Thread: Becoming A Monk In A Thai Temple

Any non-Thai here knows how to go about becoming a monk in a Thai temple? Any experience to share and any temple to recommend?

My friend, an American, did it last year. He had to get approval from the "head-monk" of the Wat. He also had a VERY good and honorable reason why he wanted to go through the process and used his connections in the local community as well (he was in business there for a while and knew the right people). You would have to speak and read almost fluent Thai, so I've heard. I think it is quite difficult.

Unless you have a well-developed Buddhist practice and speak Thai well (including specialised Buddhist terminology), I'd recommend a retreat at Wat Suan Mokkh. It has 11-day, silent retreats starting on the first day of every month and lead in English. It's a very good introduction to the relevant spiritual practices.

Retreats at Suan Mokkh International

The following site gives a guide to a range of other meditation places in Thailand:

The Meditation Places in Thailand - Dhammathai.org

You might want to read a book called Phra Farang published by Arrow Books.

^^ could be useful, don't know if it makes a difference but he started out in the UK.

Pra Farang, by Phra Peter Pannapadipo

Originally Posted by billdo2000

My friend, an American, did it last year. He had to get approval from the "head-monk" of the Wat. He also had a VERY good and honorable reason why he wanted to go through the process and used his connections in the local community as well (he was in business there for a while and knew the right people). You would have to speak and read almost fluent Thai, so I've heard. I think it is quite difficult.

ขอบคุณมากครับ I can speak conversational Thai, read and write some elementary Thai. I hope to keep learning till I can be considered fluent and proficient enough. My interest in Buddhism, particularly Theravada Buddhism began a few years ago when I lived in Thailand. Now, I'm doing Buddhist studies (Theravada and Pali) in a Sri Lankan temple in Singapore as a lay student. After the course, I hope to be able to live the life of the teachings in a temple in Thailand. It's not possible to get the same environment in Singapore If you think it's o.k., please do share what was your American friend's reason for going through monkhood in Thailand.

Originally Posted by Oswulf

Unless you have a well-developed Buddhist practice and speak Thai well (including specialised Buddhist terminology), I'd recommend a retreat at Wat Suan Mokkh. It has 11-day, silent retreats starting on the first day of every month and lead in English. It's a very good introduction to the relevant spiritual practices.

ขอบคุณมากครับ You've been very helpful and your suggestions are very useful. Will check them out.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Some country temples will allow you to just wander in and be ordained fairly quickly, if you have friends or family in the area, but that's more for the novelty value than anything else. Any serious temple makes it very difficult for a farang to ordain as their experiences have shown that not many farang have the commitment, the belief, or the stamina for the life of a monk. All studies, unless you find a temple with a large number of foreign monks, will be in Thai and Pali and you should have a working knowledge of both languages.

Very little of this applies to Thais but the requirements for a farang ordination are srict.

ขอบคุณมากครับ I don't mind studies in Thai and Pali. In fact, I prefer that it be so. Is it true that there's a distinction between farang-farang (Caucasian foreigners) and non-farang farang (East Asian foreigners)? I've heard of Malaysians and Singaporeans entering monkhood in Thailand quite easily.

Very interesting - can anyone give me any history on the massive statues at Por Foi Loom ( near Nong Khan) - thats as near as I can get to the correct name , corrections welcomed if needed - awesome sculptures.

Originally Posted by Ramseth

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Some country temples will allow you to just wander in and be ordained fairly quickly, if you have friends or family in the area, but that's more for the novelty value than anything else. Any serious temple makes it very difficult for a farang to ordain as their experiences have shown that not many farang have the commitment, the belief, or the stamina for the life of a monk. All studies, unless you find a temple with a large number of foreign monks, will be in Thai and Pali and you should have a working knowledge of both languages.

Very little of this applies to Thais but the requirements for a farang ordination are srict.

ขอบคุณมากครับ I don't mind studies in Thai and Pali. In fact, I prefer that it be so. Is it true that there's a distinction between farang-farang (Caucasian foreigners) and non-farang farang (East Asian foreigners)? I've heard of Malaysians and Singaporeans entering monkhood in Thailand quite easily.

Other Asians aren't refered to as Farang or "non-Farang Farang" {whatever that is} here in the Land of Wannabe Smiles. Only Farang are Farang.

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

Other Asians aren't refered to as Farang or "non-Farang Farang" {whatever that is} here in the Land of Wannabe Smiles. Only Farang are Farang.

Perhaps more clearly, farang foreigners and non-farang foreigners.

I don't believe there are many farangs on here that have ever ordained in Thailand. I spent 3 months in a temple North of Bangkok in 2007. As an ordained Buddhist monk. It's not as hard as everyone talks about. Basically, you should find a temple that you like and then develop some good camadrie with the abbot and even some of the other monks. Show the abbot that you can speak a little Thai, but more importantly, show that you have a major interest in Buddhism. I was the only farang that ever ordained at this temple. no one there spoke English except the abbot who spoke enough for me and him to get by. I really enjoyed the peace and tranquilty. My problem, or I would probably still be there, was I had a Thai girlfriend. Enough said about that or your going to see a bunch of responses here from all the jaded farangs. If you really have an interest in becoming a monk, I can give you a name of a older monk, in Bangkok, who lives at a small temple and he would dearly love to help you. He doesn't speak any English but there are always many people who visit him that does. give me a e-mail if you want more info on this. Metta
p.s. I am a retired American, now 66.

Wat Thamkrabok has several farang monk.

I'm not sure whether being a former junkie slimebag is a prerequisite or not.

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

Wat Thamkrabok has several farang monk.

I'm not sure whether being a former junkie slimebag is a prerequisite or not.

Thank you. Most of us are all addicted to one thing or another.

Originally Posted by luangpohbill

I don't believe there are many farangs on here that have ever ordained in Thailand. I spent 3 months in a temple North of Bangkok in 2007. As an ordained Buddhist monk. It's not as hard as everyone talks about. Basically, you should find a temple that you like and then develop some good camadrie with the abbot and even some of the other monks. Show the abbot that you can speak a little Thai, but more importantly, show that you have a major interest in Buddhism. I was the only farang that ever ordained at this temple. no one there spoke English except the abbot who spoke enough for me and him to get by. I really enjoyed the peace and tranquilty. My problem, or I would probably still be there, was I had a Thai girlfriend. Enough said about that or your going to see a bunch of responses here from all the jaded farangs. If you really have an interest in becoming a monk, I can give you a name of a older monk, in Bangkok, who lives at a small temple and he would dearly love to help you. He doesn't speak any English but there are always many people who visit him that does. give me a e-mail if you want more info on this. Metta
p.s. I am a retired American, now 66.

Thank you sir. Very interesting. Being a newbie in this forum, I don't have enough post count to email now. Will email you soon.

Today I strolled in to Wat Doi Saket in Doi Saket (45 minutes outside of downtown Chiang Mai) asking if I could ordain in a couple of weeks for 10 days & they said no problem.

I don't think it's really that difficult, as luangpohbill said.

Originally Posted by Thaiguy

Very interesting - can anyone give me any history on the massive statues at Por Foi Loom ( near Nong Khan) - thats as near as I can get to the correct name , corrections welcomed if needed - awesome sculptures.

wrong thread Tg

but

Nong Khai AttractionsSala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park ThaiLao Friendship Bridge Wat Pho Chai Phra That Nong Khai Wat Phu Tok Hat Jommani Wat Phra That Bang Phuan Tha Bo in Nong Khai Si Chiangmai in Nong Khai Wat Hin Mak Peng Sangkhom in Nong Khai Beung Kan in Nong Khai

if you don't know the proper name, it is difficult to help

Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park, Nong Khai, Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park in Nong Khai, Nong Khai Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park

Originally Posted by bustak

Today I strolled in to Wat Doi Saket in Doi Saket (45 minutes outside of downtown Chiang Mai) asking if I could ordain in a couple of weeks for 10 days & they said no problem.

I don't think it's really that difficult, as luangpohbill said.

Thanks. That's good news for those wishing to try out a short stint of monkhood for themselves to see what it's really like.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by Thaiguy

Nong Khai AttractionsSala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park ThaiLao Friendship Bridge Wat Pho Chai Phra That Nong Khai Wat Phu Tok Hat Jommani Wat Phra That Bang Phuan Tha Bo in Nong Khai Si Chiangmai in Nong Khai Wat Hin Mak Peng Sangkhom in Nong Khai Beung Kan in Nong Khai

if you don't know the proper name, it is difficult to help

Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park, Nong Khai, Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park in Nong Khai, Nong Khai Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park

Just a sidetrack. I think most of us know Sala Daeng station near Patpong. It means red (Buddhist) pavilion, yes? I don't see any around there. Anyone knows where the name Sala Daeng came from or which Sala Daeng it's referring to?

Hi there Ramseth and welcome to the forum.

Where exactly is Wat No Name?

Originally Posted by Ramseth

Just a sidetrack. I think most of us know Sala Daeng station near Patpong. It means red (Buddhist) pavilion, yes? I don't see any around there. Anyone knows where the name Sala Daeng came from or which Sala Daeng it's referring to?

probably demolished it to make the station.

Originally Posted by JoGeAr

Hi there Ramseth and welcome to the forum.

Where exactly is Wat No Name?

Hi and oh! It's just a name I made up. Wherever I am, in my apartment room or in my hotel room, that's probably the wat with no name. Something like the saying, wherever I leave my hat that's my home.

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Originally Posted by Ramseth

Just a sidetrack. I think most of us know Sala Daeng station near Patpong. It means red (Buddhist) pavilion, yes? I don't see any around there. Anyone knows where the name Sala Daeng came from or which Sala Daeng it's referring to?

probably demolished it to make the station.

You're probably right. Anyway, a friend just jokingly said it meant redlight district.