Early in the morning, I left the apartment to Suvarnabhumi airport, flying to Ubon Ratchathani by Air asia. Before I board on the plane, Paul, a representative from the temple called me, saying he’ll be picking me from the airport to Wat Thung Si Mueang. It’s assuring to hear that they are expecting me, even though a few emails and phone calls had been exchanged. Sometime Thai people do have the attitude of taking things to easy. It’s a short flight compared to the 14 hours train ride. I’m glad I made the decision to fly.
Khun Paul, A English teacher and temple volunteer pick me up, even though he has mistaken me for a white Caucasian man. I reach the temple with a strange excitement, hoping I’ll meet the man whom invited me to stay in the temple. But much to my dismay, the monk, Phra Panya InLee had already disrobed. Expect the unexpected flashes through my mind. Without showing my disappointment, I met the abbot of the temple, Luang Por Sirirattanaporn, together with Khun Pal as my translator, to a meeting room to discuss my intention of staying in the temple. It seems like they already have made plans for me. I have made it clear that I will live, eat and sleep like the monks did. No food after 12pm noon, Pali Chanting and mediation in every morning & evening, and last but not least sleep on hard surface. These are all the requirements I’ve anticipated. I truly want to experience what monkhood is.
After our conversation, I get to know that I’ll be teaching English in a university instead to the monks I have actually planned. Since Phra Panya In Lee is not around, a lot of my subconscious expectation no longer exists. I dropped my bag in the Luang Por “residency”, a nice and modern place, not as rustic or rural as I thought.
Khun Paul brings me to a nearby vegetarian place for lunch. I seriously thought I will have broken my nearly to 3 years diet as a vegetarian but it seems that Luang Por and Khun Paul is so accommodating. I begin to feel like a guest rather than a monk. Initially, I’ve to detach myself not to eat meat and now I’ve to detach myself not to be a vegetarian. I discover all along I’ve been grasping the concept or ideas on food. Any detachment I have so far seems to be attachment. Come what may, I deliberate; I’ll eat anything as it comes. If I’m spending my own money on food, I’ll be a vegetarian, if someone offers me non-vegetarian food. I’ll eat that too.
In the late afternoon, I went with Luang Por to attend “No consumption of alcohol” conference. I’m surprise that the impression we have on Theravada Buddhism in Arahantship is totally wrong. They do participate in community development and provide dharma teaching as a solution for the welfare of the people. I sat with Khun Paul and he patiently explains to me that alcohol consumption among the teenagers and farmers (Rural area) has escalated to an unruly social problem. Alcohol abuse, drink-driving, underage sex and many more have been rising till to heavy drinking. I didn’t know monk now has a part-time job as a social worker.
The rest of the day, I stay in the temple, mingling around, conversing with Luang Por and trying to meet new friends. The novice monk always seems to have an interest in “Farang”, Foreigners. They’ll laugh at anything you do or say. I have learned not to take myself too seriously and the best way to deal with it is to laugh together with them.
In the evening, I was told to move from Luang Por “Residency” to Viharn, Temple hall where I’m sleeping for the next 3 weeks…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arhat
http://www.answers.com/topic/viharn
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