Upasika Kee Nanyon was a uniquely powerful spiritual teacher. Evocative of the great Ajahn Chah, her teachings are earthly, refreshingly direct, and hard hitting. In the twentieth century, she grew to become one of the most famous teachers in Thailand-male or female-all the more remarkable because, rarer still, she was not a monastic but a layperson. Her relentless honesty, along with her encouraging voice, lead many contemporary Buddhist teachers to recall Upasika Kee fondly and often. Pure and Simple is the first widely available collection of her writings. Thanissaro Bhikkhu is the author of numerous books and articles. He is the abbot of Metta Forest Monastery in northern San Diego County.