The biography of one of the very first Western Theravada Buddhist monks. The core of this work consists of a translation of Nyanatiloka's autobiography, written in German when he was 48 years old. The remaining 31 years of his life, from 1926 until 1957, are presented as a biographical postscript, drawn from other sources. Nyanatiloka was one of the pioneers of Buddhism in the modern world and the first European Buddhist monk. As the world's senior Western bhikkhu, ordained in 1903, Nyanatiloka attracted many disciples, through whose work his influence continues to be felt today, more than 50 years after his death. Nyanatiloka was also a renowned scholar and translator of Pali scriptures. His classic book, Word of the Buddha, written more than a century ago, is still widely read. The story of Nyanatiloka's life provides an inspiring example of one man's ability to put aside his cultural doubts and hesitations and embrace wholeheartedly a non-western system of values, ideas and practices. His accomplishments are all the more remarkable for the uncertain time of turmoil and war he lived through. The life of Nyanatiloka offers a fascinating insight into the formative period of Europe's encounter with the Dhamma.
