Voices of Siam

A rich compilation of teachings from revered Buddhist masters in Thailand’s deep Theravada tradition.

Accessible, inspiring, and readily applicable to contemporary life and meditation practice, this collection reveals Thai Buddhism to be a no-nonsense, practical spiritual path with an emphasis on personal experience, mindfulness, ethical conduct, and confronting the roots of one’s suffering head-on. Translator Bruce Evans presents timeless Dhamma teachings from six of modern Thailand’s great masters, skillfully conveying the unique voices of Chao Khun Upālī, Ajahn Buddhadāsa, Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto, Upāsikā Kee Nanayon, Ajahn Pramote, and Ajahn Paisal.

Evans includes recollections of his monastic training as a young man with Ajahn Chah—one of modern Thailand’s most renowned Buddhist teachers—and an alternative version of a canonical Buddhist text, the Girimānanda Sutta, that was first circulated in Thailand via palm-leaf manuscript. Spanning the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, Voices of Siam takes readers directly into the heart of the Thai Buddhist thought and practice.“In Voices of Siam, Bruce Evans presents fresh and appealing translations of the thoughts and ideas of six Thai masters, bringing them to life as engaging individuals. This shows us the humanism, diversity, dynamism, and even the lighter side of Siamese Buddhism. . . . Evans translates from the inside, from the heart, to open new insights into the practice of the Buddha’s Dhamma. Voices of Siam is a welcome step towards understanding the rich living heritage of the great world religion founded by Gotama Buddha.”
—Peter Skilling, author of Buddha’s Words for Tough Times

“There is something here for everybody, from clear expositions of classical Buddhist doctrine to practical advice on working with the neuroses specific to our age of rampant consumerism and technological frenzy. This volume opens a window onto a way to peace and happiness that has proven its worth and effectiveness for over 2,500 years.”
—Paul Breiter, translator of Ajahn Chah’s Being Dharma and Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away

“From Bruce Evans’s engagingly vivid account of his experiences as a young monk with Ajahn Chah, to a new translation of a Thai version of the Girimānanda Sutta, to contributions from Ajahn Buddhadāsa, Bhikkhu Payutto, and, unusually, a laywoman, Upāsikā Kee Nanayon, this anthology opens windows on Thai Buddhist traditions, their meditative life, and their practices. It introduces the interpretative wisdom and surprising humor that often characterize Thai Dhamma teachers. As Evans points out, the different ‘flavors’ of the different teachers represented show us how different they all are in character and tone. All, however, bear the unmistakable stamp of a simple and direct approach to Buddhist practice. This accessible book offers a richly humane introduction to Thai Buddhism and its meditative understandings.”
—Sarah Shaw, author of Breathing Mindfulness and The Art of ListeningBRUCE EVANS is a translator, editor, and Theravada Buddhist practitioner. He took bhikkhu ordination under Ajahn Chah in the 1970s and lived for seventeen years as a monk in Thailand. From 1985 to 1992, he served as abbot of a remote monastery on the Thailand-Laos border. He lives in Melbourne, Australia.With contributions from Ajahn Buddhadasa, Ven. P. A. Payutto, Upasika K. Nanayon, Ajahn Pramote, and more