Buddhadasa

Buddhadasa Bhikkhu ( Thai: พุทธ ทาส ภิกขุ, RTGS: Phutthathat Phikkhu, pronunciation: [ p ʰ Utt ʰ át ʰ a ː t p ʰ IKK ʰ ùʔ ] Birth Name: Nguam PANID ( เงื่ อม พา นิ ช ); born May 27, 1906 in Phumriang ( พุมเรียง ), Amphoe Chaiya, southern Thailand, † 25. Chaiya in May 1993 ) was one of the most influential Buddhist Theravada monks of the 20th century.

Early years

Buddhadasa's original name was Nguam PANID, he was born on 27 May 1906 as the eldest of three children in a small merchant family in Phumriang, a small coastal town in the southern Thai province of Surat Thani. His father's name was Sieng PANID, he was of Chinese descent. His mother's name was Thai Kluan PANID, both operated a small grocery store, spent his childhood in the Nguam. His mother was a deeply devout Buddhist, she taught him responsibility and the art of thrift. She later became one of the main sponsors of Wat Suan Mohk. In her youth, organized Nguam and his brothers in the neighborhood discussions on Buddhist themes.

In 1926, he was traditionally and ordained at the request of his mother in Wat Mai in Phumriang monk. He got the name " Inthapanyo " ( the way). After three days it began to break away from the traditional conventions: rather than read the laity from the ancient scriptures, trying to connect the Dhamma with everyday events, the young monk. His style of preaching was soon known throughout the country, so that the sermon hall soon could no longer accommodate the many people who came to listen to him.

Within two years, he passed the tests for the two basic steps of the Dhamma studies ( Thai: Nak Nak Tham Tham Tri and Tho ). On the advice of his uncle Siang from Chumphon, he moved to Bangkok because there he could only deepen the study of the scriptures. Inthapanyo Bangkok initially held for the "Land of the Awakened ", the center of the scriptures and gurus. But he was quickly disillusioned by the noise and dirt of the city, the crowded temple and the monks disinterested. After two months, he was so frustrated that he almost left the monastic order. He returned to his native village, where he taught himself alone the knowledge base for the last stage of the study of ancient texts from books. After a year his uncle was able to persuade him again to take up the study of the Pali language in Bangkok. This time Inthapanyo was relaxed, he could retire to a quiet corner and got there private lessons. Soon he passed the examinations for the third elementary, and so was a " Phra Maha Parien " (about: Pali scholar ), as he had wished.

After another year of build-up studies, but which he only half-heartedly operation, he failed the exam, making him finally persuaded to turn his back to the big city and return to Phumriang.

Founding of Wat Suan Mohk

At the time of Gautama Buddha recommended that his disciples to go into the forest and sit under a tree to seek the ultimate truth. This is exactly what wanted to do Inthapanyo. With the help of his brother and some friend of monks he found an abandoned temple in the jungle for 80 years, the Wat Trapangjik was called.

Here he allowed himself to build a little hut and moved in May 1932 there. He called this temple " Suan Mokkhabalarama " (short: Suan Mohk ), which translates as " Garden of Liberation " means. In the same year, just a month later overthrew the military in a violent coup, the king of Thailand and established a constitutional monarchy, which Buddhadasa himself regarded as a good omen for his new foundation.

In the first two years in Suan Mohk to Inthapanyo had found a life in complete seclusion. Up to the consequence that his brother had his daily meal at the forest edge to hang on a tree, so that the hermit had to meet anyone. He spent his time in meditation and study of the Tipitaka, always striving to keep the way of the Theravada forest monks. Based on the Tipitaka and own practical experience he placed for serious meditation together a step-by -step guide, which he translated into Thai and called "follow the footsteps of the Arahat ." He published in the journal " Buddhasasana " ( Thai: Buddhism), which his brother Dhammadasa issued, under its new name " Buddhadasa " ( servant of the Buddha). He gave this name in a solemn vows in August 1932: " I give this life and this body the Buddha. I am a servant of the Buddha, and the Buddha is my master. Therefore, I will henceforth bear the name Buddhadasa. "

In his later years, many foreign students came into his temple, to hear his sermons and participate in ten-day retreats. He also held many discussions with scholars of the Christian Church and other religions, in which he always stressed that all religions are really the same in the basic statements. Shortly before his death in 1993 he founded the International Dhamma Hermitage Center in the vicinity of his temple to give non- Thai students an opportunity to study the teachings of Buddha and Vipassana meditation.

Buddhadasa died on 25 May 1993 after a series of heart attacks and heart beats in preparing a speech that he wanted to keep two days later on his birthday. After the doctors at the Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok tried in vain for weeks in protest of his friends and fellow monks to restore his health, they found his death firmly on 8 July 1993.

Bibliography

Buddhadasa has written so much that almost one entire room in the National Library of Thailand could be filled. Among his most famous books that have been translated into German, include:

• Anapanasati - The gentle healing of spiritual disease, BGM Publishing, ISBN 3-8311-3271-2
• The heartwood of the bodhi tree, BGM Publishing, ISBN 3-8311-0028-4
• Buddha Dhamma for smart people, Kristkeitz Publishing, ISBN 978-3-932337-32-1

Other important books which can be downloaded as PDF files at dhamma- dana.de free:

• Understand Buddhism and life - a " manual for mankind" (PDF; 550 kB) (English title "Handbook for Mankind " )
• Dhamma Socialism (English title " Dhammic Socialism " )
• The way to perfect spiritual health (English title: " Cure for spiritual Disease " )
• Dhamma principles for smart people (English title: "Buddha - Dhamma for Students " )
• " Sense objects, arammana, are mere conceptions of the mind" (PDF; 90 kB)