Ajahn Chah

Ajahn Chah (17 June 1918 – 16 January 1992) was a Thai Buddhist monk. He was a wise teacher of the Buddhadhamma and helped start two important monasteries in the Thai Forest Tradition.

He was respected in Thailand and helped bring Theravada Buddhism to many places in the West. In 1979, he founded Cittaviveka, also called Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, in the United Kingdom. From there, the Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah grew in Europe, the United States, and the British Commonwealth. Many of his teachings, called dhamma talks, have been recorded and translated into many languages.

After he passed away, many people attended his funeral a year later in January 1993 to show their respect. Ajahn Chah left behind many teachings and monasteries that continue to inspire people today.

Name

Ajahn Chah (Thai: อาจารย์ชา) was also known as Luang Por Chah (Thai: หลวงพ่อชา). His birth name was Chah Chuangchot (Thai: ชา ช่วงโชติ),^: 21  his Dhamma name was Subhaddo (Thai: สุภทฺโท),^: 38  and his monastic title was Phra Bodhiñāṇathera (Thai: พระโพธิญาณเถร).^: 184

Early life and ordination

Ajahn Chah was born on 17 June 1918 near Ubon Ratchathani in the Isan region of northeast Thailand. His family were subsistence farmers. When he was nine, he joined a monastery to learn to read and write.

Later, he took novice vows and studied Buddhist teachings. After three years, he went home to help his family but planned to become a monk later. At age 20, with his parents' permission, he became a monk. He studied hard and passed important exams.

In 1946, after his father passed away, Ajahn Chah chose to live as a wandering monk. He traveled across Thailand, practicing meditation and learning from many teachers, including Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta. He lived in forests and caves, using quiet places to develop his meditation and understanding of life's meanings.

Thai forest tradition

In the early 1900s, people in Thailand began to practice Buddhism in a new way. A teacher named Ajahn Mun helped start this change. Later, Ajahn Chah carried on his work.

Monks in this tradition follow strict rules they believe come from the Buddha. For example, they only eat between dawn and noon, and some eat just one meal each morning. They also sometimes sleep outside or live in quiet forests to help them focus and feel happy with little.

Monasteries founded

Ajahn Chah chose a quiet grove near his home to create a peaceful place for teaching meditation. In 1954, he started Wat Nong Pah Pong, where people could learn his simple ways of meditation. One of his first students from the West was Venerable Ajahn Sumedho.

Later, in 1975, he helped start Wat Pah Nanachat, the first monastery in Thailand for Westerners who wanted to learn peaceful ways of living. In 1977, he and Ajahn Sumedho visited the United Kingdom, which led to the creation of Cittaviveka in Chithurst in 1979. Many of his students then created similar places around the world.

Later life

In the early 1980s, Ajahn Chah's health began to get worse because of diabetes. He went to Bangkok for surgery to treat paralysis caused by the diabetes, but it did not help much. Even with his illness, Ajahn Chah used it to teach others. He said his health problems showed that nothing in life lasts forever and encouraged people to find inner strength. For the last ten years of his life, Ajahn Chah was bedridden and could not speak. He passed away on 16 January 1992 at the age of 73.

Described Miracles

On the day Luang Pu first entered the cemetery, a child had passed away and was being buried. When he walked to the grave, Luang Pu saw a vision of a boy being born there. The next morning, he asked someone from the village whether the buried child had been a boy or a girl. They confirmed that it was indeed a boy.

Thai Dhamma Heirs

• Phra Ratchawacharasirimongkol (Si Siriyano) Wat Pa Si Mongkol (Wat Pa Ban Puey) Non Kalen Subdistrict, Samrong District, Ubon Ratchathani Province
• Phra Mongkhonkittithada (Amorn Khemjitto) Wat Pa Wiwek (Thamchan) Muang Samsib District, Ubon Ratchathani Province
• Phra Phromwachirayanasophon (Liam Thitthammo) Wat Nong Pa Pong, Non Phueng Subdistrict, Warin Chamrap District, Ubon Ratchathani Province
• Phra Ratchaphiphat Watcharodom (Kham Nissoko) Wat Pa Thai Phatthana, Det Udom District Ubon Ratchathani Province
• Phra Khru Suwannapotikhet (Khun Akkathammo) Wat Pa Pho Suwan, Na Pho Subdistrict, Phibun Mangsahan District, Ubon Ratchathani Province
• Phra Ratchawachiramuni (Prasopchai Kantasilo) Wat Pa Chittaphawan (Fahkram), Khu Khot Subdistrict, Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province
• Phra Ratchawachirayan (Anan Akijjano) Wat Map Chan, Klaeng Subdistrict, Mueang Rayong District, Rayong Province
• Phra Ratchapatcharamanit (Akkaradet Thirachitto) Wat Bunyawat, Bo Thong Subdistrict, Bo Thong District, Chonburi Province
• etc.

Notable Western students

Ajahn Chah taught many students from Western countries. These students became important teachers too. Some of them are Ajahn Sumedho, who started Chithurst Buddhist Monastery and Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in England. Others include Ajahn Khemadhammo in Warwickshire, England, and Ajahn Viradhammo in Ontario, Canada. In the United States, Ajahn Pasanno was a past leader of Abhayagiri Monastery in California. Jack Kornfield helped start Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. These teachers shared Ajahn Chah's lessons with many people around the world.