Gathering Leaves and Lifting Words: Histories of Buddhist Monastic Education in Laos and Thailand

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments In his diaries, Christopher Isherwood sums up his adopted home of Southern California by stating simply that “the architecture is dominated by vegetation .” If this book is the architecture, then my colleagues and mentors are the vegetation. Their insight and guidance have enlivened and enveloped each sentence, paragraph, and chapter. My ideas are intertwined with their criticisms and questions. They pulled the ideas up. They softened and shaped the prose. Specifically, I was encouraged early in my research by Damrongsak and Anong Suksuksiang, Prapod Assavavirulhakarn, Suchitra Chongstitvatana, Carol Petillo, Malai Prachathorn, Dhida Saraya, Suwanna Satha-Anand, Michael Collins, and Bualy Paphaphanh. Studying with them in Philadelphia , Boston, Laos, and Thailand led me to undertake this project. Prapod and Suchitra, in particular, were always available to answer questions and correct my readings of texts. I have continually sought out their advice, borrowed their books, stayed in their homes, and eaten their food. Dissertation research started with the inspiration of Oskar von Hinüber and Charles Hallisey, who encouraged me to undertake a study of nissaya manuscripts in Northern Thailand. I already had experience as a teacher in monasteries in the region; they showed me how to combine ethnographic experience with philological investigation. The former read my 2003 dissertation closely and clarified my argument and corrected my mistakes. For their time and patience in discussing my dissertation, I also thank my teachers at Harvard University, especially Stephanie Jamison, Leonard van der Kuijp, James Russell, and Robert Gimello. I received generous research funding from the Fulbright program, the Social Science Research Council, the Department of State, Chulalongkorn ix University, Harvard University, Ohio University, and the University of California , Riverside. In archives and monastic libraries in Europe and Southeast Asia, I was supported and often taken to lunches by Monique Cohen, Balee Buddharaksa, Thong Xeuy, Kongdeuane Nettavong, Harald Hundius, and dozens of helpful novices and monks at Vat Mai, Vat Xainyaphum, Vat Naxai, Vat Nom Lam Chan, Vat Ong Teu, Vat Inpeng, Vat Xiangthong, Wat Lai Hin, Wat Sung Men, Wat Nong Bua, Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, Wat Rampoeng , Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Suan Dok, among many others. Without their help in finding, cleaning, and reading manuscripts, this project would have never emerged. As the dissertation grew into a book, I realized that I still had much to learn about the way nissaya manuscripts structured and sustained the oral and textual modes of expression in Buddhist Laos and Thailand. I was guided here by Bounteum Sibounheuang, Louis Gabaude, Michel Lorrillard, Harald Hundius, Phra Prasoet, François Lagirarde, and Renoo Wichasin. I benefited greatly from conversations with Phra Sugandha and Arthid Sheravanichkul and often found myself rewriting entire chapters in my head while listening to their views all and sundry. Phra Sompong Mudito guided me through some difficult Pali passages and helped me to understand modern changes in monastic education. In particular, Peter Skilling tirelessly tolerated my persistent questions, my poor grammar, and my constant requests to borrow a book or steal an idea. He always had a plate of mangos and a joke to lighten the mood. In the editing stage I was helped by the close reading and criticisms of Peter Skilling, Grant Evans, Thomas Bugos, Jacques Leider, Anne Blackburn , Thomas Borchert, Michael Jerryson, Edward Miller, Jeffrey Samuels, Daniel Veidlinger, and my closest friend and toughest critic, Matthew Wheeler. David Chandler and Anne Hansen must be credited with helping me structure the entire book. Other scholars who I pestered with questions and always received great help from include Ruang Sasithorn, Pattaratorn Chirapravati, Rujaya Abhakorn, Michael Montesano, Bernard Faure, Robert Sharf, Mark Allon, Chalong Soontravanich, Filemon Gemil, David Wharton, Maria Heim, Kannikar Satraproong, Henk Maier, Michael Feener, David Biggs, Andrew Jacobs, José Cabezón, Christian Lammerts, x acknowledgments Sunait Chutintaranont, Penny Edwards, Richard Gombrich, Gregory Miller, Charles Genuardi, Vesna Wallace, Avery Wright, Erik Braun, Jeffrey Shane, George Weckman, Elizabeth Collins, Maitrii Aung-Twin, James McHugh, Rita Langer, Rupert Gethin, Thongchai Winitchakul, Alexander von Rospatt, Patrice Ladwig, Eric Beverley, Alexander Keefe, Michael Keogh, Robert Briscoe, Firmin and Yara Debrabander, Carol Compton, Peter Koret, Chonlada Reuangruglikit, Kate Crosby, John Hartmann, Caverlee Cary, Tamara Loos, Phi Somneuk, and many others. Craig Reynolds and William Pruitt greatly improved the style of the book. I value their friendship and honest criticism. The entire manuscript was read closely by Steven Collins, whose acerbic wit and eye for detail made me stop...