How to Make a Punk Monk

A newly ordained monk uses poetry and pictures to convey the deep shift in identity that led him to renounce worldly concerns and embark wholeheartedly on the path to awakening.

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About the book

In evocative verse, How to Make a Punk Monk captures the introspective evolution of a young man struggling with the tension between modern life and spiritual longing. His transition begins in the hollowness of consumerism, moves through disillusionment and existential questioning, and then pivots to a deep search for life’s purpose. Through words and images, this booklet invites us to experience the profound shift in identity required to leave behind worldly attachments and embrace the path to liberation.

Contents

Oh Gush!

Chapter One – Good old me

The Great Parade
Nothing to Fight
Every Possible Version of Myself
Event Horizon
Let’s Get Real
Claustrophobia

Chapter Two — Outside Robes, Inside Ropes

Wide Open
Highwayman
Five
This Body
Hide and Seek
Escape
Ghost House
Full Circle

Nothing to Fight

Decades of fighting it
And yet here I was, forced to admit
I hadn’t learned a single thing
About this wild animal

Today came and roared
That I would never win this battle

I took a step back
Unclenched my fists
Sat down
Closed my eyes

Breathing in
Breathing out

I could feel us both
A wreck of pain and exhaustion

Breathing in
Breathing out

All that was left
The silence of a common agreement:
We would have to do things differently