The Authors story
The introduction in the book gives a little of the background from my past, and something of what led me to ordain as a monk. In 2004 I was staying with a good friend Tan Ajahn Jayasaro at his hermitage near Pak Chong in Thailand when the suggestion arose that I should write some of these stories down.
Living in Thailand as a Buddhist monk it is easy to take certain things for granted. The bhikkhu is very much part of the society there, and has been for a very long time. So when I was relating how it was to be living as a monk in England to my friends in Thailand, I think we were both quite astonished at the responses we discovered together . Not only were they moved and delighted by events happening in England, but I also found myself being moved to tears whilst recollecting some of them.
As Ajahn Jayasaro encouraged me to record some of these experiences I recall the mind retreating hastily from the idea. Firstly I was a little intimidated by the fact I had never written anything much except for business letters since leaving school in 1976. Secondly because there were already so many books on Buddhism written by proper scholars I could see no point in adding to them. And lastly I had sworn that I was never going to write a book! But the idea stuck.
Following a pilgrimage to India in 2006 I returned to Thailand in pretty poor health. The hospitals in Bangkok informed me I had fairly rapidly degenerating lung disease, I had also been very much under weight for a long time. Then I collapsed completely unconscious and woke up in a Bangkok hospital having fallen pretty badly, so I decided to return to England and try and recover my health.
Back at Chithurst Monastery I made the determination to improve my condition with better diet, exercises and practicing the Buteyko method (which is another incredible story!) which meant I was reducing my sleep and finding a lot more free time. So the story idea returned and my dear mother bought me a laptop and I dabbled a bit. Secretly!
A year or two later I had been hosting some tea and chat sessions at the monastery, and so doing, making new friends. One fellow I met who made a particular connection with me, had been coming to the monastery for a while. He was looking for some peace of mind whilst going through a nightmarish divorce. I used to take him and his friend for walks in the monastery forest. My first impression of him was that of a London gangster, a cockney ‘geyser’ with tattoos! But I soon discovered a beautiful gentle guy with a heart of gold!! This is Martin King who established Head Hunter Books, our publisher, although at that time I knew nothing of his business life.
One day he asked me if I had any hobbies, or rather ‘what do you do when you’re not meditating?’ I mentioned I like building things, creative outlets like drawing and just lately, writing stories.
Martin’s ears pricked up and he asked if he could have a look at my stories. It seemed harmless enough so I printed off what little I had done. He was the first person I had shared them with apart from my mother.
A week later Martin returned saying he was something of a writer himself, he had a couple of best sellers to his name and now runs a publishing company. He saw great potential in the stories and persuaded me to continue. So he kind of squeezed me into it! Martin's Story
My purpose behind writing these stories was to offer readers, who are new to Buddhism, a taste of practice in action. They are intended to be in easy to understand English and be accessible to a wide range of ages.
I feel that a lot of the Dhamma books available for free distribution are not so appealing for the increasing numbers of younger people, especially many teenagers who are visiting the monasteries in the UK. So this is an attempt to move a little away from the regular study based literature, towards something which is principally entertaining; with the intention to inspire and induce faith in some of the most beautiful aspects of humanity.
The incidents recorded are partly from my own experience, partly from stories related by my friends. One theme I want to relay is the way that the samana saññä (image of an alms mendicant) is still effective in changing peoples lives, even in 25th century England. Many of these occurrences I have witnessed myself but in various different situations. I have simply woven them into a story revolving around two fictional bhikkhus walking on tudong in southern England. Although I realize it gives a slightly unrealistic description of the real story of tudong in the west, which usually tends to be a lot less action packed!
Dhamma books in this tradition are normally published for free distribution. The teachings are regarded as priceless, and charging for them would exclude some people from receiving them. However their distribution is really limited to monasteries and few other outlets. I agreed to have this commercially produced especially after Martin offered to relinquish much of his profits in support of the monastery and further distribution. For my part I am happy with a few copies I can give to my close friends.
As the stories were nearing completion I contacted my friend Victor Lunn-Rockliffe about the possibility of him doing some cartoon style illustrations (which I really love) or a cover drawing for the book. After reading the manuscript he offered to provide some fabulous illustrations throughout the book! What a remarkable gift he has.
So without Martin and Victor’s support none of this would have happened. Bless them.
Finally I chose to publish the book in my lay name, mostly because there are now very few people who would still know me by it anymore! It was really for my mother. My intention is that the image of the wandering mendicant monk, living a pure life of renunciation, is offered as an alternative path for anyone who may be interested or inspired by witnessing it. It is important for me that this kind of impression is made in the world, not the recognition for having made it.
I would like to invite fellow monks and nuns to share some of their experiences, or friends who have met us while out on tudong to contribute more personal offerings to this web site. I know I am not alone in discovering the simple miracles and transformations which are made possible in this way of life.
From your friend in Dhamma
Ajahn Thanuttaro Bhikkhu
(Tim Price)
April 2010
Living in Thailand as a Buddhist monk it is easy to take certain things for granted. The bhikkhu is very much part of the society there, and has been for a very long time. So when I was relating how it was to be living as a monk in England to my friends in Thailand, I think we were both quite astonished at the responses we discovered together . Not only were they moved and delighted by events happening in England, but I also found myself being moved to tears whilst recollecting some of them.
As Ajahn Jayasaro encouraged me to record some of these experiences I recall the mind retreating hastily from the idea. Firstly I was a little intimidated by the fact I had never written anything much except for business letters since leaving school in 1976. Secondly because there were already so many books on Buddhism written by proper scholars I could see no point in adding to them. And lastly I had sworn that I was never going to write a book! But the idea stuck.
Following a pilgrimage to India in 2006 I returned to Thailand in pretty poor health. The hospitals in Bangkok informed me I had fairly rapidly degenerating lung disease, I had also been very much under weight for a long time. Then I collapsed completely unconscious and woke up in a Bangkok hospital having fallen pretty badly, so I decided to return to England and try and recover my health.
Back at Chithurst Monastery I made the determination to improve my condition with better diet, exercises and practicing the Buteyko method (which is another incredible story!) which meant I was reducing my sleep and finding a lot more free time. So the story idea returned and my dear mother bought me a laptop and I dabbled a bit. Secretly!
A year or two later I had been hosting some tea and chat sessions at the monastery, and so doing, making new friends. One fellow I met who made a particular connection with me, had been coming to the monastery for a while. He was looking for some peace of mind whilst going through a nightmarish divorce. I used to take him and his friend for walks in the monastery forest. My first impression of him was that of a London gangster, a cockney ‘geyser’ with tattoos! But I soon discovered a beautiful gentle guy with a heart of gold!! This is Martin King who established Head Hunter Books, our publisher, although at that time I knew nothing of his business life.
One day he asked me if I had any hobbies, or rather ‘what do you do when you’re not meditating?’ I mentioned I like building things, creative outlets like drawing and just lately, writing stories.
Martin’s ears pricked up and he asked if he could have a look at my stories. It seemed harmless enough so I printed off what little I had done. He was the first person I had shared them with apart from my mother.
A week later Martin returned saying he was something of a writer himself, he had a couple of best sellers to his name and now runs a publishing company. He saw great potential in the stories and persuaded me to continue. So he kind of squeezed me into it! Martin's Story
My purpose behind writing these stories was to offer readers, who are new to Buddhism, a taste of practice in action. They are intended to be in easy to understand English and be accessible to a wide range of ages.
I feel that a lot of the Dhamma books available for free distribution are not so appealing for the increasing numbers of younger people, especially many teenagers who are visiting the monasteries in the UK. So this is an attempt to move a little away from the regular study based literature, towards something which is principally entertaining; with the intention to inspire and induce faith in some of the most beautiful aspects of humanity.
The incidents recorded are partly from my own experience, partly from stories related by my friends. One theme I want to relay is the way that the samana saññä (image of an alms mendicant) is still effective in changing peoples lives, even in 25th century England. Many of these occurrences I have witnessed myself but in various different situations. I have simply woven them into a story revolving around two fictional bhikkhus walking on tudong in southern England. Although I realize it gives a slightly unrealistic description of the real story of tudong in the west, which usually tends to be a lot less action packed!
Dhamma books in this tradition are normally published for free distribution. The teachings are regarded as priceless, and charging for them would exclude some people from receiving them. However their distribution is really limited to monasteries and few other outlets. I agreed to have this commercially produced especially after Martin offered to relinquish much of his profits in support of the monastery and further distribution. For my part I am happy with a few copies I can give to my close friends.
As the stories were nearing completion I contacted my friend Victor Lunn-Rockliffe about the possibility of him doing some cartoon style illustrations (which I really love) or a cover drawing for the book. After reading the manuscript he offered to provide some fabulous illustrations throughout the book! What a remarkable gift he has.
So without Martin and Victor’s support none of this would have happened. Bless them.
Finally I chose to publish the book in my lay name, mostly because there are now very few people who would still know me by it anymore! It was really for my mother. My intention is that the image of the wandering mendicant monk, living a pure life of renunciation, is offered as an alternative path for anyone who may be interested or inspired by witnessing it. It is important for me that this kind of impression is made in the world, not the recognition for having made it.
I would like to invite fellow monks and nuns to share some of their experiences, or friends who have met us while out on tudong to contribute more personal offerings to this web site. I know I am not alone in discovering the simple miracles and transformations which are made possible in this way of life.
From your friend in Dhamma
Ajahn Thanuttaro Bhikkhu
(Tim Price)
April 2010
