What the Buddha Never Taught

By Tim Ward

Book Overview

The 20th Anniversary Edition of the bestselling classic with a new foreword by Wade Davis.

"Tim's journeys took him not only to Asia, but into an inner world of spirit and faith. He has lived on the streets of India, pursued the Dharma in Himalayan monasteries, and joined the community of monks at Wat Pah Nanachat in the jungles of Thailand - a commitment detailed with such humour, honesty and grace in What the Buddha Never Taught".

- Wade Davis, author of The Wayfinders, from the new foreword.

There is a place in the jungles of northeastern Thailand where Westerners can live according to the monastic rules laid down over 2,500 years ago by the Buddha. Author and journalist Tim Ward sought enlightenment and spent a season in this unique Buddhist monastery-one of the strictest in Southeast Asia. His affectionate "behind the robes" book about the rigors and foibles of monastic life at Wat Pah Nanchat has become a modern Buddhist classic.

How does a monk handle coming face to face with a cobra coiled behind a toilet door? Can Mr. Chicago - a former real estate tycoon - really find liberation in a 10" X 10" wooden hut? How does a would-be-monk manage to meditate with the incessant clouds of mosquitoes hovering overhead, when the precepts prohibit killing all sentient beings? And how do Tim and the others react when Thai villagers put a Mars Bar in their begging bowls?

By turns humorous, iconoclastic and inspiring, What the Buddha Never Taught was a best seller in Canada, a Book of the month selection in the US, and has been translated into five languages, and used as a university text for classes in Asian and Religious studies.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0887626203
• ISBN13: 9780887626203
• Release Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Thomas Allen Publishers
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.7" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Buddhist realism

Ward's account of his stay in a famous Thai forest monastery provides a profound glimpse of the potential rewards and the many difficulties of Buddhist practice. His unvarnished, well-told story is a far more realistic view of what that path is all about than you are likely to find in most Buddhist how-to manuals.

I recomend this book to anyone interested in Buddhism.

What The Buddah Never Taught is an exhilerating, real to life account of the daily life and ordeals of living in a Buddhist monastery. For those interested in the religion it is a "must read".

Thought Provoking

I found this book to be exceptional. It alone provoked many thougths and many lessons of my own, and will continue to do so. I found Tim Ward to display his experience in a very precise,beautiful, and funny way. The point of everything...to be able to laugh.

Fascinating, stimulating and fun tale..

of the author's adventures in a Thai Monastery, fresh out of theological studies and after being a Jesus freak and deciding to explore other spiritual traditions. An amusing foray into conditions that would challenge even a saint, nevermind a young, curious adventurer. Like his other two books -- Awakening the Goddess, and The Great Dragon's Fleas it brings fresh North American eyes to the current renditions of these ancient Asian spiritual paths and modern Asian cultures. The author is both entertaining, fresh and refreshing in all three books. Somewhat reminiscent of The Empty Mirror -- Experiences in a Japanese Zen Monastery by Jan Willem Van De Wetering. Good reads, all!!!!

"What the Buddha Never Taught", or did?

Much appreciation to the author for a wonderful journey. I felt as if I were there every step of the way. Clear, vivid, and honest. Giggles were as abundant for me as the transformations in to my own personal contemplations. As a lay-buddhist, questions were posed that I often ponder myself. So the identifications were of comfort and great value. I admire Mr.Ward for his courage and willingness to confront important issues. Anyone who wants to expand their spiritual horizons, heart space, and mind this one is a must read