Venerable Ajahn Dtun (Tirachitto) was born in the province of Ayutthaya, Thailand in 1955. At the age of six his family moved to Bangkok and he remained living there until June 1978.
From a young age he was a boy whose heart naturally inclined towards having a foundation in moral discipline. By the time he was a teenager and on into his university years there would be many small incidents that would fashion his life and gradually steer him away from the ways of the world towards wishing to live the Holy Life.
After graduating in March 1978 with a Bachelors degree in Economics, he was accepted into a Masters Degree course in Town Planning at the University of Colorado, U.S.A. However, in the period that he was preparing himself to travel abroad many small insights would amalgamate in force and change his way of thinking from wishing to take his studies as far as he could and then lead a family life, to thinking that after graduating he would remain single and work with the aim of financially assisting his father until the time was right for him to ordain as a monk. One evening he happened to pick up a Dhamma book belonging to his father which opened, by chance, at the last words of the Buddha: “Now take heed, monks, I caution you thus: Decline and disappearance is the nature of all conditions. Therefore strive on ceaselessly, discerning and alert!” Reading over this a second and then a third time the words resonated deeply within his heart causing him to feel that the time has now come to ordain knowing this was the only thing that would bring any true benefit to him. He resolutely decided that within tow months he would ordain as a monk and that his ordaining would be for life.
In June 1978, he travelled to the north eastern province of Ubon Ratchathani to ordain with the Venerable Ajahn Chan at Wat Nong Pah Pong. Resolute by nature and determined in his practice he was to meet with steady progress regardless of whether he was living with Ajahn Chah or away at any of Wat Nong Pah Pong’s branch monasteries. In 1981, he returned to central Thailand to spend the Rains Retreat at Wat Fah Krahm (near Bangkok) together with Venerable Ajahn Piak and Venerable Ajahn Anan. The three remained living and practicing together at Wat Fah Krahm until late 1984. At this time Venerable Ajahn Anan and Venerable Ajahn Dtun were invited to take up residence on a small piece of forest in the province of Rayong in Eastern Thailand. Seeing the land was unsuitable for long term residence, Ajahn Dtun chose another piece of land that was made available to them-a forested mountain that would later become the present day Wat Marp Jan.
After spending five years assisting Venerable Ajahn Anan in the establishing of Wat Marp Jan, he decided it was time to seek out a period of solitude so as to intensify his practice, knowing this to be necessary if he were to finally bring the practice of Dhamma to its completion. He was invited to practice on an 80-acre piece of dense forest in the province of Chonburi and remained in comparative isolation for two years until 1992 when he eventually decided to accept the offering of land for the establishing of a monastery-Wat Boonyawad. Presently, the monastery spreads over 160 acres of land, all kindly given by the faith and generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Boon and Seeam Jenjirawatana and family.
Since allowing monks to come and live with him in 1993, the Venerable Ajahn has developed a growing reputation as a prominent teacher within the Thai Forest Tradition, attracting between 40-50 monks to come and live, and practice, under his guidance.
For more information about Tahn Ajahn Dtun please visit Wat Boonyawad site at http://www.watboonyawad.com/new/
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Regarding the Ajahns diet preference, two Ajahns are vegetarian and the rest are non-vegetarian.
Ajahn Dtun has just recovered from third stage of cancer 2 years ago and is still on controlled diet.
As prescribed by his doctor, the food listed below are not suitable for his health:
1. Poultry, meat, seafood (fish is OK)
2. Animal by-product i.e. milk, yogurt, birdnest, chicken essence etc.
3. Beans (red / green bean, soya bean and any product made of bean)
4. Ginseng
5. Food that is too oily, sweet or salty
Remarks - Strictly NO PORK to be served at Ti-Ratana Penchala
Remarks - Strictly NO PORK to be served at Ti-Ratana Penchala
Devotees CAN still offer the above mentioned food to the rest of the Ajahns but they are encouraged to bring along some vegetarian food that is suitable for Ajahn Dtun's diet requirement.
According to Thai forest tradition, lay people do not touch the food once it is offered. The monks will help them self serving the food. (Once the food is touched, it has to be re-offered...)
Meal Dana should starts at 9AM unless otherwise agreed by the Ajahns.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
The Venerables observe a total of 227 rules. It is therefore of paramount importance that we as, the Lay Devotees, ensure that we conduct ourselves properly so that the Venerables do not breach any rules. Here we wish highlight the few rules which we as Lay Devotees can take note of:-
Dress Code
For male devotees : Long pants and shirt or T-shirt with shoulders covered.
For female devotees : Long pants or long skirt and shirt or T-shirt withshoulders
Covered
NO shorts, NO tank tops. NO transparent shirt or T-shirt. Three-quarter pant is not encouraged.
Handling of Money
The Venerables cannot handle money. If you wish to make any donation, please place your cash money in a red packet available in our shrine hall. Write down your name and ajahn’s name. Just place the red packet in front of Ajahn on the stage or table. The kapiya will then collect it on behalf.
Proximity with Female devotees
The Venerable Ajahns cannot be in any physical contact with Female devotees. In this respect, if any Female devotees wish to make any offering, the Venerable Ajahns will place a napkin in front of him to receive the offering. Please place your offering, be it the donation slip or a plate of food or a cup of drink on the napkin. If the Venerable Ajahn has no napkin with him, he may use a piece of tissue or any material he deem suitable at that time to receive your offering.
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