The Skill of Release

The Skill of Release – Teachings of Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo.This book is written to be read for reflection, a little at a time. Many of the short passages, in particular, will reveal their meaning after repeated thought. Some of the passages will challenge many current ideas on how a Dhamma practitioner ought to communicate. As Ajaan Lee cautioned his listeners, Dhamma teachings should not be accepted or rejected right off hand. Instead, they should be listened to with an open mind and then put to the test in experience to see if they can help uncover unwitting preconceptions. The Skill of Release consists of teachings on two major themes. The first, which has provided the book with its title, is Ajaan Lee’s frequent portrayal of Buddhism as a skill. This skill involves mastery not only of the techniques of meditation, but also of adroit ways of viewing the world and events in daily life so that one can gain freedom from the burdens that the unskillful mind places on itself. This approach culminates in what he calls the skill of release, the awareness that brings about the mind’s total liberation. The second theme concerns the central role that breath meditation plays in developing this skill. For Ajaan Lee, Buddhist doctrines show their true meaning only when one refers them to the practice of keeping the breath in mind.

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The Skill of Release

Who was Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo?

Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo, also known as Chao Khun Bodhiñāṇo or Phra Ajaan Lee, was a Thai Buddhist monk and teacher of the Theravada tradition. He was one of the most influential teachers of the 20th century and is known for his emphasis on the practice of vipassana (insight meditation) and his development of the “Dhamma-Vinaya” method, which combines the study and practice of the Dhamma (Buddhist teachings) with the Vinaya (the code of monastic conduct).

Ajaan Lee was born in Ubon Ratchathani province in Thailand in 1907 and ordained as a monk in 1924. He spent many years practicing and teaching in the forests of Thailand and was considered a master of vipassana meditation. He was a direct student of the famous meditation master Ajaan Mun Bhuridatta. He wrote several books on meditation and Buddhism, including “The Autobiography of Phra Ajaan Lee” and “The Heart of Buddhist Meditation” which are considered classics of Buddhist literature.

Ajaan Lee’s teachings had a major influence on the development of the ThAjaan Mun Bhuridattaai Forest Tradition, and many of his students went on to become respected teachers in their own right. He passed away in 1961. His teachings are still widely practiced and studied by many people around the world.