Translators

Santikaro

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Santikaro (Robert Larson) lived at Suan Mokkh between 1985 and 1999. Having arrived with a Thai language background from four years of service in the U.S. Peace Corps, he was soon put to work translating as well as helping to look after foreign visitors. When Ajahn Buddhadasa began giving lectures to foreign retreatants, Santikaro Bhikkhu was trained to render these lectures into English. His ability to do so was aided by Ajahn Buddhadasa’s advice and support, who also guided him in leading many of the meditation retreats at Suan Mokkh International Dharma Hermitage. For ten years, Santikaro Bhikkhu was acting Abbot of Suan Atammayatarama (or Dawn Kiem), a small training compound for foreigners next to Suan Mokkh International. He returned to the United States in 2000. There, he established Liberation Park, a Dhamma refuge offering guidance in studying and practicing Buddha-Dhamma in line with Ajahn Buddhadasa’s teaching (www.liberationpark.org). He retired from the monkhood in 2004 and is currently married. Liberation Park moved to rural Wisconsin in 2006 and is slowly building facilities to serve Dhamma students in the Upper Midwestern USA.

Adapted from:

  • Buddhadasa Bhikkhu. (1997). Mindfulness with Breathing: A Manual for Serious Beginners. USA: Wisdom Publications. p.159.

Santikaro has been the most active translator and editor of Ajahn Buddhadasa’s teachings with many on-going English translation projects. He has also served a coordination role among translators of European languages. Some of his major translated works include the following titles:

  • Mindfulness with Breathing - A Manual for Serious Beginners (revised 1997) Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree (revised & edited 1994)

  • Keys to Natural Truth (1988)

  • Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's Ethical Poems from Ethical Calendars 1998-2003 (2006)

  • It All Depends: dependent co-arising you can practice (forthcoming in 2015)

  • Forest Wat, Wild Monks in Dok Mokkh International Dhammasara - May 1999 Issue (1999)

  • Happiness and Hunger in Evolution/Liberation No. 2 (1987)

  • From the Lord Buddha's Mouth in Evolution/Liberation No. 2 (1987)

  • Why Vipassana? in Evolution/Liberation No. 3 (1988)

  • Dhamma is Duty, Duty is Dhamma in Evolution/Liberation No. 3 (1988)

  • The Prison of Life in Evolution/Liberation No. 4 (1990)

  • The Style of Practice at Suan Mokkh Part I in Evolution/Liberation No. 4 (1990)

  • Dawnings: May We Leave You this Legacy in Evolution/Liberation No. 4 (1990)

  • Free Is Now in Evolution/Liberation No. 4 (1990)

  • Right Speech From His Own Lips in Evolution/Liberation No. 4 (1990)

  • Nibbana For Everyone in Evolution/Liberation No. 5 (1991)

  • Anatta & Rebirth in Evolution/Liberation No. 5 (1991)

  • Contemplation of Impermanence - The Fourth Tetrad Dhammanupassana-satipatthana in Evolution/Liberation No. 5 (1991)

  • No Religion (revised 1993)

  • Message of Truth from Suan Mokkh - Comments on Education

  • Message of Truth from Suan Mokkh - Kamma in Buddhism

  • Message of Truth from Suan Mokkh - Let's Become A Buddhadasa

  • Message of Truth from Suan Mokkh - Nibbana for Everyone

  • Message of Truth from Suan Mokkh - Single Solution for All of the World Problems

  • Thoughts & Experiences (translated with Poonsiri Phanumphai, 2003)