Upasika Kee was a uniquely powerful spiritual teacher. Evocative of the great Ajahn Chah, her teachings are earthy, refreshingly direct, and hard-hitting. In the twentieth century, she grew to become one of the most famous teachers in Thailand--male or female--all the more remarkable because, rarer still, she was not a monastic but a layperson. Her relentless honesty, along with her encouraging voice, is one reason so many contemporary Buddhist teachers recall Upasika Kee so fondly, and so often. With this book, readers seeking something reminiscent of the classic Mindfulness in Plain English can receive instruction on meditation practice as they become acquainted with the legacy of a renowned Buddhist figure. Pure and Simple, the first widely-available collection of her writings, will be gratefully received not only by those who knew Upasika Kee, but by anyone who encounters her for the first time in its pages.
====
Follow Author
Upasika Kee Nanayon
edit data
Upasika Kee Nanayon, also known by her penname, K. Khao-suan-luang, was arguably the foremost woman Dhamma teacher in twentieth-century Thailand.
Follow Author
Upasika Kee Nanayon
edit data
Upasika Kee Nanayon, also known by her penname, K. Khao-suan-luang, was arguably the foremost woman Dhamma teacher in twentieth-century Thailand.
Born in 1901 to a Chinese merchant family in Rajburi, a town to the west of Bangkok, she was the eldest of five children — or, counting her father's children by a second wife, the eldest of eight. Her mother was a very religious woman and taught her the rudiments of Buddhist practice, such as nightly chants and the observance of the precepts, from an early age.
In later life she described how, at the age of six, she became so filled with fear and loathing at the miseries her mother went through in being pregnant and giving birth to a younger sibling that, on seeing the newborn child for the first time — "sleeping quietly, a little red thing with black, black hair" — she ran away from home for three days.
This experience, plus the anguish she must have felt when her parents separated, probably lay behind her decision, made when she was still quite young, never to submit to what she saw as the slavery of marriage.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/th...
(less)
Kee Nanayon
Upasika Kee Nanayon (Thai: กี นานายน) or Kor Khao-suan-luang (ก. เขาสวนหลวง) was a Thai Buddhist upāsikā (devout laywoman) from Ratchaburi (1901 - 1978).[1] After her retirement in 1945, she turned her home into a meditation center with her aunt and uncle.[2] She was mostly self-taught, reading the Pali canon and other Buddhist literature.[3] Her dhamma talks and poetry were widely circulated. As word of her spread, she became one of the most popular female meditation teachers in Thailand. Many of her talks have been translated into English by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, who sees her as "arguably the foremost woman Dhamma teacher in twentieth-century Thailand".[3]
Publications[edit]
- Upasika K. Nanayon, An unentangled knowing: lessons in training the mind, Buddhist Publication Society, 1996.
- Upasika Kee Nanayon, Thanissaro Bhikkhu, Pure and simple: teachings of a Thai Buddhist laywoman, Somerville, 2005
- "Breath Meditation Condensed".
References[edit]
- ^ Donald K. Swearer, The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia, SUNY Press, 2010, s. 13.
- ^ Kassam, Zayn R. (2017). Women and Asian Religions. ABC-CLIO. p. 320. ISBN 978-0-313-08275-7.
- ^ a b Thanissaro Bhikkhu, Upasika Kee Nanayon and the Social Dynamic of Theravadin
===
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Upasika Kee (1901-78) was an extremely popular Buddhist teacher in Thailand, starting a retreat center in the hills outside Rajburi that still thrives today. In this rare collection of her writings, Upasika Kee displays relentless honesty in conveying her experience of, and devotion to, Dhamma practice. She says one must be uncompromising in one's dedication to upholding Buddhist precepts. To detach from ego-based thought, to persistently practice meditation and breath work, to tame the "monkey mind," these are the basics, and, in her opinion, the only road to awareness. According to Upasika Kee, without serious practice, one will never stop the suffering caused by the mental "defilements" that drive us. Readers just learning about Buddhism will find the book thought-provoking, but the real audience will be those already dedicated to Buddhist practice. Interestingly, Upasika Kee was self-taught, learning most of her practice from reading. It seems apropos for this book to be the means for other Buddhist devotees to follow suit. Janet St. John
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
=================
Review
"She is described as one of the foremost lay Buddhist teachers of the twentieth century, but many Western readers will be introduced to Upasika Kee Nanayon for the first time in Pure and Simple. Born in Thailand at the turn of the century, Upasika Kee gave up the family business in mid-life to found a forest retreat center, where she devoted herself to meditation and study until her death in 1993. Thanissaro Bhikkhu, an American who studied in the Forest Tradition for twenty years in Thailand, is a translator of Pali and Thai and here he turns his adept hand to Upasika Kee. She was a Buddhist from the old school who talked the talk and walked the walk. The book's title neatly summarizes the themes that run through many of these talks: keep it pure by staying away from defilements, and keep it simple by avoiding distractions. That's keeping it real, Upasika Kee-style." ― Shambhala Sun
"Upasika Kee teaches from her own experience in a voice that is clear and unwavering. Her devotion to liberation is apparent everywhere on these pages." -- Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Faith
"Wonderful news! These extraordinary teachings are now available for a wide readership. Upasika Kee presents Buddhadharma in a simple, direct and unadorned way. Profound insights and approaches to practice are delivered with a freshness that seems to be coming right out of her own meditations--right then and there." -- Larry Rosenberg, Senior teacher, Cambridge Insight Meditation Center and Insight Meditation Society, and author of Breath by Breath and Living in the Light of Death
"Delve deeper into your own spiritual practice with Pure and Simple, a translation of the teachings of Upasika Kee Nanayon, a Thai Buddhist laywoman and the foremost woman Dharma teacher of 20th-century Thailand." ― Body and Soul
"Upasika Kee broke through to complete inner peace. Here is one woman's universal achievement." -- Kate Wheeler, editor of Nixon Under the Bodhi Tree and Other Works of Buddhist Fiction
"Upasika Kee is a true 'dharma warrior.' Her teaching is always uncompromising and tough-as-nails. She always speaks the truth no matter what." -- Mu Soeng, author of Trust in Mind and The Diamond Sutra
Read more
Product details
Publisher : Wisdom Publications; 1st edition (May 15, 2005)
Language : English
Paperback : 252 pages
Pure and Simple: The Extraordinary Teachings of a Thai Buddhist Laywoman
byUpasika Kee Nanayon
Write a review
---------------
Valuehunter
5.0 out of 5 starsincredible life-changing book
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2018
Definitely one of the best books I've ever read.
Not for the faint of heart. the tone is very strict and harsh.
But I would highly recommend it to anyone who desires a very deep understanding of the meditative process
6 people found this helpful
---
Nomi Redding
3.0 out of 5 starsUseful Teachings, Slow Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2017
I am making my way through this book because there are some valuable teachings here, but it could have used tighter editing. The repetitive nature of talks given within a community does not lend itself well to the written word.
3 people found this helpful
----
----
TinyForest
5.0 out of 5 stars Straight to the Heart and Mind
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2009
Verified Purchase
Upasika Kee Nanayon was an excellent teacher. Without higher ordination available to her, she no less dedicated her life to the Dhamma Vinaya and through her persevering effort can point others along the same path.
This book is a Dhamma gem of lucid accessible brilliance. Clear and easy to understand, it is for those who are ready to work on disciplining the mind and purifying the heart. It offers practical insight on the workings of the mind in a personable relevant way. There is no theory, no abstract principles, only the distillation of the practice in "pure and simple" language. Very similar to Ajahn Chah's style of teaching.
Though it is easy to understand even for beginners, the teaching provides for advanced practice in training the mind for on the cushion and off.
17 people found this helpful
----
MaddieMay
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for making leaps in meditation practice
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2014
Verified Purchase
I am consuming this book in bits and bites, meditating on the teachings, so I can comment on the whole book yet, but this is the first book I've read in an age that I'm not tearing through or tossing aside, because I can't. These talks are deep, rigorous, lovely, difficult, and life changing.
6 people found this helpful
----
Ken Wasserman
5.0 out of 5 stars the best I have read in her tradition
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2014
Verified Purchase
Just superb in its teaching of meditation and mindfulness, the best I have read in her tradition. The extreme effectiveness of her approach is incredible. She is fun to read and pithy as hell. Just a great teacher. Life changing.
8 people found this helpful
----
Ernel
5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite Dharma book!
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2010
Verified Purchase
The other reviews say it so well; this is the best book, my favorite book regarding the Dharma, right in your face.
We all know that concentration and mindfulness are fundamental. This wonderful book continually shows how they must be used together, immediately, in order to be of any value. It somehow shows that the time is now....
3 people found this helpful
-----
M. Kruger
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful teaching in simple
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2015
Verified Purchase
wonderful teaching in simple, direct language. it's particularly nice to see yet another buddhist woman rise to literary/spiritual prominence.
-----
Jerry
5.0 out of 5 stars Upasika Kee Nanayon reminds me of Ajahn Chah. Consider ...
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2016
Verified Purchase
Upasika Kee Nanayon reminds me of Ajahn Chah. Consider that a complement. Nanayon was not a Nun, but her teachings suggest suggest she was "aware".
One person found this helpful
----
Thomas M. Charles
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2017
Verified Purchase
If you like "old-school" and no nonsense, she is your teacher!
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report abuse
Donna
4.0 out of 5 stars Pure and Simple is Clear and Deep
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2014
Verified Purchase
Clear and simply written. Very good! It is a book that one can return to over and over again - like a good text.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report abuse
john carmody
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2016
Verified Purchase
pure and simple is excellent dharma!
One person found this helpful
================
Liz
Aug 23, 2009Liz rated it really liked it
I just started reading this one, and it's kicking butt! Straight forward, no bs kinda Buddhist book, and it's by a woman! :)
"There's nothing of any substance to the physical properties of the body, which are all rotten and decomposing. The body is like a rest room over a cesspool. We can decorate it on the outside to make it pretty and attractive, but on the inside it's full of the most horrible, filthy things. Whenever we excrete anything, we ourselves are repelled by it; yet even though we're repelled by it, it's there inside us, in our intestines-decomposing, full of worms, awful smelling. There's just the flimsiest membrane covering it up, yet we fall for it and hold tight to it. We don't see the constant decomposition of this body, in spite of the filth and smells it sends out."
(hahaha. this is gonna be a great book!)
(less)
flagLike · see review
Juergen
Apr 05, 2015Juergen rated it really liked it
This is a wonderful book. Thanissaro Bhikkhu, the translator, did a great job in capturing the urgency and ardency of Upasika Kee's teachings on the Dhamma. I would recommend this book for anyone who's got an established practice who might be looking for a more in-depth exposition of the Dhamma in fluid form. Know, of course, that Upasika Kee was a Thai lay practitioner who lived in a unique circumstance. This informs her teachings, and also the language used. I think Thanisarro does a good job in capturing this all, though he does favor his own set of translations (e.g. "inconstancy" vs "impermanence"; "disbanding" vs "passing away"; "stress" vs "suffering"). I find it helpful in broadening one's perspectives regarding the Buddha's Dhamma. (less)
