THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. (1993, July 9). Buddhadassa [sic] dead; Thailand monk, 87, opposed secularism. New York Times. Retrieved from www.nytimes.com

« Buddhadassa Bhikkhu, a monk whose nontraditional ideas transformed Thai Buddhism and earned him an international following, died today at his temple in southeastern Thailand. He was 87 and was reported to have suffered a stroke in May. As a critic of superstitious beliefs, materialism and militarism, Buddhadassa provoked a re-examination of the religion that is followed by 95 percent of Thailand's 58 million people. He was ordained as a monk at 20... »  [More information]

CHINVARAKORN Vasana. (2005, May 29). Whence comes the sound of the bell? Bangkok Post. Retrieved from www.buddhadasa.de

« It is all and it is one. It existed before everything else and will last long after every existence. It has neither shape nor form, but from it arises immeasurable phenomena. There are countless words to describe what comes out of it, but it is, in itself, beyond name, space, time. Back in 1973, as part of his Saturday Dharma Talk series at Suan Mokkh forest monastery, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu initiated a new weekly discussion on "kaivalya-dharma"... »  [Read full text]

SUKRUNG Karnjariya. (2005, June 7). In the footsteps of the 'Slave of Buddha': From an ordinary boy to a remarkable monk, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu left behind a legacy of teachings, writings and a sanctuary for others to continue on the path of dharma. Bangkok Post. Retrieved from www.buddhistchannel.tv

« In 1955 Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, founder of Suan Mokkh (Garden of Liberation), made a three-month pilgrimage to India, the birth place of Buddha. Throughout his life, the late reformist monk kept his vow to follow in his teacher's footsteps. But this path was not lined with the traditional gesture of a wai, or an offer of candles or incense sticks. His journey encompassed a deeper understanding and practice of the true teachings, or dharma, of the Lord Buddha... » [Read full text]

CHINVARAKORN Vasana. (2006, February 26). Buddhadasa Bhikkhu: Leading by example. Bangkok Post. Retrieved from www.buddhistchannel.tv

« "We cannot overturn the land. We can only do our work, to the best of our ability, and accept the results in due course. The only hope we have is that our devotion to the religion might inspire more people and that more will follow us. Those in power might do so, or even everybody in the world, that would then be the same as overturning the land. Even though we did not do it ourselves, the results would be the same. And we could stay humble and not have to frustrate ourselves till death"... »  [Read full text]

ANONYMOUS. (2006, May 22). The art of breathing. The Nation. Retrieved from http://www.buddhadasa.de

« Mindfulness in breathing is not as easy as it sounds, but as the late Venerable Buddhadasa Bhikkhu preached, practice can begin at home. Meditation needs no introduction in these secular times. Millions of people around the world, from patients to prisoners, are practising it. But for many beginners, finding the right place to start is no easy task. Flick through the newspapers or surf the Web, and you’ll find a multitude of workshops led by different masters promising to help you awaken your mind... »  [Read full text]

TANGWISUTIJIT Nantiya. (2006, May 24). A century of spirituality. The Nation. Retrieved October 19, 2015 from www.nationmultimedia.com

« This Saturday, Phra Ajarn Pho, the abbot of Suan Mokkh will rise at 4am to meditate and chant with other monks as he does every day. However, despite his wishes to the contrary, this day will be unlike any other at the now internationally renowned forest monastery in Surat Thani Province. Saturday marks the birth centenary of the late Venerable Buddhadasa Bhikku, the founder of Suan Mokkh or the Garden of Liberation. Thirteen years after his death, his ideas and teachings continue to rattle the underpinnings of Buddhism... »

ANONYMOUS. (2006, May 26). Remembering a truly great soul. [Editorial]. The Nation. Retrieved October 19, 2015 from www.nationmultimedia.com

« There's one big challenge in the ongoing commemoration of one of Thailand's most revered Buddhist monks, the late Buddhadasa Bhikku. It's the question of how we can avoid breaching, naively perhaps, his core teachings in the process. If Buddhadasa is to be taken really seriously, this is an occasion to "not" think about him. This is not an occasion for anyone to think he or she is "his" disciple, nor to recite his knowledge for personal purpose. And this is the occasion to stay away from symbols, rites or rituals... »

TANGWISUTIJIT Nantiya. (2006, May 26). It's not about the next life. The Nation. Retrieved from http://buddhadasa.de

« The late Buddhadasa Bhikku, named by Unesco one of the World's Greatest Personalities, offered mankind a key to end suffering here and now.We were on a 10-day meditation, and everything had been pure simplicity, so it came as a jolt when, on Day 8, an extravagant two-metre-tall painting hung behind Phra Medhi. The image incorporated some 20 separate illustrations of people and animals neatly arranged in a pattern of four concentric circles that appeared to form the body of a giant... »  [Read full text]

KHANTONG Thanong. (2006, May 26). In search of that elusive sense of detachment... The Nation. Retrieved from http://buddhistchannel.tv

« May 27 will mark the centenary of the birth of one of Thailand's most venerable Buddhist monks - Buddhadasa Bhikku, who passed away in 1993. But his teachings on Buddhism still have a huge influence on Thai intellectuals and Buddhists in general who strive to grasp the essence of Buddhism in its purest form. I remember vividly my first and only encounter with Buddhadasa. Almost 20 years ago, I accompanied a small group of people to Surat Thani, where Buddhadasa founded his Suan Mokkha in 1932... »  [Read full text]

TANGWISUTIJIT Nantiya. (2006, May 27). A century of spirituality: Can Thai buddhism be saved from superstition? Followers feel Buddhadasa's teachings are crucially relevant to the present age. The Nation. Retrieved from www.buddhistchannel.tv

« Mayura Wilainum-chokchai remembers having little interest in the extensive TV news coverage of the funeral of the Venerable Buddhadasa Bhikku 13 years ago. She had never heard of the monk before and simply assumed Buddhadasa was one of many famous Luang pu, senior monks with sacred powers. Now 26, Mayura sees things very differently. She recently left her job as a graphic designer with a Japanese company in order to pursue graduate studies in the United States. Upon her return to Thailand... »  [Read full text]

CHINVARAKORN Vasana. (2006, May 28). Buddhadasa Bhikkhu 100 years on: The work of the monk who built Suan Mokkh continues. Bangkok Post. Retrieved from www.buddhistchannel.tv

« The fine, greyish-white powder hung briefly in the air before descending into the cooling stream below. Thus were the ashes of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu returned to the embrace of mother nature, as he had specifically dictated in his will. Thirteen years later, the spot remains as unassuming as ever. Buried deep in the jungle, the area is unmarked. There are no signs, no ostentatious display to indicate that it once played host to an historic event... »  [Read full text]

PHAISAN VISALO (Phra). (2006, May 28). The legacy of Thailand's reformist monk. Bangkok Post. Retrieved from www.buddhistchannel.tv

« With only Mathayom 3 (Primary 3 equivalent) schooling and clerical training deemed as rather basic, the 26-year-old Phra Ngerm Inthapanyo took what was later known to be a hugely historic step in Thai Buddhism. In concrete terms, he founded Suan Mokkh. In less tangible terms, the reformist monk reintroduced a novel Buddhism that is both relevant to the present time and still in keeping with the practice dating back to the Teacher himself... » [Read full text]

CHINVARAKORN Vasana. (2006, June 3). Remembering Buddhadasa: Two new books look at the impact made by the late pioneering reformist monk. Bangkok Post. Retrieved from www.buddhadasa.de

« To celebrate the centenary of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's birth, several magazines recently ran cover stories on the life and work of this reformist monk; these publications included 'Sarakhadee' (Art and Culture), and 'National Geographic' (May, 2006 editions). How things have changed over the past century. In a letter dated February 24, 1943, Prince Naris mentioned to his half-brother, Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, that a newspaper had announced that a monk from Chaiya, Surat Thani was to give a talk... »  [Read full text]

CHINVARAKORN Vasana. (2006, August 28). Unity in diversity. Bangkok Post. Retrieved from www.buddhistchannel.tv

« The roar of bombs. The macabre, pervasive scent of death. In the deep South and across the whole globe, strife in the name of religion is steadily growing. But there was one remarkable friendship that cut across religious boundaries: The friendship between Buddhadasa Bhikkhu and a devout Muslim named Haji Prayoon Vadanyakul. Born to a Muslim family, Haji Prayoon was well-known among his close associates for his seriousness in practising his religion. But his interests were not restricted to Islam... »  [Read full text]

SANTIKARO. (2007, May 27). My best friend: Living and learning under Tan Ajahn Buddhadasa. Bangkok Post. Retrieved from www.buddhadasa.de

« In my very personal estimation, Ajahn Buddhadasa Bhikkhu has been the most significant, creative and profound Thai Buddhist teacher of modern times. Of course, this perspective is not necessarily neutral or objective. I had the great fortune to live with him at Suan Mokkh for the final nine years of his life - nine years which were the most significant of mine. I lived there in order to study and train with him, a richly inspiring and joyful experience... »  [Read full text]

PHATARANAWIK Phatarawadee. (2013, May 23). Dharma in the darkroom: Alarmed that people were worshipping his portrait, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu exposed the camera's real magic. The Nation. Retrieved from www.nationmultimedia.com

« Modern digital programs make it quite literally a snap to modify photos. You want a triple exposure? Just click. But back in the days before pixels, photographic film and chemicals were involved and considerable skill and patience were needed in the darkroom. Camera buff Manit Sriwanichapoom of the Kathmandu Photo Gallery recalls this all too well, so he was astonished to discover that the venerable monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu used such techniques... »  [Read full text]

PHATARANAWIK Phatarawadee. (2017, May 22). In memory of a revered monk: The 111th anniversary of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu’s birth is marked in soil-based paint and mindfulness. The Nation. Retrieved from www.nationmultimedia.com

« If Buddhada Bhikkhu, Thailand’s most respected monk, were still alive, he would be happy to see that his engaged Buddhism is flourishing throughout Thailand and beyond. “Buddhism is a universal religion, It can be put into practice by everyone, of every age and era,” the venerable monk wrote in his popular book “Handbook for Mankind”. Had he lived beyond 1993, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu would be turning 111 this Saturday, May 27, a date his followers will commemorate... »  [Read full text]