Becoming A Monk

[Colabamumbai]

I am a Canadian, have had a full life at 60. Spent time with Marharishi Mahesh Yogi in India many years ago learning meditation. I was thinking of becoming a monk and living the rest of my life here in a Wat. So I have many questions. Would I have to convert to Buddism.? Would I be able to live in Thailand indefinitely? Do you know any English speaking monks that could enlighten me as to these questions? I am just feeling things out at the moment.

[tombkk]

I was a Buddhist monk in a Thai temple some 13 years ago. I had to convince the authorities (not sure at the time whether these were the provincial authorities or some Sangha-related people) that I am really a Buddhist and had to pass an interview showing what I know. Anyway, that was in a northern province, I don't know whether it's really the rule.

What you can do is contact Wat Suan Moke in Chiya Province. Many Western monks there. I believe this is their website: http://www.suanmokkh.org/

From the monks I met there, I understand they get a Non-imm Class O visa (for religious purposes), and the temple will arrange for the yearly extension of stay.

This thread could also help you find people more knowledgable: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/41645-a-guide-to-buddhist-monasteriesmeditation-centresstudy-groups/

[Colabamumbai]

I was a Buddhist monk in a Thai temple some 13 years ago. I had to convince the authorities (not sure at the time whether these were the provincial authorities or some Sangha-related people) that I am really a Buddhist and had to pass an interview showing what I know. Anyway, that was in a northern province, I don't know whether it's really the rule.

What you can do is contact Wat Suan Moke in Chiya Province. Many Western monks there. I believe this is their website: http://www.suanmokkh.org/

From the monks I met there, I understand they get a Non-imm Class O visa (for religious purposes), and the temple will arrange for the yearly extension of stay.

This thread could also help you find people more knowledgable: http://www.thaivisa....esstudy-groups/

Thank you for your excellent information. "Aum Mani Padme aum"

[jdinasia]

The first answer is .... Yes, to be a Buddhist monk you must be Buddhist.

If you are in BKK feel free to stop by Wat MahaThat (near Thammasat University), they have a section there that can help you with all the information you need and can help arrange everything for you.

[sabaijai]

A friend of a friend who wanted to ordain in Bangkok was told they don't ordain anyone 60 or older. He was 59 at the time, so he ordained immediately. I hadn't heard of that before, so it might just have been the policy of the abbot at that wat.

[tombkk]

A friend of a friend who wanted to ordain in Bangkok was told they don't ordain anyone 60 or older. He was 59 at the time, so he ordained immediately. I hadn't heard of that before, so it might just have been the policy of the abbot at that wat.

I am not entirely sure whether there are cast-in-stone rules, or how much liberty the privincial Sangha council or the abbot of each temple has to make up rules.

Does anybody here know?

[tombkk]

Thank you for your excellent information. "Aum Mani Padme aum"

You're welcome. And I learned the chant "om mani padme om" in California, over here the basic chant is "namo tadsa pagawadtoo samma sampoodtatdsa". Don't worry, you'll learn all about the chants in the temple. Good luck, and I wish you all the best.

[Brucenkhamen]

I've been practising Buddhism for 15 years and I still don't really know how you "convert" to Buddhism. I think if Thais see that you act and think like a Buddhist, or a Thai, then they'll accept you as such, if they suspect you want to be a monk to stay in Thailand for other reasons they may make it harder for you to ordain.

When I did it I was accepted straight away because it was pretty obvious by the posture and my demeanour that I had spent a lot of time already on retreats or in monasteries.

As a monk you can stay in Thailand indefinately but unless things have changed since I last checked you get yearly visas and have to report to immigration every 3 months. This was brought in because people were abusing the system by becoming a monk for a short period then disrobing to continue to live in Thailand on a monk visa.

If you let us know where you're located somebody may be able to recommend an english speaking monk nearby.

Oh and "Aum Mani Padme aum" is Tibetan, if you say that in Thailand probably nobody will know what you're on about.

[Colabamumbai]

I've been practising Buddhism for 15 years and I still don't really know how you "convert" to Buddhism. I think if Thais see that you act and think like a Buddhist, or a Thai, then they'll accept you as such, if they suspect you want to be a monk to stay in Thailand for other reasons they may make it harder for you to ordain.

When I did it I was accepted straight away because it was pretty obvious by the posture and my demeanour that I had spent a lot of time already on retreats or in monasteries.

As a monk you can stay in Thailand indefinately but unless things have changed since I last checked you get yearly visas and have to report to immigration every 3 months. This was brought in because people were abusing the system by becoming a monk for a short period then disrobing to continue to live in Thailand on a monk visa.

If you let us know where you're located somebody may be able to recommend an english speaking monk nearby.

Oh and "Aum Mani Padme aum" is Tibetan, if you say that in Thailand probably nobody will know what you're on about.

"Aum mani padme aum" Hail to the jewel in the eye of the lotus, is the popular mantra in India. The Maharishi gave me my own mantra, based on the vibe he felt from me.

I am currently in Korat. Many Indian men leave their families in a late age to go on a spiritual quest.

Thanks for all the excellent information from everyone.

[Brucenkhamen]

I understand there is a new monastery (since 2007) on the outskirts of Khao Yai National park called Wat Ratanawan headed by an australian monk called Ajahn Nyanadhammo. I had a quick google and haven't been able to find an address but hopefully I've given you enough info if you want to try and find it.

[tombkk]

Oh and "Aum Mani Padme aum" is Tibetan, if you say that in Thailand probably nobody will know what you're on about.

"Aum mani padme aum" Hail to the jewel in the eye of the lotus, is the popular mantra in India. The Maharishi gave me my own mantra, based on the vibe he felt from me.

I am currently in Korat. Many Indian men leave their families in a late age to go on a spiritual quest.

Thanks for all the excellent information from everyone.

Yes, "Aum mani padme aum" is popular in India and California. Doesn't mean that anybody in Thailand knows this mantra. It may be tibetan language (as Brucenkhamen suggests), and the Thai buddhists speak Pali. That's not a problem, you'll find out and learn several mantras that are popular over here (in Pali language) even before becoming a monk: It's kind of an entrance exam. You'll learm many more when you are a monk.

Whether or not many Indian men leave there families, I don't know. But this is Thailand, and most Thai men become monks at an early age (after completing highschool, to give a frame of reference). It is rare that a Thai man leaves his familiy to become a monk,but it's not unheard of. I was in my thirties when I become a monk.

Oh, and I'd been practicing Buddhism for over ten years at the time I became a monk. Yes, I agree with Brucenkhamen that it makes you a different person, and they can feel it somehow. "Converting to Buddhism" is not a piece of paper you sign, but a view of life - it just changes you. I cannot describe it within the contraints of a post on a webforum.

[Brucenkhamen]

Actually looking here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om_mani_padme_hum the language is sanskrit and it looks like it might be used in some other Mahayana schools as well.

[fabianfred]

To become 'officially' Buddhist all you need to do is take the three refuges....by yourself if you like, not necessarily in a monk's presence, but preferably so.

http://www.maithri.com/Buddhist_Paritta_Chanting/tisarana_three_refuges.htm

http://chantpali.org/refuges_precepts.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Jewels

We ordained monks or novices with the monk's passport (bai suttee) can get a one year visa...renewable each year. I have heard that one is limited to nine in succession, but that is not confirmed.

[tombkk]

To become 'officially' Buddhist all you need to do is take the three refuges....by yourself if you like, not necessarily in a monk's presence, but preferably so.

http://www.maithri.c...ree_refuges.htm

http://chantpali.org...s_precepts.html

http://en.wikipedia....ki/Three_Jewels

We ordained monks or novices with the monk's passport (bai suttee) can get a one year visa...renewable each year. I have heard that one is limited to nine in succession, but that is not confirmed.

Thanks for the links. This mantra is what I called the "basic chant" in Thailand in my post #7.

Actually, I had to chant a few more mantras at the time I became a monk, and had to learn them by heart. Maybe this is different from temple to temple or from province to province?

[khaowong1]

A friend of a friend who wanted to ordain in Bangkok was told they don't ordain anyone 60 or older. He was 59 at the time, so he ordained immediately. I hadn't heard of that before, so it might just have been the policy of the abbot at that wat.

It must be the abbot, I ordained at 65, no problems.. still a monk by the way at 68.

[khaowong1]

To become 'officially' Buddhist all you need to do is take the three refuges....by yourself if you like, not necessarily in a monk's presence, but preferably so.

http://www.maithri.c...ree_refuges.htm

http://chantpali.org...s_precepts.html

http://en.wikipedia....ki/Three_Jewels

We ordained monks or novices with the monk's passport (bai suttee) can get a one year visa...renewable each year. I have heard that one is limited to nine in succession, but that is not confirmed.

Thanks for the links. This mantra is what I called the "basic chant" in Thailand in my post #7.

Actually, I had to chant a few more mantras at the time I became a monk, and had to learn them by heart. Maybe this is different from temple to temple or from province to province?

at the time of ordination, you will have to chant the Upasampada procedure chant. At some temples, it's a repeat after me procedure, and some temples it's all on your own. I learned mine by heart. Although when I went through the ceremony, it turned out to be, repeat after me. But it's best if you learn the Upasampada chants by heart, just to show good faith. I stayed at and practiced at a temple for 3 weeks before the ceremony. The Upajjhaya conducting the ceremony gets impressed if a farang knows them by heart. By the by, in the Upasampada chant is the 10 precepts, and you better know them by heart for sure.

[khaowong1]

I've been practising Buddhism for 15 years and I still don't really know how you "convert" to Buddhism. I think if Thais see that you act and think like a Buddhist, or a Thai, then they'll accept you as such, if they suspect you want to be a monk to stay in Thailand for other reasons they may make it harder for you to ordain.

When I did it I was accepted straight away because it was pretty obvious by the posture and my demeanour that I had spent a lot of time already on retreats or in monasteries.

As a monk you can stay in Thailand indefinately but unless things have changed since I last checked you get yearly visas and have to report to immigration every 3 months. This was brought in because people were abusing the system by becoming a monk for a short period then disrobing to continue to live in Thailand on a monk visa.

If you let us know where you're located somebody may be able to recommend an english speaking monk nearby.

Oh and "Aum Mani Padme aum" is Tibetan, if you say that in Thailand probably nobody will know what you're on about.

yes, this is a true statement... you can get a one year "religous" visa for being a monk.. you also have to report in to immigration every 3 months. I don't believe there is a limitation on how long you can get these one year visa's.. But you have to get your abbots signed permission and a signed letter from The National Buddhist Office before you get these visa's and if your not in monks robes, forget it.

[tombkk]

To become 'officially' Buddhist all you need to do is take the three refuges....by yourself if you like, not necessarily in a monk's presence, but preferably so.

http://www.maithri.c...ree_refuges.htm

http://chantpali.org...s_precepts.html

http://en.wikipedia....ki/Three_Jewels

We ordained monks or novices with the monk's passport (bai suttee) can get a one year visa...renewable each year. I have heard that one is limited to nine in succession, but that is not confirmed.

Thanks for the links. This mantra is what I called the "basic chant" in Thailand in my post #7.

Actually, I had to chant a few more mantras at the time I became a monk, and had to learn them by heart. Maybe this is different from temple to temple or from province to province?

at the time of ordination, you will have to chant the Upasampada procedure chant. At some temples, it's a repeat after me procedure, and some temples it's all on your own. I learned mine by heart. Although when I went through the ceremony, it turned out to be, repeat after me. But it's best if you learn the Upasampada chants by heart, just to show good faith. I stayed at and practiced at a temple for 3 weeks before the ceremony. The Upajjhaya conducting the ceremony gets impressed if a farang knows them by heart. By the by, in the Upasampada chant is the 10 precepts, and you better know them by heart for sure.

Thanks for the correct term, Upasampada. As with the posting from Brucenkhamen, I don't know the English word of anything and am grateful for the translations. Everything was in Thai during my time as a monk, and 13 years ago, my Thai was not as good as it is now. I was explained though that the mantras I was supposed to chant by heart were about asking the abbot as the representative of the Sangha to accept me as a monk.

I had worked hard on learning them by heart. When the time came, the abbot asked me whether I would prefer to "repeat after me". Since he asked, I took the easy way out and repeated after him.