The Charismatic Teachings of Luang Por : หน้า 6/47

Here is the extracted text from the image: Foreword In an attempt to give an insight into the charismatic approach and character of Luang Por, when confronted challenged by a question, even a question that may appear to dispute the point of his guidance and one that he has undoubtedly been asked many hundreds of times before, he transfixes the questioner's attention to concentrate on the answer that is given by characteristically and quizzically tilting his head slightly to one side, warmly smiling with an almost mischievous glint of delight at being asked the question, whilst simultaneously engaging a reassuringly assertive direct eye to eye contact before proceeding to answer with a generosity of spirit, to which even those most resistant to overcoming their own biases and ignorance cannot fail to succumb. His logical and reasoned address is always not only relevant to the subject matter but also appropriate for his pupils’ personal levels of understanding. Luang Por’s down-to-earth, matter-of-activ approach is revealed by the way he injects amusing or apposite anecdotes of his own life experiences when lecturing, to colour, illuminate and explain how he developed his own ethical foundations and teaching skills, plus the sources of inspiration that led to his ordination as a Buddhist monk and to his lifelong dedication to the purpose of his vows, which are to pass on the Dhamma to future generations. He recalls during his lecture on Training the Trainers, although not included in the main body of this book, that during his schooldays he started training others when he was in elementary class; he always wanted to share with others what he had learned. He gave them knowledge so that they could research by themselves; later they came back and shared with him what they had learned, and so his knowledge increased even more. When he met the much respected Buddhist nun Khun Yai Ajahn he saw how the team of which she was an important integral part wanted to take all beings to Nirvana. He was greatly attracted by this so he so he joined the team and became ordained. In the beginning Luang Por was neither sure nor confident of whether he would be able to teach to others the profound truth and wisdom of what he was learning, so he went to Khun Yai Ajahn to ask what he should teach them. She told him to ask himself this question: ‘Ever since you met me, what habits have Training the Trainers 10 you already corrected in yourself? When you find the answer to this, teach it to others.” She told him not to be a person who taught things out of a textbook, but to be a living example that other people could observe and follow. This implied that he could only teach properly that which he had learned and fully understood himself. Understanding what he had learned and applying it in his own life would give him the capacity, ability and confidence to impart it to others. Luang Por realized that the problems of the world are the same now as they were thousands of years ago and would continue to be the same however far into the future we might go. The problems stay the same: the world has greed, anger and delusion… even in the next million years the problems will remain the same. Nothing will change, except that the degree of greed, anger and delusion, plus the tools used in the name of greed, anger and delusion, will be different. Whatever we can teach that reduces greed, anger and delusion in the minds of people should be taught; when we teach how to decrease these, people will become happier and more peaceful. In answer to his question to Khun Yai Ajahn of ‘how should we teach?’, Luang Por learned that whichever teacher you have and consider to be effective you can copy or combine that teacher’s style with others and incorporate it into your own style, and that this is a self-improvement process that should be applied throughout life. The simple yet morally strengthening, discipline and habit-forming strictness exerted by his father on the way he was brought up is shared by Luang Por’s affection we when he was a young boy and started attending school. His family at that time resided on a fruit plantation and his father, being of a very kind and generous disposition, told him he could invite his friends to pick up fruits that had fallen from the trees. Luang Por duly invited his friends, but from afar his father was closely observing them and told him that the next time he invite his friends he should only invite those who were polite, not greedy, and good people with whom to be friends. Luang Por understood and respected his father’s good advice by being more selective in the nature of friends he invited on future occasions. Training the Trainers 11