Hello All,

I live in Northern CA and also often live in Thailand for stretches of time. I have been practicing about 17 years, starting in Thailand, and have practiced the precepts for 15 years. I started intensive meditation practice in many different temples and styles in Thailand, and finally settled 15 years ago in one temple in Central Thailand. The abbot was an associate and dhamma freind of Ajahn Chah.

I lived and practiced in Thailand about six years altogether in different stays and now live mostly in the US. I haven’t ever found a dhamma home in the US although Abayaghiri is the closest thing to what I am used to in Thailand, and I have long admired Ajahn Sumedho. I moved around alot and I am lucky to wind up now in the same state as Abayaghiri.

But then I had children with my wife three years ago and never did get to go to the monastery much. Oops.

When I go to Thailand I can leave my family because they are very happy to stay with relatives there. But when I am here in the US, I practice on my own and with most of the emphasis on mindfulness in daily life, although I definitely do always make time for formal practice also.

I think this forum might be a great way for me to touch base with others. Thanks!

metta,

Supakamo

Hello everyone,

My name is Jim and I live in California. I have been studying Buddhism for about 7 years now.

I studied some Mahayana texts in the early 1990’s without any guidance or teaching and was soon frustrated and decided perhaps the teachings were not for me.

Fast forward to the year 2000 when I stumbled across the book, “ A Path With Heart,” by Jack Kornfield. Mr. Kornfield’s book introduced me to the teachings of Luang Por Chah. I began reading about and studying the teachings of Luang Por Chah and by doing this I learned of Luang Por Sumedho, Ajahn Pasanno, and Ajahn Amaro. With the wonders of the internet I was able to feel a part of Abhayagiri.

I am moving from Orange County to Shasta County with my wife and kids. This is very fortunate for me as I will now only be 200 miles from Abhayagiri, but also unfortunate as I will now be very far from Wat Metta where I have be blessed enough to meet and learn from Thanissaro Bhikkhu,( Ajahn Geoff.) I am very grateful for Ajahn Geoff’s patience with lay students.

I have made a commitment to the 5 Precepts and look forward to the gift of this forum and a visit to Abhayagiri in the very near future.

Añjali,
Jim

Hello Everyone.
I am 30ish and my interest in Buddhism is great but my knowledge is small.  I have always felt an affinity for the teachings of the Buddha and have a deep understanding of some of the concept, however, I have not sought teaching beyond what I have read in Buddhist texts and lay books.
After reaching a point of (false) contentment in my mid twenties- a comfortable place of marriage, family, career, as well as material and financial prosperity I have for the past several years experienced deep suffering and attachment due to desire in many areas of my life.  I now seeking ways to learn more about the root of these issues and I think these are experiences that are familiar to all; the human condition.  I hope to avoid such pitfalls in the future and I beleive somehow buddism holds some answers for me personally.
I will participate in the forum as time allows, please excuse my naivety or ignorance on more advanced areas of the teachings; I am but a student.

Thank You

Blue Lawson
Asheville, NC

Hello everyone,

My name is Paul Gerhards. I live in Vancouver, Washington. Prior to my moving here last summer I lived in Portland for many years, where on-and-off I visited the Portland Insight Meditation Center and Friends of the Dhamma. Since moving across the river, however, I’ve had fewer opportunities to visit either of those places.

I’ve been studying and practicing for about 11 years. I’m interested in how others integrate Buddhist practice and the household life. I’ve come to appreciate the significance and value of Theravada and feel the need to affiliate myself with a monastic community.

with gratitude,

paulg

Hello all,

My name is Jessica Swanson, and I am a Upasika from Vancouver, Washington.

I have been meditating for about five years and living mostly by the precepts for about 18 months. I am a member of Portland Friends of the Dhamma, and together we support several sitting groups and are working toward building a monastery in Oregon.

I have helped lead a Buddhist meditation group at Columbia River Correctional Insitution in Portland for about a year.

I am an editor in my early 30s and I enjoy traveling, reading and playing in the garden.

Lovely to be a part of this forum, and to have contact with the monastics at Abhayagiri.

Best,

Jessica

Hello all.. a little about me. I have been directly involved with a spiritual quest most of my life and have been driven to try and discover what is truth. My search has gone on for close to fifty years now in and in all that time i have investigated Christian fundamentalism, Catholicism, Islam, various Occult philosophies etc. and finally Buddhism starting with Chan then Zen and Theravada. I have been involved with Buddhism approximately nine years and have come to a final conclusion that the Theravada practice has the clearest presentation regarding the way things actually are. I have finished my search and have exhausted the Supermarket of spiritual ideas and need to look no further than this practice. It has been a long hard look at the way things are and i am so relieved to have the search finished. If you are wondering how i finally came to the conclusion that Buddhism contains the Truth , simply stated all other schools of spirituality in the final analysis require you to have faith alone without any proof needed where as in Buddhism you are able to and are encouraged to investigate the teachings for yourself, apply them and when you do the truth of them is inescapable.

I live about 200 miles from the Monastery and when time allows i will be visiting there so i hope that i will be able to meet some of you in person.

Metta

Hi everyone! I am excited about the possibility of connecting with other practitions in this way.  Although I live only 1 hour north of the meditation center Spirit Rock and 1 hour south of Abhayagiri, I don’t have a regular sitting group or Sangha in this small town or in Sonoma Co. I am a psychologist, in private practice since “78, have raised 2 daughters, been in and out of 2 marriages, and now am looking toward gradual retirement and simplifiying life in these “wisdom” years. I live with my partner of 12 years, Robert, 1 dog and 2 cats on a hill above the Russian River in tiny, “wine country” Healdsburg.

I have been in some fairly serious and committed spiritual practice most of my life, growing up Christian then in the 70’s joining a “fourth way” group (based on Gurdjieff), studying the Enneagram and many other awareness practices. In’94 I went to my first 10 day retreat in the Theravada tradition and have been practicing meditation, doing at least 1 long retreat per year since then. Discovering Abhayagiri and its surrounding sangha has been a great boost to my since of committment and “hope”.  I am reading Bhikkhu Bodhi’s IN THE BUDDHAS’s WORDS, and look forward to some discussion around topics and questions brought up.

Greetings to Everyone on the Forum,

First, I want to thank Sakula and Dorothea for their thoughtful replies to my inquiries. “Metta” as you all say in your tradition.

I live in Ojai which is about an hour and a half north of LA. The town is a real gem of a place. It’s located in spectacular surroundings. The orange blossoms are at their peak right now and the valley is filled with their intoxicating scent. I feel fortunate to live in a town so close to nature.

I’m married and have two teenage boys and a ten year old lab named Sparky. Sparky is my constant companion as I work out of an office at home. I truly believe that he meditates along with me in his own canine style! I’m a screenwriter and also teach filmic writing at the American Film Institute in los Angeles. I recently completed an MA in depth psychology at the Pacifica Graduate Institute. I eventually hope to practice in a Buddhist inflected psychotherapy.

I stumbled into Buddhism while at college in the mid-seventies. I’ve been practicing on and off ever since, though not always affiliated with a sangha or teacher. When I have been, it’s been in the Tibetan Nyingma lineage. For the past three years I find myself inexorably drawn more and more towards the Thai Forest tradition. I’ve given a lot of thought as to why. A complete answer would be beyond the scope of this introduction, but a simple answer would be that it’s been an awakening - no pun intended - to go back to Buddha’s original teachings in the Pali canon. 

Some traditions are so heavily laden with a complex cosmology and byzantine rituals that the original teachings get lost. I started reading the Tipitaka online at Acess Insight and I just can’t stop! I have been methodically going through all the “baskets” and feel a deepening connection to my practice that I have never felt before. I have also read some of the seminal works in the Thai forest tradition and I am so inspired by the simplicity, grace, and ecological awareness of such figures as Sulak Sivaraksa, Ajahn Chah, Ajahn Brahm, etc., As I get older (I hope wiser as well!) I find myself believing that a spiritual practice that is simple can also be profound. I also believe so strongly that our planet is in grave peril and that any spiritual practice which identifies itself with protecting the natural world is a precious practice.

I look forward to learning from all of you!

In the Three jewels,

George

Welcome, Bill/Jaiboon and Justin.

I look forward to your presence in the forum.

Bill, how lovely that your home life gives you a connection to Thailand and (I assume) the Thai forest tradition. It’s a worthy goal to balance reading and meditating. I know the temptation to get lost in books and ideas, instead of coming back to my own mind and body. Those books and ideas can seem so much more interesting! But my own experience is that this mind/body world can be fascinating, when I apply the teachings that I find in the books to what’s going on right here. Lots of hindrances to notice (bummer) but also some factors of awakening (if I look hard enough). Happy noticing!

Justin, I agree it’s hard to follow the Eightfold Path when the current of the Dhamma goes against that of the world. But I take heart when I realize that it’s a gradual path. I don’t have to do it all right away. And it really helps to try to take it lightly, keeping a sense of humor about it all.

Cheers,
Dorothea

My name is Justin and I live in Florida. I have always been inclined towards the spiritual, but it wasn’t until I started exploring the Theravada teachings that I became convinced that it was the path for me. It is difficult to live the lay life when the current of the the Dhamma goes against that of the world, but having this forum should help in difficult moments. I can see why the Buddha encouraged one to take up ordination, as even something such as the five precepts can be very challenging when fully engaged in the world. One really does have to try to stay mindful of thoughts, words and deeds as well as the intention behind them. I am very happy to have found this forum.  Best of luck to all of you in your practice.  I will participate here when time permits.

Justin

My name is Bill. I live in Long Beach Ca. with my wife, two dogs and a cat.

I was raised a Christian, but since I could never accept some basic beliefs (the Priest teaching my Confirmation group singled me out as Doubting Thomas), the tug of spiritual interest was mostly unfilled until I discovered Zen in College. It was the 60s and Buddhism fit my instincts. I read everything I could (Alan Watts was the “translator” of the day, but also Suzuki and others), sat zazen meditation at the Mt. Baldy Zen Center and meditated on and off on my own for many years. I don’t remember hearing much about the Eight Fold Path, Precepts, or even the Four Noble Truths, but it’s possible I was trying so hard to understand I wasn’t paying attention to anything except the quest in the paradox—to experience sudden enlightenment or insight that could not be grasped without losing it.  I did not have a teacher, but intuitively I knew there was some valuable truth going on yet so much was wrapped in obscure koans and non-sequiters I could never find any ground under my feet. Slowly my practice fell away entirely.

When I discovered Therevada about 10 years ago, a lot of those pieces I could only intuit earlier fell into place. Call it philosophy or intellectual foundation, (which I don’t like to do, but there it is) Theravada was the foundation that re-charged my practice. I was lucky to have discovered Ajahn Cha early on and to have visited Wat Pa Nanachat and spend a few days at Abhayagiri. My wife, who is Thai, has been a wonderful example of living the practice in both mind and behavior. I’m grateful for this site where the experience of others can be shared. We are all alone, yet we are not.  I read more than I meditate, and I know I need to balance that. This intention is to begin that now. A very special thank you to Dorothea and Sakula, and to their monumental patience that helped get me in the door.

Metta
Jaiboon

Hello friends,

I live on the east coast (US), and I’ve been studying Buddhism for about 15 years now. I have always been interested in different religions, and Theravada Buddhism appeals to me a great deal. I’m glad to have found this forum. I’ve been reading on the Web site for a while, and it seems like a great community. Looking forward to joining in the conversation.

cheers,
Nada

Hello

My name is Jean V. I live in Santa Cruz, next door to the Vipassana Meditation Center ), and have been regularly attending their weekly sittings and some of the classes and day-long retreats. I have yet to attend a long retreat, but that will come soon, hopefully.

When I was in high school, a friend gave me a book about the Diamond Sutra, which sparked an interest in spirituality. This is oversimplifying things, but after a brief period of “guru-chasing” I calmed down & put spiritual things aside for awhile. Then I encountered Suzuki Roshi’s Beginner’s Mind, which helped me understand that one can approach spirituality with a bit more equanimity.  Have been meditating on my own, irregularly, for the past 15 or so years, but during the last several years, I have become more committed. Living next to my sangha helps a lot!

I teach writing at a local college, and I also work as an editor for a publishing company. I’m a poet, and my first book will be published this Fall. It ends with a well-known phrase from the “Mendicant” in the Dhammapada: “Empty this boat oh monk! When emptied, it will go lightly.”

I’m very happy to participate in this forum.

Hello Everyone,
Finally I made it this far ( ask Sukula and Dorothea!).  My name is Geetha Krishnan and I live in Carlsbad, California.  This town with a German name is a beach town between Los Angeles and San Diego.—90 miles south of Los Angeles and 35 miles north of San Diego. It is a pretty ‘little town’ and some of our neigbors are towns of Leucadia, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea Solana Beach ( as you go south). I was bron and raised in Bangalore, India.  I became interested in the Buddha and his teachings around the age of 10 in a history class.  But all I remembered for years was his 4- Noble Truths and the 8 fold path.  I was introduced to meditation around the age of 19 - the transcendental meditation gurus were passing through campuses in India. Most recently, about 4 years ago I attended Meditation classes in Carlsbad which was taught by a Tibetan monk.  I decided to practice sitting meditation more deligently.  This also inspired me to listen to teachings.  I have and continue to listen to the teachings by Ajahns at Abhayagiri, the other forest traditions and IMC and by Thich Nhat Hanh. 
I have found a deep connection with the teachings by the Ajahns at Abhayagiri and hope to be part of the Sangha for support and inspiritation.  I have two children, both in college.  I moved to S. California just 4 years ago.  Prior to that I have lived in Texas, Kansas and Colorado and Edmonton, Canada.  Having raked leaves and shoveled snow almost all my adult life ( that’s what took up my time during my early years- and didn’t have time to do sitting meditation!!) it is nice not have to shovel or rake leaves in Carlsbad. We have foggy mornings, which I simply enjoy.
My husband works in the Bay area and commutes home every 8-10 days.  I belong to a small Sangha of meditation practitioners ( mostly from all traditions).  We get together in each other’s homes a couple of times a month to listen to talks and meditate.  I would like to build a lay Sangha of forest tradition here with a teacher who will give us teachings at least once a month.
Oh, by the way, I work as a speech therapist in the community, with most of my hours taken up by serving the children in the schools. 
I look forward to getting to know all of you.
Much Metta,
geetha

Hello friends,

My name is Sukanda.  I live in UTAH for over 20 yeras now.  I have 2 teenager daughters.  I was born and raised in Bangkok Thailand.  Eventhough, I live in UTAH for over 20 years, the teaching of Buddha always make sense to me than any others.  There is buddhist temple in UTAH, but it is not like the Ajhan Chaa ‘s forest monastery, so I didn’t go to buddhist temple in Utah.  I learn and practice buddhist meditation on my own through download dharmma talks and meditation from several web site, eg.  Abhayagiri.org , BSWA.org, dharmmatalks.org, mettaforest.org, etc… My daughters and I visited Abhayagiri Monastery several years ago, in 2003.  It is so wonderful to have the Ajahn Chaa monastery teaching in US, it would be nice to have one in UTAH also…

I very appreciate to have this forum, eventhough I live far away from monastery, but I still have dhamma friends to ask questions and practice along this path.

With Metta…

Sukanda.