Phra Farang An English Monk in Thailand

Be not led by the authority of religious texts, not by the delight in speculative opinions, nor by seeming possibilities, not by the idea: 'this is our teacher'

Who is whispering midlife crises when a successful British businessman of forty is turning into a Buddhist monk in Thailand?

No that would me much too easy and would do short to Peters honest account of his life as a Buddhist monk. Alto he does not tell us much about his personal reasons to become a monk. For the first half of the book this kept me puzzled. Therefore the first two hundred pages of his book were just another interesting read where I was not personally involved.

This changes after chapter nineteen where he begins to express his doubts. Doubts about his personal motives, doubts about the Thai way of Buddhism, doubts about how far his experience and experiments with meditation should go. Much to far I should say, when it leads to meditation in the still warm ovens of a crematorium.

During my short stay at a forest monastery in Thailand I also saw some examples of this focus on death. In the temple were we meditated there always was a skeleton on display with next to it a photo of a young woman and a fetus in alcohol. I think there must be better ways to realize that we are not above aging, alto taking it at heart is for sure not an easy thing. Ways much more according to the path of the middle, which for me is a very central thought in the Buddhist teachings.

Actually I was relieved to read that Peter started a charity organization to help Thai students – www.thaistudentcharity.org – After being a monk for ten years the success of this organization even leads to Peter disrobing, cease being a monk.

Thereby showing an essential understanding of Buddhism, which is about leading a good life, in whatever form this may take.

So a good read, especially the second half, about an interesting decade as monk. I am interested in the next decade.

“Yes, Kālāmas, it is proper that your have doubt, that you have perplexity, for a doubt has arisen in a matter which is doubtful. Now, look you Kālāmas, do not be led by reports, or traditions, or hearsay. Be not led by the authority of religious texts, not by the delight in speculative opinions, nor by seeming possibilities, not by the idea: 'this is our teacher'. But, O Kālāmas, when you know for yourself that certain things are unwholesome, and wrong, and bad, then give them up... And when you know for yourself that certain things are wholesome and good, then accept them and follow them.”
Gautama Buddha