TIJBS FINAL VERSION.Indd 125 8/22/2011 4:11:43 PM 126 T BS II, 2011 • Review
125 A Book Review: ‘Forest Recollections: Wandering Monks in Twentieth - Century Thailand’ Forest Recollections: Wondering Monks in Twentieth-Century Thailand. By Kamala Tiyavanich. University of Hawai’i Press, Honolulu, 1997. This book, published fourteen years ago, explains the life of Thai tudong or forest monks in the twentieth century. In general it is an accomplished account of forest monasticism in the North-East, explaining well the lifestyle of the monks, and the many physical and psychological problems they faced while living deep in the jungle. Important aspects of the forest life covered include how the forest tradition came into existence in Thailand (Chapter 1), how Thai monks take up the forest lifestyle and deal with problems of fear, bodily su ering, sexual desire, hardships of wandering and so on (Chapters 2-6), the monks’ relationship with Sangha o cials and villagers, and the con icts they had with the Sangha administration (Chapter 10). Thai International Journal of Buddhist Studies II (2011): 125-134. © The International PhD Programme in Buddhist Studies, Mahidol TIJBS FINAL VERSION.indd 125 8/22/2011 4:11:43 PM 126 T BS II, 2011 • Review The book begins with some background information, based especially on the work of previous scholars (especially J.L.Taylor)1 . Each chapter is arranged in a straightforward manner, with lucid explanations devoid of academic jargon, but with Thai or Laotian words in parentheses to help the general reader with local names. More problematic are the sections dealing with King Rama IV (King Mongkut, or former Vajiraño Bhikkhu) and Prince Vajirañavarorasa, his royal son.