Sons of the Buddha: The Early Lives of Three Extraordinary Thai Masters
A thrilling spiritual biography—or rather, three in one—Sons of the Buddha is an excellently written, transcendent account of an all-but-lost Thailand and the early lives of three of its most prominent Buddhist teachers.

Filled with lively anecdotes and illustrations, Sons of the Buddha tells the early life stories of three master Buddhist preachers from Thailand, each of whom also has followings in North America. Ajahn Buddhadasa (1906-93), Ajahn Panya (b. 1911), and Ajahn Jumnien (b. 1936), all monks and abbots of monasteries, have been highly influential in Thai society and tireless in their work and teaching.

A preacher must have common sense, know how to turn everyday life experience into Dharma lessons, and be able to accurately assess the needs of his audience. Sons of the Buddha shows how three boys evolved into remarkable embodiments of the "preacher" ideal. Each would effect changes in moral attitudes and Dharma practices, restore Buddhism's social dimension, bridge the divide separating laypeople and monastics, and champion an openmindedness toward other religions. In these delightful stories-full of local color-we see what it was that led them to become so fearless and influential.
1110898605
Sons of the Buddha: The Early Lives of Three Extraordinary Thai Masters
A thrilling spiritual biography—or rather, three in one—Sons of the Buddha is an excellently written, transcendent account of an all-but-lost Thailand and the early lives of three of its most prominent Buddhist teachers.

Filled with lively anecdotes and illustrations, Sons of the Buddha tells the early life stories of three master Buddhist preachers from Thailand, each of whom also has followings in North America. Ajahn Buddhadasa (1906-93), Ajahn Panya (b. 1911), and Ajahn Jumnien (b. 1936), all monks and abbots of monasteries, have been highly influential in Thai society and tireless in their work and teaching.

A preacher must have common sense, know how to turn everyday life experience into Dharma lessons, and be able to accurately assess the needs of his audience. Sons of the Buddha shows how three boys evolved into remarkable embodiments of the "preacher" ideal. Each would effect changes in moral attitudes and Dharma practices, restore Buddhism's social dimension, bridge the divide separating laypeople and monastics, and champion an openmindedness toward other religions. In these delightful stories-full of local color-we see what it was that led them to become so fearless and influential.
18.95 In Stock
Sons of the Buddha: The Early Lives of Three Extraordinary Thai Masters

Sons of the Buddha: The Early Lives of Three Extraordinary Thai Masters

Sons of the Buddha: The Early Lives of Three Extraordinary Thai Masters

Sons of the Buddha: The Early Lives of Three Extraordinary Thai Masters

Paperback

$18.95 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 6-10 days.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

A thrilling spiritual biography—or rather, three in one—Sons of the Buddha is an excellently written, transcendent account of an all-but-lost Thailand and the early lives of three of its most prominent Buddhist teachers.

Filled with lively anecdotes and illustrations, Sons of the Buddha tells the early life stories of three master Buddhist preachers from Thailand, each of whom also has followings in North America. Ajahn Buddhadasa (1906-93), Ajahn Panya (b. 1911), and Ajahn Jumnien (b. 1936), all monks and abbots of monasteries, have been highly influential in Thai society and tireless in their work and teaching.

A preacher must have common sense, know how to turn everyday life experience into Dharma lessons, and be able to accurately assess the needs of his audience. Sons of the Buddha shows how three boys evolved into remarkable embodiments of the "preacher" ideal. Each would effect changes in moral attitudes and Dharma practices, restore Buddhism's social dimension, bridge the divide separating laypeople and monastics, and champion an openmindedness toward other religions. In these delightful stories-full of local color-we see what it was that led them to become so fearless and influential.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780861715367
Publisher: Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date: 08/28/2007
Pages: 304
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Kamala Tiyavanich is a Thai native, a Thai Buddhist, and the author of Forest Recollections: Wandering Monks in Twentieth-Century Thailand. She teaches at Cornell University.

Table of Contents


Maps and Illustrations     xi
Foreword     xv
Preface     xxi
Note on Romanization and Translation     xxv
Introduction     1
Ajahn Buddhadasa: (Boyhood Name: Nguam)
A Merchant-Poet Father     25
The Art of Cooking     31
Teachers of Frugality     36
Fighting Fish     40
Teaching Temple Boys     43
Training Storytellers     46
Chaiya Boxers     49
Folk Remedies     54
Modern Education     62
Finding Food     67
Local Entertainment     72
Dhamma Debates     77
The Culture of Sila-Dhamma     84
Ajahn Panya: (Boyhood Name: Pan)
Village Life in Muang Lung     95
Life with Grandmothers     93
Buffalo Boys     102
Learning the First Letter     106
Passion and Compassion     108
Food for Body and Mind     114
Moonshine     118
Becoming a Man     121
Buffalo Bandits     125
Storyteller in a Tin Mine     130
From Brothel to Temple     134
Hard Labor     138
Journeyto Monkhood     142
Ajahn Jumnien: (Boyhood Name: Jumnien)
The Restoration of a Great Stupa     151
Kites, Drums, and Meditation     155
In the Water with Crocodiles     162
How to Become Invulnerable     166
The Karma of Harming Mother     170
Coping with Family Disaster     174
Finding a New Wife for Father     178
Learning the Three R's     181
A Gatha to Tame Cobras     185
The Pig and the Stingray Tail     189
The Golden Boy and Bandits     194
How to Capture Bandits     199
Slingshot Experts     202
The Crocodile Hunter     205
The Head of a Monkey Troop     209
The Monkey Lesson     214
Coping with Rough Seas     219
Sharks and Sea Snakes     221
Learning by Heart     225
The Dhamma That Lifts You Up     228
Death of a Father, New Life for the Son     231
Epilogue     235
Acknowledgments     239
Notes     241
Glossary     247
Sources     251
Buddhadasa's Work in English     261
Illustration Credits      263
Index     265
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews