Circumambulation of the Observance Hall three times. This is usually done with the lay supporters of the ordainee [usually relatives], with local music and dancing [sometimes drinking too], but I didn't really know anyone here and none were arrranged. The one I knew turned up, other than that the monks supported me in this.
The group photo after the circumambulation three times.
After the group photo I was asked to pay respects to the Observance Hall at the entrance way. This is not an official part of the ordination ceremony.
Once inside the Observance Hall my stand-in lay supporters offered me my monk's requisites. My three robes, bowl, ceremonial fan and some money to support the monks, were donated by Chalio Sabo in Brisbane.
With the robes, I could then ask the monk's community for the "Going Forth" from the homelife.
The monks wait as I am helped to put on my robes.
One of my Supporting Teachers gives me the 10 novice training rules. The Supporting Teacher uses the ceremonial fan that I brought from Brisbane. Which has the Thai for "The Offering of the Kathin Group at Wat Thai Buddharam, in the City of Brisbane, Australia. 29th of November, 2547 (2004)."
After becoming a novice monk, I am offered a bowl and then I go to the monk's community to ask for full monk ordination. The same Supporting Teacher as in the previous photo, is on the Preceptor's right hand side in this photo. The Preceptor has my bowl in this photo.
The other Supporting Teacher, who is in the forth photo above, is on the Preceptor's left hand side in this photo.
The ordination ceremony finished at 6.24pm and 31 monks attended. This is recorded in my monk's I.D. For logistic purposes, monks sit in order of how long they have been ordained. As a means of developing humility, one pays respect to those that have been ordained longer than one, by even a minute. All monks with monk's I.D.s have free medical cover in Thailand. [For logistic purposes and because of celibacy, nuns (Bhikkhunis), which are only in Taiwan now, are to line up after the monks, no matter how long they have been a monk or a nun.]
This picture was added later, as I didn't have very good shots of my Preceptor [middle] and the two Vinaya Supporting Teachers. There is a culture of not smiling for pictures, like for passport and driver's licence photos in Australia.
Back to: The Gift of the Buddha - A Happy Life.
