Request for help to Ordain under Ajahn Suchart Abhijato (Wat Yan) or Ajahn Brahm

[Kiranraj.bodhi]

Dear Dhamma Friends,

My name is Kiranraj, 33 years old male from Bangalore,India.

I have already quit my job and been Meditating and serving in Meditation centers for the past one year or so and even ordained Temporary about 3 times now in Mahabodhi Monastery Bangalore, even though its a good place with its own Meditation center I dont think its the place "for me" to Ordain because we need to respect the ways of the Monastery whcih is Mostly involved in community service.

I have been to Wat Boonywad in Thailand and also stayed there but unfiortunately Ajahn Dtun said he cannot Ordain me as he is not allowed under the "Thai council of elders" to ordain.

I am looking for my teacher to ordain in this Buddha Sasana under a Meditation Teacher.

I would love to Ordain as a Monk under Ajahn Suchart Abhijato I understood from his talk that "He cant say yes neither say no"because it depnds on the abbot of the Monastery. (Which i guess gives me a chance)

However here's the thing the email of his assistant I have sent an email regards the same as of 6th of Sep 2019 and haven't received a response yet and guess about a year ago i sent an email to the guess Monk incharge of Wat Yan he said they do not Ordain Foreigners anymore

I am not giving up hope yet, anyhelp or suggestion would be appreciated.

My only other alternative would be to disaapear in the forests of Srilanka maybe "Na Uyana Forest Monastery" where i can do self-meditation with least disturbance and heard Ariyananda Bhante is also a good Monk and Abbot.

Any Leads or Help would be appreciated

Regards
Kiranraj
+91 9916533284

[Kiranraj.bodhi]

The other Option is to Ordain under Ajahn Brahm but it seems like there is a long waiting list already and Australian citizens are given priority

So I reall dont know, Hope Dhamma leads me to either Ajahn Suchart Or Ajahn Brahm or the last resort would be either ordain in "Na Uyana" and practice on my own

But any leads/suggestions/help would be definetly welcome from my Dhamma Friends here!

Regards
Kiranraj

[holylotus]

Dear Kiranraj

Have you considered Wat Pah Nanachat in Thailand?

[holylotus]

Or Ajahn Martin's monastery in Thailand - www.forestdhammatalks.org ?

[Volo]

Or Ajahn Martin's monastery in Thailand - www.forestdhammatalks.org ?

Thanks, interesting. Have you been in this monastery? Is it suitable for intensive meditation or are there a lot of duties/noise/lay people? I'm looking for a place to stay for about a month focusing mainly on meditation. Would you recommend this place?

[JamesTheGiant]

My only other alternative ...

Go to Sri Lanka and visit many monasteries. You are sure to meet a good teacher somewhere there. Is there any problem with Indian citizen getting a passport visa for Sri Lanka?

[Kiranraj.bodhi]

@Holylotus

Thank you for the suggestion, however yes I have considered them but I don't feel the connect with the Teachers both with Ajahn Kevali or Ajahn Martin

@James

Yes guess Srilanka has more rules now, guess after the Terrorist attacks they have included a "Police Clearance Certificate" requirement for a Long term visa , but I don't think I will have a problem obtaining that, it will just take time and willing to wait until April 2020.

[holylotus]

Dear Volo

No I have not been there. But from information on the internet it seems like a very good place to practice intensively with minimum chores. Also geographically it looks to be in a very isolated and peaceful forest.

One is welcome to show up without any prior notification.

Dear Kiranraj,

All the best on your noble search. Let us know if you come to a conclusion or find any more good leads - it is very inspiring.

[tamdrin]

I have heard not such good things about Ajahn Martin from my friend who is an Australian monk here in Chiang Mai. He seems a little harsh on his students judging from his videos but his teachings seem ok.. Do you have the money to come to Thailand and take a look around for a few months? Ajahn Achalo has a monastery with many international students here. You can see his videos in YouTube. I think he is very compassionate.


I live in Chiang Mai and know many of the monasteries and some Ajahn's around here if I can be of any assistance to you let me know!

[Kiranraj.bodhi]

@holylotus

Thank you

@tamdrin

Thank you for the support

Currently I am looking another wonderful teacher Bhante Vimalaramsi (dhammasukha.org) but I guess visa to USA from India is not so friendly for long term as I may have to keep flying out after every 3 months stay.

Lots of Metta to all , May all of you attain Nibbana as soon as possible!

[JamesTheGiant]

Stop looking for famous and charismatic monks. There are many monasteries with good monks and wise but unknown teachers.

[Kiranraj.bodhi]

@ James

What is wrong in trying to Ordain under Famous and Charismatic monks?

I understand what you are saying if you are referring to these monasteries being busy and filled with people (if you are referring to Ajahn Brahm)

But what about Ajahn Suchart i dont think they have many there?

First I need to feel the connect there are many famous teachers under whom i dont feel the connect as a Teacher!

This is very important...because Buddha's Dhamma is no joke, you want a Teacher who is True, once you become homeless the guidance is very very important...especially right guidance

This below Sutta may help to highlight what I am trying to say!

16. “Cunda, that one who is himself sinking in the mud should pull out another who is sinking in the mud is impossible; that one who is not himself sinking in the mud should pull out another who is sinking in the mud is possible. That one who is himself untamed, undisciplined, [with defilements] unextinguished, should tame another, discipline him, and help extinguish [his defilements] is impossible; that one who is himself tamed, disciplined, [with defilements] extinguished, should tame another, discipline him, and help extinguish [his defilements] is possible.

[Kiranraj.bodhi]

Finall a breakthrough..I am so excited to share this!

Venerable Ajahn Suchart answers that there is difficulty in Ordaining there but if we need to Ordain at Wat Yan we need to ordain first at the scriptural section and then we can come through and practice with Ajahn Suchart.



(@ about 29 min)

Lots of Metta to all

[holylotus]

Hello Dear Kiranraj

I hope this finds you healthy and mindful:)

Have you made a concrete decision yet? and perhaps even followed it through?

Thank you very much for this invaluable advise and video.

Do you know how long one has to be at the scriptual section from the day you arrive there, until you are at the practice section?

Do you have to 'fix an appointment' or can you just show up?

What is one's timetable like at the scripture section?

And how does it work with visas? How long do you have to arrange your own visas until the monastery takes care of them, if they do?

Also, what is the timetable like at the practice section once you are there?


Thank you very much in advance.


with much metta,
your brother in the Dhamma

[Kiranraj.bodhi]

@Holylotus

Let me share the couple of emails I received to the questions I asked best would be to email [html][email protected][/html] for any info about Wat Yan!

Hi,

The scriptural section is the study conducted in Thai language and there are many examination paper to pass which all are in Thai language.

Usually for foreigner (male) to practice under Ajahn Suchart's guidance, he has to practice eight precept at the Monastery and follow the monk's routine. He will be given 2 weeks period to stay at the temple. If he intends to extend his stay, he has to ask for another 2 weeks extension and it will all depend on the monks' assessments whether he can follow the rules and routine at the temple. During the stay as a layperson (practising eight precept), he himself is responsible to have a valid visa to stay in Thailand because the Monastery do not have any program to sponsor visa for foreigners. After a year of probation period and practice as eight-precept, he can discuss with the assistant of Ajahn Suchart about how to ordain as a monk.

Regards,
Admin.

Hi,

For practising eight precept at the Monastery, you are not required to study the scripture class. After a year probation, you'll have to check and discuss with the assistant of Ajahn Suchart's monk on the prevailing rules and policy impose by the Monastery at that point in time.

Regards,
Admin.