Phra Farang: An English Monk in Thailand

Description

Peter Robinson had tried to find meaning in his businesses, his material possessions and his relationships but nothing made him feel complete. At the relatively late age of forty, Peter went on a package holiday to Thailand and there, unexpectedly, became fascinated by the feeling of tranquil purpose he found in even the most humble working monasteries. On his return to England he became determined to find out more, and this journey of discovery led to him to his ordination as a Buddhist monk five years later. At his ordination he was given the chaya or religious name of Phra Peter Pannapadipo - light, or lamp, of wisdom. But it was after the ceremony took place that the real metamorphosis occurred. With gentle humour and compassion Phra Peter Paddapadipo writes of his transition from agnostic Westerner to Buddhist monk and the rewards and pitfalls for the Westerner who chooses to follow this path.

Peter Robinson became a Buddhist monk, taking the name Phra Peter Pannapadiop, at the age of forty-five but now administers SET - the Students' Education Trust he set up for novices who wished to continue their education but cannot afford to do so. As monks cannot earn money or fundraise themselves, he elected to disrobe temporarily.