"Gold Wrapped in Rags" is the compelling autobiography of Ajahn Jia Cundo (1916-2004), one of Thailand's most respected Forest Tradition Buddhist monks. As a direct disciple of the renowned meditation master Ajahn Mun Bhuridatto, Ajahn Jia provides a rare, firsthand account of the austere practices and profound teachings of Thailand's Forest Tradition. The narrative follows Ajahn Jia's remarkable journey from his early life as a village boy to his years as a wandering forest monk. With candid detail, he describes his struggles and achievements in meditation practice, his encounters with tigers and other wild animals, and his relationships with some of the most revered figures in Thai Buddhism, including Ajahn Mun and Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo. This autobiography is particularly valuable for its intimate portrayal of life in the Thai forest monasteries during the mid-20th century. Ajahn Jia's direct, often humorous style brings to life the day-to-day challenges and triumphs of forest monks practicing in remote locations. His accounts of meditation experiences and spiritual development offer practical insights for contemporary practitioners. The book also documents important historical events in Thai Buddhism, including the preservation and continuation of the Forest Tradition's teachings during a period of rapid modernization in Thailand. Ajahn Jia's role in establishing several monasteries and his influence on both monastic and lay practitioners make this work an important historical document as well as a spiritual guide. Through its vivid storytelling and profound teachings, "Gold Wrapped in Rags" offers readers a unique glimpse into the life of a master practitioner who embodied the essence of Buddhist practice while maintaining a down-to-earth approach to teaching and living the Dhamma. Readers are welcome to email us to request hard copies of our printed publications. Forest Dhamma Monastery 255 Snakefoot Lane Lexington Virginia 24450 USA info@forestdhamma.org © 2024 Forest Dhamma Monastery. All Commercial Rights Reserved. "I reckon I got better results meditating for the short time it took me to urinate than those lazy bastards did meditating all night!" — Ajaan Jia Cundo Chapter 1... Rags Rags When my father was in his early twenties, he traveled by ship from China to Thailand seeking a better life. He didn’t bring many possessions with him, only some extra clothes that he stuffed in a Chinese traveling case, a woven bamboo shoulder pack. When he finally made his way to Thailand, he settled in the province of Chanthaburi, where he lived in Klong Naam Khem district in the coastal town of Laem Sing on the Gulf of Thailand. That’s where he met my mother, who was born in Chanthaburi province to a Chinese father and a Thai mother. After they married, they moved ten miles north along the main Chanthaburi Canal to live at Nong Bua village. My whole family, including my parents and grandparents, had a strong faith in Buddhism. After all, we were all born Buddhists. My father adopted the Thai name Sunchae Pothikit. My mother’s name was Fae Pothikit. My parents made their living as merchants, operating a general store from the ground floor of our home, selling local produce such as fruit, rice, and fish. In those days, there were no motorcars, so people traveled from one place to another on foot. My dad used to walk the length and breadth of Chanthaburi province collecting the rent from his rice fields. His trekking covered long distances: three miles from Nong Bua to Priw, six miles from Priw to Dong Ching, and another six miles to Srijomthian. He walked the whole route and then returned home straight after finishing his business. My dad was a strong and diligent man who worked very hard to build our family business. As for me, I was born on June 6, 1916 in Tambon Khlong Naam Khem, Laem Sing district, Chanthaburi province...