Ito, T: Modern Thai Buddhism and Buddhadasa Bhikkhu

The Buddhist monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (1906-93) injected fresh life into Thai Buddhism by exploring and teaching little known transcendent aspects of the religion. Tomomi Ito's account of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu draws on this popular literature and on conversations with a broad spectrum of the people. The result is a lively intellectual and social history of contemporary Thai Buddhism built around the life of an exceptional monk who captured the interest of Buddhists pursuing spiritual depth in the context of the ideological conflicts of the Cold War.