FOREST DHAMMA – AJAAN MAHA BOOWA

Introduction

The dhamma Talks (desanā) which have been printed in this volume are all translations from one or two books in which many of the talks of Ācariya Mahā Boowa have been printed. With the exception of the first work—“Wisdom Develops Samadhi”—which was written by the author, all of them were impromptu talks which were tape recorded and transcribed into the Thai language.

Ācariya Mahā Boowa (Bhikkhu Ñāṇasampanno) is now the abbot of Wat Pa Baan Taad, a forest monastery situated close to the village where he was born and brought up. When he was old enough he was ordained, he went to Wat Bodhisompon in Udon Thani where he was ordained as a bhikkhu under Ven. Chao Khun Dhammachedi in 1934. Some while later he went away to find a medi- tation teacher. He was directed towards Ven. Ācariya Mun (Bhūridatta Thera). He has said that as soon as he met Ācariya Mun, he knew that this was his teacher. He studied and practised for nine years under the guidance of Ven. Ācariya Mun, who died in 1949 at the age of eighty years. After that, Ācariya Mahā Boowa prac- tised the way on his own in the mountains and forests of Thailand. He then wan- dered throughout the country, going to nearly every province. Eventually, he was offered land to build a monastery by supporters near his home village. Since then he has lived at Wat Pa Baan Taad.

It is only since Ācariya Mahā Boowa settled in Wat Pa Baan Taad that his writ- ings have been published and his talks have been tape recorded, although it is said that he gave many talks while he was wandering around Thailand.