The publisher's story
Chithurst monastery forest
I first went to Thailand around about ten years ago to do some research on a book I was working on at the time. While there I did all the touristy type things and visited a few Buddhist temples. I noticed how calm and laid back the vast majority of the people in and around the temples were. The beauty and the peaceful feel oozed from these buildings.
About 4 years ago an ex- girlfriend of mine suggested we drive over to the Buddhist temple at Midhurst, which was meant to be a half hour drive from where we were living on the South Coast. She had a few problems and issues with alcohol, food, and depression and sought some answers through the Buddhist teachings. After what seemed ages of driving around long windy country roads and with threats of returning home we at last somehow stumbled across the monastery, and I’m glad I stuck with it, the place looked amazing. We parked up and followed a group of people along a covered walkway to the main hall where we took off our shoes in the lobby then took an orange coloured mat and cushion, we followed everyone in before kneeling down and bowing to the beautiful marble like Buddha which was at the end of the hall and surrounded by bunches of sweet smelling flowers. My partners face was a glow with expectation, this Buddhist malarkey seemed to be working wonders for her already. I didn’t have a clue what we were letting ourselves in for? I noticed a good few of the congregation looked as though they were from Thailand or the Far East. Monks and Nuns with their shaved heads dressed in saffron robes strode in single file and took up their positions down at the front, noisily a few of the Thais clambered forward bearing gifts and parcels of food and laid them at the monks feet. The Head Monk then spoke there was some chanting a bit of meditation and more chanting. Then the monks and Nuns then picked up their Alms bowls and left in the order in which they had entered. More noisy chatter from the congregation and after about 5 minutes they returned with their food. Everyone bowed 3 times to the Buddha and we left them to enjoy their meal. We followed the rest of the crowd over to the main house which looked like an old Victorian manor house that had been restored to its former glory. We filed into the kitchen and helped ourselves to some delicious Thai food including home made cakes and fresh fruit it wasn’t our normal Sunday lunch but the business none the less. With my belly full we sat in the sunshine and began chatting to one of the monks me being me I asked him a million and one questions my first one being why wasn’t the Monastery better sign posted? He replied with a dead pan straight face “We’re not McDonalds “He then informed us that one of the senior monks would be taking afternoon tea in the main house and would be available to answer any questions. At 3 o’clock we gathered with others where we sat crossed legged in a side room, this monk chatted away about anything and everything afterwards he invited us to take a walk with him around the lake and the woods which took about 40 minutes. At the end we thanked him and wished him well with the promise that we would be back. That was my first meeting with A.T. Back in the car we reflected on what a fantastic day we’d both had it was like finding something no one else knew about as we drove out I half expected to be stopped by a man sitting in a fair ground type booth with flashing coloured lights operating a barrier the sort you would find at Alton Towers or Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland’s. Here I would be handed a bill containing the charges for the service, the lunch and the Monks Company but do you know what? Nothing. Not a penny was asked for there was not even man in a little box holding his hand out for payment. No one preached to us or asked us to sign up for some course or lecture or seminar, no one promised to show us the way to enlightenment or if we handed over vast sums of money we could meet the great man, himself.
About 4 years ago an ex- girlfriend of mine suggested we drive over to the Buddhist temple at Midhurst, which was meant to be a half hour drive from where we were living on the South Coast. She had a few problems and issues with alcohol, food, and depression and sought some answers through the Buddhist teachings. After what seemed ages of driving around long windy country roads and with threats of returning home we at last somehow stumbled across the monastery, and I’m glad I stuck with it, the place looked amazing. We parked up and followed a group of people along a covered walkway to the main hall where we took off our shoes in the lobby then took an orange coloured mat and cushion, we followed everyone in before kneeling down and bowing to the beautiful marble like Buddha which was at the end of the hall and surrounded by bunches of sweet smelling flowers. My partners face was a glow with expectation, this Buddhist malarkey seemed to be working wonders for her already. I didn’t have a clue what we were letting ourselves in for? I noticed a good few of the congregation looked as though they were from Thailand or the Far East. Monks and Nuns with their shaved heads dressed in saffron robes strode in single file and took up their positions down at the front, noisily a few of the Thais clambered forward bearing gifts and parcels of food and laid them at the monks feet. The Head Monk then spoke there was some chanting a bit of meditation and more chanting. Then the monks and Nuns then picked up their Alms bowls and left in the order in which they had entered. More noisy chatter from the congregation and after about 5 minutes they returned with their food. Everyone bowed 3 times to the Buddha and we left them to enjoy their meal. We followed the rest of the crowd over to the main house which looked like an old Victorian manor house that had been restored to its former glory. We filed into the kitchen and helped ourselves to some delicious Thai food including home made cakes and fresh fruit it wasn’t our normal Sunday lunch but the business none the less. With my belly full we sat in the sunshine and began chatting to one of the monks me being me I asked him a million and one questions my first one being why wasn’t the Monastery better sign posted? He replied with a dead pan straight face “We’re not McDonalds “He then informed us that one of the senior monks would be taking afternoon tea in the main house and would be available to answer any questions. At 3 o’clock we gathered with others where we sat crossed legged in a side room, this monk chatted away about anything and everything afterwards he invited us to take a walk with him around the lake and the woods which took about 40 minutes. At the end we thanked him and wished him well with the promise that we would be back. That was my first meeting with A.T. Back in the car we reflected on what a fantastic day we’d both had it was like finding something no one else knew about as we drove out I half expected to be stopped by a man sitting in a fair ground type booth with flashing coloured lights operating a barrier the sort you would find at Alton Towers or Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland’s. Here I would be handed a bill containing the charges for the service, the lunch and the Monks Company but do you know what? Nothing. Not a penny was asked for there was not even man in a little box holding his hand out for payment. No one preached to us or asked us to sign up for some course or lecture or seminar, no one promised to show us the way to enlightenment or if we handed over vast sums of money we could meet the great man, himself.
Martin King with Ajahn Tim
I went back many times after that first visit, sometimes 3 or 4 times a week. I’d go to the Guided meditation, the Sunday service or sometimes I’d just go over and walk through the woods or around the lake. It was during one of these visits that I hit probably the lowest point in my life. I was going through a really messy divorce, the court costs were mounting up. I didn’t know where my children were living my then girlfriend then suddenly moved out and to top it all my brother was in hospital seriously ill, things just couldn’t get any worse. It seemed like my whole world was about to cave in. I’m not usually a person that worries about things or a Drama Queen but all this happening at once really hit me hard and a couldn’t get my head around it all. I was at rock bottom and just couldn’t see a way out of it I have loads and loads of friends but felt so alone. After the Sunday lunch time service I met up with A.T. And I just poured my heart out to him he sat and listened not really saying a word. This was all new to me I’d never opened up in this way to anyone my Mum, Dad, Brother, no one, but here I was pouring my heart out to a Buddhist Monk. We spoke for the rest of the afternoon and went for a walk around the lake. At the end I felt like I’d shared my troubles with a true friend, someone who was willing to listen and not pass judgment on me. I realized the world was changing and I was changing. After a few days of turning things over in my mind there was now a chink of light at the end of a very long dark tunnel. During one of our many chats A.T. told me he was in the process of writing a book of short stories about 2 monks on their travels around the South of England. To cut along story short he showed me a few chapters and I absolutely loved them they conjured up images of a bye-gone age they almost had a Enid Blyton feel about them, but without the lashings of Ginger Beer.
I’d written about 20 sports books mainly Football, Boxing and Cycling, and had been running my own publishing company for a few years but told A.T. that I’d be more then interested in bringing his book out, what with the great text and his ability to relay a fantastic story, accompanied by Victors legendry illustrations I knew we’d be on to a winner. I still go to the Monastery but not as much as I’d like and it still holds a special place in my heart and mind. I’ve met some great characters, and some special people there. I do hope the book goes really well for my good friend A. T. and makes the Monastery shed loads of funds to keep the place going on any future projects, but most of all I hope it puts a smile on the people’s faces that read it and leaves them with a warm feeling inside.
May the Buddha bless you all
Peace and love.
Martin King ( Head – Hunter Books)
I’d written about 20 sports books mainly Football, Boxing and Cycling, and had been running my own publishing company for a few years but told A.T. that I’d be more then interested in bringing his book out, what with the great text and his ability to relay a fantastic story, accompanied by Victors legendry illustrations I knew we’d be on to a winner. I still go to the Monastery but not as much as I’d like and it still holds a special place in my heart and mind. I’ve met some great characters, and some special people there. I do hope the book goes really well for my good friend A. T. and makes the Monastery shed loads of funds to keep the place going on any future projects, but most of all I hope it puts a smile on the people’s faces that read it and leaves them with a warm feeling inside.
May the Buddha bless you all
Peace and love.
Martin King ( Head – Hunter Books)
