One Monk, Many Masters: The Wanderings of a Simple Buddhist Traveler
Paul Breiter's interesting and modest account of his life as a Buddhist monk practicing in the U.S. and Thailand, especially illuminates two 20th century teachers whose work in opening the Dharma to westerners had an especially profound effect on Western Buddhism. Ajahn Chah and Kobun Chino both kept themselves outside conventional institutional practice in order to express the Dharma as a way of life with meditation as its basis. Breiter's experience with each of these teachers, expressed in this book with honesty and insight, is a pleasure to read as he takes us primarily to small forest temples in the Thai forest with Ajahn Chah, and on a foray to Santa Cruz, California with Kobun Chino. The Dharma emerges throughout his memories as a sincere gift, and a teaching for all who are fortunate to read it. --Angie (Zuiko Enji) BoissevainPaul Breiter's restless character is equipped with an observant eye, unrelenting note-taking and a compass pointing towards masters of the Dhamma. The result is a rich and diverse travelogue through modern Buddhism. With dry wit and an unquenchable heart, Breiter relates his journey with self-effacing modesty. We begin in 1970 Thailand with a young Mr. Breiter, of American Jewish roots, rather bemused to find himself ordained as a Buddhist monk. While in Bangkok he soon encounters his first teacher, Theravada master Luang Por Chah. Breiter's doubts about his ordination subside for several years but not, we discover, for good. Once disrobed, he returns to the States where he studies with other Buddhist teachers, including Tibetan lamas, a married Zen priest and a uniquely American hybrid. Breiter's knack for unadorned observation takes the reader on a worthwhile trek through modern Buddhism as journeyed by a Western layman turned monk and back again. --Sakula Mary Reinard, Spiritual Director, Portland Friends of the Dhamma