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The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah - Single Volume
The complete collection of all the talks by Ajahn Chah that have been translated into English and are currently available for free distribution. These same talks are also available in the three volumes below.
- GenresBuddhismSpirituality
ebook
First published October 11, 2011
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About the author
Ajahn Chah
61Ìýbooks214ÌýfollowersAjahn Chah was born in 1918 in a village located in the north-eastern part of Thailand. He became a novice at a young age and recieved higher ordination at the age of twenty. He followed the austere Forest Tradition for years, living in forests and begging for almsfood as he wandered about on mendicant pilgrimage.
He practised meditation under a number of masters, among whom was Ajahn Mun, a highly respected and accomplished meditation teacher of the time. Ajahn Mun had an indelible influence on Ajahn Chah, giving his meditation practice the direction and clarity that it lacked. Ajahn Chah later became an accomplished meditation teacher in his own right, sharing his realization of the Dhamma with those who sought it. The essence of his teaching was rather simple: be mindful, don't hang on to anything, let go and surrender to the way things are.
Ajahn Chah passed away in peace after a long bout of illness on January 16, 1992, at his home monastery, Wat Pah Pong, in Ubon Ratchatani.
He practised meditation under a number of masters, among whom was Ajahn Mun, a highly respected and accomplished meditation teacher of the time. Ajahn Mun had an indelible influence on Ajahn Chah, giving his meditation practice the direction and clarity that it lacked. Ajahn Chah later became an accomplished meditation teacher in his own right, sharing his realization of the Dhamma with those who sought it. The essence of his teaching was rather simple: be mindful, don't hang on to anything, let go and surrender to the way things are.
Ajahn Chah passed away in peace after a long bout of illness on January 16, 1992, at his home monastery, Wat Pah Pong, in Ubon Ratchatani.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 9, 2014
I think this is the right edition; mine is The Teachings of Ajahn Chah 2007 from The Sangha, Wat Nong Pah Pong, downloaded for free from AjahnChah.Org. At 725 pages long, it collects most if not all of his Dhamma talks, some of which have already been published in other collections.
I find Ajahn Chah's lectures on Buddhist practice to be extremely accessible, although this collection is slightly more technical than some of the others I've read that were perhaps collected specifically for Western audiences. Nevertheless, he has a down-home, reassuring way of talking about meditation and the path to enlightenment that is much less intimidating than some writers' works; he makes you think, "hmm, maybe I can do this, after all!" These talks are, at times, repetitive, but that's because he's trying to convey the same lessons over years of lectures and addresses to different audiences: that the key to peace is the deep understanding that everything's impermanent. Reading the collection felt little ironic, though, since in a number of his talks Ajahn Chah chides his listeners to stop studying and start practicing!
If you're just starting out, Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away may be an easier introduction to Ajahn Chah's teachings, but otherwise this collection of teachings is like a lifetime of wisdom bundled into one book; it's the kind of book I expect to return to periodically and understand a little better with each re-reading.
I find Ajahn Chah's lectures on Buddhist practice to be extremely accessible, although this collection is slightly more technical than some of the others I've read that were perhaps collected specifically for Western audiences. Nevertheless, he has a down-home, reassuring way of talking about meditation and the path to enlightenment that is much less intimidating than some writers' works; he makes you think, "hmm, maybe I can do this, after all!" These talks are, at times, repetitive, but that's because he's trying to convey the same lessons over years of lectures and addresses to different audiences: that the key to peace is the deep understanding that everything's impermanent. Reading the collection felt little ironic, though, since in a number of his talks Ajahn Chah chides his listeners to stop studying and start practicing!
If you're just starting out, Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away may be an easier introduction to Ajahn Chah's teachings, but otherwise this collection of teachings is like a lifetime of wisdom bundled into one book; it's the kind of book I expect to return to periodically and understand a little better with each re-reading.
October 26, 2021
I was not familiar with Ajahn Chah's sermons/lectures before stumbling across this volume, which is to be found for free if you go to his website. Although he was a Theravada monk, the first 17 lectures are directed toward the lay practioner and will be of great use to anyone practising the Middle Way, notably when it comes to perserverance on the path. His style is direct, pithy and matter of fact. This is where you go for a nudge, sometimes a gentle one, sometimes not so much.
This is a very good aide; that such a bounty of riches is given freely only emphasizes that it is a true dharma gift.
Finally, the lectures can be found being read by a English speaking practioner as podcasts, just use the name of the volume when you search for them.. I find listening to one first thing in the morning of great value.
This is a very good aide; that such a bounty of riches is given freely only emphasizes that it is a true dharma gift.
Finally, the lectures can be found being read by a English speaking practioner as podcasts, just use the name of the volume when you search for them.. I find listening to one first thing in the morning of great value.
December 17, 2020
Ajahn Chah was a monk in the Forest Tradition in Thailand who helped revitalize meditation, and was a teacher of many Westerners who teach vipassana today. This book is a single collection of many of his dhamma talks. Most of these talks are directed at monks in a monastery, so the syntax and vocabulary are unusual, even for a translated work, because of this context. However, I think he is more approachable than many meditation teachers because when it comes down to describing the actual experience of meditation, he is very relatable, grounded, to the point, and matter-of-fact.
The dhamma talks are relatively repetitive, but this is a feature and not a bug. The book is meant to be read not as a cohesive text, but as part of a daily practice. I would read a bit each day and it took me over a year and a half to get through it, though certainly I was never trying to 'get through' it.
The talks are often about diligence, the value of questioning the things your mind takes for granted, and the unity and ultimate same-ness of sila, samadhi, and panna.
I'd only recommend or discuss this book with people who have a regular meditation practice, and in that case I'd only recommend the practice of reading/listening to dhamma talks and that I found Chah's particular style complementary and helpful to my own practice and way of thinking.
The dhamma talks are relatively repetitive, but this is a feature and not a bug. The book is meant to be read not as a cohesive text, but as part of a daily practice. I would read a bit each day and it took me over a year and a half to get through it, though certainly I was never trying to 'get through' it.
The talks are often about diligence, the value of questioning the things your mind takes for granted, and the unity and ultimate same-ness of sila, samadhi, and panna.
I'd only recommend or discuss this book with people who have a regular meditation practice, and in that case I'd only recommend the practice of reading/listening to dhamma talks and that I found Chah's particular style complementary and helpful to my own practice and way of thinking.
January 8, 2017
When you think about the setting, all the angles he puts on some of his talks become apparent. He is a serious practitioner in a Buddhist country where some just pay it lip service. Like the nominal Christians in America. Perhaps Ajahn Chah is a kind of Billy Graham of Thailand. He encourages you to figure it out and not bother worrying about others. He emphasizes walking meditation when you get drowsy or are tired of sitting. He speaks a lot of the vinaya, which is not so much emphasized in the west. Ethics and principles are substituted. I learned a little bit about the dhutangas, which I'd never heard about before. He talks about the importance of practicing and not just reading--something I need to take to heart, but it also slowed me down reading the book because I would put it down and go practice. I think it's lovely that they give these books away for free.
December 28, 2022
Best book for Understanding Buddha's teaching.
July 1, 2020
I listened to an audio book/podcast reading of this, read by Ajahn Amaro, from a few years ago. The reading is good, but he simply reads the text, without adding any asides or extra detail like he does on newer Winter Retreat readings.
The text is many transcripts of audio recordings of Ajahn Chah, mainly from the 70s, and a lot of them are directed at monastics.
I found the text really interesting as there is a lot of direction on practice, both formal and informal. Probably best to read 'Stillness Flowing' (the biography of Ajahn Chah) first, which is also available as a podcast.
The text is many transcripts of audio recordings of Ajahn Chah, mainly from the 70s, and a lot of them are directed at monastics.
I found the text really interesting as there is a lot of direction on practice, both formal and informal. Probably best to read 'Stillness Flowing' (the biography of Ajahn Chah) first, which is also available as a podcast.
July 14, 2015
This teacher led his practise to the end. Thankful for the teachings.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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