Dr. Amara Malila

Thailand

Dr. Amara Malila was born in Bangkok , Thailand in 1936. She graduated from Siriraj University of Medicine in 1959, and served as a government official in the Department of Medicine at the Ministry of Public Health. In 1963, she went to Philadelphia , USA to further her studies and obtained a Diploma from the American Board of Pediatrics in 1967, and a Ph.D. in Physiology from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1969. Then, Dr. Amara Malila returned home to Thailand to work as a lecturer in the Department of Physiology at Mahidol University .

After early retirement, in 1975 Dr. Amara went to practice meditation with Bhikkhu Singthong at Pakaew Forest Temple in Sakon Nakorn. In 1979 she began giving Dhamma talks at the Buddhadhamma societies of Siriraj Hospital, Ramathibodi Hospital , King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Dhammasathan of Chulalongkorn University and at other numerous other places. Dr. Amara taught thousands to meditate, experience the benefits of mindfulness, and to apply Dhamma to resolve daily life problems.

Dr. Amara Malila has devoted her life to counseling and caring for the chronically ill and the terminally ill at several hospitals. She has taught those experiencing suffering to explore their own minds, to experience living in the present moment “here” and “now,” and to experience a separation of their bodies from pain.

Dr. Amara has shared the Dhamma via radio broadcasts: “Quality of Life” with Professor Rawee Pawilai, “Clinic 101.5” via Chula Radio Station, “A Dhamma Talk with Rajda Kleesunthorn” via the Radio Station for Education every Saturday and Sunday morning, and “Newsletter for the Public” via the Army Transportation Radio Station. Dr. Amara Malila has humbly authored about 60 Dhamma books.

The principle of Dhamma for Dr. Amara is practicing mindfulness, (sati). Dr. Amara identifies a master key to ingenious thinking and mindful daily life as thinking by way of causal relations (yoniso mana sikarn). A whetstone for wisdom, she notes every event either good or bad. To use Dhamma in daily life in this way makes for joyfulness in working in every second of life.