Thai forest tradition

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Thai forest tradition is a monastic tradition of the Thai Theravada - Buddhism . Most of the forest monks do not belong to the Mahani order ( Maha-nikai ) , but to the Thammayut order ( Thammayut-nikai ) , the significantly smaller of the two monastic communities in Thailand.

The ascetic Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta and his teacher Phra Ajahn Sao Kantasilo (1861–1941) are considered to be the founding fathers . At the end of the nineteenth century, contrary to the settled down and institutionalization of Buddhism in Thailand, both had led a wandering life and spent most of the time - dedicated to meditation - in the forests of Thailand, Laos and Burma. Over the years, their way of teaching, which came very close to the original teachings of the Buddha, attracted numerous students and is now widely spread across the world, beyond the borders of Thailand. The principles include the ascetic exercises of Dhutanga and the meditation objects of Kammaṭṭhāna . The strict observance of the Vinaya , the traditional precepts for monks, is also very important. Well-known representatives of the forest tradition were and are Ajahn Chah , Ajahn Maha Bua Nanasampanno , Ajahn Brahm and Buddhadasa .

There are several monastery communities around the world in this tradition, for example the monasteries Amaravati , Cittaviveka and Aruna Ratanagiri (Harnham Buddhist Monastery) in Great Britain , Dhammapala in Switzerland, Santacittarama in Italy, Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in California and Bodhinyanarama in New Zealand. There are also numerous communities in German-speaking countries, such as the Muttodaya forest monastery in Stammbach in Upper Franconia , Metta Vihara in Buchenberg in Oberallgäu and Anenja Vihara in nearby Rettenberg .

literature

  • Stanley J. Tambiah: The Buddhist Saints of the Forest and the Cult of Amulets . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1987, ISBN 0-521-27787-6
  • Kamala Tiyavanich: Buddha in the Jungle . Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai 2003, ISBN 978-974-9575-27-7
  • Kamala Tiyavanich: Forest Recollections . Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai 1997, ISBN 974-7100-40-1

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Short biography of Ajahn Mun on the index page of the Thai forest tradition zugangzureinsicht.org
  2. ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from March 23, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.buddha-haus.de
  3. ↑ http://www.anenja-vihara.org