Thread: N. Thailand : through a future/present/past monk from America

For the past 13 years I've wanted to ordain as a Buddhist monk, well before the year is out, it'll become a reality. I would of hoped to do so for at least 1-month, but I can't swing that at the present moment.

So from 23 December to 1 January I'll be a monk at a mountain temple in Doi Saket (30 minutes outside of Chiang Mai's downtown).

Next Monday I'm going to meet w/ the abbot, and the Monday before I ordain I'm going to meet w/ the monk that'll tend to me while I'm at the temple. I think he'll mainly help me with the chanting part of the time I'm ordained.

I am studying the chants I need to do, then for it's not totally foreign to me:


Today the gf & I went shopping at the Buddhist stores in CM for my robe, bowl, and other monk stuff. The prices varied from store to store, but the fashion didn't.





^ who's the weirdo in the background?

finally I made my purchase, coming to roughly 1,700 baht. Notice the winter hat, socks, and somewhere in the bag is a pair of gloves. I grew up in Chicago, but never got use to the cold.


The gf & her mother are very proud & happy. My gf is calling everyone & after we bought the clothes & accessories she was taking me around to different people telling them I'm becoming a monk. I'm even more happy to do something I want to do, knowing it'll make other people happy.

More pictures & text coming. Early/mid next year I'll post some pictures taken during the ceremony & I'm 90% sure I'll bring my little Canon, so I should have some pictures taken while I'm a monk.