Teachers I have known, and remembered (0001) AB

 I could write a whole book talking about the teachers I have had in my life.  One of the most memorable ones was AB.   He was a meditation teacher, a Des Moines psychologist by profession.  I used to drive from Ames where I was living and working to Des Moines to sit with his meditation group.  It met once a week on a Thursday or Tuesday night, can't remember exactly.  The group of about 15 met at one of the member's houses.  It was a nice area of Des Moines, and all of the other meditators were older than me, in their 50's and 60's.

If I recall correctly we meditated for a couple of 30 minutes session and read from a book called Old Path White Clouds for about 30 minutes in between the two sittings.  One individual would spontaneously volunteer to read a few paragraphs and then somebody else would begin reading where they left off.  I remember the copy of the book looking worn and tattered.  Over the years they had read the book from beginning to end a few times. 

 That was back in the 1990's.  Last year in 2022 Thich Nhat Hahn passed away at the ripe old age of 95.   I recently  purchased the book online and am now reading it again.  It is written in deceptively simple language, even a ten year old could understand, yet it is quite comprehensive in that it covers the complete life of the Buddha, and his teachings.  My copy of Old Path White Clouds has 599 pp and 81 chapters. 




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Chapter 1

The Buddha has attained enlightenment and now has 400 followers living at Deer Park Monastery.   

A young boy, about ten years old, named Svasti lives in a village and tends the waterbuffalo to help support his family.  His parents  died and he has become the head of the family.  Svasti has a gentle easy going nature.  He has brothers and sisters that he takes care of.  He meets the Buddha one day and wants to join the Sangha but the Buddha does not allow young children to join.  He promises to come back when Svasti is older.

Now, 10 years later, the Buddha returns to collect Svasti and invite him to join the monastery.  Svasti is 21 years old and meets the Buddha's son Rahula (18 years old) who spends three days teaching Svasti the ways of the Sangha.  Svasti learns how to walk, sit, greet others, do walking and sitting meditation, and observe his breath.  


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