Sudden Moments Of Timeless Knowing
After dawn slowly but tenderly light reveals itself as vast open blue sky.
Looking into that presence forgetting that which looks at the boundless openness.
Not a single form or trace arises in mind.
Just the sunlight of an unclaimed knowing appears spontaneously.
Deep within the heart shines the moonlight,
Illuminating the whole being that is within the centre of mind
amazingly empty, without fear and measure.
Abundantly pure is this presence is a light mutually merging
and embracing the timeless Now.
Suddenly moments of seeing the abundance of white light
naturally abiding profoundly open and clear.
Resting completely here in that which is
Simply just that unnamed suchness.
Bhante Santitthito Mahathera, Wat Buddhalavarn,
15.10.2012
Sudden Moments Of Timeless Knowing
A Giant of Australian Buddhism
Venerable Santitthito Mahathera
Ronald Wagner
9 July 1940 - 29 August 2014
“A Passage not an Exit …”
… so said the Venerable Santitthito Mahathera, as the stomach cancer moved ever closer to killing him. A giant of a man, he had wasted away to a gaunt shadow of himself, wracked with pain, but his mind remained clear and focused on the dhamma (the Buddhist teachings and practice). His own passage ended on Friday 29th August 2014, in Campbelltown Hospital, with his Abbot, Venerable Khamphaeng, Maggadhira Maria Lopez-Bravo and Maha Oudom Phommavongsa present.
Ronald Wagner was born in Hamburg /Altona, North Germany on the 9th of July1940. He was introduced to Buddhism by the Buddhistische Gesellschaft Hamburg (The Buddhist Society of Hamburg), and soon after resolved to travel to Thailand to take ordination as a Buddhist Monk. The Buddha called this ordination “going from home to homelessness”, and this "Son of Hamburg" spent the rest of his life practicing and promoting dhamma internationally, and lived his life far from home at considerable personal cost.
Ordaining in 1971 meant changing his name to Phra Santitthito (meaning the monk “Founded in Peace”), he found his place of learning and peace at Wat U Mong, Chiang Mai, Thailand. He spent the next 25 years of his ordained life there, practicing meditation in a peaceful temple renowned for the cave-like tunnels under it – ideal places to meditate in the tropical heat of Northern Thailand. He developed a reputation as a teacher of meditation and Buddhism, equally passionate in encouraging students in English, Thai and German.
Santi was always keenly aware of injustice, and stood shoulder to shoulder with other monks in refugee camps dominated by the Khmer Rouge, defiantly offering a revival of Buddhism to many thousands of their surviving victims.
He was invited to Australia in the early 1990s, and taught at various monasteries before finding the ideal conditions for practice at a new monastery built by the Lao community in forested land outside Wedderburn, South Western Sydney, near the source of the Georges River. Settling there in 1996, Wat Buddhalavarn became his base of teaching and practice for the remaining 18 years of his life. As his seniority as a monk grew, he was made Vice-Abbot, and was a popular teacher for Lao and other Australians.
The honorific title Maha Thera (Great Elder) is awarded to monks after 20 years in robes.
With 43 “pansas” or years as a monk, he became the most Senior Western monk in Australia, and one of the most senior of any nationality or discipline.
He became a founding member and senior guide to the Australian Sangha Association, the representative body for monks and nuns of all Buddhist traditions residing in Australia.
Even in his senior years, the passion for justice still burnt bright. Santi was a strong advocate for the full ordination of women, a stance still unpopular with many mainstream Buddhist traditions, including in Thailand. He became a mentor and benefactor to several communities of Nuns in Western Australia and in Bundanoon in the Southern Highlands of NSW.
“The Buddhist community in Australia is sad for the loss of one it’s most senior monks. He was an excellent monk, always kind, helpful and wise. He will be missed by all his many friends. May he attain Nibbana”, said Acharn Brahm, one of the founding members, on behalf of the Australian Sangha Association.
“I've known Bhante Santitthito for many years now, and when I think of him the word that comes to mind is "big-hearted". He had the kind of mind that wasn't caught up in the trivial, but would go straight to what was really meaningful and stay there. He ignored the petty differences that sometimes divide us, and focussed on what holds us together. I will miss having him around; it will be as if something essential is gone.” Bhante Sujato.
Santi - your caring, kindness and enthusiasm for creative engagement with dhamma are what come to mind when I recall you. And the creativity comes because you have deeply CARED for the dhamma. This is no small thing. This is an accomplishment. For this I will always recall you as a Naga (a Great Being)”. John Allen.
The Venerable Santitthito Mahathera (Ronald Wagner) will be farewelled in traditional Lao style at Wat Buddhalavarn, 103 Minerva Rd, Wedderburn on Thursday 4th September, starting from 9am, before the group travels to Leppington Forest Cemetery at about 2pm.
Most of Santi’s ashes will be installed in a special niche in a memorial wall at Wat Buddhalavarn. Portions will be taken to Santi Nun’s Forest Monastery in Bundanoon and also to Thailand so he is honoured in his country of ordination.
For further information contact Wat Buddhalavarn
103 Minerva Road Wedderburn NSW 2560 Phone (02) 4634 1200
As Ananda said after the Buddha’s passing… “He who was so kind is gone.”