Luang Ta Maha Boowa Yannasampanno Wat Barn Tard
"Venerable Acharn Maha Boowa"
Luang Ta Maha Boowa Yannasampanno was born in Udornthani, North-east Thailand
in 1913. He became a monk in the customary way at a local monastery and went on
to study the Pali language and texts. He did, however, also start to meditate
at this time but had not yet found a suitable teacher. Then he caught sight of
the Ven. Acharn Mun and immediately felt that this was someone really special,
someone who obviously had achieved something from his Dhamma practice. After finishing
his Grade Three Pali studies' he therefore left the study monastery and
followed after Ven. Acharn Mun into the forests of N.E. Thailand. When he
caught up with Ven. Acharn Mun, he was told to put his academic knowledge to
one side and concentrate on meditation. And that was what he did; often going
into solitary retreat in the mountains and jungle but always returning for help
and advice from Ven. Acharn Mun. He stayed with Ven. Acharn Mun for seven
years, right up until the Ven. Acharn's passing away.
The vigour and uncompromising determination of his Dhamma
practice attracted other monks dedicated to meditation and this eventually
resulted in the founding of Wat Pa Bahn Tahd, in some forest near the village
where he was born. This enabled his mother to come and live as a nun at the
monastery.
Ven. Acharn Maha Boowa is well known for the fluency and
skill of his Dhamma talks, and their direct and dynamic approach. They
obviously reflect his own attitude and the way he personally practised
Dhamma.This is best exemplified in the Dhamma talks he gives to those who go to
meditate at Wat Pa Bahn Tahd. Such talks usually take place in the cool of the
evening, with lamps lit and the only sound being the insects and cicadas in the
surrounding jungle. He often begins the Dhamma talk with a few moments of
stillness-this is the most preparation he needs-and then quietly begins the
Dhamma exposition. As the theme naturally develops, the pace quickens and those
listening increasingly feel its strength and depth.
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| LT Maha Boowa Respected and Visited by King Rama 9 |
The formal Dhamma talk might last from thirty-five to sixty
minutes. Then, after a more general talk, the listeners would all go back to
their solitary huts in the jungle to continue the practice, to try to find the
Dhamma they had been listening about-inside themselves.
Luangta Maha Bua Yanasampanno passed away early Sunday
31-01-2011y (2554). He was 98 years old. His followers at Wat Pa Ban Tad in
Udon Thani said the abbot of the temple died at 3.53 am
