Ordination and Monkhood is a Central Part of a Buddhist Southeast Asian Man’s Life

Theravada Buddhism is the main religion and is embedded into the historical, social and political life of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

Theravada Buddhism is the main religion and is embedded into the historical, social and political life of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.  All young boys are expected to enter monkhood sometime in their lives. If not, then entering as men will also suffice. The reason being is that this is the best merit making way for him to repay his parents’ lifelong dedication to him.

The whole process of entering monastic life is a big deal, and the entire town can become involved. The hair shaving ceremony starts everything off. The parents will take turn cutting the hair, taking extra care to prevent it from touching the floor. It is then placed on a lotus leaf and floated away three days after the ordination process for luck. Having a clean shaved head stems from Buddha’s time, when long hair was considered to be of royalty.

After a shower, the future monk will be paraded around town in white garments, signifying his first steps into monkhood. After that, the young man enters the local temple and listens to a chanting session by the sermon.

The next day is even livelier. As mentioned befojarn.com

ompanies the procession, everything from music, food and drinks. The monk, however, cannot join. He must resist temptation. And to further prove this point, he will throw coins over his shoulders, again signifying his detachment from materialism. The party attendees may want to grab these coins for good luck.

Before the entire procession, the monk-to-be will have studied, recited and remembered a set of chants in preparation for this event. This is where it comes to play. The third day the young man will need to actually perform these Pali chants in front of everyone. Afterwards, the white garments are exchanged for the orange clad ones, which itself is quite complicated to wear. Then, he would repeat after a senior monk vowing to honor the precepts (the fundamental code of ethics for monks), which is again done in Pali before finally being declared a monk.

Learn more about the many interesting facets of Buddhist culture and practice with our 4-day Buddhism Explored program in Laos. Myanmar’s strong Buddhist ethos is also plain for everyone to see, especially at the Golden Rock, an important pilgrimage site and a great extension to a Yangon tour.

Follow us :

Latest News

Visiting Thailand, Laos and Cambodia during local new year: EXO’s insight

Vietnam Product & Destination Update: March 2024

Cambodia Product & Destination Update: March 2024

EXO’s Purpose Team expansion: Driving sustainability forward

Thailand Product & Destination Update: March 2024

Vietnam for families: EXO’s insight and tips

Why Phnom Penh should be on every Cambodia itinerary

B Corp Month: Celebrating business as a force for good

Visiting Vietnam during Tet: EXO’s insight

Japan Destination Update: March 2024

Send Us A Message

Read more...

Travel
Styles

Read more to learn about our experiences, tours and how the connect travelers with the people, cultures and landscapes that make destinations unique

Travel
News

The latest news, updates and inspirations from our destinations and offices Our Purpose: Sustainability is at the core of all that we do. Learn more about our initiatives and impact across EXO destinations.

EXO Travel is a destination management company (DMC) leveraging 30years of experience, a passion for sustainability and industry-leading technology to deliver authentic, responsible travel experiences that inspire, educate and expand horizons

© 2024 All Rights Reserved.