'An inspiring story of Buddhist devotion'
- Light of Peace, Bangkok

'An exceptionally fine Dhamma-read'
- Buddhism Now

May 1954, Bangkok - 10,000 people converge on the outlying temple of Wat Paknam to witness an historic ceremony. Forty-seven year old journalist- photographer Richard Randall is taking the saffron robe to ordain as a Buddhist monk. Known henceforth as Kapilavaddho Bhikkhu he is the first Englishman to enter the monkhood in Thailand.

After an intensive period of meditation and some remarkable experiences in concentration and insight practice, Kapilavaddho comes to understand that the heart of the Buddha's teaching can be found only in this life, here and now.

This is the story of the man who later went on to play a key role in the introduction of Buddhist meditation to the West. It is the autobiography of a true pioneer who more than lived up to his name, Kapilavaddho - 'he who spreads and increases the teaching'.