Rude Awakenings: Two Englishmen on Foot in Buddhism's Holy Land

by Ajahn Sucitto, Nick Scott, Stephen Batchelor (Foreword)

Half raucous adventure and half inspirational memoir, Rude Awakenings documents an unusual pilgrimage. Two very different men--life-loving naturalist Nick Scott and austere Buddhist monk Ajahn Sucitto--together spend six months retracing the Buddha's footsteps through India. Told alternately by Sucitto and Scott in their distinctive voices, this story blends self-effacing humor, philosophical explorations, drama, travel observations, and the occasional giant fruit bat. Rude Awakenings is a heady record of survival and spirituality set against the dramatic backdrop of one of India's most lawless regions.

Genres: Buddhism, Travel, Religion, Memoir

352 pages, Paperback

First published December 23, 2005

Reviews

[Aimee Ennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book and an incredible adventure. Getting ready to read their sequel, “Great Patient One”. I used Google Maps to follow them along to the historical Buddhist sites and ruins. I would read a chapter and then spend an hour or so exploring on Google Maps the places they described. Felt as though I was traveling with them.

Learned a great deal about Bihar, India and deepened my historical knowledge of the Buddha and Buddhism. It’s cliche, but I couldn’t put the book down. A fast read for a slow reader.

These books are freely available online from Amaravati.org. Donations are welcome. They offer some really insightful and helpful books on Theravada Buddhism and meditation. Highly recommend :)

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another title in my favorite genre--the pilgrimage narrative, or spiritual travel-diary. This one comprised of alternating reflections from two companions who did a 6-month walking tour of Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India. One is a Theravadan, Thai-forest tradition monk, the other a lay practitioner. Genuine - petty quips at each others habits and temperaments. And thoughtful, perceptive reflections. Sucitto's chapters in particular contain some very natural, almost casual but still sharp and clear passages of contemplation and questioning.

[Ram · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was interesting in the beginning but after reading through 1/3rd had a rude awakening that the narrative is very unimpressive.

[Pandit · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a travel-log of a Theravada Buddhist monk and lay companion, visiting Buddhist holy sites in 1989.
Really though, if you are not familiar with the particular intricacies of the theravada monastic style and rules, you will learn little, and scratch your head a lot. Similarly, if you are not familiar with India, you won't learn a heck of a lot. And if you are familiar with India, you will learn little new.
I can't imagine who this book is aimed at, other than close friends and Buddhists associated with the lead monk Ajahn Sucitto.
It really reads as a straight timeline narrative - we got up at this time, meditated for this long, went here for our meal, spoke to this man etc...
On the plus side, both writers have pleasant prose, and there is something of a story, buried in the timeline structure, towards the end of the book.

[Margaret · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed. Did not like the narrative. But I might try it again one day.

[Caryatid · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cringeworthy. Two first world people wandering around poor India living off alms. One had even given away his money BEFORE arriving.

[Derek Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a shame there is not an illustrated edition of this text but as the story unfolds it will become obvious why this could not be the case.

India really comes alive in this travelogue, but there's some good dhamma too, and not just in the sections penned by Ajahn Sucitto. He is very honest about his impatience and antisocial tendencies and thus comes across as fully human, as he does in person of course, and is certainly no stranger to the inner tyrant.

Nick Scott provides an excellent counterpoint, often more insightful about people, places, creatures etc.

The most remarkable thing about the text is that such a large part, in fact just about all of it, had to be reassembled and rewritten as many as ten years later and yet still has such immediacy it could have been a blog written contemporaneously.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you know all the ins and outs and rules of Theravada, and you know India extremely well, this would be a two star book.

I always find it amusing that people in trying to show their faith in the Tao or their guardian Angels, throw away their cash, and then end up imposing their wills on strangers, begging for alms, shelter and food.

Donate away pal, I got some karma to address here, as they pursuit their path of destroying the ego.

And six month later say, wow I could have taken up a hobby, or been a better friend to the people I know, but heck let's run around naked as holy men in the land of the holy, because I wanna see my score as I play The Lords of Karma game, standing in line at the computer.

Here's my 25 cents, boot up the game lady

oh crap, I gave away all my cash yesterday, here's the 25 cents and can you get me a sandwich?

[Alina Yasnaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect this to be this immersive. The two narratives are very different, unique to each of the writers. Ajahn Sucitto has the most incredible, unexpected humor, humanity, compassion, and is an absolutely joy to read. Nick is more of your average guy who can have mood shifts as well as instances of absolute warmth and acceptance.
This is a tale of two different men weathering a months-long walking pilgrimage in the heat of India and Nepal. This is a heart-warming tale that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Visnja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fine read. Both writers are impeccable storytellers with the rare ability to bring the reader along on their pilgrimage in splendid detail while also awakening readers to Buddhist teachings and the power of presence. The book pulled me right back into my own memories of when I travelled through India over a decade ago, as well as my own sense of wonder at this journey we call life - a pilgrimage we are all on.

[Peter Jonsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally finished it, for following all their long walks and ordeals I also needed some discipline to get through. Im asking myself, why did they do it? and why did I read it? Not sure. Some insights into the life in poor regions of india was welcome. Also refreshing perspective: the spiritual path is not always clear, especially not when meeting poverty and violence.

Looking forward to putting this one in the bookshelf.

[Te-Shen Gan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read both volumes. And interesting tale written from two perspectives of the two travelling companions - a monk and the layman. Insights into Buddhist history, human relationships, Buddhist philosophy, life and its tribulations. Highly recommended.

[Robert Meaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably not for everyone one but I throughly enjoyed it. A great story of a pilgrimage through India by buddhist monk and friend.

[Duc Anh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a lovely book documenting Ajahn sucitto Journey, I really fantacise and romanticise this journey. Now I feel a bit ambivalent but i still think its an inspiring travelouge.

[Jane Stonebrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story (albeit a factual accounting) of these two travelers is quite entertaining. One of them is a monk, therefore does not handle money. They are quite opposite in their habits towards maps. As they pursue buddhist spiritual places throughout India, the reader comes to learn there are very few in existence. What the two travelers had to endure on their journey was quite a bit of discomfort, but for a good spiritual cause (their own). Coming to the end of the book, the reader realizes the story is not quite over; however, to date, I don’t think a sequel exists. I recommend this book and even now occasionally find myself still thinking about it.

[Ashley Click · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit slow, but I enjoyed learning about Buddhism and other people's reflections on meditation. If you want a good read about traveling in India then there are plenty of better books out there.

[Monica]

Recommended by Bhante