Short background material introduces these accounts of the childhood and adolescence of three influential Theravada Buddhist monks from southern Thailand. Achan Buddhadasa (1906 - 93), Achan Panya (1911 - 2007) and Achan Jumnien (b. 1936) all come from rural areas. The early-life stories, based on interviews and memories, are full of informal incidents and local colour which convey the daily reality of Buddhist ways of living. With notes, glossary, black and white illustrations and index.