Unexpected Freedom

Profoundly SimpleDhamma. He grew to be – along with Ajahn Chah – one of thepre-eminent leaders of Thai Buddhism, eventually establishingand living at Hin Mark Peng monastery. At the time of my visitto Thailand, he was residing in nearby Wat Tum Karm, themountain cave monastery of the late Ajahn Fun. I considermyself extremely fortunate to have spent the first months ofmy monastic life with him, before I came to live under theguidance of Venerable Ajahn Chah.When I first went to stay with Ajahn Tate he was seventyfourand had recently been diagnosed with leukaemia.Eighteen years later, he was miraculously still offeringguidance to anyone who sought his help. So with no smallamount of joy and anticipation I joined the party travellingthe few hours north to pay their respects. ‘‘What shall I givehim? Will he remember me?” – such excited thoughts,memories about the hard time I’d had in those early years,and a child-like anticipatory delight filled my mind.Even at the time I’d lived with him he had had a beautifulgrandfatherly appearance. Now, at ninety-three, he had littlephysical strength left, yet his eyes shone, his quiet highpitchedvoice was clear and his skin glowed. I choked withtears as I bowed in respect and gratitude. Although normallyI was quite able to communicate adequately in Thai, I neededone of the other monks to express my intense joy at seeinghim again. He didn’t recognise me and it didn’t matter as I satat his feet again. “How amazing!” I thought to myself, “Allthose years ago, I struggled so much in my new life as a forestmonk, enduring the furious inner fires, yet here I am feelingsuch happiness! How wonderful!”Ajahn Tate had been the meditation teacher of my preceptorSomdet Nyanasamvara of Wat Bovornives inBangkok, and I’d been introduced to his teachings in theform of printed translations. When I happened to meet3