This is such a fun book!

I worried it might be dull (it seemed to be about religion and big life lessons), but the author's naturally witty, playful personality makes the whole book much lighter.

He sneaks glances at a pretty flight attendant who came to the temple to learn meditation (and records the inner battle he fought at that moment—so cute); Thai people revere monks so much that some hope to dig the next lottery numbers out of a chat with him; someone seeking to purify their sins asks him to rev their motorbike's throttle; fasting during practice still allows drinks, so he downs 8 bottles of Coke in a row…

Doesn't it sound like a content creator account taking on life challenges, haha! The whole book is like a series of fun vlogs—an account that would definitely blow up. After all, his life experiences, from quitting a high-paying job and becoming a monk in Thailand to facing ALS and death after disrobing, are things ordinary people rarely go through but are surely curious about. Every experience comes with insight and wisdom, and since he lived among super-wise monks, the book also collects their philosophies of life. Especially near the end, as he approaches the end of his life, it's one golden line after another! QQ

I think this book also came into my life at just the right time.

I used to work at a multinational company, where the salary and position could probably have given me a pretty good life, yet I felt lost in that life. So I quit. A month after leaving, I also ended a relationship. Even as I write this, I still sometimes feel sad and hurt about it.

Right then, Xuanxuan, a close friend living in Italy, recommended this book to me. Strange, isn't it! A friend I hadn't seen in ages, far away in Italy, who didn't really know what battle I was fighting, recommended exactly this book. It reminded me of the line in the book: “When you need to know, you will know what you need to know.”

After reading it, I'll try 3 changes:
1. Practice self-compassion: this matches the theory in The Charisma Myth! Whenever I read the exact same idea in two completely unrelated books, I'm pleasantly surprised
2. When I'm angry, tell myself “I may be wrong” × 3 (ok, maybe × 10), and remind myself: everyone I meet is fighting a battle I know nothing about. Be kind.
3. Try to become what I most want to see in the world

Ah, after finishing it I really want some mango sticky rice.