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

[Marmite the Dog]

I'd keep the skinhead look, Busta - It suits you.

More 'heroin-chic', less geek.

[Jardine]

Well done Bustak. I think in your ordination and photos you display a selflessness and fearlessness that is lacking in many Western Buddhists.

I lived in a Dharma community for 3 years but was never lucky enough to ordain. In my tradition of Buddhism you ordain once for life. I was never in the position to make that kind of commitment although I wanted to.

Have you any plans to repeat your ordination in the future?

[jizzybloke]

the 227 monk rules

I have seen and read these rules once but now i can't find them again, can anyone find a link or post a list?

[bustak]

Well done Bustak. I think in your ordination and photos you display a selflessness and fearlessness that is lacking in many Western Buddhists.

I lived in a Dharma community for 3 years but was never lucky enough to ordain. In my tradition of Buddhism you ordain once for life. I was never in the position to make that kind of commitment although I wanted to.

Have you any plans to repeat your ordination in the future?

thanks a lot! I have no plans in the near future to ordain again, I want to live the "simple life." Maybe when I'm older, not sure.

What Dharma community did you live in?

the 227 monk rules

I have seen and read these rules once but now i can't find them again, can anyone find a link or post a list?

Bhikkhu Pāṭimokkha

[Jardine]

What Dharma community did you live in?

Actually I lived in two

I did a year here Thekchen Buddhist Centre | Kadampa Buddhism - Welcome ...
and two years here Samantabhadra Buddhist Centre

I was on the board of trustees at the second centre for something like 12 years I think but only lived there for two years unfortunately. I was part of the extended community for the rest of the time.

Are you solely interested in Theravadian Buddhism or is it a general interest?

[kingwilly]

There are no real western buddhists as our culture and upbringing make it impossible to follow the rules.

really, you an expert then?

[bustak]

What Dharma community did you live in?

Actually I lived in two

I did a year here Thekchen Buddhist Centre | Kadampa Buddhism - Welcome ...
and two years here Samantabhadra Buddhist Centre

I was on the board of trustees at the second centre for something like 12 years I think but only lived there for two years unfortunately. I was part of the extended community for the rest of the time.

Are you solely interested in Theravadian Buddhism or is it a general interest?

That's a pretty cool experience, are you still a Kadampa?

I use to belong to the NKT a while back, I would travel around to different empowerment's. I even went to England to see Geshle in person, a pretty intense experience.

I've always been drawn to Buddhism, I prefer Theravada the most. I would like to study some Zen, went to a Taiwanese Chan temple a few years back, but never got really deep into it.

[sabang]

Religeon should be a life time decision not a holiday theme park ride

How much do you know about the actual practise of Thai Buddhism then? Bustak appears to take his Buddhism quite seriously, by contrast my wifes cousins are much more typical of the local practise. Their father passed away a couple of years ago. On the first anniversary, the younger brother ordained as a monk for 21 days. On the second anniversary the older brother ordained as a monk for 14 days- they were 'making merit' for their Fathers death. Neither could be remotely described as devout Buddhists- they were performing their filial duty. 'Lifetime decision', piffle.

I was lucky enough to be at the ordainment party/ ceremony of the older Brother. I claim little knowledge of Buddhism and it's several traditions, but I must say I liked the joviality, common participation and party atmosphere, as opposed to the more stern, foreboding practise of our own religion. I did a thread on it actually:- https://teakdoor.com/thailands-festiv...buddhist+isaan

[Jardine]

That's a pretty cool experience, are you still a Kadampa?

I use to belong to the NKT a while back, I would travel around to different empowerment's. I even went to England to see Geshle in person, a pretty intense experience.

I've always been drawn to Buddhism, I prefer Theravada the most. I would like to study some Zen, went to a Taiwanese Chan temple a few years back, but never got really deep into it.

Yes I'm still a Kadampa although a very bad one.
Thai Buddhism never really suited me, I guess I'm just a big Mahayana softy at heart.

Which teacher did you study with in the NKT? I know quite a few of the English ones who went to teach in the US.

[stefalive]

nice thread

[garye]

Buddhism is not a religion, it was also a foreign idea to the Thais as it came from India originally.

Buddhism is not a religion.....Yes and this is exactly what draws me to it's ideas...a non diety based explanation of the nature of existence.
Whether it originates in India is irrelevant,ancient and modern borders differ greatly.
As for foreign ideas....Christianity originated where? Yet there are Christians in the Philippines,Muslims in New York,Hindus and Sikhs in Canada..
The toughest rule(in my opinion) in Buddhism is the 2nd one Suffering is caused by desire.
Not just your desire for some good food,but the desire to love and be loved,the desire for recognition,wealth, and the effort that it takes to super seed the all consuming ego.

Now that's a tough one

For me the best I can do on a day to day basis is try and be a decent human being and to not think too much of myself...has that got the essence of laymen's Buddhism?
Cheers all

[Marmite the Dog]

has that got the essence of laymen's Buddhism?

As much as layman's Christianity, Muslim ism, Judaism or Sikhism I guess.

[garye]

Honestly I'm not sure
Christianity,Judaism,or Muslim seem to be more ego based and interested more in righteousness and proving that they are correct, as well as focusing more on an external force ie God,Allah etc. rather than an internal examination of what really matters.Elemental Buddhism seems to try and shift the focus away from the self,ego,who you think you are etc.

[bustak]

this was the last picture I took before I got my head shaved:


before the actual head shaving by the monk, elders can come up & snip a piece of hair, after that friends & family can do so.

Here's an outstanding member of TD taking a cut:


then the monk got started:








after the shaving, the monk dumped this VERY cold bowl of water & flowers on my head.






once this is through, I went off to shower & put on a white outfit. After that I went to the temple to request to be a monk:


to be continued.

[Marmite the Dog]

You didn't shave your eyelashes.

Out of interest, do you have to shave 'down there' as well?

[garye]

Marmite you are truly a cynical knob...but I believe inside...a heart of gold

[garye]

P.S I am also just another knob on this bus!

[Norton]

As long as your maintain your self in a holy manner and follow the 227 monk rules

Lot's of rules in all religions. All are based on one simple practice.

"What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary."
Talmud, Shabbat 3id

"Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."
Udana-Varga 5,1 "Comparing oneself to others in such terms as "Just as I am so are they, just as they are so am I," he should neither kill nor cause others to kill."
Sutta Nipata 705
"One should seek for others the happiness one desires for himself"
Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama, c. 563 - c. 483 B.C.)
"The Ariyan disciple thus reflects, Here am I, fond of my life, not wanting to die, fond of pleasure and averse from pain. Suppose someone should rob me of my life... it would not be a thing pleasing and delightful to me. If I, in my turn, should rob of his life one fond of his life, not wanting to die, one fond of pleasure and averse from pain, it would not be a thing pleasing or delightful to him. For a state that is not pleasant or delightful to me must also be to him also; and a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another? As a result of such reflection he himself abstains from taking the life of creatures and he encourages others so to abstain, and speaks in praise of so abstaining."
Samyutta Nikaya v.353

[koratbob]

bustak... Congrats, I did the same thing in Korat 2 years ago. I was in the Wat for 2 months and loved every minute of it.

KB

[bustak]

^ oh, very nice. I would love to see some pictures.

[koratbob]

Bustak, I will post some pic's when I reach 5 posts, apparently I am not allowed to post pics until after 5 posts, now this is # 3 so only 2 to go

[friscofrankie]

bustaK,
I've got a few shots to post of that day. I've got about 500 RAW files from the last month or so to go through, I'll post more when I have time. This shot is one of my favorites from that day:

Was that a "GET ON WITH IT!" look?

[bustak]

^ nice shot, I look like an old man!

what are you shooting with? Was that a Canon 450d I saw you with? What lenses do you have for it?

[Nawty]

A wise old man.


nice thread, thanks for putting it up.

[friscofrankie]

what are you shooting with? Was that a Canon 450d I saw you with? What lenses do you have for it?

Sony Alpha 200
Just a kit lens: 18- 70mm 3.5-5.6
I want a new lens and slowly things are opening up. I found a 50mm 1.4 from Sony designed & built for their cameras (The Sony has a 1.5 FOV factor, BTW). I came two heartbeats from buyng it but I'm gonna wait for a 20 - 24mm focal length prime lens.

I have been waffling on the Sony due to Noise and was close to selling the kit and buying an Olympus, Olympus has in in-camera anti shake and teh Zuiko lenses are very good quality (Sony bought Minoltas digital imaging business but did they buy the lens manufacturing plants and know how?). The more I read though I think I'll stick with Sony, Canon and Nikon seem to have some advantages in picture quality but, the Alpha 900 Full frame shooter looks nice and for a ful frame digital camera the price ain;t bad. If I stick with the Minolta mount lens and sony accessories who knows? I am now coveting the Alpha 350. may buy one after we get teh house going. (or before if I can sneak it in) I tried one out the other day and it is quite nice. I think a couple faster lenses will help me reduce shutter speeds and the noise associated with longer exposures. It's strange, some shots are not nearly as noisy even when taken at the same ISO, aperature and speed... I'm sure I can work on technique to improve my results.

I'll post a few more shots of the ordination later in the week.