Phra Farang

[leisurely]

Has anyone who frequents this forum read his book? Any opinions?

Thank you for indulging me.

Leisurely

[rio666uk]

Has anyone who frequents this forum read his book? Any opinions?

Thank you for indulging me.

Leisurely

yes - i read a book of his, cant remember the name unfortunately, but it was a collection of stories from 12 young thai monks and how their stories of their lives before becomming ordained....

ive not read any of his other books - and am not a practising buddhist so i cant comment on that side of it, however the book i did read i thoroughly enjoyed.

[camerata]

I read it last November and I highly recommend it. It's always inspiring to read stories of farang becoming Buddhist monks, but Phra Peter was a little different. He couldn't speak Thai, apparently had no aptitude for languages, and had little knowledge of Thai culture. First he went to some tiny temple in Issan and later to a larger urban temple where the abbot and many of the monks didn't meditate.

So it was a struggle for him, and many of the humorous episodes in the book result from language problems and the kind of culture shock we all experience at first. On top of that, he has to accept that the way many Thais practise is a lot different to the way Westerners think is the right way. For example, he refuses to give blessings. That made him a better monk in his eyes but a worse one in the Thais' eyes.

For reasons he doesn't make clear, he chose not to go to Wat Pa Nanachat and be with other farang. If he had, he probably wouldn't have written this book or set up his foundation for novices.

As I recall, Phra Peter was active on Bangkok's War on Virus BBS in the early 90s, before Internet arrived.

[ThaiPauly]

I have read it twice, also "Little Angels" which he also wrote under the name of Peter Pandipo, another good read, not as good as the first one though.

I saw him walking down Sukhumvit a few years ago when I was actually in the middle of the book. !

Peter is no longer a Monk but started a foundation to help the poor but bright children of Thailand get a good education.

A lovely Man, I was able to get his telephone number from a Monk who knew him very well and was featured in the book but I have never got round to calling him as I felt I would be lost for words if I did.

Maybee I will have something worthy to say to him one day other than "What a great book"... he probably gets that all the time and is bored to death by it.

[rio666uk]

Little Angels... thats the one

cheers TP ive been thinking about that all morning

[Gohonzon]

I have read both Phra Farang and Little Angels. Phra Peter actually sent me the former whilst I was hospitalised in Cambodia, and although my situation was one of abject despair at the time, 'Phra Farang' had me laughing out loud on more than a couple of occasions. It must be said that although Phra Peter has been ordained in Thailand for something like eighteen years now , he still maintains a quitessentially English (self deprecating) sense of humour and this shows particularly within the pages of 'Phra Farang'. I can say that I have been known to quote a couple of Peter's experiences as humorous anecdotes on occasions. I can thoroughly recommend this book as a very good read to anyone, whether interested in Thai Buddhism, or just in a quite unusual biography.

Little Angels may be considered perhaps not quite so good as the former book. But is , nevertheless , very informative concerning the more lengthy ordination of young lads and their reasons for doing so. In most cases to gain some kind of grounding in education generally unavailable to them in Issan.

PS

Phra Peter also runs an educational charity for more scholarly competent children from poorer backgrounds , in order to pay for - and see them through - their eduction. I would be happy to provide the details of this charity should anyone be at all interested.

Edited March 8, 2006 by Gohonzon

[robitusson]

Phra Peter disrobed some time ago apparently. His charities website is at........

http://www.akelius.com/set/index.html

[Gohonzon]

Phra Peter disrobed some time ago apparently. His charities website is at........

http://www.akelius.com/set/index.html

Peter has disrobed ? News to me. But there again it must be about five years since we last communicated. Although I think that I can understand his reasons for doing so, if this is in fact correct? I'll try and ckeck.

The website for his Students Educational Trust - at least the one that I'm aware of is:

http://www.probuddhism.com/appeal.html

Whether 'akelius' and the address that I have provided are of the same thing ? I wouldn't know.

Edited March 9, 2006 by Gohonzon

[leisurely]

He did say at the end of his book that he had disrobed. Came as a bit of a shock really. I got the impression all the way through that he was mainly satisfied with his life. Have given to the foundation.

[phibunmike]

He did say at the end of his book that he had disrobed. Came as a bit of a shock really. I got the impression all the way through that he was mainly satisfied with his life. Have given to the foundation.

My understanding from his book was that he didn't disrobe because he was unhappy with the life, but in order to run the trust for children's education - money management was not permitted as a monk.

[Gohonzon]

He did say at the end of his book that he had disrobed. Came as a bit of a shock really. I got the impression all the way through that he was mainly satisfied with his life. Have given to the foundation.

My understanding from his book was that he didn't disrobe because he was unhappy with the life, but in order to run the trust for children's education - money management was not permitted as a monk.

Which book was it that Phra Peter spoke of reasons for disrobing? Anyway, I've e-mailed Phra Peter enquiring after his well being and present status. I do know reasons that he might have disrobed, if at all? But this is in the nature more of confidentiality and discretion than anything else that I can think of. I doubt whether it would be anything to do either his disillusionment with the monks life per se - he was/is ordained for long enough to know the score - or money managemment. As I understand it that was undertaken by trustees on his behalf anyway. But I may be wrong

Anyway, I hope that he receives my enquiry. He has the link to this page also.

Edited March 10, 2006 by Gohonzon

[robitusson]

Phra Peter disrobed some time ago apparently. His charities website is at........

http://www.akelius.com/set/index.html

Peter has disrobed ? News to me. But there again it must be about five years since we last communicated. Although I think that I can understand his reasons for doing so, if this is in fact correct? I'll try and ckeck.

The website for his Students Educational Trust - at least the one that I'm aware of is:

http://www.probuddhism.com/appeal.html

Whether 'akelius' and the address that I have provided are of the same thing ? I wouldn't know.

It's correct. He has done. Don't know why but it's true.

[phibunmike]

He did say at the end of his book that he had disrobed. Came as a bit of a shock really. I got the impression all the way through that he was mainly satisfied with his life. Have given to the foundation.

My understanding from his book was that he didn't disrobe because he was unhappy with the life, but in order to run the trust for children's education - money management was not permitted as a monk.

Which book was it that Phra Peter spoke of reasons for disrobing? Anyway, I've e-mailed Phra Peter enquiring after his well being and present status. I do know reasons that he might have disrobed, if at all? But this is in the nature more of confidentiality and discretion than anything else that I can think of. I doubt whether it would be anything to do either his disillusionment with the monks life per se - he was/is ordained for long enough to know the score - or money managemment. As I understand it that was undertaken by trustees on his behalf anyway. But I may be wrong

Anyway, I hope that he receives my enquiry. He has the link to this page also.

It was in his book "Phra Farang", mine is a 2005 edition by Arrow Books. It is in the "afterword".

He says he will disrobe on 11 October 2003. Re-reading now, I see that it is more committment of time that was the problem - running the charity was leaving little time for meditation practice or for his other duties as a monk. He said he had become "a full-time social worker dressed in robes".

[Gohonzon]

He did say at the end of his book that he had disrobed. Came as a bit of a shock really. I got the impression all the way through that he was mainly satisfied with his life. Have given to the foundation.

My understanding from his book was that he didn't disrobe because he was unhappy with the life, but in order to run the trust for children's education - money management was not permitted as a monk.

Which book was it that Phra Peter spoke of reasons for disrobing? Anyway, I've e-mailed Phra Peter enquiring after his well being and present status. I do know reasons that he might have disrobed, if at all? But this is in the nature more of confidentiality and discretion than anything else that I can think of. I doubt whether it would be anything to do either his disillusionment with the monks life per se - he was/is ordained for long enough to know the score - or money managemment. As I understand it that was undertaken by trustees on his behalf anyway. But I may be wrong

Anyway, I hope that he receives my enquiry. He has the link to this page also.

It was in his book "Phra Farang", mine is a 2005 edition by Arrow Books. It is in the "afterword".

He says he will disrobe on 11 October 2003. Re-reading now, I see that it is more committment of time that was the problem - running the charity was leaving little time for meditation practice or for his other duties as a monk. He said he had become "a full-time social worker dressed in robes".

I was wondering about which edition of -I presumed it to be Phra Farang - he mentioned disrobing in.

"a full-time social worker dressed in robes". As I said earlier, he retained a good sense of humour. But I don't suppose Peter would have had too much trucking with the Mahayanan concept of a Bodhisattva of the Earth. Which is a little it of of a shame really.

I do hope that he receives my e-mail though.

[Gohonzon]

Judging by Peter's given reasons for disrobing , I think that he is indeed a Bodhisattva.

Anyway here's the relevant piece of interest concerning his disrobement that I received by e-mai today. I apologise for the length of the book quote. But think that it's all pertinent to the bulk of this thread.

....."Yes, I disrobed more than two years ago and the explanation for that was given in an afterword* to the new Random House editions of my books. I am attaching that so you know exactly why I disrobed " ....

*Afterword

"I am happy, I am sabbai, to continue the journey". Only a moment has passed since you read those words; for you, the turning of a page. For me, five years have gone by. I am now drawing to the end of my tenth Pansa as a monk. It will be my last. I will disrobe the day after the Pansa ends, in two days' time, on 11 October 2003.

This hasn't been an easy decision for me, nor has it been an impetuous one. I've thought about it for more than a year, examining the varied, complex and conflicting issues involved and trying to find some solution that doesn't necessitate leaving the monk-hood, but which is also not a half-hearted compromise. There is nothing I dislike or can't handle about the life or discipline of a monk, nor is there anything that I miss about lay-life, but I had to make a choice.

A few years ago, if asked whether I would ever disrobe, I would have replied, "No. I will remain in the robes for the rest of my life". My words would have been sincere because my life as a monk has always been satisfying and seemed to have purpose, but such a statement would only have shown my lack of understanding of the Dhamma. No phenomenon remains the same for two consecutive moments, including the working of our own minds. Any statement of permanence, no matter how sincere or well intended, cannot have any real meaning. I change – whether I like it or not – with the ever-changing circumstances and phenomena that surround me. I have learned that and I accept it. I tend anyway to think of 'change' as development and I am happy to embrace whatever developments occur in my life, whether they are apparently good or apparently not-so-good. If circumstances now dictate that I should disrobe and develop in a different direction, that's okay.

In my first year as a monk, I was concerned about my increasingly busy teaching schedule at the school near Wat Nahoob. I asked Ajahn Amara Thera how far my social responsibilities as a monk extended. He replied that really I had no such responsibilities at all. He said that my only duty as a monk was to increase my understanding of meditation and of Dhamma. He added, wisely, that by practicing well and by being a good example for the lay-people, I would be helping them in their own practice of Dhamma and would increase their faith in the Sangha. I have tried to be that good example throughout my time in the robes.

Later, during a visit to Wat Buddhapadipa in London, I mentioned to Ajahn Amara Thera that my friends and I were supporting a few impoverished Thai students by raising money to help them study at university. He warned me to be cautious. He said that it was easy for a monk to become sidetracked from his own practice by the problems of the lay-people. I understood and accepted what he said but I thought that I could handle my developing dual role of monk and social worker. Perhaps I should have listened more intently or taken his warning more to heart. At the time – and I imply no disrespect for the Ajahn - his answer seemed to me to be somewhat lacking in compassion, at least in its ordinary sense. Despite the Ajahn's advice, I decided that I should continue to give whatever practical help I could to those who needed it. Soon after, I established the charity that became known as the Students' Education Trust.

SET is now more than ten years old. In its first few years, the charity was very small and I was able to maintain a comfortable balance between my life as a monk and my work with disadvantaged students. Then, I was a monk doing a little social work in my spare time. That changed in 1997 after the publication of the first edition of Phra Farang, in which I mentioned SET's work. Suddenly, SET had the support of many compassionate and generous people from all over the world. With increased funds, the charity rapidly expanded; it had no choice but to do so. The number of supported students rose dramatically each year and, as income increased further, other programs were introduced. With SET's support, more than 1,000 students have since gained university degrees or vocational diplomas. Because I was becoming increasingly involved with my social work, I had correspondingly less time for my meditation practice or even for my everyday duties as a monk. Running the charity became like running a small business, with all the associated problems and petty worries. Instead of being a full-time monk doing a little social work in my free time, I became a full-time social worker dressed in robes. That wasn't why I originally ordained but SET had become so important to so many young people – and to me personally – that I could not, with good conscience, stop its development.

As I became busier with SET's work, so I also became criticized by some senior monks about my increasing social involvement, as well as my decreasing participation in the normal, ritualistic activities of the Thai Sangha. As Ajahn Amara Thera had explained, traditionally it isn't the 'job' of a monk in Thailand to be so actively involved in society's problems. Monks are expected to develop compassion for others and to give leadership and advice on social issues, but without active involvement. That isn't really good enough for me anymore, either as a monk or as a layman. Through my social work, I am in a position to offer practical help to disadvantaged people in the society in which I live. I consider I would be failing in my moral duty as a person - as a member of the human family - if I didn't offer that help. Even some Thai lay-people disapproved of my work with SET. Within the context of Thai Buddhism, their criticisms were probably justified. Although I never failed to walk on alms round and always attended morning and evening services in the monastery, I eventually had to stop accepting invitations to chant at house breakfasts or lunches, and at funerals, wedding blessings and other such functions. I simply didn't have time. I must admit, I also didn't have much inclination to participate anyway. I think that disappointed a few people because I was still very much 'on show' - still Phra Farang Superstar - and I was expected to appear and perform as required. Anyway, my monastery was full of Thai monks who were considerably more skilled at chanting than me and they had little else to do all day, so I let them get on with it. Since I'm hopeless at chanting and have never felt comfortable about giving 'blessings', I felt my own time was more productively spent doing what I was good at.

Besides running the charity, my life had become increasingly busy and complicated in other ways too. By then, I had written four books about various aspects of Buddhism. In a specialized sort of way, I'd become quite well known amongst Western Buddhists, though even that limited 'fame' was never something I sought or wanted. As a result of my books, I began to be visited at my kuti by large numbers of people. I welcomed them all but many of them were experiencing spiritual uncertainties that they hoped and expected that I could resolve. Although I gave whatever advice I could, sometimes I didn't feel especially qualified to do so. On an average day I usually received two or three visitors but on one particularly memorable day, more than 30 dropped in, all unannounced. Although my time was being consumed by SET and my visitors, I was also teaching Ethics at a university, spending hours everyday counseling people by email, running month-long meditation retreats, training foreign monks and novices and traveling frequently to Bangkok to give talks about Buddhism or to teach meditation. I did it all whole-heartedly but being monk, author, teacher, spiritual counselor and social worker became too much for me to cope with. I was trying to be everything to everybody and was eventually forced to decide what my priorities were.

SET's work has become the driving force in my life. Helping disadvantaged students has become more important to me than my personal spiritual progress as a monk. I have no regrets about that. The charity is changing the lives of hundreds of young people, giving them the opportunity to rise above their impoverished backgrounds, to fully realize their potential and to achieve something for themselves. I find that wonderfully satisfying, more satisfying than anything I have ever done before. In fact, almost everything of importance that I have done before, including becoming a monk, has been entirely for my own benefit. Now, for a change, I am happy to work for the benefit of others.

Compared to living as a monk, running a charity may not seem like a very 'spiritual' activity. I think it can be, depending on one's mental approach to the work. SET has become the vehicle through which I can practice and develop compassion for others in a very practical way. Without first developing compassion for others, there can be little personal spiritual advancement anyway, for any of us. Not many people ever have such an opportunity, so I consider myself very fortunate. In addition to helping to develop my own sense of compassion, SET is also the vehicle through which hundreds of young people can develop theirs. All SET's scholarship students are encouraged to voluntarily work with orphans, handicapped children, Aids sufferers and old people.

So, in a couple of days' time, I'll go through that short ceremony in the bote, chant a few simple Pali phrases and will suddenly cease to be a Buddhist monk. I'm not particularly looking forward to the ceremony and maybe I won't get through it without at least choking up, but I am already fairly well adjusted to the idea of being a layman rather than a monk. Nothing whatsoever should be clung to. Anyway, saying those Pali words can't change what I am inside. I will exchange my robes for a shirt and trousers, but that will be the only difference. For me, it will be a superficial one. Whether I am Phra Peter or Mr Peter, I will be the same person and I will try to live my life by the same code of ethics that has sustained and guided me for the past ten years. But I need closure on this chapter of my life.

When I ordained as a monk, I had the feeling that I was starting out on a great new journey. I wasn't. I understand now that I started my personal journey long, long before. Living as a monk was just one more step on the way. My journey continues and there is no end in sight, but I know it's leading me somewhere. I now travel with greater confidence, but I no longer need the props of religion to help me on my way. I will now perhaps take a slightly different route, but the destination remains the same. And I am happy, I am sabbai, to continue the journey… '

[ThaiPauly]

Makes a lot of sense to me

[Gohonzon]

"The site you mentioned" -

http://www.probuddhism.com/appeal.html

"isn’t anything to do with SET, though I was aware of it. I looked at it yesterday and I will contact the Probuddhism people to get it updated.

SET’s own site is at: www.thaistudentcharity.org. You might care to have a

look at that, though it also needs updating for the 06/07 academic year. ..."

Re: donations from GB or America:

"...we have a support organization the UK called Friends of SET. (Got one in the US as

well). FoSET transfers donations to us without bank transfer charges and can also reclaim 28 per cent in Gift Aid. Details are in the brochure."

If anyone needs additional information concerning Students Educational Charity or would like a copy of the brochure sent to them. I will happily provide you with Peter's contact address if you'd care to send me a personal message.

PS

www.thaistudentcharity.org seems to be written only in Thai. Should have checked first I suppose.

Edited March 16, 2006 by Gohonzon