Theravada · 1934–present
Ajahn Sumedho
Thai forest tradition · student of Ajahn Chah · The Gateway to the Deathless
A Western student of Ajahn Chah who translated the silence of the forest into the language of simple, clear presence.
The essence of the teaching: Awareness is not attained – it is the natural state you return to by letting go of concepts and conditioning. The gateway to the Deathless is attention to the present moment, opened through trust and relaxation.
Transmission
Ajahn Sumedho taught that the harder we try to become aware, the more obstacles we build for ourselves. Awareness is not somewhere ahead – it is already here, beneath the effort. Trust the present moment, relax, give attention. This is saddha – the faith that lets the mind release its grip. Listen to the silence behind the sounds – that fine ringing of stillness that is always present. Rest in it, and a state of mind opens that is wide, all-embracing, and undivided. This is not an escape from the world, but a clear knowing of it just as it is.
The full transmission — for members of the School. Here is its essence and its taste.
The tradition
Theravada
This wisdom is one voice within a living world of tradition. Enter it whole: the images, the lineage, the practices.
Enter the world of the tradition →Nearby in the tradition
The Masters section is growing. The School gathers the wisdom of ages into one living system. Support the launch →