Simple Teachings on Higher Truths by Ajahn Anan, the current abbot at the Wat Marp Jan monastary in Thailand . From the intro:
“The mind has been spinning all morning, trying to work everything out. We would like to get on with our meditation, but need to resolve this first. It’s about the practice. Meditating seems harder these days: less remarkable, less relaxing. Lately there’s been a lot of uninvited thinking going on. Something has been drudging up worries, possibilities, old memories, song lyrics…. Hadn’t we gone beyond all this? Nevermind, though. We probably just need a change of scene.”
Download the book here (151 pages):
Simple Teachings on Higher Truths by Ajahn Anan
Who is Ajahn Anan?
Ajahn Anan Akinasamo is a prominent Thai Buddhist monk and a disciple of the revered Ajahn Chah. Born in 1954 in Saraburi province, Thailand, he ordained as a monk in 1975. Ajahn Anan is known for his deep meditation practice and profound understanding of the Dhamma, the teachings of the Buddha.
He established Wat Marp Jan, a forest monastery in Rayong Province, Thailand, which has become a center for meditation and the study of the Buddha’s teachings. Under his guidance, the monastery emphasizes strict adherence to the monastic code (Vinaya), meditation practice, and the cultivation of wisdom and compassion.
Ajahn Anan is respected for his ability to teach meditation in a clear and practical manner, making the teachings accessible to both monastics and laypeople. His teachings often focus on the development of mindfulness, concentration, and the cultivation of inner peace and understanding. He has a large following in Thailand and internationally, with many of his talks and books being translated into various languages.
As a disciple of Ajahn Chah, Ajahn Anan continues the tradition of the Thai Forest Tradition, a lineage of Theravada Buddhism known for its simplicity, adherence to monastic discipline, and the practice of meditation in natural surroundings. His teachings and the community he has built at Wat Marp Jan reflect his deep commitment to the Dhamma and the monastic way of life.
