New Videos of Ajahn Thanissaro's Visit to Dhammagiri, Fri 29 & Sat 30 November
Updated: Jan 4
The first Q&A session with Luang Por Ṭhānissaro is already available on our Youtube Channel:
On 29 & 30 November 2024, Tan Ajaan Geoff Ṭhānissaro and Tan Ajaan Keng Khemako have kindly provided time in their very busy schedule in Australia to visit Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Brisbane, Queensland. This is an excellent opportunity for the supporters of Dhammagiri to meet with them and benefit from their Dhamma teachings, that they will share with us during their travels in Australia.
Ajahn Geoff Ṭhānissaro is the Abbot of Metta Forest Monastery in US, and Ajahn Keng Khemako is the abbot of Santi Forest Monastery in Malaysia.
Planned Program at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia:
Fri 29/11:
10:30 am - Almsoffering & Shared Meal
11:50 am - Dhamma Discussion with Ajahn Thanissaro
Sat. 30/11:
10:30 am - Almsoffering & Shared Meal
11:50 am - Dhamma Discussion with Ajahn Thanissaro
05:00 pm - Dhamma Discussion with Ajahn Keng
07:00 pm - Dhamma Talk with Ajahn Thanissaro
The main sessions will also be live cast on our Youtube Channel
(Note: During their teaching tour Ajahn Thanissaro & Ajahn Keng will also teach in Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand. Dhammagiri is only responsible for the program on the two days above)
Ajahn Ṭhānissaro (Geoffrey DeGraff) is an American monk of the Thai Forest Tradition. After graduating from Oberlin College in 1971 with a degree in European Intellectual History, he travelled to Thailand, where he studied meditation under Ajaan Fuang Jotiko, himself a student of the late Ajaan Lee. He was ordained in 1976 and lived at Wat Dhammasathit, where he remained following his teacher’s death in 1986.
In 1991 he travelled to the hills of San Diego County, USA, where he helped Ajaan Suwat Suvaco establish Metta Forest Monastery. He became abbot of the Monastery in 1993.
He has published a large number of Sutta translations, Dhamma books and Dhamma talks on his website:
Ajahn Ṭhānissaro & Ajahn Keng in Early Years
Tan Ajaan Ṭhānissaro possesses a very rare combination of outstanding skills:
He has ecellent knowledge of the teaching of the Buddha in it's original language Pali, and has translated a large proportion of the Sutta Piṭaka into English, all of that work accessible for free distribution on his website.
He has excellent knowledge of Thai, too, and has translated teachings from several of the most outstanding masters of the Thai Forest Tradition, like e.g. Luang Ta Mahā Boowa, Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo, and Ajahn Chah.
His book 'The Buddhist Monastic Code I & II' is the standard reference on the Vinaya (rules of discipline for Buddhist monks and nuns), making him the leading Vinaya expert in English language.
He had very close personal contact and guidance in meditative Dhamma practice by two outstanding master of the Forest Tradition, Ajahn Fuang and Ajahn Suwat.
He's one of the few teachers in English pointing out the true meaning of the simile of "Fire Gone Out" for Nibbāna. Ancient Indian views on fire were very different from ours. In terms of modern Western scientific understanding, a fire gone out simply doesn't exist. But it would be a grave misunderstanting to interpret the Buddha's fire simile accordingly, and to perceive Nibbāna simply as nothing. In ancient Indian understanding, a fire gone out is perceived as released from clinging to it's fuel, and having entered a non-manifest state. Therefore, the Buddha's simile of a fire gone out doesn't imply non-existance at all, it's only meant to indicate that the experience of total realease can not be defined or described or deliniated in any way. It would be too much for this little blog post to go deep into this profound subject. However, you can read Ajahn Ṭhānissaro's extensive study for free download here: 'The Mind Like Fire Unbound'
Ajahn Keng Khemako is a Singaporean monk of the Thai Forest Tradition. He was ordained in 1987 under the recommendation of Ajahn Thanissaro. One of his main teachers was Luang Pu Jia Cundo, a first generation disciple of Ajahn Mun.
He received the title of Chao Khun in 2012. Currently, Ajahn Keng is the Abbot of Santi Forest Monastery (Malaysia) and the Abbot of a hill-tribes forest monastery in Om Koi, Chiangmai and President of Palelai Buddhist Temple (Singapore).
