The Vipassana of Phrassong Saiphra Ajarn Man Phurithatto
Chakard Wanapaiboon, Songkoon Chantachon, Somchai Wanlu
Asian Culture and History June 12, 2014 DOI: 10.5539/ach.v6n2p171 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that the Thai forest tradition of Ajarn Man Phurithatto centers on vipassana meditation and identifies eleven characteristics required of a suitable monk in that tradition. Proposes that three obstacles threaten the preservation of vipassana—decline of the natural environment, weak mentality in the clergy, and poor administration—and contends these may be overcome through greater role and responsibility from related government institutions. |
Abstract
The most influential student of Phra Ajarn Sao Kantasilo Mahathera was Phrassong Saiphra Ajarn Man Phurithatto. Ajarn Man, as he was commonly known, focused on the vipassana field and spent his time meditating in forests and caves. This paper analyses the Thai forest tradition of Phrassong Saiphra Ajarn Man Phurithatto with a focus on vipassana, or meditation. The article details the doctrine of Ajarn Man and his philosophy of meditation. Eleven requisite characteristics are identified for a suitable monk in the mould of Ajarn Man and three obstacles to the preservation of vipassana are discussed: decline of natural environment, weak mentality in the clergy and poor administration. The research concludes these three obstacles may be overcome with a greater sense of role and responsibility from related government institutions.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |