Venerable Father: A Life with Ajahn Chah Paperback – Special Edition, September 15, 2004

I've bought and read both Being Dharma and Still Forest Pool, and enjoyed them very much. But Venerable Father is far superior to them in giving this soft American a real idea of what it was like studying under and living with Ajahn Chah. I both envy Paul Breiter for his experience, and am really glad it was him rather than me going through it! :)But seriously, this humble yet assured voice resonates throughout the book. Yes, it is the skill and compassion of Luang Por that is responsible for the quality of much of the book, but truly Breiter's frank evaluations of his experiences during and after life as a forest monk makes this much different from other, more traditional memoirs that I have read. I'm not saying that he's enlightened with a capital E, but during the course of the book the training (when fully followed, as Ajahn Chah taught) seems to automatically make the monks into more awake, more compassionate, less suffering people. The importance of even trivial-sounding Vinaya rules becomes apparent, and thus Chah's way is illuminated.The sections of the book after he disrobes are even better. You can take the monk out of the forest (and his robes), but you can't take the forest out of the monk. These chapters were poignant and in some cases very funny indeed. Ajahn Chah's total intuitive understandng, and effortlessly devastating criticism, of Mahayana double-talk was especially amusing. For instance, to the Mahayana claim that we don't need to do anything to improve because our nature is originally perfect, when he says that's like saying if you put sh*t on a silver platter, you don't need to clean it before eating from it because the platter was originally clean! But all the time he is understanding totally how Mahayana, for all its linguistic troubles and even theological difficulties, is as dedicated to the path of freedom and compassion in its own very different way as is the Forest School.This book is a gift. It gives us the feeling of sitting at Luang Por's feet -- the wonder and the horror of it, a highly (even totally) awakened master teaching each student to match his or her understanding, and a mischievous old man pushing his monks to the very edge of sanity, or a little beyond. I know I wouldn't want him tugging on my robes and laughing while I was trying to give a first Dhamma talk in Thai, but it would have been amazing to know and love this man. Venerable Father is as close as any of us will come to Ajahn Chah, and we have Paul Breiter to thank for it. I'm incredibly inspired to ordain, even more than before. Scared, too, of course, but living under the Vinaya sounds like a pure and productive way to live.If you want to read Luang Por's words and get even more inspired, buy and read Being Dharma and Still Forest Pool, too!NOTE: Be sure to buy this book in the Paraview edition. There are other, unauthorized reprints out there, and this is a beautiful volume.

This is really a beautiful book, I nearly stayed up all night reading it. You here often times about books that the author really makes it feel like you're actually there, but wow - this one really made it felt like you were there, as Ajahn Chah as your own personal teacher. With witty humor, the author made Ajahn really come alive and touch the hearts of his readers.I definitely recommend this book, to followers of Ajahn Chah, to Buddhists, to beginners and to those who have never before touched dhamma in their lives - this piece is truly a gem!

I have just completed this book. It had a profound effect on me, as I experienced some of the events and knew some of the characters, including the author and the subject, Ahjan Chah. I was even mentioned in the book. Reading it was like attending a retreat as it brought back so many memories and re-awakened so many spiritual principles and desires. If anyone wants an inside look on the Buddhist monkhood and religion, I enthusiastically recommend this book. It had a transformative effect on my heart and stimulated me to do my practice more diligently and consistently. Thank you, Paul Breiter.

I got interested in learning more about Buddhism after a recent trip to Burma. I started with some basic books about The Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path along with some others. By-the-way, I found the books by Bhikkhu Bodhi superb in communicating the teachings. Somehow, I stumbled across the teachings of Ajahn Chah -- a Thai Forest monk/abbot in northeastern Thailand. I spotted this book, Venerable Father, in relation to Ajahn Chah. Paul Breiter, the author, became one of the early western monks who practiced under the teacher Ajahn Chah. I found it fascinating to read about the personal life and practice of a young Buddhist monk. I found Breiter's writing engaging -- a memoir style. He had a rough go of it, and he readily confesses to his struggles and complaints. Through one person's journey you get some of the cultural feel for the life of a monk -- and a Thai Forest monk at that -- much more ascetic apparently. I found the book engaging and recommend it if you are curious and interested about a monk's life and the challenges of a young western monk trying to decide if this is the life for him.

After learning about the late Ajahn Chah who influenced so many senior Buddhists and meditation teachers in the West, including Jack Kornfield, Ajahn Nyanadhammo among others, I wanted to learn as much about him as possible. The author writes in an easy-to-read conversational style his experience with him and about Luang Por Chah.I would recommend a sequel volume by the author, One Monk, Many Masters (2012) to those who like the current volume.

I was a monk in Burma, a monastic at one of the Ajahn Chah forest monasteries in the West, and have practiced at forest monasteries in Thailand (where this book is set) for a couple of months. This book has an excellent reputation within the tradition.

I heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Ajahn Chah and/or Buddhism and the Thai Forest Tradition. What shines through this well written and from the heart book is the humour, Luang Por Chah was most certainly in possession of a quite mischevious sense of humour, as well as true insight.

Wonderful entertaining biography into the life of a great Thai forest meditation master.

written lucdly

Ein wunderbares Buch: es gibt Einblick in die "Interna" der Waldmönche in Thailand. Man wird "mitgenommen" in die Welt der Theravada-Mönche, lernt einige ihrer Lebensgewohnheiten kennen und kann an ihren Nöten, Entbehrungen und der Art, wie sie mit den "Entsagungen" umgehen, teilhaben.Vor Allem aber lernen wir Ajahn Chah kennen, den berühmten und begnadeten Theravada-Lehrer.Sehr lesenswert!

I really enjoyed reading this book as it was an honest and simple account of one man's experience as a monk living with a renowned master. No frills, just told as he experienced it. It brought to light the struggles and doubts that he experienced even after five years as a monk. Sometimes it is possible to get a slightly distorted idea of what life might be like living as a monk with one of Thailand's greatest meditation masters. This account brings you back to reality but still presents the simplistic nature of true wisdom.

What a wonderful hidden gem I have just finished reading. At first, while reading the beginning of the book, I didn't like it because it contradicted my idyllic perceptions of what monastic life was like. But as I let go of those ridiculous incorrect perceptions I really started to love the book. My goodness those Thai Forest monks have it extremely tough! "Venerable Father" was such a fascinating read. It really painted a genuine picture of what Breiter experienced as a monk with such an important teacher as Ajahn Chan. Just awesome!

Paul Breiter, a former bhikkhu under Ajahn Chah and nowadays a Zen and Vajrayana practitioner, is known for his work in translating many dhamma talks by the great Thai master. In this book, mr. Breiter tells of his experience as a former Thai forest bhikkhu. The book provides many interesting anecdotes about Ajahn Chah and help give an idea of how the master was in everyday life, interacting with his disciples in a strict monastery setting. The most interesting stories come from after Breiter's disrobing and conversion to Zen however, and the humorous of the cuff reactions Ajah Chah had towards some of Breiter's attempt at a Mahayana sales pitch to him. Overall, the book is really more about Paul Breiter's experience than about Ajahn Chah though, as many passages depict mr. Breiter's wandering to branch monasteries, tudong practice or travelling. One small thing that I didn't think was very respectful however was the inclusion of Vajrayana guru worship passages at the beginning of each chapter. Guru worship is as far removed from the Thai forest tradition and Theravada in general as you could possibly get, so it seems a bit condescending to include this kind of material given the context. Still, anyone interested in learning more about Ajahn Chah will be well-served by this overall fine book.