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Obituary
Venerable Ajahn Tate (Phra Rajanirodharangsee) 1902-1994
Obituary Venerable Ajahn Tate (Phra Rajanirodharangsee) 1902-1994 Venerable Ajahn Tate died on 17th December, aged 92. Although he was born in a remote and impoverished region of Thailand, his great knowledge and experience in Dhamma in both calm and insight meditation brought him prominence and deep respect throughout Thailand and, to a lesser extent, overseas.
His devoutly Buddhist family lived in a wilderness area of NE Thailand favoured by the tudong meditation monks, disciples of Ven. Ajahn Mun. One of their leading Ajahns - Ven. Ajahn Singh Khantayagamo - came through the boy Tate's village and he joined the party in their wanderings through the jungle.
During the time he was a novice he studied and meditated, and in 1923, became a bhikkhu with the name Phra Tate Desarangsee. (The king of Thailand later conferred several ecclesiastical titles on him, the last one being Ven. Phra Nirodharangsee.) He was one of the first generation of forest monks to train under Ven. Ajahn Mun, and with such guidance his meditation developed and he became a Teacher in his own right. His tudong wanderings took him through the forests and mountains of Thailand, from the hill-tribe areas of the far north to the south, where he was a pioneer in teaching Dhamma. His final years were spent back in NE Thailand, where he built several forest monasteries.
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Some of the first overseas Buddhists visiting Thailand became disciples of Ven. Ajahn Tate. They were drawn by his manifest wisdom and by his serene and noble presence. Wat Hin Mark Peng, his monastery on the bank of the River Mekhong in Nongkhai Province, was well known to Westerners seeking a place to practise Dhamma, either as a lay person or monk.
When he was in his mid-seventies he travelled to other SE Asian countries and on to Australia to encourage the local Buddhists and inspired many people to visit him in Thailand.
Even though he always lived in forest monasteries far from the city, his influence reached people from every background, from royalty and the wealthy to the ordinary villager in rural areas. He drew them all towards Dhamma.
Venerable Ajahn Tate's heritage to us lives on in the monks and lay people he taught, the many monasteries for Dhamma practice he established (and the schools and other social projects), and his Dhamma books some of which have been translated into English.
We can offer our respect to a life so well lived by taking up his advice and practising Dhamma.
Nuns Ordination; Amaravati
Sunday, May 14th; The ceremony begins at 1:30 pm.
All are welcome to attend the ceremony in which Anagarika Laura and Anagarika Sheila will receive the Going-Forth (Pabbajja), and be accepted into the Order of Siladharas.
If you require overnight accommodation please contact the guest nun or monk well in advance.
Kendal Book Request:
Have you a spare copy a copy of The 4 Foundations of Mindfulness (by Ven. U Silananda, Wisdom Pub) that you could donate to the library?
Please write to:
Buddhist Group of Kendal, c/o Fellside Alexander Sch., Low Fellside, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4NJ
Amaravati Opportunities:
Project Manager and Site Maintenance Officer.
The construction of the new meditation hall will require a full-time, professional Project Manager for one year, from late May 1995. We will liaise with our architects to appoint suitable person. We are open to a variety of arrangements. On a longer term, but more routine basis, we are seek a person to act as Site Maintenance Officer. Responsibilities would include implementing and refining maintenance plans, researching renovation and renewal works, supervising contractors and voluteers, etc. There would also be occasions for hands-on work. We are open to a variety of arrangements.
To register your interest in either of the above, write with your CV c/o Trust Secretary, Amaravati.
New Group; North-West London:
Working with the Heart: Buddhist Meditation & Womens Spirituality.
Loving-kindness workshops for women; combining awareness practice with Western psychotherapeutic approaches.
Tel: 0171 703-2599, or 0171 272-5738
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