Ajahn Maha Bua

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v t e

Ajahn Maha Bua (12 August 1913 – 30 January 2011) was a Thai

He studied Pali, the language of the Theravada Buddhist scriptures, as well as the Vinaya (the Buddhist monastic rules). After seven years, he passed the third level of Pali studies, and achieved the highest level in Dhamma and Vinaya studies. He then concentrated entirely on the practice of Dhamma in hopes of studying with Venerable Ajahn Mun, one of the most renowned meditation masters of his time.^[3]

Venerable Ajahn Mun

Nanasampanno then went in search of Venerable Ajahn Mun. When he finally met him, he was pleased with his efforts, since it seemed as if Mun already knew his desires, intentions, and doubts. Mun clarified the questions in his mind and showed him the paths leading to Nibbana still exist. Nanasampanno said to himself:

"Now, I have come to the real thing. He has made everything clear and I no longer have doubts. It is now up to me to be true or otherwise. I'm determined to be true!"

He learned the meditation methods followed by Mun, based on the principles of Buddhism and the code of Buddhist discipline. He continued to follow these methods in his own teaching of monks and novices. Due to his deep respect and admiration for Mun, whom he likens to a father and mother to his students, he was inspired to write a biography of Mun to disseminate his methods of practice and document his character for coming generations. He has also written 'Wisdom develops samadhi' and "Patipada' His transcribed talks he gave to laypeople and monks have formed several hundred books in Thai language, but only a few of his talks have been translated into English. He solely focuses on the practice of Buddhist meditation and has only one aim for his disciples: Reaching the end of dukkha. Several hundred of talks given to his monk disciples were recorded and several thousand of talks given to laypeople, normally after the meal or in the evening were also recorded. He allowed them to be recorded, so that his fellow practitioners may have a guide in the practice of meditation.^[4]

Seclusion and establishing a monastery

In 1950, after the death of Mun, Bua sought a secluded place. He went to Huey Sai village in Mukdahan province. He was very strict and serious in teaching the monks and novices, both in the austere dhutanga practices and in meditation. He continued his teaching until these same principles became established amongst his followers.^{[citation needed]}

Learning that his mother was ill, he returned home to look after her. Villagers and relatives requested that he settle permanently in the forest south of the village and no longer wander in the manner of a forest monk. As his mother was very old and that it was appropriate for him to look after her, he accepted the offer. With a donation of 64 acres (26 ha) of land, he began to build his monastery in November 1955. It was given the name

Bua has traveled to London to give lectures. He also founded the Help Thai Nation Project, a charitable effort dedicated to helping the Thai economy. He has been visited and supported by the King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand.

Bua's biographer wrote:

"Ven. Ajahn Maha Bua is well known for the fluency and skill of his Dhamma talks, and their direct and dynamic approach. They obviously reflect his own attitude and the way he personally practiced Dhamma. This is best exemplified in the Dhamma talks he gives to those who go to meditate at Wat Pa Bahn Tahd. Such talks usually take place in the cool of the evening, with lamps lit and the only sound being the insects and cicadas in the surrounding jungle. He often begins the Dhamma talk with a few moments of stillness — this is the most preparation he needs — and then quietly begins the Dhamma exposition. As the theme naturally develops, the pace quickens and those listening increasingly feel its strength and depth."^[1]

Some basic teachings on the 'Citta'

Bua observes the essential enduring truth of the sentient being as constituted of the indestructible reality of the

This citta, which is intrinsically bright, clear, and aware, gets superficially tangled up in

anatta). The citta is ultimately not beholden to these laws of conditioned existence. The citta is bright, radiant, and deathless, and is its own independent reality.^[7]

The fundamental problem that besets human beings, according to Bua, is that they have taken fake and false things as their true self and lack the necessary power to be their 'own true self'; they allow the wiles and deceits of the mental defilements to generate fear and anxiety in their minds. Fear and anxiety are not inherent within the citta; in fact, the citta is ultimately beyond all such things and indeed is beyond time and space. But it needs to be cleansed of its inner defilements (the kilesas) before that truth can be realised.[8]

Bua goes on to attempt to describe the inner stages and experience of the cleansed citta. When its purgation of defilements is complete, it itself does not disappear – only the impermanent, suffering, and the non-Self disappear. The citta remains, experientially abiding in its own firm foundation, yet ultimately indescribable.^[9]

Some of the notions found here are reminiscent of the

Tathagatagarbha tradition found in Mahayana Buddhism— although the latter posits an original, primordial purity to the mind, whereas Bua sees that purity as needing to be established through mental and moral cultivation.^[10]

Kammatthana

Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta Mahathera.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Buddhanet's page on Ajahn Maha Bua.
2. ^ Luang Ta Maha Boowa - AmuletForums.com - Thai Amulets & Buddhism Online Discussion Forums
3. ^ History of the Monastery Barn Tard
4. ^ ^{a b c} "History of Baan Taad". Luangta.com. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
5. ^ Ajahn Maha Boowa weeps with pity for us all, at 365 sec, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=508qgi_sJSs&t=365s
6. ^ Ajahn Maha Boowa weeps with pity for us all, at 770 sec, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=508qgi_sJSs&t=770s
7. ^ Maha Boowa, Arahattamagga, Arahattaphala: the Path to Arahantship – A Compilation of Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa’s Dhamma Talks about His Path of Practice, translated by Bhikkhu Silaratano, 2005, https://www.dhammatalks.net/Books2/Maha_Boowa_The_Path_to_Arahantship.pdf (consulted 19 March 2009)p.99
8. ^ Maha Boowa, Arahattamagga, Arahattaphala: the Path to Arahantship – A Compilation of Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa’s Dhamma Talks about His Path of Practice, translated by Bhikkhu Silaratano, 2005, https://www.dhammatalks.net/Books2/Maha_Boowa_The_Path_to_Arahantship.pdf (consulted 16 March 2009), p. 100
9. ^ pp. 101–103 Maha Boowa, Arahattamagga, Arahattaphala: the Path to Arahantship – A Compilation of Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa’s Dhamma Talks about His Path of Practice, translated by Bhikkhu Silaratano, 2005, https://www.dhammatalks.net/Books2/Maha_Boowa_The_Path_to_Arahantship.pdf (consulted 16 March 2009)
10. ^ Maha Boowa, op. cit. p. 101

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to Ajahn Maha Bua.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phra Dharmavisuddhimangala (Bua Ñanasampanno).

• Luangta Maha Bua's homepage
• Luangta Maha Bua's biography, Cremation, Legacy and history of Wat Pa Baan Taad
• Arahattamagga Arahattaphala - The Path to Arahantship
• Luangta Maha Bua's biography of Ajahn Mun
• Patipada – Venerable Acariya Mun's Path of Practice. written by Ajahn Maha Bua
• English Books
• Dhammatalks in Thai
• Straight from the Heart, as translated from the Thai by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu at dhammatalks.org
• Things As They Are, as translated from the Thai by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu at dhammatalks.org