Unexpected Freedom

IntroductionIt was a great pleasure to work on this book with thededicated help of so many friends. We would particularlylike to thank Thomas Jones and Glenn Langdell for their verycompetent editing of the talks, the various proof-readers,especially Ajahn Candasiri, and Soph Moeng for offering histype-setting skills.At times we felt that our enthusiasm for trying to includeas much material as possible, trying to cover all the points wefound particularly relevant to the overall theme, would resultin a rather longish volume. Which reminds me of a storyabout the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Once Picasso wasvisiting the Louvre in Paris with an art critic friend. As theywere standing in front of one of Rafael’s masterpieces,expressing their admiration, the art critic pointed to one ofRafael’s ethereal renderings of a Greek goddess, and venturedto say, “But Pablo, don’t you think he painted this arm muchtoo long?” which, technically, was true. However, Picassoimmediately retorted straight from the heart: “Ah, no – sucha beautiful arm can’t be long enough!”I hope you will enjoy reading this book as much as weenjoyed producing it.Abhinando BhikkhuAruna Ratanagiri, February 2004