MaiLuk Posted August 3, 2003 Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 I live in a tourist town in the U.S. Today from a distance i saw an asian family (too far away to say if they were thai), and in the middle of the group was a bald headed man with a long orange robe! Monks lead a difficult life: they have to perform Bangkasun (burning the dead) at the temple, while living at the temple - you thought they only burned nice smelling incense? Have to study the life of the Buddha; get thru the ordination procedure and take vows such as refraining from unchaste conduct (i failed already), no sleeping in large or high beds ::, and no dancing or going to see entertainments. And learning and practicing daily meditation is no piece of cake. Monks don?t have it easy. So why not take a vacation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaad Posted August 4, 2003 Report Share Posted August 4, 2003 Are they allowed to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lazyphil Posted August 4, 2003 Report Share Posted August 4, 2003 Not sure. Are they allowed C Class Mercs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelgianBoy Posted August 4, 2003 Report Share Posted August 4, 2003 Mailuk, Sure he was not living there ??? I mean there are Thai temples in all major countries, and there are 2-3 monks here in Belgium. Sure different from LOS, and not sure they really enjoy it here, but sure they get a lot more respect here ! Cheers ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaiLuk Posted August 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2003 There is a thai temple not too far from here (40 minute drive). The family definitely had a tourist look, maybe they were visiting their son who lives at the temple, who took them to his favorite tourist spot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaiLuk Posted August 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2003 Are they allowed to? Doubt it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattaya127 Posted August 5, 2003 Report Share Posted August 5, 2003 but sure they get a lot more respect here ! -------------------------- you mean, in farangland? why? :: there is also a bit of politics going on with monks in farangland. They may start to drive cars (just an example), some patthais (thai expats) frown on it, some not, and soon you have 2 thai temples in the region. One for driving monks, and one for driven monks . That's what happened in Berkeley. Usually the westernized monks belong to the most commercialized or endowed temple, IME. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattaya127 Posted August 5, 2003 Report Share Posted August 5, 2003 And learning and practicing daily meditation is no piece of cake --------------------- Monkhood was less and less based on meditation, but reciting the texts over and over again, and duties around and outside the temples. It seems that there is a resurgence of the practice of meditation, but this is a movement that actually involves the laicity, and the monks followed by these people. The Sangha act of 1903 made pretty much the religion at the service of the secular powers. Over the following decades, thru this day, endowing a temple, building one, basically funding with cash was deemed more meritorious than the practice of meditation, a sure sign of materialism not going too well with the basic tenets of the Good Buddha's Word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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