Comments on: Phra Bill

By: chdarat

chdarat — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:27:28 +0000

If you are serious about this, I mean choosing this as a way of life then I would consider Wat Pananchart:

Wat Pa Nanachart
Bung Wai Village
Warin Chamrab,
Ubon Ratchathani 34310
THAILAND

Wat Bovorn near Kao San road do have a western order. Here is a link where you can read up:

http://www.bangkoksite.com/temples/WatBovorn.htm.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:40:28 +0000

Thanks for the great story Phra Bill on your ordination.

I have been in BKK a long while a farang and very long standing devout Buddhist with weak Thai and having great difficulty finding a temple in BKK to ordain.

Anyone out there could let me know of temples where I could contact the Abbot and hopefully geta yes would be very much apreciated.

Many thanks
Matt

By: geomark

geomark — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:35:20 +0000

Actually I read him to say that they acknowledge and thank while chanting just before eating, not when they collect alms. I was a monk and as we learned we do not thank lay people while on alms round. Indeed, the gratitude flows in the other direction, from lay people to monks for being fertile ground in which to sow seeds of merit, so to speak.

I am very happy for Phra Bill. He has chosen a way that is so much better than so many other foreigners who come to Thailand.

By: chdarat

chdarat — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:58:19 +0000

Gratitude and generosity are at the heart of the Buddhist teachings and the goal of a Buddhist is not simply merit makings.

Making merits is a way of cultivating these qualities.

So monks can and do say thank you. There is no rules that prevent them from doing so. Often they don’t say the word out loud but their demeanour should suggest humility and gratitude which to me is a way of thanking. They also give you a blessing by chanting in Pali which again is a way of thanking.

Just a reflection, in Thailand, Buddhism has become cultural tradition and have adopted so many rituals from animistic and Hindu traditions that have very little to do with the historical Buddha. Plus many of the meanings behind rites and rituals have been forgotten and people simply adopted the rituals.

Sad for me who feels that Buddhism is a way of life, something that is immediate, effective and beautiful and to do with mastering this human condition now in this lifetime and not merit banking for the future.

Buddhism is freeing and never weigh you down.

For anyone that wants to access English Buddhist teachings and reflections on the internet then try:

http://www.amaravati.org/abmnew/index.php/teachings/audio or http://www.dhammatalks.org.uk

You can even watch on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/dhammatube

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:11:14 +0000

This was very interesting. I’m confused, though, that Phra Bill chants his thanks as he collects alms in the morning. I thought that monks are not supposed to thank the people putting rice etc. in their bowls, because thanking the donors deprives them of making merit for their donations — ? I read that somewhere but have no other knowledge about the process. Can anyone answer this? I’m just curious about the alms/merit-making process. Thanks!

By: Peter Gadd

Peter Gadd — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:16:36 +0000

Thanks for an interesting insight into the monkhood. One thing that you should correct is that Wat Pah Nanachat (or International Forest Temple translated directly) is in Ubon Ratchathani province. I know; I live in Ubon and I have been to the temple several times. It is so peaceful.