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Can a foreigner become a monk in Thailand ?

Bonobojt

By Bonobojt
in Buddhism

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Bonobojt Senior Member

Bonobojt

Posted
Posted

well I'm sort of lost in life, so just curious about if its still possible these days for an English guy to go to Thailand and find a temple that would take him in and train him to become a monk ? to be honest I'm not much of a religious bloke but I think being a Monk would do me a lot of good.

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Ulysses G. Star Member

Ulysses G.

Posted
Posted

Yes. I have known quite a few. One Israeli Monk has been in Northern Thailand for over 30 years.

 

I wonder if Fred the Buddhist monk still plying his trade in Chiang Mai. He has been there for about 30 years, but a monk for considerably less.

DDBKK Senior Member

DDBKK

Posted
Posted

Who is the guy that I've seen on TV very early mornings sometimes? 

 

Mrs DDBKK was very impressed by his command of the "old" language and thought his intent to be gen.

 

Must be a known guy? 

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swissie Platinum Member

swissie

Posted
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Posted

Judging from other threads and posts by the OP, I would think that he is in "trouble" and needing help.

Unless a deep interest in Buddhism is already in place, doubtful, if his troubles can be cured in a temple, unless the cure would consist of Monotony and Boredom. If stifeling boredom is the cure, why not head for an isolated island and howl at the moon. OP has not explained why he thinks that such a temple environement would do him good. Just to "get away from it all"? Better option: see "isolated island" above.


- Yes there are temples offering residency to Farangs in search of their "inner-self". For a modest fee, well understood.


Instead of above mentioned options, I recommend to the OP to take residence at "Lulu's Bar and Grill & Soapy Massage" for 2 weeks. No doubt, during his stay at this place, he will be surrounded by good looking female therapists. They are trained to bring foreward the essence of modern psychology in cases like this:


YOU THINK TOO MUCH.


OP should try it.
Cheers.

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dotpoom Gold Member

dotpoom

Posted
Posted
17 hours ago, Bonobojt said:

but I think being a Monk would do me a lot of good.

I understand where you're at and sincerely wish you every success in finding your true calling.

  Just a little something I have learned over the years in my own very problematic life that might be worth.considering. I have achieved my best results when I approached life with the attitude "What can I contribute/add to a situation.....rather than "what's in it for me".

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AlQaholic Silver Member

AlQaholic

Posted
Posted (edited)

I would recommend this: http://www.dhamma.org/en/

 

It's a non-religious organization that teaches real vipassana meditation at 10-day retreats, and that only. Nothing else but that. They have centers all over the world and it's all for free (including free food and accommodation).

I have done it here multiple times in Thailand, they have many centers in Europe. It is not for the weak minded.

The first question of course is; if it is free, why don't every homeless and other destitute people go there? well, the answer is, you have to work really really hard on meditation.

 

Edited by AlQaholic
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Estrada Gold Member

Estrada

Posted
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Posted

Before you rush to Thailand to become a monk, I suggest that you visit one of the Thai Temples in the UK and talk to Phra Maha Lao. Phra Peter and myself both studied under Phra Maha Lao Panyasiri at Wat Mahatat Wimbledon with the aim of taking up the monkhood here. We arrived in Thailand at the same time in 1994, however by that time I had met my now Thai Wife in Wimbledon so I did not take up the monkhood.  Abbot Phra Maha Lao is currently based at Wat Mahatat Temple in Staffordshire. The Wat Mahatat temples are basically outreaches of Wat Mahatat Temple near the Grand Palace Bangkok next to the Buddhist University.

 

Wat Mahathat Temple...
Eastfield House, Alrewas Road, Kings Bromley, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 7HR
Abbot e-mail : [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 154 347 2315. Facebook: วัดมหาธาตุ สหราชอาณาจักร
WWW.WATMAHATHAT.ORG , Facebook: Wat Mahathat Kings Bromley, [Thai – British Buddhist Trust ; Charity No. 1082096 ]

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freebyrd Senior Member

freebyrd

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, Ulysses G. said:

Yes. I have known quite a few. One Israeli Monk has been in Northern Thailand for over 30 years.

 

I wonder if Fred the Buddhist monk still plying his trade in Chiang Mai. He has been there for about 30 years, but a monk for considerably less.

The same guy who was nabbed for possesion of child pornography in 2016, what a great example he is!

1FinickyOne Diamond Member

1FinickyOne

Posted
Posted

Yes, there are some here doing that. 

 

What I might recommend as a first step would be to go to a forest temple and visit, spend some time, relax in the calm atmosphere and see if it is for you...

 

maybe you need a simple shift of focus from doing you good to doing good for others... it will make you feel better.

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Proboscis Silver Member

Proboscis

Posted
Posted

Before you wander into the role of monkhood, be aware of the following:

 

- vow of poverty (you are supposed to give up all your worldly possessions completely if you take up the cowl permanently). Some will enter a monastry for a few months for merit but that is not becomming a monk as such.

- vow of chastity (no sex, not even on your own!)

- no privacy (living conditions are going to be rugged to say the least)

- vow of obedience (get used to taking orders)

- make youself conversant with the conditions of buddhist lent (can you beg? can you go without food for extended periods of time? can you be quiet for long periods of time? can you do without TV and Internet? Survive on one meal a day?)

 

NoshowJones Star Member

NoshowJones

Posted
Posted
19 hours ago, BEVUP said:

Yes they can

There is actually one who is lower to medium level ranked ( been on the news )

If that's the case, why don't the Farang beggars just go and become a monk, everything paid for through the kindness of the Thai people.

HHTel Silver Member

HHTel

Posted
Posted
Quote

Wat Pah Nanachat or in English "The International Forest Monastery" which means most of the monkshere are foreigner even the abbot. So English is there main language. However their traditions are 100% the same as other Thai forrest monaytries (restricted but very faithful) under Wat Nong Pah Pongtemple family.

 

sjbrownderby Senior Member

sjbrownderby

Posted
Posted

Three years ago a young German guy came to our village with the intention of becoming a monk for a short time. He was in the temple for two weeks and then left and went back home. He could have stayed longer, he told me, but he had a job to go back to.

connda Star Member

connda

Posted
Posted
15 hours ago, swissie said:

Judging from other threads and posts by the OP, I would think that he is in "trouble" and needing help.

Unless a deep interest in Buddhism is already in place, doubtful, if his troubles can be cured in a temple, unless the cure would consist of Monotony and Boredom. If stifeling boredom is the cure, why not head for an isolated island and howl at the moon. OP has not explained why he thinks that such a temple environement would do him good. Just to "get away from it all"? Better option: see "isolated island" above.


- Yes there are temples offering residency to Farangs in search of their "inner-self". For a modest fee, well understood.


Instead of above mentioned options, I recommend to the OP to take residence at "Lulu's Bar and Grill & Soapy Massage" for 2 weeks. No doubt, during his stay at this place, he will be surrounded by good looking female therapists. They are trained to bring foreward the essence of modern psychology in cases like this:


YOU THINK TOO MUCH.


OP should try it.
Cheers.

If you're happy and you know it - over-think!

If you're happy and you know it - over-think!

If you're happy and you know it,

Give your mind a chance to blow it,

If you're happy and you know it - over-think!  :thumbsup:

  • Haha 1
Bonobojt Senior Member

Bonobojt

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I'm not skint, I'll be going to Thailand at the end of August with 4000 British pounds, I have nothing in England, no friends, no girlfriend, no kids, not close to family, I have some health issues like Tinnitus, Bad Posture and a Pelvic issue that I won't go into

 

If I don't have the balls to kill myself then I need to have other options on what do to with my life, I can't return home, my parents don't want me to live with them, I'd be homeless if I returned home. 

 

maybe being a monk is not for me, due to my health problems, but it could be worth a try, it will be very difficult but maybe I'll feel free and happy after a month, or maybe I'll hate it, how can I know if I don't try.

 

but I'm worried about not being able to masturbate and only eating one meal a day, I think I would lose a lot of weight and become anorexic because I'm naturally a thin guy and have a high metabolism. I don't care about internet, TV and technology much, I'd love to cure myself from my Porn habits.  

 

 

duanebigsby Silver Member

duanebigsby

Posted
Posted
35 minutes ago, Bonobojt said:

I'm not skint, I'll be going to Thailand at the end of August with 4000 British pounds, I have nothing in England, no friends, no girlfriend, no kids, not close to family, I have some health issues like Tinnitus, Bad Posture and a Pelvic issue that I won't go into

 

If I don't have the balls to kill myself then I need to have other options on what do to with my life, I can't return home, my parents don't want me to live with them, I'd be homeless if I returned home. 

 

maybe being a monk is not for me, due to my health problems, but it could be worth a try, it will be very difficult but maybe I'll feel free and happy after a month, or maybe I'll hate it, how can I know if I don't try.

 

but I'm worried about not being able to masturbate and only eating one meal a day, I think I would lose a lot of weight and become anorexic because I'm naturally a thin guy and have a high metabolism. I don't care about internet, TV and technology much, I'd love to cure myself from my Porn habits.  

 

 

Oh Great!

Another 4 pages of you committing suicide every other post.

Book yourself into the Psyche ward of the nearest hospital and forget Thailand.

Bonobojt Senior Member

Bonobojt

Posted
  • Author
Posted
22 minutes ago, duanebigsby said:

Oh Great!

Another 4 pages of you committing suicide every other post.

Book yourself into the Psyche ward of the nearest hospital and forget Thailand.

Nooo !!

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