Why I Became a Buddhist Monk / Ajahn Sumedho

Meditation and the Four Noble Truths by Ajahn Sumedho

Samatha, Vipassana Ajahn Sumedho

kabes
Published on Jul 11, 2011

 

Recognition of the First Noble Truth by Luang Por Sumedho (1 of 7)

Mindfulness and Wisdom by Luang Por Sumedho (2 of 7)

More than Four Elements by Luang Por Sumedho (4 of 7)

Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
Published on Jul 14, 2017
This Dhamma talk was given by Luang Por Sumedho (Ajahn Sumedho) on 15 May 2017, during 8 days long open retreat where many of the senior disciples of Luang Por Sumedho attended, at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery’s Temple, UK (www.amaravati.org).

 

Awakened Awareness is Like This by Luang Por Sumedho (5 of 7)

Generosity, Morality, and the Cultivation by Luang Por Sumedho (6 of 7)

Awareness Itself is Not Conditioned by Luang Por Sumedho (7 of 7)

Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
Published on Jul 14, 2017

 

Me, Center Of The Universe Ajahn Sumedho

Culture Exchange Blog
Published on May 28, 2017

 

I'm right, you're wrong Ajahn Sumedho

What it is Like to be a Human Being Ajahn Sumedho

Who Do You Think You Are | 1991 Ajahn Sumedho

Culture Exchange Blog
Published on Sep 10, 2017
Ajahn Sumedho was born Robert Kan Jackman in Seattle, Washington in 1934. During the Korean War he served for four years from the age of 18 as a United States navy medic. He then did a BA in Far Eastern studies and graduated in 1963 with an MA in South Asian studies at the University of California, Berkeley. After a year as a Red Cross social worker, Jackman served with the Peace Corps in Borneo from 1964 to 1966 as an English teacher. On break in Singapore, sitting one morning in sidewalk café, he watched a Buddhist monk walk by and thought to himself, "That looks interesting." In 1966 he became a novice or samanera at Wat Sri Saket in Nong Khai, northeast Thailand. He ordained as a bhikkhu (Buddhist monk) in May the following year. From 1967-77 at Wat Nong Pah Pong, he trained under Ajahn Chah. He has come to be regarded as the latter's most influential Western disciple. In 1975 he helped to establish and became the first abbot of the International Monastery, Wat Pa Nanachat in northeast Thailand founded by Ajahn Chah for training his non-Thai students. In 1977, Ajahn Sumedho accompanied Ajahn Chah on a visit to England. After observing a keen interest in Buddhism among Westerners, Ajahn Chah encouraged Ajahn Sumedho to remain in England for the purpose of establishing a branch monastery in the UK. This became Cittaviveka Forest Monastery in West Sussex. Ajahn Sumedho was granted authority to ordain others as monks shortly after he established Cittaviveka Forest Monastery. He then established a ten precept ordination lineage for women, "Siladhara". Until his retirement Ajahn Sumedho was the abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery near Hemel Hempstead in England, which was established in 1984. Amaravati is part of the network of monasteries and Buddhist centres in the lineage of Ajahn Chah, which now extends across the world, from Thailand, New Zealand and Australia, to Europe, Canada and the United States. Ajahn Sumedho played an instrumental role in building this international monastic community. Ajahn Sumedho's imminent retirement was announced in February 2010, and he retired in November of that year. His successor is the English monk Ajahn Amaro, hitherto co-abbot of the Abhayagiri branch monastery in California's Redwood Valley. Ajahn Sumedho now dwells as a "free agent" in Thailand. In 2016, Ajahn Sumedho decided to visit theravada communities around the world. He stayed in Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Singapore and Australia.

 

Awakening From The Dream Of Life Ajahn Sumedho

Awakened Awareness And Saying Goodbye - Ajahn Sumedho

Kamma And Rebirth Ajahn Sumedho

1983dukkha
Published on Nov 2, 2012

 

Welcoming Death Ajahn Sumedho

Knowing Mara Ajahn Sumedho

[Buddhism for Peace of Mind] Suffering Should be Welcomed by Ajahn Sumedho, Wisdom of Buddha

Dhamma: Genuine Teachings of the Buddha and His Noble Disciples
Published on Jun 20, 2014

 

Ajahn Sumedho

Pictured (left) with a visiting Thai monk (Phra Root Chumdermpadetsuk)

Born Robert Karr Jackman
July 27, 1934 (age 83)
Seattle, Washington, USA

Other names Luang Por Sumedho, Tan Chao Khun Rajasumedhajahn

Occupation Buddhist teacher

Title Ajahn Sumedho

Predecessor Ajahn Chah

Ajahn Sumedho
Luang Por Sumedho or Ajahn Sumedho (Thai: อาจารย์สุเมโธ) (born Robert Karr Jackman, July 27, 1934, Seattle) is the senior Western representative of the Thai forest tradition of Theravada Buddhism. He was abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, UK, from its consecration in 1984 until his retirement in 2010. Luang Por means Venerable Father (หลวงพ่อ), an honorific and term of affection in keeping with Thai custom; ajahn means teacher. A bhikkhu since 1967, Sumedho is considered a seminal figure in the transmission of the Buddha's teachings to the West.
Biography
Ajahn Sumedho was born Robert Kan Jackman in Seattle, Washington in 1934.[1][2] During the Korean War he served for four years from the age of 18 as a United States navy medic. He then did a BA in Far Eastern studies and graduated in 1963 with an MA in South Asian studies at the University of California, Berkeley. After a year as a Red Cross social worker, Jackman served with the Peace Corps in Borneo from 1964 to 1966 as an English teacher. On break in Singapore, sitting one morning in sidewalk café, he watched a Buddhist monk walk by and thought to himself, "That looks interesting." In 1966 he became a novice or samanera at Wat Sri Saket in Nong Khai, northeast Thailand. He ordained as a bhikkhu (Buddhist monk) in May the following year.

From 1967-77 at Wat Nong Pah Pong, he trained under Ajahn Chah. He has come to be regarded as the latter's most influential Western disciple. In 1975 he helped to establish and became the first abbot of the International Monastery, Wat Pa Nanachat in northeast Thailand founded by Ajahn Chah for training his non-Thai students. In 1977, Ajahn Sumedho accompanied Ajahn Chah on a visit to England. After observing a keen interest in Buddhism among Westerners, Ajahn Chah encouraged Ajahn Sumedho to remain in England for the purpose of establishing a branch monastery in the UK. This became Cittaviveka Forest Monastery in West Sussex.

Ajahn Sumedho was granted authority to ordain others as monks shortly after he established Cittaviveka Forest Monastery. He then established a ten precept ordination lineage for women, "Siladhara".

Until his retirement Ajahn Sumedho was the abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery near Hemel Hempstead in England, which was established in 1984. Amaravati is part of the network of monasteries and Buddhist centres in the lineage of Ajahn Chah, which now extends across the world, from Thailand, New Zealand and Australia, to Europe, Canada and the United States. Ajahn Sumedho played an instrumental role in building this international monastic community.

Ajahn Sumedho's imminent retirement was announced in February 2010, and he retired in November of that year. His successor is the English monk Ajahn Amaro, hitherto co-abbot of the Abhayagiri branch monastery in California's Redwood Valley. Ajahn Sumedho now dwells as a "free agent" in Thailand. In 2016, Ajahn Sumedho decided to visit theravada communities around the world. He stayed in Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Singapore and Australia.
Teachings


Sumedho (seated beneath the shrine) in conversation with a bhikkhu, just before Amaravati's daily meal
Ajahn Sumedho is a prominent figure in the Thai Forest Tradition. His teachings are very direct, practical, simple, and down to earth. In his talks and sermons he stresses the quality of immediate intuitive awareness and the integration of this kind of awareness into daily life. Like most teachers in the Forest Tradition, Ajahn Sumedho tends to avoid intellectual abstractions of the Buddhist teachings and focuses almost exclusively on their practical applications, that is, developing wisdom and compassion in daily life. His most consistent advice can be paraphrased as to see things the way that they actually are rather than the way that we want or don't want them to be ("Right now, it's like this..."). He is known for his engaging and witty communication style, in which he challenges his listeners to practice and see for themselves. Students have noted that he engages his hearers with an infectious sense of humor, suffused with much loving kindness, often weaving amusing anecdotes from his experiences as a monk into his talks on meditation practice and how to experience life ("Everything belongs").
Sound of Silence
A meditation technique taught and used by Ajahn Sumedho involves resting in what he calls "the sound of silence".[4] He talks at length about this technique in one of his books titled The Way It Is.[5] Ajahn Sumedho said that he was directly influenced by Edward Salim Michael's book, The Way of Inner Vigilance (republished in 2010 with the new title, The Law of Attention, Nada Yoga and the Way of Inner Vigilance and for which Ajahn Sumedho wrote a preface).

The Sound of Silence is also the title of one of Ajahn Sumedho's books (published by Wisdom Publications in 2007).[6] In the book, he mentions that it was not directly influenced by his study of Venerable Hsu Yun's works or by the Shurangama Sutra, though he has heard that the Shurangama mentions a similar practice.

Thai honorific ranks

• 5 December 1992 - Phra Sumedhacarya (พระสุเมธาจารย์)
• 12 August 2004 - Phra Raj Sumedhacarya Bisalabhavanakij Mahaganissara Pavarasangaram Gamavasi (พระราชสุเมธาจารย์ พิศาลภาวนากิจ มหาคณิสสร บวรสังฆาราม คามวาสี)

:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajahn_Sumedho

 

The Whirlpool of Self View by Ajahn Sumedho

Moving Towards Sanity by Ajahn Sumedho

Awaken to Reality | Luang Por Sumedho live

Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery
Published on Aug 7, 2017
At the birthday celebration for Ajahn Sumedho and Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Sumedho reflects on key aspects of the four noble truths, and the first three fetters: self view, cultural conditioning and doubt. He encourages us to investigate these and take refuge in poised attention - a patient alertness which is natural, impersonal, peaceful, here and now. Nibbana is not high. One can realize empty consciousness. Through relinquishment and relaxed attention which sees the way it is, there is contentment. This talk was offered by Luang Por Sumedho on July 23, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

 

Growing From Within Ajahn Sumedho

End Of The Storm Ajahn Sumedho

The Sacredness Of Life In Its Fullness Ajahn Sumedho 2003

Culture Exchange Blog
Published on Oct 11, 2017

 

Turning On The Light -Ajahn Sumedho 1990

A crack in samsara -Ajahn Sumedho

Letting the world end -Ajahn Sumedho

Buddhist Teachings
Published on Dec 4, 2017

 

Attachment to thought is insecure Ajahn Sumedho

Finding the constancy of the supernal mind Ajahn Sumedho

Traps we bind ourselves into Ajahn Sumedho

Happiness is being nobody Ajahn Sumedho

Buddhist Teachings
Published on Dec 4, 2017

 

Reflections on emptiness /Ajahn Sumedho

Fear and doubt / Ajahn Sumedho

Using the Dhammacakka Sutta for awakening/Ajahn Sumedho

Buddhist Teachings
Published on Nov 25, 2017

 

The Sound Of Silence | Most Venerable Ajahn Sumedho Maha Thero Live !

The beauty of morality / Ajahn Sumedho

Shraddha TV
Published on Jan 4, 2018

 

Dhamma Talk Luang Por Sumedho

If you want to get your Pig across the Bridge, don't push it @ Luang Por Sumedho

Broken Records And Deathless Reality / Luang Por Sumedho

Buddhist Library
Published on Dec 4, 2017

 

The Embarassment Of Being Born /Ajahn Sumedho

Myths Modes Roles and Rebels / Ajahn Sumedho

The magic of awareness / Ajahn Sumedho

Sign of transcendence / Ajahn Sumedho

Culture Exchange Blog
Published on Sep 10, 2017

 

The Eight Precepts/ Ajahn Sumedho

Ajahn Sumedho | Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery | 7 March 2015 Live !

Everybodies Crazy ! Ajahn Sumedho

Good Thoughts Bad Thoughts And Happiness / Ajahn Sumedho

1983dukkha
Published on May 20, 2013

 

the way it is (1 of 2) by Ajahn Sumedho Live !

the way it is (2 of 2) by Ajahn Sumedho

Sexuality Sensuality And Knowing The Dhamma part1/ Ajahn Sumedho

Sexuality Sensuality And Knowing The Dhamma part 2/ Ajahn Sumedho

kabes
Published on Oct 14, 2011
Ajahn Sumedho gives a Dhamma talk on various aspects of Buddhism, and points to what the real message of the Buddha's teaching is. The talk was given on 17 January 2010 at Uttama Bodhi Vihara in Selangor, Malaysia.

 

The First Dance @ Ajahn Sumedho

Addiction to rationality @ Ajahn Sumedho

Circumstances @ Ajahn Sumedho

They Are What They Are/ Ajahn Sumedho

Culture Exchange Blog
Published on Oct 11, 2017

 

Morning Reflection 20 Mar 2005/ Ajahn Sumedho

Relaxed Attention / Ajahn Sumedho

The Dhamma Of Change(Preparing To Retire)/ Ajahn Sumedho

Ajahn Sumedho's farewell

steve19800
Published on Jul 6, 2014