As Ajahn Chah would say, “Looking for certainty in that which is not certain you’re bound to suffer.” The nature of calm is that it comes and goes. The nature of the full moon is that it waxes and wanes. The Buddha called impermanence “the portal to the deathless.” When we start to align with refuge, when we commit ourselves to non-harming, that is a great blessing. Even greater and more fruitful is even for a few seconds to allow the mind to be kind, to open up and let our wellbeing include what’s around us. But one of the deepest blessings is holding in the mind the perception of change.
Kittisaro
Residential Retreat Teacher
Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Kittisaro graduated from Princeton as a Rhodes Scholar. After leaving Oxford in 1976, he ordained with Ajahn Chah in Thailand. During his 15 years as a Buddhist monk, he helped found Chithurst and Hartridge Monasteries in the UK. Since disrobing in 1991, he has taught meditation internationally in the States, Europe, South Africa, and Israel. Inspired and guided by Master Hsuan Hua and his disciples since 1980, he has extensively studied and practiced Chan, Pure Land, and the recitation of mantras. Dedicated to the unification of the Mahayana and Theravada teachings, Kittisaro is interested in how the two traditions balance and support one another. Having completed two year-long self retreats, he enjoys exploring embodied meditation, wise reflection, and the power of puja recitation. Kittisaro is a core teacher at Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts, guiding teacher of Chattanooga Insight in Tennessee, and a Core Teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. He is co-founder with his wife, Thanissara, of Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat in South Africa, and Sacred Mountain Sangha, a public charity in Sebastopol. He is co-author with Thanissara of Listening to the Heart: A Contemplative Journey to Engaged Buddhism.
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Kittisaro through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.