Virtual Dhamma-Vinaya Vihara

Studies, projects & library - [Studium, Projekte & Bibliothek] (brahma & nimmanarati deva) => Dhamma Teamwork - [Dhamma Gemeinschaftsarbeit] => Topic started by: Dhammañāṇa on May 16, 2018, 09:03:25 PM

Title: [DD] Aranya Vihara Trust - Undertaking to bring A. Chah Sangha to India
Post by: Dhammañāṇa on May 16, 2018, 09:03:25 PM

ARANYA VIHARA TRUST, DELHI (https://aranyaviharatrust.wordpress.com/)

Quote from: https://aranyaviharatrust.wordpress.com/initiation/
Why Thai Forest Sangha?
About five years ago, a group of five vipassana meditators, some of whom had been mediating for for over twenty years, met to share their experiences. During this sharing it emerged that some of us had been deeply influenced by the teachings of  venerable monks of Thai forest tradition, especially the teachings of  Ajahn Sumedho and his teacher Ajahn Chah.  Those who had read Ajahn Sumedho’s book ‘Don’t take your Life personally’ had benefited enormously from his insights on the Four Noble Truths, and sakkayaditthi. We realized that we had been striving hard to reach the goal  but that striving  itself had become a stumbling block. It was based on ‘self-view’ and so not yielding the desired result since this very self view , the sakkayditthi, is the first fetter to be unshackled. His insights on the paradoxes of practice were very revealing : In a logical sense we have to purify the mind; we should free ourselves from these passions. These are imperatives in the holy life……. but just notice the attachment to the idea that “I have to get rid of this; it’s my problem and I will never be enlightened as long as I have this anger”. This is what the Buddha was constantly pointing to, the attachment (upadana) ,….vibhavatanha…. which is coming from the sense of “I am” this person……

We began to meet every Sunday morning, to systematically study  the Suttas to appreciate for ourselves the quintessence of the teachings of the Buddha, especially on the insight of anatta. Gradually  the group became bigger and many senior meditators from other cities, and also from abroad, started participating in these discussions through live podcast. These discussions led to even greater appreciation of the  Dhamma teachings of Ajahn  Sumedho and Ajahn Chah. The importance of moving from “effort” to “effortlessness” became clear. We were keen to personally meet Ajahn Sumedho, and this became possible only a year ago. It was a great experience. We had the privilege of listening to the exposition of Dhamma by venerable Ajahn Sumedho and other senior monks – Ven. Ajahn Nyanadhammo and Ajahn Asoko. Earlier in the year, three of us had also spent time meditating in Wat Nanachat and Wat Pah Pong.  All these interactions have convinced us that this is a wonderful Sangha which scrupulously follows the pristine Vinaya and Bhavana  as advised by the Buddha himself. It was greatly inspiring.

A few months back , we had extensive discussions with a group of senior monks in Bodhgaya and there a Dhamma wish arose: To set up a branch monastery of Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah in India.

In May this year, two of us attended the retreat conducted by Ajahn Sumedho in Amravati monastery in England, and personally made a formal request  to the Elders, on behalf of our group, to advise on how to go about it.

Accordingly a trust has been formed to do the background work . This website has been setup to periodically update all the friends on the developments in this regard.