Buddhadāsa on Everythingness

I'm starting a new substack that will post new translations as able

I translated hundreds of hours of Dhamma talks and conversations for Ajahn Buddhadāsa during the years I lived at Suan Mokkh. I also recorded hundreds of hours of private interviews with him. Over the years, many people have asked my to translate this or that book of his; I was able to satisfy a few of these requests. Ajahn Buddhadāsa himself only once asked me to translate something, his opus Kaivalyadharma, a series of thirteen lectures exploring kevalatā, wholeness/everythingness, Nature, God, Dhamma.

This work was his most significant attempt to generate "mutual good understanding among religions" in hopes that they would cooperate peacefully in "dragging the world out from under the power of materialism and selfishness." For decades, he had been Thailand’s most significant voice for inter-religious understanding and cooperation. He befriended Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Taosists, Jews, Humanists, and others. In his later years, he frequently spoke of World Peace believing that the most important means to peace was for religions to stop competing and fighting; engage in sincere, profound dialogue; and cooperate for the benefit of all humanity and all beings.

I finally began to translate Kaivalyadharma more than a year ago, after surviving another encounter with aggressive lymphoma, figuring the time I have left is most uncertain. That effort was interrupted by other life changes but I’m now able to restart. As I go, I will post occasional passages here. I hope they wet your appetite and support contemplation of the important themes he contemplates. May we contribute to the fruition of his wise wishes.

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