I was purposely attached to Buddhism as a monk for one month (May 24 to June 23, 2009) at Wat Kean Svay Knong. What I considered my supreme blessing was my relationship built with my fellow monks. Thanks to them, I gained more lessons and experience of Buddhism, especially through a souvenir essay I asked them to write for me after my monkhood. Their works constitute a religious gift above any other one.
You may be wondering why a professional or entrepreneur like me decided to become a monk and how that has benefited me.
1. Why did monkhood appeal to me?
Some of you may know about my profile. Buddhism is not new to me. What got me to adopt monkhood was the fact that most dignitaries in Cambodia’s history survived pagodas or religious lives, including ex-King. Thus, I found that the best way to understand Buddhism in order to develop myself is monkhood itself. Another cause was to repay my parents’s merits although I know this would be only partial! The gratitude I refered to, though, was to make them happy for the long run, rather than momentanously joyful. I have no way to find out how my monkhood would benefit or delight them in next lives. Only in present life can I feel and catch up with that fact. The third reason was to apply Buddha’s teachings in daily life. There were some things I misunderstood about Buddhism and that I realized during my monkhood. After adjustment, I found that that new knowledge applies to livelihood and business. What surprised me was that a bunch of Cambodian people was converted to other religions because of superficial understanding about Buddhism or, in Dharma’s terms, ignorance.
2. What are the differences between a monk and a layman?
Based on my experience with my fellows, I discovered such differences:
a. Discipline Maybe the reason why monks are considered supreme in status was because of disciplines. Every behavior, act, way of life are governed by strict codes. Honestly, I sometimes complained about them! Later, I realized that all those codes make sense to and benefit monks.
b. Habits Habits are different from disciplines in that the former refer to courses of action taken every day, month, season or year. It was my first time to wake up at 4h30 am just to recite prayers with other monks! Every couple of week, we were required to shave our head. “Oh, my head will get bold... It will cause pimps”, some complained. Luckily, my head already is bold and has pimps on it! Mistake confessions are also a characteristic of monks. Laypeople tend to keep mistakes to and defend themselves. Some fellows told me that labor or physical work can reduce the punishment. Fortunately, I did some work once in a while and hoped it to relieve my mistakes – intentional or unintentional.
c. Time Actually, monks have ample time to learn Dharma and make good deeds to attain Nirvana (enlightenment) sooner than laypeople. So, besides eating and sleeping, they can spend their time practising or rehearsing prayers with their fellows, meditating, discussing Dharma. Laypeople mostly spend time with worldly gains, rather than otherworldly, owing to ignorance. By the way, if only I understood the quality and essence of Dharma before my professional involvement or turn back the time, I’d head some pagoda already! Anyway, there are 5 precepts for me to hold (on) after quitting monkhood. I’ve been familiar with those precepts, but never seriously apply them, especially that of avoiding alcohol or toxicated drinks. Here, I find it a bit challenging as hard drinks are commonplace for socialization. Or the change starts with me?
3. What are the challenges monks face in daily life?
All monks live on what they call 4 (necessary) offerings. So most of their challenges arise from there. Likewise, I met the same challenges, yet in a way different from other monks. First, I have only one set of monkish clothes. So I must switch washing time of one cloth at the cost of another...! Second, asking for rice was forbidden by lay devotees until I was encouraged by my fellows. I comprehended the good will of both sides. What made me decide to go ask for rice was to complete yet another religious tasks. In Buddhism, offering rice to monks means getting blessed and dedicating it to their dead relatives. Third, I was particularly isolated from other monks and stayed in a sacred and quiet site dedicated to Preah Ko Preah Keo (Twins of a sacred cow and human). Maybe they wanted me to be taken care of by those genies. I must say it was not easy to come out and pee as I needed to look out left and right every night! Forth, my medicine-soft-drink-tools exceeded my needs as offered to me by my parents. So I handed down some to my fellows. Fifth, the wisdom of Buddha is so deep that I could not really acquire all during my monkhood. I know that there’s much more to learn even after getting taught by my fellows.
Besides, other monks than me face even bigger challenges than me according to the pointers in their notes to me. However, as Buddha once said, life has sufferings as company so maybe nature wants to test our adaptability to overcome and solve difficulties.
4. Some anecdotes of my monkhood.
What I thought I could have never done for one whole month:
- no watching TV;
- no wearing underpants;
- no dinner/supper;
- rehearsing Namaskas twice (early morning and evening) daily non-stop;
- spending less than US$ 20;
- doing more physical work than ever;
- drinking only water or Coke from 12 pm to 00 am.
