Becoming A Nun

[pinksquid]

I know that men in Thailand can become a monk for a short period of time and I was wondering if a (farang) woman could do the same in becoming a nun (and yes, I know about the nun lineage having died out and being brought back and so on)? And if so how?

I know I could just study as a lay person but I would like to take it a bit further. I have no desire of being a nun for the rest of my life starting now (although when I am older I am giving thought of joining a Japanese convent in Japan), as I am married and have a young son. But this is something I have wanted to do for several years now.

There is a Wat down the street from me that has what appears to be a healthy population of monks, nuns, and lay people living and studying there. I am afraid I will be seen as strange (in a bad way) for asking (plus, while I am trying to learn conversational Thai I can only speak tourist-Thai right now). Does the Thai Buddhist community welcome female students?

And before the comment is made-- I already shave my head (not for any religious or political reasons) so I have no attachment to my hair.

Edited July 6, 2006 by pinksquid

[Thai-Aust]

Are you sure you have no attachment to anything? what about your kid? I guess you know what is involved in becoming a nun, even though for a short period of time.

If you're really interested I will find the info for you including the best wat to do it considering you're a farang.

The popular and one of the best places for nuns is Sathira-Dhammasathan, in Bangkok. Check out their website at http://www.sathira-dhammasathan.org

Edited July 7, 2006 by Thai-Aust

[sbk]

You could also consider doing a meditation retreat to learn more about the lifestyle.

Wat Suan Mokh has a very well known one on the first of every month in Chaiya, Surat Thani.

[nobitakun]

I would suggest that you talk to Mae Chee Brigitte at Ban Sawangjai close to Khao Yai, which is a meditation center related to Wat Sanghathan.

http://www.vimokkha.com/kaoyaisaengeng.html

Mae Chee Brigitte is Austrian and has been a nun for many years and speaks English and Thai. She could give you some pointers.

[pinksquid]

Are you sure you have no attachment to anything? what about your kid?

I never said I have no "attachment to anything". I said: "I have no desire of being a nun for the rest of my life starting now ..... as I am married and have a young son." The only thing I said I was not attached to was my hair.

I guess you know what is involved in becoming a nun, even though for a short period of time.

If you're really interested I will find the info for you including the best wat to do it considering you're a farang.

I know requirements in non-Thai forms of Buddhism, but not Thai Buddhism. Hence why I am asking questions. This is not something I must do right now, but something I am interested in and so I am researching it for when it is a possibility for me to do. I would sincerely appreciate additional information, thank you.

Edited July 7, 2006 by pinksquid

[pinksquid]

You could also consider doing a meditation retreat to learn more about the lifestyle.

I have participated in meditation retreats outside of Thailand. Thank you very much for the link.

Edited July 7, 2006 by pinksquid

[pinksquid]

Mae Chee Brigitte is Austrian and has been a nun for many years and speaks English and Thai. She could give you some pointers.

Thank you very much for the link. I truly appreciate it!

[Thai-Aust]

For Bhikkhuni (female monks) - this practice is not widely accepted in Thai society. If you can read Thai, try Thai homepage there are more info.

http://www.thaibhikkhunis.org/english/engindex.htm

If you really are interested in Thai Buddhism and want to learn in depth I'd suggest this site:

http://www.dhammahome.com/index_en.php?lan...b253d83bf525a6e

For acadamic purposes: Graduate School, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.

http://www.mcu.ac.th/En/major/major_index.php

[sbk]

You could also consider doing a meditation retreat to learn more about the lifestyle.

I have participated in meditation retreats outside of Thailand. Thank you very much for the link.

I very much doubt the mediation retreat at Wat Suan Mokh is very similar to meditation retreats outside the country. It is run by Ajarn Pho, a Buddhist monk, and the retreatants live at the Wat and live a very similar life to those monks already there. Wat Suan Mokh also allows non-retreatants to stay at the Wat after the retreat is over.

[bankei]

Hi Pinksquid

I would suggest you just go down to the local Wat you mentioned. Maybe go on Wan Phra, give some food etc, and just hang around and observe things for a while. Maybe a few trips. Hopefully people will start to befriend you and then you can get to know some of the nuns, and then tell them of you wish to become a nun for a short time. Don't worry about language too much, you will get by. In fact, this will be the quickest way to improve your Thai.

Regards

Bankei

[pinksquid]

I very much doubt the mediation retreat at Wat Suan Mokh is very similar to meditation retreats outside the country.

Wow, I never even attempted to compare them? I was just making a statement.

[pinksquid]

For Bhikkhuni (female monks) - this practice is not widely accepted in Thai society. If you can read Thai, try Thai homepage there are more info.

http://www.thaibhikkhunis.org/english/engindex.htm

If you really are interested in Thai Buddhism and want to learn in depth I'd suggest this site:

http://www.dhammahome.com/index_en.php?lan...b253d83bf525a6e

For acadamic purposes: Graduate School, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.

http://www.mcu.ac.th/En/major/major_index.php

Thank you very much!

[pinksquid]

I would suggest you just go down to the local Wat you mentioned. Maybe go on Wan Phra, give some food etc, and just hang around and observe things for a while. Maybe a few trips. Hopefully people will start to befriend you and then you can get to know some of the nuns, and then tell them of you wish to become a nun for a short time. Don't worry about language too much, you will get by. In fact, this will be the quickest way to improve your Thai.

Thank you very much, this is exactly what I was thinking of doing. We have visited it in the past and the nuns were very helpful and took the time to teach us how to pray and give offerings. They even invited us to lunch and were pleased as punch about my son and insisted on playing with him and introducing him to everyone.

Thank you once again!

[jdinasia]

first ... find a temple and a group of MaeChi that you like ...

There is the Thai MaeChi foundation in Nakhon Pathom (they also run a school for at risk young girls).

There is a great temple in Nakhon Sri Thammarrat (Wat Chai Na) that is a meditation temple with an incredibly active group of MaeChi ... an amazing place!

good luck!