I am a phra farang living in a temple up in Lopburi, or down in Lopburi, depends on where your at... I have been here for two months today... My abbot has just started me on Samatha-Vipassana meditation... I know the basics, I know the over all concepts, what I am looking for, since he doesn't speak much English, is some really good books on the subject.. I am hoping that the members of this forum can lead me to some interesting reading... I would prefer to find the books in Bangkok, not on Amazon... thanks for your help...

Namassakan Phra khaowong1

You can download these books for free. Written by Phra Pramote Pamojjo (Santinan). Unfortunately he only gives these books away for free at his temple in Chonburi or at the Banana Library on Soi Aree. They are not sold anywhere. I'm not sure if the English-version ones are physically available.

Phra Pramote teaches both samatha and vipassana, by infusing both approaches to the path of true buddhism. From my own experience, a person who never bonded with buddhism, I was able to understand the true nature of buddhism very quickly.

"For You, The Newcomer"

http://02.wimutti.net/pramote/books/newcomer_eng.pdf

After reading it you feel it's what you're looking for, you may continuing reading the follow-up book:

"The Path of Enlightenment 2"

http://02.wimutti.net/pramote/books/Vitee.2.20080425.pdf

Hope this helps

I am a phra farang living in a temple up in Lopburi, or down in Lopburi, depends on where your at... I have been here for two months today... My abbot has just started me on Samatha-Vipassana meditation... I know the basics, I know the over all concepts, what I am looking for, since he doesn't speak much English, is some really good books on the subject.. I am hoping that the members of this forum can lead me to some interesting reading... I would prefer to find the books in Bangkok, not on Amazon... thanks for your help...

I recommend you visit this Malaysian Web Site http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/Free_Dhamma_Books.htm The books are free and they'll post them to you. Normally they expect you to pay for postage but they might waive that if they know you are a monk and they send them to your monastery address.

Some of them you might find a bit dry, but I recommend Gunaratana Nayaka Thera, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, Ajahn Chah, Ajahn Sumedho, Thanissaro Bhikkhu.