The Sound of Silence: The Selected Teachings of Ajahn Sumedho

I have been fortunate enough to have met and spent time with Ajahn Sumedho. This collection of some of his teachings is a gem. He offers insight, not through complex Buddhist theology or intricate practice, but using everyday experiences as a way to 'see' the mischief of the ego that seeks distraction and chaos. With a steady, often humorous, style of 'talk' he gently guides us toward an understanding of the silence that we can achieve with application rather than slavery. If you cannot meet him, this book will give you a real human feel for the style and wisdom of his Dhamma talks.

This is a worthy compilation of Ajahn Sumedho's teachings. It was originally a free book called "Intuitive Awareness" filled with talks geared towards the monastic community of the early Western Forest Sangha but this book has talks geared towards lay retreatants as well so you can't go wrong with this. Ajahn Sumedho is very unconventional for a Theravada monk in terms of his teaching style and the things he emphasizes but his methods are no joke. He has proven himself over and over to be the real deal and the upaya(skillful means) he brings to Western Buddhists in this book are not to be scoffed at. This is really a great book that can be opened up again and again by beginners and seasoned Buddhist meditators alike. This is not for scholars unless you want to put aside your assumptions, sit down and meditate. There are plenty of scholarly books on Buddhism but nothing Ajahn Sumedho puts out is what you are looking for.

Ajahn Sumedho is practical and down to earth as he offers encouragement to take refuge in awareness of the way things are in the present moment, whether it means being aware of the neutral, of joy, or of confusion or aversion. There is a distinct shift between being lost in an emotion and in being aware of the way it is. He covers a wide range of material often coming back to the creation of a sense of an unchanging self and to the realization that all things are always happening in the present - whether we are caught up in planning for the future or worrying about the past. As was said in Richard Smith's review, this book includes all the material in the dana book Intuitive Awareness, plus some additional chapters. In keeping with the Thai forest tradition, Ajahn Sumedho's talks are not planned out in advance, so there is a conversational feel to them, as though you were sitting in on an evening talk at a retreat. [...] This is by far my favorite book. He has a way of getting right to the heart of things, and of helping me to see that there is no particular situation or mental state needed for mindfulness - just a willingness to trust in awareness instead of changing conditions.

The bulk of this book comes from "Intuitive Awareness", a free publication book published by Amaravati Publications (Amaravati being the monastery where Ajahn Sumedho lives). This Wisdom publication makes Ajahn Sumedho's teaching in "Intuitive Awareness" available to a wider audience than just those who visit Amaravati or the other monasteries associated with Ajahn Sumedho. The clarity, wisdom, humor and (above all) practicality of Ajahn Sumedho's teaching usually come as a surprise to those not familiar with him. This is not a book of esoteric or metaphysical mumbo-jumbo. It is, instead, the deep insight and wisdom of a Buddhist monk who has dedicated his life to discovering the immediacy of Ultimate Truth and who is sharing with us his knowledge and wisdom as he encourages us along the Path. There are many, many spiritual books offering helpful (and not-so-helpful) guidance. Very, very few offer the practical, non-proselytizing guidance and wisdom found in "The Sound Of Silence."