English born monk gets his Thai ID - he's dedicated his life to the kingdom and Buddhism

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

A monk born on the southern English island of The Isle of Wight who came to Thailand decades ago has finally been granted Thai citizenship.

 

Daily News said that various media outlets were sharing pictures of Phra Ajarn Jayasaro of the Ban Ry Thawsi Religious Center in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima, NE Thailand as he had his picture taken for a Thai ID card.

 

His Majesty the King royally bestowed Thai nationality on the monk back in March 2020 under special circumstances. But it's taken a while to get that all important "bat prachachon".

 

It was noted that his long time residence, strict observance of the Buddhist tenets, proficiency in Dhamma (Buddha's teachings) and important roles in Buddhist teaching in the kingdom at an international temple as well as abroad marked him for the honor of Thai citizenship.

 

He was born Sean Michael Chiverton in 1958. He was poorly as a child often missing school due to asthma but he showed resilience by teaching himself.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

He had questioned as a young man why there were so many wars when we should all live in harmony.

 

He attended the Hampstead temple in London and came to Thailand in 1979 ordaining as a novice at the temple of Wat Nong Pa Phong in Ubon Ratchathani.

 

He was ordained as a fully fledged monk in 1980.

 

He originally intended to be in Thailand for just 5 years but he was influenced by a well known monk called Ajarn Chah whose teachings he admired.

 

Many of his sermons and teachings inspired initially by Chah can be seen on YouTube.

 

Now aged 65 after more than four decades in Thailand he can finally say he is Thai.

 

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[ezzra]

I could never understand the strong aversion of the Thai government to its successions not to award Thai citizenship to foreigners who reside in the kingdom and are tax paying model people, especially when many thousands of Thais are getting foreign citizenship in many other countries, an act that bordering on racism if i may use this term.

[bob smith]

and yet those with Thai children and who bring in money from overseas find it nigh on impossible to get citizenship.

 

Good to know what is really valued here...

[JoePai]

Heck of a way to get out of the 90 day reporting 

[bannork]

By all accounts Ajarn Cha was a memorable figure. There's a fascinating book, 'Venerable Father', written by an American, Paul Breiter, who was a monk at Ajarn Cha's temple in Ubon for some years. The book is very down to earth, as Ajarn Cha was. 

Describing a restless Western novice monk, Ajarn Cha compares him to a man with unknowingly a piece of dog sheet in his pocket.

'He walks over here and sits down. It doesn't smell good so he goes over there. The same thing happens.'

We can run away from our circumstances but we can't run away from ourselves.

 

 

[BKKBike09]

42 minutes ago, ezzra said:

 

I could never understand the strong aversion of the Thai government to its successions not to award Thai citizenship to foreigners who reside in the kingdom and are tax paying model people, especially when many thousands of Thais are getting foreign citizenship in many other countries, an act that bordering on racism if i may use this term.

 

'tax paying' is the critical point. Monks obviously don't pay tax, because they don't (shouldn't) have any income. It also scuppers any chance of retirees applying for Thai nationality.

 

Back to Ajarn Jayasaro - he well deserves Thai nationality, the tax nonsense notwithstanding. He's a good guy and very engaging to talk to (met him on various occasions through Thawsi School, which BTW is also an excellent Thai school).

[BobBKK]

Good luck to him - but as Buddhists don't believe in luck, the real ones, best wishes is more appropriate.

[H1w4yR1da]

I've never understood the worshipping of Western Monks.

What's the deal?

[bannork]

13 minutes ago, H1w4yR1da said:

I've never understood the worshipping of Western Monks.

What's the deal?

Thai men are expected at some point to become monks, it's a duty to make merit, say after a parent dies. But when a Westerner ordains, it's like wow! He gave up a comfortable life in the West to follow the precepts. He must be sincere.

Here he is, at 25 mins, talking about the incompatibility of Buddhism and factory farming in Thailand.

 

[elwood]

4 hours ago, BKKBike09 said:

'tax paying' is the critical point. Monks obviously don't pay tax, because they don't (shouldn't) have any income. It also scuppers any chance of retirees applying for Thai nationality.

 

Back to Ajarn Jayasaro - he well deserves Thai nationality, the tax nonsense notwithstanding. He's a good guy and very engaging to talk to (met him on various occasions through Thawsi School, which BTW is also an excellent Thai school).

I met Ajarn  Jayasaro when he was at Wat Nong Pa Phong. I was the only farang sitting with a group of Thais, including my wife, he was talking to.  As they began to disburse, he spoke to me in English, about his early days,, and life in Thailand for him and I.

As you say, a charming and engaging man.

[ezzra]

1 hour ago, BKKBike09 said:

'tax paying' is the critical point. Monks obviously don't pay tax, because they don't (shouldn't) have any income. It also scuppers any chance of retirees applying for Thai nationality.

 

Back to Ajarn Jayasaro - he well deserves Thai nationality, the tax nonsense notwithstanding. He's a good guy and very engaging to talk to (met him on various occasions through Thawsi School, which BTW is also an excellent Thai school).

NOT belittling  Ajarn Jayasaro the rightfulness to be awarded the Thai nationality, there are many other foreigners that contribute to the Thai society in their own ways and means and just as important what with charities, donations, teaching and rescues, you don't want them to receive Thai nationality? than award them a special status that will be as good as a Thai national but without the yearly hassles and the costs involved.

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, H1w4yR1da said:

I've never understood the worshipping of Western Monks.

What's the deal?

Who's worshipping him?

[eeworldwide]

He has found his happiness in life - thats more than can be said for so many farang men of his age who are wedged here.

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, bob smith said:

and yet those with Thai children and who bring in money from overseas find it nigh on impossible to get citizenship.

 

Good to know what is really valued here...

Perhaps not money.... get some saffron robes, and in 40+ years, just maybe.....

[Myran]

"Now aged 65 after more than four decades in Thailand he can finally say he is Thai."

 

No, he cannot. He can say that he has Thai citizenship.

[metisdead]

A racist post has been reported and removed. 

[Deserted]

Seems like an awfully long time to sort out something relatively simple. 

[BigStar]

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

 . . . just as important you don't want them to receive Thai nationality?

No. Good on 'em, but no.

[BigStar]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

It was noted that his long time residence, strict observance of the Buddhist tenets, proficiency in Dhamma (Buddha's teachings) and important roles in Buddhist teaching in the kingdom at an international temple as well as abroad marked him for the honor of Thai citizenship.

 

Setting a good example for all our Brits here.

[Woof999]

He has spent more time in the monkhood than the lifespan of most people alive, so respect from me.

 

Not really my cup of tea, but I can appreciate the devotion and sacrifice.

[ChaiyaTH]

So after 40 years of dedication being a monk, he got the ID, at 65, like 30 years too late.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Now aged 65 after more than four decades in Thailand he can finally say he is Thai.

Maybe one day Thailand will wake up and see the light.

[unblocktheplanet]

And Father Joe Maier? At 83, he still has annual treks to Chaeng Wattana. No one could be more selfless.

[Maestro]

Removed some troll posts.

[RichardColeman]

7 hours ago, bob smith said:

and yet those with Thai children and who bring in money from overseas find it nigh on impossible to get citizenship.

It's a real catch 22 for a lot of us, cannot get thai citizenships to bring up the kids and getting them to you own country can prove just as hard to lower earning people

[JoseThailand]

Poor guy

[JoseThailand]

On the positive side, now he can drive a tuk-tuk for a living!

[proton]

2 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

Poor guy

He would probably say life is suffering, and as he as been here over 40 years would be well used to it!

[JoseThailand]

7 hours ago, ezzra said:

I could never understand the strong aversion of the Thai government to its successions not to award Thai citizenship to foreigners who reside in the kingdom and are tax paying model people, especially when many thousands of Thais are getting foreign citizenship in many other countries, an act that bordering on racism if i may use this term.

Purity of the nation. Something that was long forgotten in the West.

[JoseThailand]

But, considering how many mixed-race Thai kids there are, due to the influx of single and lonely foreigners, Thai nation is already spoiled.