Buddhist Monk Ordination - Thailand

[Michael J.]

A common misconception is that monks in Thailand are monks for life. This is only true for some as the majority will serve only a temporary or short-term Buddhist monk ordination. This can be days, weeks, months or years. Most Thai men will serve a period of their life as a monk in ordination. They then return to ‘laity’ in their normal lives. A popular period for temporary ordination is the Thai summer holidays between April and June. The number of monks in Thailand can double during this period. Through Buddhist teachings and meditation short-term monks will be prepared to fill their future roles as good citizens. The guy I am talking now will be in the monkshood for many years, at least 3 years for sure.

This is the guy I am talking about




His uncle guides him through the ceremony



Family and friends join and pray for him



Important, a monk is all over his body hairless. That's why shaving is the first ritual. On his private part he will do it without witnesses


































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[Michael J.]

Pay respect to the parents and family as well as say thank you to everyone who joins the ceremony and be a part of his life. Everyone cuts some hair.







Father starts with the water







Mother is crying
























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[Michael J.]

The shaving



































After this ceremony his was receiving his monks clothes the evening party get organized and is to say good bye as well as collecting money for his family. The money is a symbol of his earning lost. After that he went in a monastery near Chonburi.
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[Moab Man]

Thank you for sharing and educating.

 

[Mfrankfort]

Gorgeous pictures. This really shows the phrase "Pictures are worth a thousand words".

 

[Deezey]

Fantastic series. Very fascinating. How long does a ceremony usually last?

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[Michael J.]

Morning the Hair Ceremony, about 3 hours. The party until the last goes home. The day after to go int the monastery about 3 hours. I would like to say it takes 2 days. Every hour is a great moment. I joined many times and every time is interesting, unique and full of spirit.

 

[Ijustwant1]

Om Mani Padme Hum _/\_

 

[Michael J.]

WOW, you know the Sanskrit mantra. Thumbs up.

 

[Ijustwant1]

I try and follow Buddhist principles

 

[Ironwood]

Thats a great pictorial of the ordination Michael, thanks for posting.

I am curious by the way. When I was in Thailand back in the '80s, I took a lot of photos with my Nikon film cameras, on a few occasions I took a few candid photos of Monks, when I put the films in to be developed and printed, they never once printed a photo with a Monk in it. I asked someone about this at the time, and they said something along the lines of "respect for the Monk", after that I didnt take any more photos of them.
Have you noticed anything like this in your time in Thailand ?

 

[Michael J.]

I've never faced such a thing. I think just some Thais like to show off.


But I've to say I never did a shot without permission. I asked every time still today. maybe I stay too long in Thailand so it's a normal act for me. Staying here means change a lot about myself without giving up my principals or roots and culture.




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[Ironwood]

I remember a couple of the photos were of a couple of monks walking down a country road, these were taken without asking ( they didn't even know that I took the photos).
But some others were at a cave Temple near Kanchanaburi, in these photos the monks posed for me at the entrance to the Temple.

​I dont know, maybe the Guy doing the printing had an issue with the Phalang (me) taking the photos. But I always wondered if they just kept the photos for themselves, this is unlikely though, not the Thai way that I know.

 

[Michael J.]

In the late afternoon









Praying





Waiting of his Robe





Got the Robe a praying again





And now as a monk his family pay respect to him. This means they bow down to him and women, also mother, sisters, etc. can't touch him now.



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Thanks for reading and for your comments. I appreciate it very much. May you be blessed with pure perseverance, sharp wisdom and complete physical health.

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