February 2023

Greetings from summerly Wat Buddha Dhamma, 10 Mile Hollow, Wisemans Ferry, NSW 2775, Australia; www.wbd.org.au 

Now that most Covid restrictions have lifted I have once again taken up some physical rambling across the seas surrounding Australia.

                                           The stupa at Vimutti Monastery.

Towards the end of October until mid-November I visited Auckland, New Zealand, residing at the two properties of the Auckland Theravada Buddhist Association, Vimutti Monastery and the city Vihara. There has not been a monk in residence at either property for the last five months, although a monk from Bodhinyanarama in Wellington has been visiting one weekend a month.

I had a very pleasant, if somewhat busy, time, with four Open Days, a Meditation Day, two talks at universities and regular daily Q & A sessions with people who brought the meal offering. The second Open Day weekend was exceptional in that Ajahn Kusalo and three other monks visited from Wellington. I was also pleased to have a visit from some of the regular supporters of Bodhinyanarama whom I knew from my seven years as senior monk there.

Vimutti Monastery is very well set-up with recently well-built structures on a quiet piece of re-forested paddock in the very green Bombay hills area, 40 minutes south of Auckland. The city Vihara is situated in a quiet superb of Auckland a short walk from Mt. Wellington, an extinct volcano turned into a grassy park with panoramic views over Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsular in the east.

                                  The meditation hall at Vimutti Monastery.

All-in-all the situation there is very suitable for several monks to reside. The supporters are exceptionally generous and eager to have Sangha in residence. Most of the questions asked indicated a keen and experienced group of Dhamma practitioners welcoming further guidance on the path.

I returned from NZ just as Ajahn Khemavaro departed for the US, and then, shortly after his return, I travelled to Thailand where I was invited to attend a ceremony to inaugurate the official opening of the new Ordination Hall at the International Monastery in Ubon. I am personally not a great fan of ceremonies, however, this was an exceptional historic occasion and was an opportunity to meet with many other western monks from the branch monasteries around the globe. And so it was! Almost all of the senior western monks of the Ajahn Chah tradition gathered for the occasion, with one part also attended by the King and Queen of Thailand, who are keen supporters of Ajahn Chah's disciples.

                     The new Ordination Hall at the International Monastery in Ubon, Thailand.

I travelled to Thailand early to also have some health check-ups (yes, still alive and kicking) and see about a dental issue. The health checks all turned out excellent but the dental report was problematic. The dentist said that I had two infections in critical places requiring about one month of serious dental work, and I only had two free days in Bangkok! Thus, in consultation with Ajahn Khemavaro, we decided that I should postpone my return to WBD and have the dental work done ASAP. Thus began a three-week 'adventure' of trips through Bangkok traffic for multiple dental treatments – one lasting three hours, with breaks! By the end of January the first phase of treatment (five fillings, an extraction and a quadruple root canal) were finished and I departed on Feb. 1^st. Two more visits to Thailand will be needed to complete the entire treatment.

Fortunately, I did have a 6-day break between appointments and was able to visit Wat Kow O-Pad, 2 ½ hours drive east of Bangkok in a very quiet area of rubber plantations bordering a huge reservoir in Rayong province. The area is adjacent to a National Park so is frequented by herds of wild elephants raiding the fruit orchards. One afternoon during my stay a large bull elephant wander through the edge of the monastery on its way to a jackfruit orchard. On the return trip to Bangkok we stopped to visit Wat Boonyawat, the monastery of Ajahn Dtun. Founded in a remote rural setting, it has now developed into a large and well-supported monastery frequented by many people.

While I was away in Thailand the shipment of my new book printed in Malaysia arrived at WBD. Thus anyone wishing a printed copy is welcome to collect it from the monastery or copies can be downloaded from the monastery website: www.wbd.org.au/news/book

Ajahn Khemavaro has made good use of the opportunity to travel with visits to Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, as well as several trips to various Buddha in the Bush properties. The 'vihara' near Kempsey is developing quite quickly with many keen Thai supporters so Ajahn Khemavaro has offered it to Ajahn Dtun as a branch in NSW for Thai monks to reside. At the end of last year, we were joined by an English monk from the International Monastery, Venerable Caranadhammo. He plans to stay at least one year and has helpfully taken up the guest and work-monk duties.

Visiting the International Monastery once again brought back many memories of my early years in Thailand. I was even lodged in the same hut I resided in 43 years ago! The monastery is, of course, much larger and more developed – the old hut now has running water and electricity! However, development has also occurred outside the walls with the result that it is far more noisy and busy.

Being there also brought up many memories of my time with Ajahn Chah, giving rise to reflections on a number of his teachings. One of these teachings resulted from a visit by two temporarily-ordained students. They asked Ajahn Chah what was the fastest and easiest way to liberation.

Ajahn Chah's answer was, 'Don't even try'. Of course, the students were not happy with this answer and soon departed, missing out on an opportunity for a profound insight in spiritual practice. Any gifted teacher knows that the most important element of answering a question is to understand where the question is coming from. These students were obviously craving a fast and easy result from their short time as monks. However, this craving for 'results' is the biggest obstacle to a fast and easy result. If one could really give up trying – that is, give up craving for a result – then liberation would be right there! Just let go of all craving – simple.

Of course, this is usually a lot easier said that actually done. However, sometimes a skilled teacher can give an answer which completely stops the mind, with a totally unexpected answer. This was Ajahn Chah's special skill, for those who were open to it.

I'm sure that most of us have asked a similar question at some time during spiritual practice. And, as Ajahn Chah said, there is a fast and easy way to liberation. It's just that most of us are not ready for it. This fast way either requires a deep experience of 'nibbida', disillusionment, disenchantment or world weariness, or a deep understanding of letting go. Thus it is that most spiritual practitioners follow a slower and harder practice of Morality, Meditation and Wisdom, which leads eventually to disillusionment and letting go, in its own sweet time, depending upon each individual's commitment and energy. At least it is heartening to know that this is the right way to liberation, beyond time. 

Wishing you all good health, well-being and the peace of Liberation.

                                         Piha beach north of Auckland, NZ.