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Life as
a Siamese Monk
Richard Randall
'An inspiring story of Buddhist devotion'
-
Light of Peace, Bangkok
'An exceptionally fine Dhamma-read'
- Buddhism
Now
May 1954, Bangkok - 10,000 people converge
on the outlying temple of Wat Paknam to witness an historic ceremony.
Forty-seven year old journalist- photographer Richard Randall is taking
the saffron robe to ordain as a Buddhist monk. Known henceforth as
Kapilavaddho Bhikkhu he is the
first Englishman to enter the monkhood in Thailand.
After an intensive period of meditation
and some remarkable experiences in concentration and insight practice,
Kapilavaddho comes to understand that the heart of the Buddha's teaching
can be found only in this life, here and now.
This is the story of the man who later went
on to play a key role in the introduction of Buddhist meditation to
the West. It is the autobiography of a true pioneer who more than
lived up to his name, Kapilavaddho - 'he who spreads and increases
the teaching'. |