WHAT THE BUDDHA NEVER TAUGHT
By Tim Ward
Celestialarts Berkeley, California
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Deep in the jungle of northeastern Thailand, near the border with Laos, a Buddhist monk is found dead in a cave, his corpse withered and ramrod erect in perfect lotus posture: a samadhi suicide. Apparently, he had meditated through his own slow death, impassively observing his body atrophy and decay, The monk’s skeletal photograph now rests on the altar at nearby Pah Nanachat monastery as inspiration for other seekers on the path to liberation.
Canadian author and journalist Tim Ward sought enlightenment in his own way and spent a season in this unique jungle monastery, one of the strictest in Southeast Asia. Run by Theravada buddhist monks, theit monastic community embodies the ancient 2500 years tradition of the Buddha’s original teachings.
What the Buddha never taught is the engaging account of the author’s initiation into Pah Nanachat monastery where over half the members are western Caucasians. These aspirants include Mr. Chicago, a former American real estate millionaire who left it all for a monk’s hut in the jungle, Percy, the eccentric English layman, bent on unplugging a chakra; Mark, the doctor from New Zealand searching for the meaning of death; Ruk, the German monk who has to have his knees operated on from too much meditation; and the author’s look-alike “double”, a cynical American named Jim. “Lecensed to meditate”, they strike up a friendship as they struggle to fit into the hierarchy. Their discussions range from hell, suicide and the meaning of death and suffering, to faith, Karma, enlightenment – and how to clean the ants out of the water tank without killing them.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Chapter One The Farang Wants to Go to a Wat
Chapter Two How Big is a Stick?
Chapter ThreeSamadhi Suicide: Our Example
Chapter Four Refugees in the Triple Gem
Chapter Five Sore Feet on the Noble Path
Chapter Six The Fan Man’s Rapture
Chapter SevenBhikhu Bob and Boomer Bunte Gird their Loins
Chapter Eight What is and Isn’t Bat Shit
Chapter Nine Mind over Menu
Chapter Ten What the Buddha never Taught
Chapter Eleven A Perfect place to Hide
Chapter Twelve The Lone Pahkow
Chapter Thirteen The Water Tank is Made of Metal
Chaptre Fourteen Ajahn Chah Gives a Teaching
Glossary
List of characters