I want to share with you how one day in monk life feels, because sometimes people think it is mysterious, but actually it is very simple and very human. When I was monk, my day started before sunrise. Around 3:00 a.m. we wake up, and the temple is still dark and quiet. We wash our face with cold water, then go to the main hall for morning chanting and meditation. We sit for meditation for one hour, just watching breath go in and out. After that, we chant for one hour — chanting about teachings of Buddha, chanting for long life, for kindness, for peace.
Many people think meditation is peaceful all the time, but actually your mind jumps around like monkey. The practice is to smile at the monkey and bring quiet back again and again.
Around sunrise, we walk barefoot through the village for alms round. People wait outside their houses with rice, fruit, sometimes just small snack. They give with smile, and we give blessing back — for prosperity, good lucks, and to stay safe from any dangers. Monks cannot choose food, so sometimes you get spicy curry, sometimes only sticky rice and banana. We are taught to ebe easy person, not difficult person. But when you eat with calm mind, everything taste enough.
Walking barefoot is important. The pain from stones remind you that money is hard to earn, and you must respect food people give you. Sometimes alms bowl become very heavy – like when someone give whole watermelon – and this remind us of our mother who carry us for nine months. We walk slow – Monks cannot do exercise like running or gym, because it make mind too excited.
The rest of the day is study, meditation, cleaning temple grounds, helping villagers with small things. In city temple, we also have rotation for giving blessing and counsel. Every day different monks sit near entrance, and people come with many questions — about family, work, health, or heart problem. We listen, we give simple advice, and sometimes silence help more than words.
At my temple, we have something call Monk Chat. Tourists come and ask anything they want — about monk life, Buddhism, Thai culture. This is how I learn English. My English at first very small, but they speak slow, I speak slow, and we laugh a lot. Monk Chat teach me not only language, but also how to understand people from many countries.
In afternoon, young novice monks go to monk school – math, science, English, and also chanting. They study like normal students, but also learn discipline and temple life. After school, they chant one more hour, then go to sleep early.
Every month, on Buddhist holiday, we shave head and eyebrows. This remind us not to attach to beauty or style.
My time as a Monk taught me to walk slower, speak softer, and see beauty in small things.