What Is It Like To Ordain As a Monk?

The monk experience in Thailand was the most life-changing time of my life. I'm happy to share that I am writing a book about it and all the lessons I learned. In the meantime, I thought I'd share some photos and a little story.

Being ordained as a monk is a profound honour. It's the highest position one can hold in Thailand. Even the king bows to monks. To arrive at this moment, we learned chants and the steps of the ordainment ceremony. It involves a head (and eyebrow) shaving ceremony the day before. During this time, we ask for forgiveness for all the trespasses we have made during our lifetimes so we may transition from regular life to the monkhood. This was a very emotional time for me.

At 4:30 am the next day, we woke up and travelled to the temple to begin a series of procedures. Wearing white, we placed three lotus flowers between our palms and circled the temple three times. Then we enter the temple to be greeted by our ceremonial parents. Our "parents" present us with the robes we will wear as monks.

A group of senior monks and the preceptor enter the temple. The preceptor is a very senior monk who is in charge of the ceremony. He guided us through various procedures, including asking permission to become a monk in Pali (the ancient language the Buddha spoke in).

The preceptor presents us with the robes our parents have provided us with. When the undershirt of the robe is placed over our heads, we become monks.

After this portion of the ceremony, we are led outside to change into our orange robes. Our teacher monks help us put the robes on for the first time. There are four pieces (in western language): a skirt, an undershirt, a robe that covers our left shoulder and an additional robe that is folded to drape over our left shoulder. All of the robes are held on with a yellow belt.

We re-enter the temple as monks. The preceptor took us through another series of ceremonies. Eventually, he and the other senior monks invited us to sit with them on the highest platform in the temple. We have been welcomed into the monkhood.

Photographs and congratulations ensue. Before long, we are invited to receive alms from some lay people (non-monks). These kind people provided us with envelopes of money to donate to any good cause we would like. It was such a joy to receive their good wishes.

The remainder of my time as a monk was spent meditating four times per day and learning lessons from the Dhamma. I learned about happiness and peace. I learned about the middle way. I calmed my mind. I enjoyed my brother monks and all the compassion and wisdom they shared.

Would I do it again? The short answer is "yes." The gifts of peace and compassion have changed me in beautiful ways. When the time comes, I will return.

For more information: https://monklifeproject.com/