Monks stories
I'm spending so much time with them that I take for granted so many details that you are not aware of... I'm gonna try to share them a little.
Story number 1 : monks give without thinking twice
They live from donations, from the alms offering, from the little money their parents or master can give them. But in Burma, I saw some of them giving hundreds of baths in a few days, to a people poorer than they were. When they cannot give money, they give time. Giving look to be a second nature for most of them.
In the markets of Burma, I was offered sticky rice, brochettes, palm cores (you have to suck the juice out of it), and other kinds of food i don't even know the name. Even when I was not hungry at all ^^ Sometimes, one monk goes to buy some drink for himself but comes back with two, one for me.
They always have a thought for the others and act accordingly. "Oh, it would please him/her" ? And here's a gift... A book, 2 bracelets, a DVD with my pics and theirs, 2 amulets, a necklace, a case for my cell phone... On Wednesday, they even paid for my lunch...
Story number 2 : monks are different according to their country
Chiang Mai has one of the best Buddhist University in the Mekong Area, with an English program and classes in English. Knowing it is an asset to speak English, many monks come from Cambodia and Laos to study here, sometimes for many years.
Many of the Cambodians hang around together, and it's the same for people from Laos. It's easy to know from which country is Phra X if you know his friend, Phra Y, is from Cambodia. I like it, i don't have to ask every one of them where they come from ^^
But in those two countries, rules are often less strict than in Thailand. As in Burma, they can give something directly to a woman or vice-versa. In some places, they can even touch a woman, as long as it's a casual contact.
So, sometimes, it looks like they "forget" they are in Thailand. Intentionnally or not, I don't know and it's not mine to say ^^ Sometimes, some monks from Cambodia or Laos will give me something directly to me, from hand to hand. And the next day, they will put it on the table for me to take it. I don't know, maybe it depends on the people around or some other influences I'm not aware of...
Story number 3 : Students will always be students, being monks or not...
Which means they often have tons of homeworks, to which they sometimes have to add monks activities. So... As any normal students, they are often late... Finishing their oral presentation in the middle of the night, giving their report to the teacher 3 days late and trying to convince her that it's not so late, glancing at their neighbour's table during exams...
And as every student, they don't like some teachers. I remember they once had a Thai teaching them English. He had studied in the US and was really proud of himself, thinking himself much more worth than he really was, looking down at people. So the monks used to meet the night before the class, to prepare really hard questions to ask, to show their teacher he didn't know everything. He didn't last 2 weeks... ^^
But apart from this, they respect their teacher a lot. "Ajan" And it's so fun when you arrive at 7am at Wat Suan Dok and one monk sees you and say "Hey, hello teacher !!" That's so... cute ?
Story number 4 : monks in a meditation retreat.... ?
From left to right : Phra ? (qui doit pas voir grand chose), Phra Jerry, Phra Sojiara, Phra Chhunny
Cambodians
'stie, Phra Jerry really has the biggest smile ever ^^'
Phra Sojiara, my best French student... listening to his ipod lol
Phra Chhunny ? ... My friend :) So sa dey ! Kngom niam mouan ^^
Phra Jerry with Phra Ken behind, Phra Chhunny with the pink scarf, Phra Jun with the blue hat, Phra Sojiara at the top right corner. They are all so funny with their gloves, hats and scarves...
In the bus, Phra Chhunny and Phra Leo. Everyone hugs everyone here ^^
Just for the pose of Phra Jerry haha
Walking meditation ? Shouldn't be concentrated and not looking at the camera ? ^^
Phra ?, Phra Leo, Phra Chhunny, Phra Jerry, Phra Sojiara
Phra Oudone in the background and Phra Sojiara. He looks so much like a wood pixie (or a dwarf ?) !!!
I would never have been able to meditate there...
Copyright Phra Chhunny, in a refugee camp next to Tha Ton. So so cute...
Phra Chhunny in the meditation hall, with Phra Jerry's scarf
Phra Lout, Phra Jerry, Phra Sojiara and Phra ?
They are posing soooooo much ^^
Story number 1 : monks give without thinking twice
They live from donations, from the alms offering, from the little money their parents or master can give them. But in Burma, I saw some of them giving hundreds of baths in a few days, to a people poorer than they were. When they cannot give money, they give time. Giving look to be a second nature for most of them.
In the markets of Burma, I was offered sticky rice, brochettes, palm cores (you have to suck the juice out of it), and other kinds of food i don't even know the name. Even when I was not hungry at all ^^ Sometimes, one monk goes to buy some drink for himself but comes back with two, one for me.
They always have a thought for the others and act accordingly. "Oh, it would please him/her" ? And here's a gift... A book, 2 bracelets, a DVD with my pics and theirs, 2 amulets, a necklace, a case for my cell phone... On Wednesday, they even paid for my lunch...
Story number 2 : monks are different according to their country
Chiang Mai has one of the best Buddhist University in the Mekong Area, with an English program and classes in English. Knowing it is an asset to speak English, many monks come from Cambodia and Laos to study here, sometimes for many years.
Many of the Cambodians hang around together, and it's the same for people from Laos. It's easy to know from which country is Phra X if you know his friend, Phra Y, is from Cambodia. I like it, i don't have to ask every one of them where they come from ^^
But in those two countries, rules are often less strict than in Thailand. As in Burma, they can give something directly to a woman or vice-versa. In some places, they can even touch a woman, as long as it's a casual contact.
So, sometimes, it looks like they "forget" they are in Thailand. Intentionnally or not, I don't know and it's not mine to say ^^ Sometimes, some monks from Cambodia or Laos will give me something directly to me, from hand to hand. And the next day, they will put it on the table for me to take it. I don't know, maybe it depends on the people around or some other influences I'm not aware of...
Story number 3 : Students will always be students, being monks or not...
Which means they often have tons of homeworks, to which they sometimes have to add monks activities. So... As any normal students, they are often late... Finishing their oral presentation in the middle of the night, giving their report to the teacher 3 days late and trying to convince her that it's not so late, glancing at their neighbour's table during exams...
And as every student, they don't like some teachers. I remember they once had a Thai teaching them English. He had studied in the US and was really proud of himself, thinking himself much more worth than he really was, looking down at people. So the monks used to meet the night before the class, to prepare really hard questions to ask, to show their teacher he didn't know everything. He didn't last 2 weeks... ^^
But apart from this, they respect their teacher a lot. "Ajan" And it's so fun when you arrive at 7am at Wat Suan Dok and one monk sees you and say "Hey, hello teacher !!" That's so... cute ?
Story number 4 : monks in a meditation retreat.... ?
From left to right : Phra ? (qui doit pas voir grand chose), Phra Jerry, Phra Sojiara, Phra Chhunny
Cambodians
'stie, Phra Jerry really has the biggest smile ever ^^'
Phra Sojiara, my best French student... listening to his ipod lol
Phra Chhunny ? ... My friend :) So sa dey ! Kngom niam mouan ^^
Phra Jerry with Phra Ken behind, Phra Chhunny with the pink scarf, Phra Jun with the blue hat, Phra Sojiara at the top right corner. They are all so funny with their gloves, hats and scarves...
In the bus, Phra Chhunny and Phra Leo. Everyone hugs everyone here ^^
Just for the pose of Phra Jerry haha
Walking meditation ? Shouldn't be concentrated and not looking at the camera ? ^^
Phra ?, Phra Leo, Phra Chhunny, Phra Jerry, Phra Sojiara
Phra Oudone in the background and Phra Sojiara. He looks so much like a wood pixie (or a dwarf ?) !!!
I would never have been able to meditate there...
Copyright Phra Chhunny, in a refugee camp next to Tha Ton. So so cute...
Phra Chhunny in the meditation hall, with Phra Jerry's scarf
Phra Lout, Phra Jerry, Phra Sojiara and Phra ?
They are posing soooooo much ^^
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