A Monks Home - Behind Closed Doors.

Sometimes we are granted rare access into a Thai persons home

... rarer if that home belongs to a Monk.

Recently the Farm Family, were invited to share with the Farm Mothers (blood) Uncle.

I'd like to share what goes on inside that often closed door.

Yeh, Yeh ... I know that this won't appeal to vocal minority ... but there maybe a few here who are curious just what goes on inside.

The reason for the visit was, besides a Family catch-up and a show of respect was a blessing for the Farm Fathers Fish Farm ... hence there there were gifts of cooked food and non-perishables.

Preparing the Food

Non-Perishables

Something a bit different ...

*Maybe the Mods could leave this in General as those in the Buddhist Forum may already have had this experience.

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I really like those little food server carry things

I really like those little food server carry things

Love to see what was inside! #3 carried quality coloured kanon djeen #2 looks like a decent chicken broth and #1 has an excellent meat curry inside.

I am getting hungry.

Love the photo of Uncle Monk,he looks a kind,gentle,happy man.

If you want access to the Abbott's personal space at the Wat, just tell him you want to make a donation. That will get you through the his door, the few living spaces of senior monks I have seen were all air con with attached bath.

"Recently the Farm Family, were invited to share with the Farm Mothers (blood) Uncle."

<deleted> does this sentence mean??

"Recently the Farm Family, were invited to share with the Farm Mothers (blood) Uncle."

<deleted> does this sentence mean??

If you are referring to the 'blood' Uncle.

Don't know how long you have been in Thailand but a Thai sometimes translates a close female friend, considered to be part of the family as a 'Sister'.

The Farm fathers close friend and neighbour is referred to as 'Uncle' ... even though he is not related.

So the term 'blood' simply refers that they are related as Uncle and Niece as we know it.

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Common garden variety Monks, no air-con or baths here ...

Uncle Monk is the darker younger Monk to the left.

If lots of chanting puts you off, don't bother to open.

However, if you are curious what goes on (and on and on) ... the YouTube runs for about 30 secs.

So ... what's it like inside the home ... ?

It's a real treasure trove of most things imaginable.

Would make one hell of a Garage Sale!

A 360^o sweep inside the place - well worth a look

Hats off to you D48 ! When my GF sees this she is going to flip! Great shots and looks like a great family.

Uncle witch ?

The Prayer Place (don't know the name)

Waiting for something ...

Ah yes, that ceremony (what ever it means)

Everyone touching ...

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Hats off to you D48 ! When my GF sees this she is going to flip! Great shots and looks like a great family.

Just curious, flip in a good way or a bad way?

Great shots David, thanks

More waiting while the water is poured over the tree

Then the Fertility gift to all (maybe someone knows more about this one?)

Cute thing with a rattle inside.

Everyone playing their their ..... and then the Monk offers the lucky coins to the Farm Father.

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Permission from the Monk (in Thai) consenting to the proceedings being filmed and displayed.

I'm no Culture Vulture, I wished to share because I had the opportunity.

It's just something a bit different that maybe you might never get to see

and I was lucky to have both the trust (and permission) of both the Family

and the Monk.

All the chanting and the like is OK for 5, maybe 10 mins, then I most likely leave.

I fidget, I'm bored but I don't wish to disturb what is important to my partner.

After this we headed off to the Floating Markets, north east of Bangkok somewhere

where the Farm Father and I fought over who should pay the bill.

When the gf kicked my foot under the table, I consented and allowed him to pay ...

... it was a good day.

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I believe you will find that the small (wooden?) phallic symbols are Thai Buddhist superstition. From an article I read apparently occasionally dangle a tiny wooden phallus from their belt or necklace, for added protection. Usually they are adorned with Thai or Pali language script which praises its spiritual attributes and offers blessings. As a side comment I bet if Buddha were alive today wouldn't be very happy with the superstitious and making merit practises within Thai Buddhism

As you know originally a Hindu symbol representing one of the aspects of Shiva.

I believe you will find that the small (wooden?) phallic symbols are Thai Buddhist superstition. From an article I read apparently occasionally dangle a tiny wooden phallus from their belt or necklace, for added protection. Usually they are adorned with Thai or Pali language script which praises its spiritual attributes and offers blessings. As a side comment I bet if Buddha were alive today wouldn't be very happy with the superstitious and making merit practises within Thai Buddhism

As you know originally a Hindu symbol representing one of the aspects of Shiva.

You are right about the symbol being more apart of Thai animism.

Making merit is however a part of Theravada Buddhism, many Thai people do not really do it correctly or for the right reasons, and even less westerners understand it.

It is often said here however that making merit is Thai Buddhism, not so it preceeds Theravada Buddhism reaching Thailand.

Post 13 David, the person holding the 3 wooden things, is it just me or are they the longest fingers you've ever seen??

Post 13 David, the person holding the 3 wooden things, is it just me or are they the longest fingers you've ever seen??

It's actually the same girl in the middle photo in Post #11 ... could just be the camera angle.

She's 'Twiggy' thin ... wouldn't trouble the scales much past 35 kilos.

Heck of a nice kid though.

 

Permission from the Monk (in Thai) consenting to the proceedings being filmed and displayed.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but you call him uncle mare mot. Mare mot in Thai means witch. Mare in Thai means mum. In the monks case he is a loung por. Por means dad or father. So if he was a male witch would he would be por mot? Someone with a better understanding maybe can enlighten us with the various terms for monks and the relation for including the word mot(witch) or would it be wizard for males? All I know is a young monk is called naan, then after 30? Is luong por. Then the old fellas are another.

I don't see any bottles of Lao Kao, any karaoke machines, DVD players, satellite TV or Burmese whores, are you sure this is a monks home? It doesn't look like the ones in my village - in fact the monks from the temple in the last village I lived were almost lynched by the locals for their behavior. They were caught in their rooms with Burmese girls having sex, drunk and using Ya Ba, they were routed out of the temple at about 3am - They literally ran for their lives.

It seems that the locals entrust their future spiritual redemption to the monks, and should the monks make SHI" for them, then it seems like it is fair game.

I'm no Culture Vulture, I wished to share because I had the opportunity.

It's just something a bit different that maybe you might never get to see

and I was lucky to have both the trust (and permission) of both the Family

and the Monk.

All the chanting and the like is OK for 5, maybe 10 mins, then I most likely leave.

I fidget, I'm bored but I don't wish to disturb what is important to my partner.

After this we headed off to the Floating Markets, north east of Bangkok somewhere

where the Farm Father and I fought over who should pay the bill.

When the gf kicked my foot under the table, I consented and allowed him to pay ...

... it was a good day.

.

You'll love your wedding day.

I don't see any bottles of Lao Kao, any karaoke machines, DVD players, satellite TV or Burmese whores, are you sure this is a monks home? It doesn't look like the ones in my village - in fact the monks from the temple in the last village I lived were almost lynched by the locals for their behavior. They were caught in their rooms with Burmese girls having sex, drunk and using Ya Ba, they were routed out of the temple at about 3am - They literally ran for their lives.

It seems that the locals entrust their future spiritual redemption to the monks, and should the monks make SHI" for them, then it seems like it is fair game.

Me, it makes me think of all those monks I see thieving on roadside stall vendors, or smoking cigarettes in public, or buying whole bags of dvd's at Worachak... And those at Pantip plaza buying gadgets, or talking on their latest Iphone in english to the credulous farang whose money allows them to lead that luxurious life. So, no fascination at all for monks and their superstitions.

I'm no Culture Vulture, I wished to share because I had the opportunity.

After this we headed off to the Floating Markets, north east of Bangkok somewhere

where the Farm Father and I fought over who should pay the bill.

When the gf kicked my foot under the table, I consented and allowed him to pay ...

.

first time you dident need to pay? another falang being used as a atm, enjoy..

All the chanting and the like is OK for 5, maybe 10 mins, then I most likely leave.

I fidget, I'm bored but I don't wish to disturb what is important to my partner.

.

You'll love your wedding day.

Well ... I'll have many years to get used to it.

I don't see any bottles of Lao Kao, any karaoke machines, DVD players, satellite TV or Burmese whores, are you sure this is a monks home? It doesn't look like the ones in my village - in fact the monks from the temple in the last village I lived were almost lynched by the locals for their behavior. They were caught in their rooms with Burmese girls having sex, drunk and using Ya Ba, they were routed out of the temple at about 3am - They literally ran for their lives.

It seems that the locals entrust their future spiritual redemption to the monks, and should the monks make SHI" for them, then it seems like it is fair game.

Me, it makes me think of all those monks I see thieving on roadside stall vendors, or smoking cigarettes in public, or buying whole bags of dvd's at Worachak... And those at Pantip plaza buying gadgets, or talking on their latest Iphone in english to the credulous farang whose money allows them to lead that luxurious life. So, no fascination at all for monks and their superstitions.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, our experiences do seem have been different.

I can only share what I witnessed.

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After this we headed off to the Floating Markets, north east of Bangkok somewhere

where the Farm Father and I fought over who should pay the bill.

When the gf kicked my foot under the table, I consented and allowed him to pay ...

.

first time you dident need to pay? another falang being used as a atm, enjoy..

You talking to me? I believe that you have mixed your experiences with mine.

EDIT- Actually Falkan, I've read some of your previous posts and you given some good advice in the past. This post of yours above however is well wide of the mark.

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LR DSCF8082.JPG

Common garden variety Monks, no air-con or baths here ...

LR DSCF8086.JPG

Uncle Monk is the darker younger Monk to the left.

If lots of chanting puts you off, don't bother to open.

However, if you are curious what goes on (and on and on) ... the YouTube runs for about 30 secs.

They're requesting The Refuges and The Precepts

I don't see any bottles of Lao Kao, any karaoke machines, DVD players, satellite TV or Burmese whores, are you sure this is a monks home? It doesn't look like the ones in my village - in fact the monks from the temple in the last village I lived were almost lynched by the locals for their behavior. They were caught in their rooms with Burmese girls having sex, drunk and using Ya Ba, they were routed out of the temple at about 3am - They literally ran for their lives.

 

It seems that the locals entrust their future spiritual redemption to the monks, and should the monks make SHI" for them, then it seems like it is fair game.

 

Me, it makes me think of all those monks I see thieving on roadside stall vendors, or smoking cigarettes in public, or buying whole bags of dvd's at Worachak... And those at Pantip plaza buying gadgets, or talking on their latest Iphone in english to the credulous farang whose money allows them to lead that luxurious life. So, no fascination at all for monks and their superstitions.

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, our experiences do seem have been different.

 

I can only share what I witnessed.

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Gee it doesnt take the kill joys long does it David.

Sent from my LG-E612 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I wouldn't say it's killjoy, I do not read it as attacking David and his family, just comments on the "corruption" of Buddhism as practised by many in Thailand.

Sorry cannot remember his name or organisation, but their is a senior Thai monk/Abbott who is campaigning for Thai Buddhists to stop carrying on with the superstitutions, misinterpretation of merit making, paying for good luck blessing etc that does corrupt the Sanka. Obviously a long hard road to acheive his goals, perhaps impossible as it is so entrenched in Thai society.

If you are interested a paper discussing these and other issues with the practice of Buddhism in Thailand is at: http://www.visalo.org/englishArticles/nextcentury.htm