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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

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