A Tree in a Forest: A Collection of Ajahn Chah's Similes

by Ajahn Chah

"People have asked about my practice. How do I prepare my mind for meditation?There is nothing special. I just keep it where it always is.They ask, 'Then are you an arahant?'Do I know?I am like a tree in a forest, full of leaves, blossoms and fruit.Birds come to eat and nest, and animals seek rest in its shade.Yet the tree does not know itself.It follows its own nature.It is as it is.""All the teachings" Ajahn Chah taught, "are merely similes and comparisons, means to help the mind see the truth. If we establish the Buddha within our mind, then we see everything, we contemplate everything, as no different from ourselves.Many of the similes that Ajahn Chah himself used to teach came out of his vast experience of living in the forest. His practice was simply to watch, all the while being totally open and aware of everything that was happening both inside and outside himself. He would say that his practice was nothing special. He was, in his own words, like a tree in a forest, "A tree is as it is," he's say. And Ajahn Chah was as he was. But out of such "nothing specialness" came a profound understanding of himself and the world.Ajahn Chah used to say, "The Dhamma is revealing itself in every moment, but only when the mind is quiet can we understand what it is saying, for the Dhamma teaches without words." Ajahn Chah had this uncanny ability to take that wordless Dhamma and convey its truth to his listeners in the form of a simile that was fresh, easy to follow, sometimes humorous, sometimes poetic, but always striking a place in the heart where it would jar or inspire the "We are like maggots; life is like a falling leaf; our mind is like rain water."The teachings of Ajahn Chah teem with similes and comparisons like these. We thought it would be a good idea to collect them all in the form of a book as a source of inspiration for those who may want some respite from the "heat" of the world and seek some rest in the cool and abundant shade of "a tree in the forest".

Genres: Buddhism, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Religion, Meditation, Psychology

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Ajahn 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.

Reviews

[Juan Nalerio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estamos ante una colección de símiles, comparaciones que nos relacionan elementos comunes de nuestra vida diaria con las enseñanzas de Buda.

Por un lado, el lenguaje simple y concreto ayuda a comprender la importancia de la práctica en la búsqueda del camino medio, de la mente aquietada (¿la ataraxia de los griegos?)
Machaca una y otra vez con el tema de la práctica, de aplicarla. Sólo nosotros a través de la observación y la atención plena podemos lograr el objetivo.

Por otro lado, hay ciertos temas que me generar dudas. Pongo un ejemplo.
El símil del "Hombre sediento" dice que el Buda enseña que es venenoso caer en los placeres de los sentidos y lleva a estar atascado hasta el día que muere.
Son todos los placeres venenosos? Debo alejarme de todos los deseos? Esa es la manera budista de vivir lo que me resta de vida?
Me lo voy a tener que seguir preguntando...alguna ayuda?

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is downloadable free of charge. http://www.buddhanet.net/ebooks_g.htm

[Devina Yuliarni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really recommend this book ! Simple and full of wisdom. One of the books that i wanna re-read in the future. I really enjoy and like the way Ajahn Chah’s storytelling about wisdom and how we reflect it through our daily life and nature.

Sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta
May all beings be happy.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This precious little book was written by a simple, and yet very influential Thai Buddhist teacher who had an insightful spiritual understanding of the path of Buddhadharma and the human condition. He followed the austere Forest Tradition for years, living in forests and begging alms-food as he wandered about on his mendicant pilgrimages.

His composition of naturalistic similes in this book illustrate simply, and yet quite profoundly how we can get some respite from our busy lives, and have some rest in the cool and abundant shade of "a tree in the forest".

I feel contented that through this book, I was blessed with the opportunity to benefit from the wisdom of some of Ajahn Chah's words. In essence his teachings are quite simple: be mindful, don't hang on to anything, let go, and surrender to the way things are.

[Vy Ho · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a source of inspiration for those who may want some respite from the "heat" of the world and seek some rest in the cool and abundant shade of "a tree in the forest".

Ajahn Chah had this uncanny ability to take that wordless Dhamma and convey its truth was fresh, easy to follow. There is always striking a place in the heart where it would jar or inspire the most:
"Just know what is happening in your mind - not happy or sad about it, not attached. If you suffer, see it, know it, and be empty. It's like a letter - you have to open it before you can know what's in it. Whether happiness or unhappiness, they're all the same. So let them go!"

[Thushan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wisdom in most simple words...

[Andrew B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great start for insight into Dhamma/Buddhism.

[Evan Guerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be savoured.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excerpts of dhamma talks as told, translated and remembered by Luang Por's disciples. Also includes some dhamma talks, and short stories/journal entries, presented by fellow monastics and acquaintances during the long vigil following his death. After rereading it while staying in the woods, complemented by a spiritual retreat, I found a big treasure in this little book about a little man with a big smile and an even bigger heart.

[Paraeinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saying from Ajahn Chah which helps to inspire Buddhist practitioners on the path. They may serve as daily insights to get followers more motivated. I am currently reading the series Teachings of Ajahn Chah and I am coming across these sayings through the various chapters to see in which context that they had been said. It's like the gist of Ajahn Chah's take on the Dhamma.

[Phuoc Truong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuốn sách đầu tiên của năm 2020.
Tiêu đề tiếng Việt là Một cội cây rừng,
Sách mượn ở thư viện tổng hợp để đọc. Đây là tập hợp những bài dụ ngôn của Ajahn Chah. Có nhiều dụ ngôn rất hay, tuy nhiên nhiều dụ ngôn thì không sâu sắc lắm.
Đang tìm đọc các cuốn sách khác của ông.
Lưu ý rằng sách này không phải do tác giả viết mà là tập hợp những bài giảng pháp của ông được các thiền sinh ghi chép lại.

[Tan Khuc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phiên bản mình đọc là Một cội cây rừng do Huỳnh Văn Thanh dịch. Một cuốn sách nhỏ, những câu chuyện nhỏ, những sự vật bình thường, đôi khi quá đỗi bình thường, tất cả hướng tới câu trả lời tu tập và giác ngộ thực sự là gì.

[Thuy Hang]

Cuốn này chắc mình đọc không đúng thời điểm cho lắm. Sách mỏng thôi, là tập hợp các triết lý trong Phật giáo thông qua các hình ảnh ẩn dụ. Nhiều hình ảnh ví von ẩn dụ mình đọc không hiểu lắm. Không biết phải đánh giá thế nào. Chắc mình không hợp thầy Ajahn Chah rồi

[Martin Mühlpacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of Thai buddhist way of Buddha´s teachings. Very simple and on point assimilations. Great for everyday inspiration due to its short "chapters".

[Thanh Phan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small stories with full meaning about life.

[Nguyễn Minh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Những lời giảng ngắn gọn và đáng suy ngẫm về việc tu tập, thiền định, rèn luyện tâm trí. Một cuốn sách có thể đọc đi đọc lại nhiều lần để nhắc nhở bản thân.

[Minh Huy · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome read through, worth to read if u are into the "real" beauty of meditation and Buddhism wisdom as a whole

[Denia Ortega M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hermosos símiles inspirados en la naturaleza para trasladar la enseñanza sobre el Dhamna o el camino de la liberación del sufrimiento. Simples, ingeniosos y sabios.

[dunianyawira · Rating 3 out of 5]

saya udah baca yg versi terjemahan indonesia, sangat menarik cara Ajahn Chah mengajari kita melihat kehidupan ini..
mungkin karena model penulisan yg sepotong sepotong jadi buku ini terasa amat ringan dimengerti tetapi kelemahannya tentu saja karena cerita2 yang sepotong2 kadang kurang saling berhubungan..

after all..nda nyesel koq baca buku beliau yang satu ini...

[Sikha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku yang sulit ku mengerti pada waktu itu. Kini kalau kubaca lagi pemahaman yang kudapat berbeda. Rasanya tidak sesulit dulu lagi untuk paham.

[Ulan imut · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book for good people

[Hendro Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reads. The stories here are like the treasures. You can have them and share them with anyone. They will benefit from it. No matter where they go. simply greats. :)