“Eventually there will be Arahants in the West because Arahants arise from studying and practising the Buddha’s teachings not by performing rituals.”

The Teaching of Ajahn Suchart

24 March 2024

“Eventually there will be Arahants in the West because Arahants arise from studying and practising the Buddha’s teachings not by performing rituals.”

Question:  Ajahn Mun said that in the future, it is in the West that we will find Arahants. Ajahn Lee Dhammadaro also said that in the future, the true Dhamma will be found in the West. With many counterfeit Dhamma is currently being taught in the West, I am very surprised to hear about that. Could Ajahn comment about it?

Than Ajahn:  I have no comments about what the Ajahns said because I wasn’t there, so I don’t know the context in which they have said that. But I can say that maybe the Ajahns saw that there was quite a lot of interest in Buddhism in the West as compared to in Thailand.

In Thailand, people are more interested in the ritual aspects of Buddhism but not in the study of Buddhism or in the practice. The Ajahns saw that the foreigners who came to Thailand came here to study and to practise. So this might be the cause for them to say that. 

Eventually there will be Arahants in the West because Arahants arise from studying and practising the Buddha’s teachings and not by performing rituals. In Thailand most people are now attached to the rituals rather than the study of Buddhism and the practice.

By Ajaan Suchart Abhijāto
www.phrasuchart.com

Youtube: Dhamma in English
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_BnRZmNgECsJGS31F495g