA in Far Eastern Studies in 1959. In 1966 he went to Thailand and was ordained as a novice Buddhist; in 1967 he received a full ordination.

Reviews

[Jokoloyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The teachings on this book are humble. The messages maybe the same as other great teachers in meditation or Buddhism, but Ajahn Sumedho’s way of teachings is unique. He is revealing his own strugglings, emotions, and wicked thoughts in his teachings; pointing the enlightenment is realisation, not to gain some quality or other ego trap.

For an ignorant person, I already write too much. You get the idea, I am praising this book on the review. But don’t believe me, try it for yourself at https://www.amaravati.org/dhamma-book...
I found we can read it randomly on any chapter, and I personally recommend the longer chapters for first try like Skillful Means two chapters, “Patience”, “The Practice of Metta”, or “Realising The Mind” chapter.

[Siska · Rating 5 out of 5]

My all time favourite from Ajahn Sumedho. I must have read this more than 10 times and still find inspirations from the teaching each time I re-read the book....

[Craig Kiessling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very nice book by Venerable Ajahn Sumedho, a western Theravada monk who trained in the Northeast Thailand forest monasteries by Ajahn Chah and others. He is running a monastery called Chithurst in England, and this book compiles teachings during the early stages of this new growth. Insightful and enjoyable to say the least.