Life as a monk

Living in a world of fast pace, we actually had not intentionally lost our awareness of our surroundings. We were not really mindful with our environment, health, our mind but only with our work. But I do understand, in such world, if we are slow we will be stepped over and that's the end of us. GG.. I'm just trying to say is, even at the most busiest moment, let's just not forget about the things around us such as your family, your love ones and not to let the stress workload overcome you.

Hahaha... Yup, I went.. ahem, I participated in Buddhist Novitiate Program.
In Pali language, it is called sāmaṇera. It simply means Novice monk. Still don't know what I'm talking, refer to the picture below.

Commonly known as Temporary Monk

I spent 10 days there. Two days as an Eight preceptor (still got hair!!) and Eight days as a monk. When I register myself on that day, I have to surrender all my valuable belongings such as my phone, wallet and watches to the committee. Therefore, my apologies if I did not answer your call or reply your messages.

Anyway, the registration started in the evening at 5pm and that is the time I just pang kang nia. After punching out from Plexus, I speed all the way to catch the registration timing. Thankfully I made it in time.

There were in total of 18 participants (18 Golden Monks) for this years novitiate program from various age. The youngest is Form 2 which is err 14 years old? and they are TWINS!!! hahaha... It took me 5 days to study their difference so that I can differentiate them. According to them, their mother also has problem differentiating them too @@

During the night, we were introduce to our Acariya our Teacher, our Guardian throughout the 10 days. They are Ven Dr Dhammapala and Ven Saddhananda. We (novice monks) will call them Bhante (sir) if we have any question to ask them. Throughout the program, RESPECT is very important. The junior will put the palms together and greet the senior monks.

On the very same night, we have a brief introduction among each other together with our Master and each of our us were given a Pali name. Rumours said that the name is picked based on your birthday. I'm not sure how true but my Pali name is Kassapa. The history of Kassapa can be seen here. Another one is the Kassapa brothers. Google it yourself.

After all these ice breaking, I need to find my way to my room. The room leader's name is Ooi Ah Bah (Pali name: Upali), the easiest name to remember and he is the most senior among all of us. My room consist of Six people. Three youngsters and three uncles. OK, over here, I want to highlight this uncle. Lets call him Seevalee. Take note of this name as I'm going to mention a few times in this post. SEEVALEE remember it!!!

Seevalee is the biggest snorer I encountered in my life... On my first night, I can't sleep because of him. Here's a scenario for you, you open the room door and walk two rooms away, each room is about like hotel room distance, amazingly you can still hear his snore. This is how loud he snores.

On the the second day, our head were shaved by the monks and some of the Sri Lankan Monks seem to be very happy shaving our heads. Mine wan was so happy/ excited while shaving mine. *he was smiling all the way like an evil fella, Oops*

It is then we request our wish to go forth, to be a monk from the monks in Pali language (of course there is a book for us to read it loud) and each of us will have a family member or representative (in my case, my father) to offer the robe to us. The Sangha will then accept our request and symbolically tie the some of the robe over us. We will than change into the robe and gather in the Shrine Hall and request to uphold the 10 precepts. The rules of conduct I lived with for the remaining 8 days.

I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.

I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.

I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual activity.

I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech

I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.

I undertake the precept to refrain from eating at the forbidden time (i.e., after noon).

I undertake the precept to refrain from dancing, singing, music, going to see entertainments

I undertake the precept to refrain from wearing garlands, using perfumes, and beautifying the body with cosmetics

I undertake the precept to refrain from lying on a high or luxurious sleeping place

Everyday for the 10 days, I woke up at 5am, all novice monks get ready before 5.30am and off we go to our small hall for a 30min Anapasati Bhavana (insight meditation). Needless to say, early in the morning, only SIX out of the EIGHTEEN people were meditating. What happen to the rest??? All went "fishing". I did my best to be mindful but I can only last for 10 mins for the first few days and it gets better as time goes on. When I can't focus anymore, I will open up my eyes but still sit there quietly not disturbing others. That's the time I can see many types of fisherman.

Type 1:

He meditates till his whole body lean forward.

Type 2:

He meditate till he open his mouth, and then you can here a soft snore coming out from it.

Type 3:

He meditates till his head can go round and round and round till his head hit the wall. The people beside him were awake by the loud bang but he is still doing his "sleeping meditation".

Type 4:

He does not pretend to meditate. He straighten his leg and sleep on the spot. Memang wonderful this fella

After that, all monks are to be gathered in the shrine hall to chat the Morning Puja (offering). To bless all the offerings made by the devotees. It took about 15 minutes to chant 15 pages of Pujas. After chanting, we will head to the dining hall for our breakfast which is offered by the devotees. Lucky enough, there are many devotees offering food to the Sangha (Community of Dhamma practitioners) Each time we eat, we will chant the sharing of merits with all beings and departed relatives.

After our breakfast, we will go to the Chief monk and pay our respect to him, asking for forgiveness for whatever we might have accidentally done and the time the Chief Monk will give us advice. Do take note, asking for forgiveness is done in Pali language also. It is a nice tradition/ concept where it should be practice in a normal lay life family; Where your children will come to you ask for your forgiveness and you give them advice on what to do or how to deal with their mistakes in the future.

After paying your respect to the chief, we will together clean the temple compound. Sweep and mop the whole temple. We were split into group which is according to our room and we rotate to clean certain parts of the temple. When we complete our cleaning, we will go have a bath, refreshes ourselves. OK, do you still remember SEEVALEE, sometimes when he bath, he sneezes. Normal people sneeze by just a simple blowing out the nose loud loud.. I believe most of you can imagine how an ordinary people sneeze. My experience with Seevalee is when I was bathing, suddenly I heard somebody practicing Kung Fu. Heee Huuu Heee Huuu

and do some walking meditation for 30 mins and off we go for Dhamma class. Over here we are taught the Buddha's teaching. Some of the Dhamma are quite profound but interesting. So deep till you will scratch your bald head to understand it.

That's how I spend the morning as a monk. At 11.30am, we will take our alms bowl and take our food offered by the devotees for our lunch. To those who don't know what an Alms bowl is, refer to the picture below.

This is an Alms bowl.

I survived my Ten days with that bowl. For the moment, this is the biggest bowl I have carried and eaten with. It can put I think 10 packets of Char Hor Fun into it and I doubt it is still full yet. Whoever kuai giak with me wan will also get spang with this bowl. It will be a *Phenggg* and you will see stars. It is made of metal. Dun siao siao. hahahaha

Everyday, we will have our lunch from 11.30am to 12pm. And whatever food that was inside the bowl, we have to finish it. The best thing is we eat with our hand and wash the bowl ourselves after the meal. The biggest challenge for me during that period is to finish all the food in 30 mins. If you don't finish on time, everybody will stare at you and that's the time you will feel paiseh to the max. One of my friend was taking his sweet time eating durian when the younger Samanera hurried him.. This is how the convo went: ~lets call the Samanera that eats the Durian as N and the person who hurried him as R.

N: *eating durian
R: N ah N, eat faster la.. everybody waiting for you, you know anot?? Just swallow the whole it.
N: huh *stares around, stop eating and throws the half eaten durian away*

After the chanting
R: Why you throw away?? Should swallow whole piece ma then your bottom there can grow extra one become three.
N: =.=

After lunch, we had two hours of break. That's the time where we have our own time. You may choose to sleep, or talk with your family members or walk round the temple. Anything that you name it. Most of the time I choose to just go back to my quarters and have a rest. It is not a wise idea to walk round the temple after lunch. Imagine your head under the sun without hair. Burning man.. lol

Next interesting event will be the Yoga. Our exercise for the week is Yoga session for 1 hour only. This is the most funniest hour I seen everyday. Can hear people ee arr ee arr screaming in pain. Hahaha.. I myself also scream for certain moves. But it helps me in sitting up straight for a longer period during meditation. Over here again, you will laugh seeing Seevalee doing the Yoga stuns.

When the Yoga is done, we are given time to bath and room cleaning. Clean the whole room and corridor and off we go for the evening Puja. Everyday after the Puja, we will chant different Sutta. Each day 1 Sutta. Eg: Mangala Sutta, Jaya Mangala Sutta, Rattana Sutta and etc. Spent average about half an hour chanting. Even it is raining, we will still go for the chanting.

After the chanting, back to Dhamma studies and Dhamma discussion. Over here we discuss lots of things that will enlightened us. I actually love Dhamma discussion. There's even ghost story/ experience was shared during the discussion. Interesting isn't it?? Right then we have a short meditation to calm down/ digest whatever we had learnt and Metta Bhavana (loving kindness meditation) before we go to sleep.

Every night, at 10pm, all lights will go off. BUT the youngsters like me can never go to bed in such early time. That's where we have "meeting" in a quiet place and start talking. Talk till 11 something or 12, than I will go to the room of Snoring Orchestra. Where 4 out of 6 people snores and 1 fella sleep talking. I get used to it as the days go past.

10 days just past like that with the same routine everyday till my last day. On the last day, all the monks walk out of the temple for alms food. We will carry our alms bowl and beg for food. In Pali it is called Pindapatta.

Me with my Kappiya (helper) in Pindappata

All the dry foods that were collected were sent to Thailand flood disaster. We have a closing ceremony and we accept the 5 precepts (pancca Silla) and then off we disrobe back into our layman life.

A group photo with our Teachers

As a conclusion from this I, slowing down my pace of life do make me realize lots of things. Realize how unmindful I am. Good mindfulness will lead to good concentration and good concentration leads to wisdom. Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu (May all beings be well and happy)

PS: I followed the Theravada Buddhist, meaning we eat whatever is offered by the devotees and not necessary strict vegetarian diet. But we only take two meals a day which is Breakfast and Lunch. We also sleep with the robe on and the robe serves as our blanket. Learnt lots of pali language too =D