Past Event – Dhamma Talk by Phra Ajahn Kanchit – Perfecting Our Citta Towards Liberation

Phra Ajahn Kanchit Suthijitto was born on 29 Mar 2491BE (1948) in Baan Nah Meung District, Sakorn Nakorn. His father passed on when he was very young, subsequently his mother had to work very hard to raise 6 children. Nevertheless, Phra Ajahn had the opportunity to study in the Teachers College in Sakorn Nakorn. Later on, he continued his studies at Srinakrintaraviroate in Bangkok. After graduating with a Diploma in Mathematics, Phra Ajahn taught in the Teachers Trainee College for 9 years.

During this time, Phra Ajahn demonstrated an interest in studying Buddhism and with that, he was practising vipassana Kammatthana in Wat Mahathat, Bangkok.

Then on, Phra Ajahn left his teaching career to continue his Mathematics study for an additional 2 years in Chulalongkong University in Bangkok and graduated with Bachelor Degree in Mathematics.

During his long university holiday, he ordained as a monks for 4 months at Wat Mahathat, where he by Phra Dhammatirarat Mahamuni (Tan Chao Khun Chodok) as his preceptor (Phra Upacaya). This short-term ordination was for Phra Ajahn to transfer merit for his late mother.

Then on, Phra Ajahn returned to teach for 4 years in order to pay back his education loan to the government. Phra Ajahn left his teaching vocation to ordain at Phu Nawat, Nakorn Phatom province. He practised vipassana at Vivek Arsom in Choburi. His practice and diligence gave him insight to understand the Dhamma phenomena. During the second year in the Arsom, Phra Ajahn was asked to teach vipassana but he felt inadequate while contemplating himself the means to end suffering. He then set his sights on further Dhutanga practice in his quest to end of suffering in this lifetime.

Phra Ajahn met many forest monks during his Dhutanga austerities practise but he felt there was a difference between Mahanikaya and Dhammayuta in terms of monastic code. He decided to disrobe and reordained as a Dhammayuta monk. He became ‘pakkhao’ for a 5 month period and was reordained by Luangpu Baen at Wat Doi Dhammachendi, Sakon Nakorn. He has now 29 vassa as Dhammayuta monk and a total of 36 vassa, inclusive of earlier ordination. Phra Ajahn has practised Dhamma and Vinaya with Luangpu Baen for 13 years. He then decided to practise alone while in seclusion in caves, cemeteries and forest. He made a firm resolution that if he progressed, he would stay on – If not, he would leave the place as he found it very trying, bored, lonely and above all, hot. He practised whole day and night to find a way to uproot defilements. He offered his life to practise until one fine day in November 2543BE(2000), he fully realised the Dhamma of the Sammasambuddhasa. For 4 months, his inner heart always recalled that he can also reach here like others. After he realised the Dhamma in this place, he set out a monastery named Wat Phu Mai How in a deep forest in Mukdahan province near Laos border.