Thai Forest Dhamma

in the tradition of Lungphu Mun Bhuridatto

and his western disciples

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Talks from Ajahn Martin

This website now contains all of Ajahn Martin's recorded talks in English and German (a few in Thai and in French).

Most of the talks were given to laypeople at Baan Taad Forest Monastery who wished to receive instruction on Dhamma and meditation.
Most of the newer talks (from 2013 onwards) were given to newly ordained western monks. The talks are preserved exactly as they were originally given – they have not been cut or corrected. For that reason, they should not be transcribed or translated into another form without Ajahn Martin's written consent.

If you have any questions about the content of the talks, please send an email to th.forest.dhamma@protonmail.com.

Back to All Talks

Date Title Description Album Duration
31-12-08 The practice of asubha
Dhamma Talk 41.2
26-12-08 Fear is our enemy disguised as a friend
Have moral fear of doing unwholesome actions. This is a positive approach to fear whereas in negative sense, people with “fear” tend to avoid fearful situations but the more one does it, the more one tends to meet or get caught in fearful situations. To quote Luangta: “Fear is an enemy in disguise as a friend and makes one do all wrong things”
Dhamma Talk 46.53
3-10-08 Our fear of … drives us to do the wrong thing life after life
The fear of insecurity drives one to do the wrong thing life after life. Fear of being alone, fear of not being accepted etc. That’s the reason the Lord Buddha advises one to go on practice alone, to understand and finally overcome fear.
Dhamma Talk 48.18
1-10-08 The Practice of samadhi
Dhamma Talk 36.11
28-09-08 It is far better to die then to give in or up
Be patient, whatever comes into your sense contacts will cease, so do not fall into kilesa’s trap. Beware! Whatever situation, if it is kilesa, do not believe- Gun them down or reverse gear- go against their ways, wish or flow. Question them and challenge them- “It is better to die than to give up or give in” Use death because the kilesas are afraid of death. Try it out. Many great masters encourage and said it is a skillful method to counteract & fight the kilesas.
Dhamma Talk 37.26
26-09-08 Where there’s a will, there is a way ...
If one put in whole-hearted effort one gets whole result, if one puts half hearted effort, one gets half results.
Dhamma Talk 33.3
18-09-08 Do I really want to go thru this life after life…?
If your practice slackens, reflect about your life - your struggle with past experiences such as illness, or during difficult time and no one comes to “offer an umbrella” to protect you, no one to truly understand you. Ask this Golden question, “Do I want to go throught this life after life?”
Dhamma Talk 46.28
14-09-08 Finding the underlying causes for our kamma
Nothing happens by chance, it is due to kamma. When caught in an unpleasant situation, one should reflect and dig into the heart to find the character tendencies that causes one’s kamma. The simple living in the forest is praised by the Lord Buddha for anyone wishing to practice simplicity. One must dig into the heart not once but many times to find our own character tendencies. By understanding, one be aware to apply sati and panna to weaken and finally uproot the character tendencies. When one is caught in a difficult situation, take the opportunity to reflect and gain insight in the working of kamma. One has to endure it and go throught the sufferings and pains be it mental and bodily due to the past or present actions.
Dhamma Talk 36.07
12-09-08 The power of sexual desire ...
The power of sexual desire is like a hot storm and turns whatever it blows to desert. Beware! Because our attachment to views and opinions and self conceit can kill the practice.
Dhamma Talk 52.18
11-09-08 Using Greed and Hate to attack the kilesas
Raga tanha- use asubha practice to overcome it. “Go on reverse gear of kilesa”. Be greedy for calm. Be greedy for practice and direct your anger against kilesa, it's is a very powerful skill and a good tool to use against the kilesas. The great masters advise it, because anger is a big ball of energy if directed against the kilesas. It is a skillful mean to give the kilesas a “blow”.
Dhamma Talk 47.57
10-09-08 Our sole and fiercest enemy is the kilesas
Dhamma Talk 38.54
7-09-08 Waging war against the World within us
Forest Dhamma is waging war against kilesa and the whole world. The world within “us” Ajahn mentioned that Luangta is not in favor of doing construction works etc. except focusing in dhamma practice. To Luangta, a practitioner should devote time, energy and whatever resources one has to do sitting and walking meditation. As for our daily tasks such as sweeping, cleaning up oneself one does it quickly and quietly, so more time is devoted to sitting and walking meditation.
Dhamma Talk 47.56
17-08-08 The remedy for dukkha lies only in the heart
The remedy of dukkha is only in the heart not outside in the world of senses.
Dhamma Talk 31.16
8-06-08 Teach the citta to see the dukkha of the body
Investigation of the body to teach the citta the dukkha of the body and to truly understand the essence of dukkha that Lord Buddha declares in the four Noble Truths.
Dhamma Talk 42.44
28-05-08 The ways of samadhi
Dhamma Talk 18.22
20-05-08 Dhamma Talk to Monks on 20th May 2008
Talk given to monks.
Dhamma Talk 70.02
18-05-08 Dhamma Talk to Monks on 18th May 2008
Talk given to monks.
Dhamma Talk 44.29
29-04-08 Breaking down our world in basic building blocks
We create our own world therefore we need to break down all phenomena to theirs basic blocks be it the 5 khandas, the 4 elements or dukkha, anicca and anatta.
Dhamma Talk 30.32
27-04-08 The roller coaster of life
Dhamma Talk 53.1
9-04-08 Be an everlasting tourist or become a spiritual warrior?
Do you want to be an everlasting tourist, spiritual seeker or spiritual warrior? The choice is yours.
Dhamma Talk 37.59
8-04-08 The universal language: the language of the heart
Acquire skill in listening to the citta- the language of citta, Conventional language as mentioned by Ajahn Mun to his disciples in the book Patipada has its limitation. Each and every one of us has symbol and sign to denote the meaning of words. Due to that, conventional language cannot convey the clear understanding and such is the drawback. Whereas the language of the citta is universal. Be it the communication between 2 or even hundreds or thousands, or beings of different realms, the language of citta being universal is also to be fully understand and apprehend without any misunderstanding. Therefore, if a practitioner wishes to progress well, acquiring and mastering the language of the citta is crucial.
Dhamma Talk 34.3
7-04-08 Massage our heart or break out of samsara-vatta?
Do you want to come to Wat Pa Baan Taad to massage your heart or to break out of samsara-vata? Reflect, the choice is yours.
Dhamma Talk 39.21
20-01-08 Sila, Samadhi and panna goes hand in hand
Sila & panna and samadhi must work together closely as one practice. It is a good method for one to do review/retrospectives and do reflection on one’s practice.
Dhamma Talk 36.24
13-01-08 The practice of mind your own business
The purpose of the practice is to clean and purify one’s heart not others. Stop judging or criticizing others. It’s none of our business. Remember the practice is to clean one's own heart, so don’t waste time and let the citta leak out to asava by judging and criticizing others. Luangta also has the same teaching and this is also Luangta mode of practice, mind your own business.
Dhamma Talk 32.42
8-01-08 The four Noble Truths
Dhamma Talk 49.19
6-01-08 Mindfulness on the movements of the body
Mindfulness on all movements (bodily movement & the “inner body”). Ajhan explains how one can break up a task e.g. sweeping – with mindfulness focused on the movement of the various parts of bones or muscles while performing the task of sweeping with sati and the sweeping is not there – what left is just an awareness of the various bones or muscles movement. Such practice is especially useful if one has a certain dislike for tasks such as sweeping. But with sati rightly established- the sweeping disappears. The like or dislike of this or that task also evaporates. Try it up and experience it for yourself.
Dhamma Talk 38.44
2-01-08 Cutting down sensual/sexual desire
Investigation of body is crucial for cutting down sexual desire (ie raga tanha) It is because of raga tanha that we are born again and again. Raga tanha can be manifested in many ways not just sexual desire – love for power or wealth is also a form of raga tanha. Love to express oneself be it bodily or speech is also another manifestation of raga tanha.
Dhamma Talk 28.5