Venerable Buddhadasa Bhikkhu was born on Sunday 27, April BE. 2449 (1906) in the business family at Klang Village, Pumriang Subdistrict in Suratthani, in southern Thailand. He was named ‘Nguam’ of Mr Sieng and Mrs Kluan.Nguam went forth as a bhikkhu (Buddhist monk) in 1926, at the age of twenty. His religious name is Indapañño. Venerable Indapañño went to Bangkok to study the Dhamma and the Pali language. In BE. 2471(1928), he passed the highest level in Dhamma Studies (Nak Dham- Ek) and in BE. 2473 (1930) he passed three of the nine levels in Pali Studies. After a few years of study in Bangkok, which convinced him that "purity is not to be found in the big city," he was inspired to live close to nature in order to investigate the Buddha-Dhamma. During that time, he devoted himself to practise meditation along with studying the Buddhist scriptures. Afterwards in 1932, he established Suan Mokkhabalarama (The Grove of the Power of Liberation) near his hometown of Pum Riang (now in the Chaiya District). At that time, it was the only forest Dhamma Center and one of the few places dedicated to vipassana meditation in Southern Thailand. The monk ‘Buddhadasa Bhikkhu’ (A bhikkhu is a Servant of the Buddha) was known by his works and the Suan Mokkh temple aimed at introducing Buddhism to people in the nuclear age. His reputation has spread over the years so that he is easily described as "one of the most influential teachers in the Buddhist history of Siam."
Buddhadasa was not only a well-known meditation master, but also worked painstakingly to establish and explain the correct and essential principles of what he called "pristine Buddhism". He defined this as the original realization of the Lord Buddha before it was buried under commentaries, ritualism, clerical politics, and the like. His work was based on extensive research of the Pali texts (Canon and commentary), especially of the Buddha's Discourses (Sutta Pitaka), followed by personal experiment and practise with these teachings. Then he taught whatever he thought would truly quenche dukkha (dissatisfaction). His goal was to produce a complete set of materials for present and future research and practice. His approach in his books, pamphlets, articles, and talks was always scientific, straight-forward, and practical.
Although his formal education only went as far as ninth grade and beginning Pali studies, he was given five Honorary Doctorates by Thai universities. His books, both written and transcribed from talks, fill a room at the National Library and influence all serious Thai Buddhists. Doctoral dissertations are still being written about him and his legacy. His books can be found in bookstores around the country and are favourites as gifts at funeral rites.
Progressive elements in Thai society, especially the young, are inspired by his teaching and selfless example. Since the 1960's, activists and thinkers in areas such as education, ecology, social welfare, and rural development have drawn upon his teaching and advice. Most of the monks involved in nature conservation and community development were inspired by him. He provided the link between the scriptural tradition and engaged Buddhist practice today.
After the founding of Suan Mokkh, he studied all schools of Buddhism, as well as the other major religious traditions. This interest was practical rather than scholarly. He sought to unite all genuinely religious people in order to work together to help, as he put it, "drag humanity out from under the power of materialism." This broadmindedness won him friends and students from around the world, including Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs.
His last project was to establish an International Dhamma Hermitage Centre. This addition to Suan Mokkh is intended to provide facilities for:
Courses which introduce foreigners to the correct understanding of Buddhist principles and practice;
Meetings among Buddhists from around the world to establish and agree upon the "heart of Buddhism";
Meetings of leaders from all religions for the sake of increasing mutual understanding and cooperating to drag the world out from under the tyranny of materialism.
He also left instructions for a small monastery in which foreign monks may train as Dhamma-duta (Dhamma missionaries). It now functions under the name "Daun Kiam" or Suan Atammayatarama.
A similar facility for nuns, Thai & foreign, awaits the women who will make it happen. He called it Dhamma-Mata (Dhamma Mothers, those who give birth to others through Dhamma).
Buddhadasa died on 8 July BE. 2536 (1993) after a series of heart attacks and strokes that he kept bouncing back from in order to teach. The final stroke occurred as he was preparing notes for a talk to be given on his birthday in two days (27 May). Suan Mokkh carries on in the hearts and actions of all those who have been inspired and guided by his example and words. Suan Mokkh is not so much a physical place as it is the space of liberation that we all must discover in this very life.
