Forest Recollections - Wandering Monks in C20th Thailand

Author : Dr Kamala Tiyavanich, Cornell University : 401 pages.

Dr Tiyavanich has weaved together a wealth of information that span over 80-90 years (from 1900 - 1980s). She has superbly organised the information into very readable, modular format, yet integrated that allows one to read at one pace, without losing the thread. For those who are interested in Thai Theraveda Buddhism, particularly forest monk (thudong) will find this a gem. Particularly if one is acquainted with the basic of Buddhism, one will learn many spiritual lessons from the masters portrayed in the book. Yet, it is not in a dry, sermonic format, that beginner will find boring or lost. For academician, the information provided, raises many questions that could lead to many strand of further research. For practitioners, there are many gems to be discovered, if one read it with further reflections. One need to be able to raise own questions to reflect, based on the information provided.

It also provide a historical background to how and why of forest monks, how it evolved and ultimately, its demise, not because of the lack of relevant to today's society. It is a victim of today's world greed disguised in the name of modernisation and progress. A combination of factors - such as political need of the Thai military need to legistimise its power and control, to turn far flung villages into town, the greed of the business world to turn forest into plantation and also a victim of its own success - converting villagers from spirit worshipper to believing in the dhamma. Previously, villagers would not dare to cut the trees for fear of offending the forest spirits. However, when the villagers began to believe in the protection of the dhamma. However, this itself does not deforestised, as the villages only cut down trees based on basic needs. It is the advent of plantation that deforestised large tract of forest - the very environment that allow forest monks to evolve.