Ahram Boy - 17/07 Sat

The alms offering this morning is sublime. I think it’s the cool weather, even though the sun is not rising but the whole atmosphere of the rain drizzling and walking bare foot on the wet road. It feels liberating. I notice there’s a dog which keeps following us since my first day, maybe she’s trying to gain good merits too.

There is one more village to visit in the afternoon. In a glance, the village looks pretty decent and clean but closer look, the ants are marching along the edge of the wooden house. The villagers as always are friendly; some old ladies even came up to chat with me. We even share a meal together and they think I’m 25. Good for a man whom is approaching 30 soon. As usual, the children looking at me like a big elephant in the room, sharing some inhibited laughter when I start to show them my funny facial expression.

Children is always the easiest to hang around with as they are not skeptical and judgmental, open-minded regardless how you look and dress. They just like to share a good laugh! I’ve some memorable friends I’ve met that are less than 13 years old. Grateful there are no generation gap :) Village life is indeed carefree!

Ahram Boy - 16/07 Fri

The alms offering for today is more fulfilling than the past few days as I got to play the role of collecting overflowing food from the alms. I realize I do work hard for my meal. It’s nice not to know what’s on the table, no, I shall use floor, Thai Isan people eat on the floor most of the time for breakfast and every other meals. Every day, the thoughtful and sweet gestures of Luang Por Sirirattanaporn will hand me some of his food especially vegetarian for my breakfast.

Some novice monks also kindheartedly offer to share their food with me. I begin to appreciate the food even more than before as I know not to take food for granted in my mouth. Sometimes, I do take meat when monk whom didn’t know shares their food with me. I refuse to reject any kind offers :)

I’ve to teach 2 classes once again. It’s not demanding but the break in between is somehow torturing. I dislike having nothing to do in between. Thank goodness, the trade fair in the university provides me a source of entertainment. I even take a nap at Khun Paul house.

Ahram Boy - 15/07 Thur

It’s tiring but wonderful at the same time to wake up in the wee hours listening to the harmonious and soothing Pali chanting. I manage to find the Pali Suta online in HanYuPingYin and Thai script with English explanation. I better get my ears and speech together so I can memorize each and every word.

The English lesson for the day is less strenuous than yesterday as the students major in English so communication is more effective. However, they do have problem pronouncing “Share” and “Chair”. Since they are majoring in English thus ultimately they’ll become an English teacher, I do feel they need to be more confident in order to establish the rapport with their students in future.

Later in the evening, the once solemn hall (viharn) turns out to be a circus affair, mischievous novice monk as young as 10 -13 playfully teasing with one another, disturbing each other during the chanting for fun and humor, maybe it’s the after rain effect that cools the temperature and the monks.

Time to get to bed and it’s only 8:45pm…

http://paliinthaiscript.blogspot.com/

Ahram Boy - 14/07 Wed

It’s exhausting after the continuous 5 days 4 nights village expedition, the village stay over is a test to me physically and mentally. When you’re extremely exhausted, tired or depleted, your mind becomes more sensitive and reluctant to think. Thank goodness, no major displeasure or unhappiness disrupted. I’m able to see it as impermanence. Any feelings arises never seem to last forever. I’m glad I push myself even though at times the mosquitoes and the sleep deprivation seem impossible to carry on.

I return from Poeam Muang Village, half awake to Wat Thung Si Muang. I never thought I’ll miss the temple so much. Life goes back to 6 days ago. It has been almost a week since I started this “Ahram boy” mission. So far, I’ve yet to fully comprehend what this mission is about or how I feel entirely, I guess we need to take some time to look back and digest this experience because now I’m really focusing on the present.

Immediately, after one hour of much needed nap, Khun Paul picked me up from the temple to University Rachapat. Teaching English at this moment seems like a chore but I’m sure it’s for the best. Education is important, isn’t it? They seem to have difficulty in pronouncing “Share” and “Chair”. Since this class majors in Science, Khun Paul suggests we talk about 4 noble truths in the class, pragmatically and let those uses science to counteract with Buddhism, of course, using English as the media. I started explaining about 4 noble truths, how at a different stage of life, reading it seems to have different interpretations every time. Khun Paul also introduce the Dhammapada, Saying of Lord Buddha every week, this time the quote is

“Whoever lies not goes to hell,
also whoever denies what they have done
Those two, after death, will deserves the same in the world to come.”

When Khun Paul is trying to explain the verses, most of the student told him, they are afraid of going to hell. I begin to explain Hell is a state of mind in Buddhism context. It’s not a place. Even in the world we’re living in, we’re already experience what hell is like. The mental torture arises from our desires; of not having what we want; living not as we expected to be and thinking that everything in your possession will last forever. Thus, nothing really belongs to you and nothing is permanence. Once we use wisdom to diminish this attachment, we’ll be able to see the absolute truth in all nature.

So much so for dharma, the day carries on as usual and this Ahram boy needs to go back to his sleep.

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

Ahram Boy - 13/07 Tue

I survive one night in the village after the heavy rain. I thought at one time the tent is going to be blown away, but I’m fat and that puts the weight on the tent. There are ants and mosquitoes bite at the same time. I’m going to give myself a medal for my tough endurance. Even though, I went out to the nearby provision shop to get my breakfast, the villagers are very sweet to cook vegetarian food especially for me.

In the mid afternoon, Khun Paul plays a series of video clips on how the drug users go insane and threaten the public by hostage. It’s appalling to see how drugs can do so much damage. Not to oneself but to the society. Images of blood dripping head and innocent victim under the arms of long knife upsets me, why is it that only women or young child are taken as hostage, never once man to man.

The villagers work hard together to maintain the cleanliness of the hall, I saw how creative the villagers are by using big palm leaves as dust pan.

With the unforeseen circumstances and living in a rural village, where looks is not the utmost important factor to consider and vanity is not a priority. My attitude towards my personal hygienic has dropped drastically to zero. I’m dreadful to take a shower at one point. I tend to be lazy and less self conscious. Few days of not shaving, looking at myself in the mirror and certainly not wanting to look like Rubeus Hagrid full of beard in Harry Potter. I feel like I don’t exist totally. That kind of indifference to me is neutral and peaceful except occasionally the mosquitoes remind me of who I am.

Ahram Boy - 12/07 Mon

I’m shocked, after surviving the hot & sauna sleep in the tent and bites from the mosquitoes at the village of Klang Nai, I’m now heading towards the next village, Poean Muang. I can’t believe Khun Paul didn’t inform me in advance. I didn’t bring any toiletries to stay over. Khun Paul has to call Luang Por to bring me a towel and thankfully the nearby provision shop sells all the necessities I need, cheaply. If not, I’m going to live like a refugee. I’m a little upset but I told myself put any adversary to the test. Bring it on, Karma! This is not going to last forever, everything is a temporary experience.

The villagers are less active than the previous village. Maybe the ferocious mosquitoes have been disrupting the villagers. I’m like a big piece of meat in the open air for the mosquitoes to feast. I’ve to get mosquitoes repellent when I get back to the city. Love cannot be forced, mosquitoes, you may love me but I don't have enough metta to love you back.

In the evening, Luang Por arrived with my towel; I notice that he has a way of making drastic improvement on the places he visited. For example, the stage where the altar has been refurnished under his orders. He can seriously consider being an interior designer, should he disrobe. He definitely has a talent for it.

Ahram Boy - 11/07 Sun

Early in the morning, the villagers dress up elaborately for mass sticky rice (Khao Liew), alms offering, queuing up unwearyingly in a long single row. They seem to have utmost respect for this merit making ceremony. After the monks have been offered, the first person from the queue follows behind the last monk, carries on but this time they part take the sticky rice to one another. Children were happily giving alms to their parents, friends and friends saying nice word to each other while giving. You can feel the gratitude and of course imagine the amount of sticky rice left at the end of the day.

Ahram Boy - 10/07 Sat

Early in the morning, we set off to the village. I was told by Khun Paul, part of my temple boy experience is to establish contact with the community. Not knowing what to expect, we drove about 40km to a town Klang Nai, visiting a village, Nong Lau. The temple is not as bad as I think but the mosquitoes are ferocious. I’ve not fully recovered from my mossie bites in Taiwan and now many more will join in the fun. I regret not getting any insect repellant.

We set up a tent for 2 in a Sala. The weather is hot and humid; I use the mantra, mind over matters repeatedly. The villagers are friendly and the children love the occasion. I’ve met some innocent and fun loving children. It’s amazing to see their personalities and how they will grow up! I also met the principal and the teachers of the nearby school. It’s a village affair where everyone from young to old takes part in this educational retreat, movie showing how alcoholics destroy not just themselves but also to their families. Eating orderly and giving thanks before each meal. It’s almost back in holiday camp where lots of co-ordination is needed to keep the event going.

After a day’s entertainment, during the Buddhist Lent (Khao Pansa) month, a candle lighting transference (Wientian) ceremony is held; this is to commemorate the Buddha’s first teaching (Asanga Puja) and how light dispel the darkness. One by one, when candle light is spread all over the room from one single light. Everyone patiently and mindfully walks to the middle of the room, where a lotus-like sand pot awaits them to stick the candle into it. At this moment, everyone will sincerely make a wish or aspiration. It’s a beautiful ceremony!

Ahram Boy - 9/07 Fri

It’s a long day, 2 classes and a function to attend in Siriphat dam, where all the mass com students from university Rachatpat have their freshman year gathering. As usual, the seniors take every opportunity to get back the junior. I was asked to give a speech. Not knowing what to say, I ponder upon one of the Buddha’s teaching, Kalama Sutta as in the near future, they will become a journalist or PR executive. It’s good to question their sources and hopefully bring inspirational news to people and not to fabricate news to cause others animosity.

http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/Books5/Bhikkhu_Buddhadasa_Help_The_Kalama_Sutta_Help.htm

Ahram Boy - 8/07 Thur

I feel like I’m taking 4 positions during my temple boyhood. Temple boy, English teacher, Social Worker then last but not least designer, changes my client are chasing to make. I don’t think I’ve totally dive myself into temple boyhood. The English classes that takes up half of my day is disruptive, not to mention the changes I’ve to make for my clients in between. However, till to the serenity of the temple. It seem like my stress manner is easily managed.

Today is an early morning class, I’ve to go for my alms offering and taking my breakfast before 7.30am. It’s cool to meet local people, especially the Thai students I’m teaching. Cultural exchange is always good! We go through the same teaching as yesterday. I’m hoping in time to come, the class and me will learn something from each other.