Daily Archives: May 7, 2005

227 Rules for Monks

Tomorrow I am planning on going to visit Phra Nattawud at the temple where he has been a monk for the past three weeks. I think I have told you before that monks have to keep 227 precepts in their every day life. So, today I thought I would take a look at some of these rules in order to help understand what it is like for Phra Nattawud at the temple.

These rules were laid dwon by the Buddha himself. So, you might find some of the rules a bit strange in a modern society. According to the Buddha, there are seven kinds of offences. In the following list, pacittiya is not so serious and all a monk has to do is confess his fault to the abbot or at least two or three other monks.

1) If a monk drinks intoxicating liquors, it is a pacittiya.
2) If a monk tickles another monk, it is a pacittiya.
3) If a monk swims in the water for pleasure, it is a pacittiya.
4) If a monk displays a stubborn attitude in regard to the vinaya, it is a pacittiya.
5) If a monk frightens another monk, making him scared of ghosts, it is a pacittiya.
6) If a monk, who does not have a fever, lights a fire himself or gets someone else to light it for the purpose of warming himself, it is a pacittiya. If it is lit for other purposes there is no offence.
7) If a monk is living in the middle provinces of India, he may wash himself once every fifteen days. If he does so within fifteen days, except at times as it is necessary, it is a pacittiya. In border countries such as Siam, it is not an offense to wash at any time.
8) If a monk has obtained a new cloth, he must mark it with one of three kinds of colour before using it. These are blue, mud coloured or dark brown. If he does not mark it before using it, it is a pacittiya.
9) If a monk, having shared a robe with another monk, uses it without the other party having relinquished his part-ownership, or given permission for its use, it is a pacittiya.
10) If a monk hides any of the possessions of another monk, these being the bowl, robes, sitting-cloth, needle case and belt, even as a joke, it is a pacittiya.

Here are some rules for when monks go out into inhabited areas:

1) I will cover my body properly.
2) I will properly restrain the movements of hands and feet
3) I will keep my eyes looking down.
4) I will not hitch up my robes.
5) I will not laugh loudly.
6) I will not speak loudly.
7) I will not sway my body about.
8) I will not swing my arms about.
9) I will not shake my head about.
10) I will not put my arms akimbo.
11) I will not cover my head with a cloth.
12) I will not walk on tiptoe.
13) I will not sit clasping my knees.

The monks have certain rules when teaching Dhamma to lay people.

I will not teach Dhamma to someone who is not sick and…
1) … who has an umbrella in his hand.
2) … who has a wooden stick in his hands.
3) … who has a sharp-edged weapon in his hand.
4) … who has a weapon in his hand.
5) … who is wearing wooden-soled sandals.
6) … who is wearing shoes.
7) … who is in a vehicle.
8) … who is on a bed or couch.
9) … who is sitting clasping the knees.
10) … who has a head wrapping.
11) … whose head is covered.
12) … who is sitting on a seat while I am sitting on the ground.
13) … who is sitting on a high seat while I am sitting on a low seat.
14) … who is sitting while I am standing.
15) … who is walking in front of me while I am walking behind him.
16) … who is walking on a pathway while I am walking beside the pathway.

I wonder how many of the 227 precepts Phra Nattawud has broken already? I wonder how many he is aware of? Come back tomorrow to find out what life is like in a Thai temple.

Bow!! A little girl from Thailand

Well, I’m Bow, a 17-year-old girl who lives in Samut Prakarn and studying in Bangkok. I am studying in Triamudomsuksa School and I’m going to be a grade-12 girl in a week! Not only I’m excited, but also worried because I’m going to take big exams to attend the university soon and there are heaps of problems around here in the Thai educational system right now and I haven’t started studying yet :p but I want to study about political science in the best university here so I gotta work hard ~ I’ll do my best!!

I used to study at Sriwittayapakanam School. I know Richard, Gor and a lot of people there. I feel so lucky to be able to get to know them because if without them, I couldn’t be this far. I always dreamed to be good at something. My mum sent me to ballet, piano and also drawing extra classes. I could go ok in those class but because it’s too much and one day, my mum didn’t have money for me to keep on doing it so I quit. Two years later, I could be in Primary 6/1 and luckily, we were Richard’s charges. He took very good care of us, he expidited us to talk and he gave us chances! Once, I tried answering in his English class, he replied back! That was the start.

I became enthusiastic in studying and practising English. I took chances to talk to him and other foreign visitors that came to our school. I enjoyed crossword club. When I left school, I went to study in Satree Samutprakarn School. I never gave up, I walked straight up to the teacher and asked her to train me to speak English then I made it, I won English story telling prize from some competitions!!

In all those years, I have known Gor, too. He was so smart, my friends and I always gossipped about him lol!!! “WHAT?!” “He won the 4th prize from crossword competition!?” “Is he a human being!?” Stuff like that :p Both Richard and Gor inspired me to do my best doing something I want to. Despite those ballet, piano and drawing lessons, I began to practise English on my own. No need to pay for any tuition and also useful, I can communicate:)

In Jp!! I'm in red dress
In Yukata with my host sis

Since I can speak English (although, it’s not perfect yet :p), I’ve wanted to go abroad. I tried a lot, I took lots of tests to get a scholarship but I never got one. Till last year, I was so lucky, my friends were singing (waiting for me) near the English department’s room at school, when I met them, one teacher came to ask if anyone’s interested in going to Singapore. I didn’t think anything, I just followed her to her room and yea, I could make it (thanks to you all, my girls ..for singing and got the teacher’s attention :p) and not so long ago I could go to Japan ~ HOW LUCKY!!! I was an exchange student in those countries. I showed our Thai culture and learned their culture back. They were really fascinating experiences 🙂 I won’t forget. I’ll write about it some time, too.

Anyway, nice to meet you all! Have fun writing and reading (-/|\-) Sawatdee!