-1- Answers to Life’s Problems
~ By Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu ~
If you have any problem in your life, go see Ajahn Sawai at the Sculpture Studio in the southwest area of this Suan Mokkh. The Studio was where we sculpted the stone carvings displayed on the outside walls of the Spiritual Theater. We still call it by that name. Ajahn Sawai has a lot of worldly experience. He used to be a marketing salesman for the Singer Company, so he knows the art of talking and can answer questions, especially those of small children or young people. He wholeheartedly devotes his life to this activity, doing the work with persistence and great patience. I myself cannot do such work because I can get bored with it, but Ajahn Sawai is never tired of working for the young. This is a special characteristic which is praise-worthy. He can answer questions of the young, the teenagers, up to adults. If you cannot figure something out or have some disturbing problems, you can ask for his help. He will give you answers or suggestions to solve your life problems. You don’t have to believe me, but you can try and ask him for help. Those who have much life experience can give good answers because they have observed, seen, and fought a lot. They have much wisdom, being able to pass on their knowledge to others, and can be consultants for all kinds and all levels of life’s problems. So try to talk with him.
What Ajahn Sawai has done the most is for children, which are the most important part of humanity and the future of the world. The world is dictated by humanity. Whatever the children grow up to be describes the future of the world. Ajahn Sawai has done whatever he could do. Without showing off or overstating his ability, I can say that, even though he did not have a perfect score, he has achieved quite a lot. Some children changed their habits or had a good, safe concept to hold on to, making their parents happy. If anybody comes to ask me questions about life, I would have him or her see Ajahn Sawai. They can ask him any question, even if it is a personal or a rather secret one. So this is the first benefit of Suan Mokkh, namely, receiving answers to life questions.
(From "Benefits You Should Get from Coming to Suan Mokkh," a talk given by Tan Ajahn in December 1988 at the request of Tan Dutsadi Bhikkhu, as translated from the Thai by Aj. Mongkol Dejnakarintra.)
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“24 Benefits of Suan Mokkh,” is a series of weekly posts published to commemorate the 88th anniversary of the foundation of Suan Mokkh in May 1932 in Chaiya, southern Thailand.
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For other Dhamma teachings by Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu (audios, free ebooks, interviews, poems), please visit Suan Mokkh – The Garden of Liberation.
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Photograph from the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives collection (Ref. W-81)
