American Jungle Monk in Thailand What? Why?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ย. 2023
- Axel Rose once screamed "Welcome to the jungle
We take it day by day
If you want it, you're gonna bleed
But that's the price you pay"
And my feet did bleed from walking barefoot because I did not toughen them up before getting on the airplane to Thailand. That's another story which you can find out more about if you watch the entire series on this channel.
"Wat Ba" in Thai language or "Jungle Monastary" in English differ from "Wat Ban," which are located in or very near cities. Wat Ba are more primitive and further from services such as hospitals and stores. For example, a Wat Ba often will either not have electricity or rely on solar power for power, and there may or may not be a cellular phone signal. I could not receive a phone signal where I stayed but I could walk to a spot where I could sometimes get one bar of service on Thailand's AIS network.
Knowing all this, why would a retired American in his sixties fly to Thailand to become a monk at a Jungle Monastery where there is noo system in place to accept or train him and he does not speak the local language? None of the monks at this monastery speak English and the Isan dialect is spoken rather than Thai. To make matters even more interesting, he must wake every morning at 4 AM and prepare in pitch black darkness to join the other monks for "Bin Tabat," which will require them to walk barefoot through pebbly streets strewn with broken glass and dog feces in order to receive alms from smiling, grateful villagers.
How will he get by? What is the point? These questions are partially answered in this video. If you want to know more, stay tuned on this channel for regular installments from the jungle. Welcome to the jungle.
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I'm enjoying your story. I've stayed at Wat Pah Nana Chat and a few other temples in Thailand, follow Ajhan Char teachings. At present have been staying at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in UK as a lay person. It's fascinating to see your journey and I appreciate your reasons for being a Monk.
Thank you for watching! I plan to visit Wat Pah Nana Chat one day. I visited and stayed overnight at a few other jungle temples and it's always interesting to see how they do things slightly different.
I stumbled across your channel through the wonders of the algorithm and am interested in learning more about your story and how you came to be a monk and how you came to be a monk in Thailand. Good journeys.
Awesome, thank you! I plan to make many more videos so stay tuned.
Same here🙏🏽 สาธุ
I am a Black American who is an ordained Chinese Monk, who lives and teaches Zen in Japan. Yeah, weird right. I visited Chiang Mai last year and did a Short retreat. I will return this year for a longer visit. I happened across or was lead to your vlog. I have subscribe and will follow your journey with interest. Btw, I am also retired, and over 70. LoL, hang in there, best wishes. Amitoufo 🙏🏾
You are an incredible human being living your best life, so proud there are Americans like you! SATU SATU!!!🙏🙏🙏
@@DagwoodsThailand I am honored by your thoughts Amitoufo 🙏🏾
Good on ya Ken
Another great video and very interesting as to your spiritual journey. Looks like the 15 days has expanded ?
Yes, I extended the 15 days to have an incredible mountain experience where my Abbot lived as a Tudong (Wandering Monk). He lived in a cave and drank the water from a natural spring-- but it nearly killed him; Tudong are hardcore.
Oh, BTW , I found your title interesting, I thought what is an American Jungle monk? I got it after a bit.
If you translate from Thai into English it often comes up as forest monk but I speak some Thai and in my opinion that does not fit, we live in the jungle, the word in Thai means jungle and we are jungle monks living in a jungle temple.
Why did you pick this temple vs the other?
Authentic experience. There are other temples like Wat Ba Nanachat that use English so the transition may possibly be smoother for a foreigner.
How far was the drive?
Mukdahan to monastery about 1.5 hours not counting getting lost each and every trip
Are you in it for the long haul now?
Buddhism yes but ordained monk, no. I plan to return to the jungle and be a monk for one year more unless family circumstances change. You normally have 3 opportunities so one more chance after that if I want to be permanent.
Ohhh, I was way off about the Title. 😂😂
Just curious, what did you envision by the title? Are you the bass player? Love your voice and playing, thanks for watching!
@@DagwoodsThailand I was thinkn8ng on on the lines of a play on words about America ties being a Jungle. One needs to have a spiritual balance center in order to survive. A “monks mind”. With that mind you came to Thailand to join a monastery! This is what I got from the title. Later I figured out the Thai Jungle monastery. So more like, An American as a Thailand Jungle Monk, or American Thailand Jungle Monk. Would seem a bit more on point. It does not matter really though. Someone did a TH-cam interview on me called it “ leaving America to become a Black Buddhist Priest” ! But really I did not do that. My coming had nothing to do with becoming a Priest. That was not in my mind when I left. The title gives one impression. However titles (labels) are like that 😃.
Here is the story if interested:
th-cam.com/video/t7b6um5OxWY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=mtKDp6EPguL_9hKK
@@DagwoodsThailand yes, I am a bass player and keyboardist among several things. Thank you!
I am looking forward to more of your story
Very well done- BRAVO! Thanks for the link!