Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano
Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano was an actor and playwright before being ordained in Thailand in 1987. He now lives in the United States.
Books, Courses & Podcasts
Landscapes of Wonder
“To most of us there have come exceptional, unworldly moments, like unsuspected deeps in a stream, when we fell through appearances—fell through ourselves—into an intuition of majesty and wonder.”
—Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano in Landscapes of Wonder
Landscapes of Wonder deftly transports the spirit of Buddhist contemplation off the cushion and into the natural world. With a lyricism and spiritual immediacy reminiscent of Thoreau and Emerson, in eighteen meditational essays Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano considers Buddhist themes through the prism of nature. The reflections captured in these satisfying literary explorations will appeal to all who appreciate contemplation of the natural world and our place in it.
Longing for Certainty
In the same lyrical voice that met with such acclaim in Landscapes of Wonder, Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano invites us to look upon the natural world with new eyes and to find the truths of the Buddha’s teachings in our immediate experience. Attentive to the subtle power of language, Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano choose his words in these essays with such artisty and care that Longing for Certainty resounds with sparkling, fluid clarity.
Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano has been referred to as “American Buddhism’s Thoreau” and indeed, his ability to inspire his readers to discover the wonders of nature and the spiritual insights that they arouse is unsurpassed among modern Buddhist writers. Fans of his acclaimed Landscapes of Wonder, will find that Longing for Certainty moves into even deeper fields of reflection.
Available Truth
With his books Landscapes of Wonder and Longing for Certainty, the American monk Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano led readers down literary trails, providing enlightening glimpses of the natural world.
In Available Truth, he guides us further along the path. His unqualified embrace of the Buddha’s worldview—in intelligent and deeply thoughtful prose—distinguishes his work from many other Western Buddhist books. Along with reflections on mindfulness, impermanence, and the end of suffering, Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano is not afraid to delve into the topics of rebirth, karma, nonvirtue, and the roles of reasoned faith, ritual, and monasticism, revealing their continuing relevance for today’s seeker. His patient awareness of the workings of the mind and the natural world will enable readers to deepen both their practice and their lives.
Available Truth will surely stand the test of time as both sound teaching and elegant writing.