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The way it is

Ajahn Sumedho (1984)

This book contains a collection of teachings of Ajahn Sumedho given to people who are familiar with the conventions of Theravada Buddhism and have some experience of meditation. Most of the chapters are edited from talks given during retreats for lay people for Ajahn Sumedho’s monastic (ordained) disciples, so they require some careful attention and are best read in sequence.

In the monastic retreats Ajahn Sumedho develops a theme from the Buddha’s teaching over a couple of months, linking it to other aspects of the Dhamma, embellishing it with accounts of his personal experiences, demonstrating its relevance to the society in general, or using it as an exhortation to the Sangha to live up to their aspiration of enlightenment. Although it is not possible to render the tonal depth and variety of these talks in a printed work, the mixture of short exhortations and pointers, longer contemplative reflections mingled with the chants that the monks and nuns will be reciting daily (and have been doing so for years) may suggest the atmosphere and scope within which the teachings are offered.

Also available in Pусский

Ajahn Sumedho

Luang Por Sumedho (Ajahn Sumedho) was born in Seattle, Washington in 1934. After serving four years in the US Navy as a medic, he completed a BA in Far Eastern Studies and... Read more

Luang Por Sumedho (Ajahn Sumedho) was born in Seattle, Washington in 1934. After serving four years in the US Navy as a medic, he completed a BA in Far Eastern Studies and a MA in South Asian Studies.

In 1966, he went to Thailand to practise meditation at Wat Mahathat in Bangkok. Not long afterwards he went forth as a novice monk in a remote part of the country, Nong Khai, and a year of solitary practice followed; he received full admission into the Sangha in 1967.

Although fruitful, the solitary practice showed him the need for a teacher who could more actively guide him. A fortuitous encounter with a visiting monk led him to Ubon province to practise with Venerable Ajahn Chah. He took dependence from Ajahn Chah and remained under his close guidance for ten years. In 1975, Luang Por Sumedho established Wat Pah Nanachat (International Forest Monastery) where Westerners could be trained in English. In 1977, he accompanied Ajahn Chah to England and took up residence at the Hampstead Vihara with three other monks.

Luang Por Sumedho has inducted more than a hundred aspirants of many nationalities into monastic life, and has established four monasteries in England, as well as branch monasteries overseas. In 1979, Luang Por Sumedho established Cittaviveka – Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, in West Sussex, where he served as abbot until 1984. This was the first forest monastery that he established in the West. Here in England he subsequently founded Aruna Ratanagiri Monastery in Harnham, Northumberland, Hartridge Buddhist Monastery in Honiton, Devon and Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire.

In late 2010, he retired as abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. From 2010 until early 2021, he lived in Thailand, before returning to live at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. Luang Por Sumedho continues to share the Dhamma, wherever he resides.