The day began with layman S. being initiated into a pa kao (ผ้าขาว literally white cloth). It was similar to my monk ordination where he had to recite some chants and precepts in Pali. Then the abbot gave a talk about what the implications were now that he had taken up these precepts and the expectations and obligations of the new life against the old. A very contemplative affair and he peppered his talk with jokes to keep everyone engaged and awake in the early hours. The walk to the station was painful as usual, always around the first 20%. This time it was only three of us and Tan S. was mindful of our slow pace. We didn’t walk through the carpark at the end either which was a huge relief.

It was a normal day today but since the weather had gotten warmer, millions of small insects flew about and flooded the sala. We noticed too late and even with the lights turned off they swarmed all over us. I thought it was impossible to do any meditation in that state so I left and went back to my kuti. They followed me there too and there were quite a few flying around inside. The eucalyptus spray worked wonders but there was no way to keep them all away.

This morning there was an invitation for a group of monks to go to the local village for some sort of ceremony so Tan C. didn’t come on the alms round. Tan S. was transferred to a different route to even out the numbers so I thought I had to follow a thera on the walk, a herculean task.

Luckily he didn’t even turn up in the end so it was just myself, Nen P. and layman S. I forgot much of the route but luckily the other two knew it well. It’s much easier to be the pace setter and even though I walked slowly (but still plenty painful) we got back at 7:05am which was fine. I don’t know why people had to be in such a hurry. Maybe they were just really used to it and I wasn’t yet.

I spent a while translating some chants that I had been doing in the evenings in Pali into English thanks to Tan A. According to him there are 6 conditions that must be fulfilled for these chants to “work” and the first is to actually understand them so he helped me find a translation book. Since I did that I didn’t have time to take a nap at all so was dead tired during the chores.

Finally I was shocked to learn that instead of the 2 tukkae there were in fact 6 and they were all hiding behind the cupboard during the day to come out at night. The cupboard sat outside and there was just enough space for these lizards to chill protected from the sun. There were 3 adults and 3 eggs that had recently hatched into younglings. I shooed them off and pressed the cupboard closer to the wall so the adults shouldn’t be able to return. Hopefully they will migrate elsewhere since they shouldn’t be able to survive under the hot roof.

thera ‘Elder’. An honorific title automatically conferred upon a bhikkhu of at least ten years’ standing.

Around the patimokkha (so about every 2 weeks) the alms round routes are reorganised so monks are shuffled to go on different routes. Today I was moved to a route that goes to the Bung Wai train station and back again. All in all I think it’s slightly longer than Non Suan. However the worst part by far was the painful stretch in the first 15% of the walk that lasts for about 200 metres. The large sharp stones chunks inlaid in the tarmac would easily erode rubber tyres, let alone feet. Enduring that would make the rest of the walk even more painful.

After ovata a lady approached me and she looked familiar. As it turned out she was at the retreat in Chiang Mai as well and the mother of one of the monks at WPN. We had a quick conversation and she wished me well for the next few weeks as she knew exactly what I was getting into, even if I didn’t myself. Then along with the novices we were given some lessons by Ajahn R. He taught us how to prostrate with the right posture and etiquettes to do with handling and looking after the bowl. There were some blessings that he said that I should know by now so that’s where my efforts will be for the next few days. I think I was getting a slight telling off too because he said that we shouldn’t talk to any guests after ovata except for exceptional circumstances like if your own parents turned up.

I should have changed the alms round route today but Tan M. decided to fast. I was already starving on one meal a day so I don’t know how they even manage. I volunteered to switch back to the same route that I was on before to help even out the numbers. This time though Tan T. was the lead as Ajahn S. failed to turn up. This happens from time to time.

Tan T. was way too fast. I thought I had gotten used to this route since I’d been on it for over a week but he would always take the more difficult path where the sharp stones were. Only through something like this do you realise that along a straight path there are actually a multitude of paths that one could take, some harder than others. My feet were battered by the end. He also adopted the practice where he would only eat what was offered in his bowl on the walk and didn’t take anything at the gate. It’s a more disciplined form of the practice.

Ovata was on today and was particularly interesting as the abbot reflected on recent events. Not long ago we had some school kids come to visit the monastery and he asked for volunteers to show them around but not many monks offered. A lot of the younger monks didn’t seem keen on engaging with these external matters but the abbot reminded them that it is an obligation to engage in these responsibilities as well. It was one of the few means by which the monks can connect with the laypeople outside of the alms round and goes far to help keep the religion and the practice alive. He echoed similar sentiments by Ajahn Jaya in the past about not taking any of this for granted because it could all disappear at any moment if the faith dries out. In this day and age there’s so much uncertainty and while it may be true that currently the offerings are abundant, this could change at any moment.

Water ran out of both of the middle toilet blocks so went back to the one nearest to my kuti. It was about 4pm and the frogs were already on the way out to sit on the cloth hanging pole. No surprises in the evening, no tukkaes got inside. Went and chanted an extra chant before bed which is meant to bring about a good sleep.

Can’t believe it’s already been 10 days. I also had the best sleep so far last night as I only woke up once. Unfortunately I had to go some way down the path to use the toilet, so I’ll keep an empty bottle for that purpose.

This morning since Tan C. went with the abbot on his trip it was just Tan S., myself and another novice on the alms round. Somehow I managed to keep up with him. I’m not sure if he slowed down on purpose for me but we definitely got back at around the same time as the monks on the other routes, if not slightly earlier.

When I got back I got called to a small sitting area by Ajahn K. who’s an Australian monk. I thought I might have been in trouble. In fact he was doing some translation of a traditional cure for snake bites and wanted me to help him read some Thai out loud so he could record my voice along with his voice in English. Apparently this was an effective way for him to learn the language. It was rather fun and had some things to do with obscure plant roots and lime and all sorts.

I also found out from Nen P. that some other monks also only wear their outer robe on the alms round so it wasn’t just me. I felt a little better now as I think I finally learnt the trick to keeping the robes nice and high so it doesn’t drag along the road. Essentially you need to roll up the robes as tightly as possible and it needs to be secured for the entire walk. Once I got used to it, I could even roll it as I walked to keep it nice and tight.

I tried to take a nap but it was too warm in the kuti so I went and did some sweeping instead. The chores took a while as I decided to mop both the store room and the toilet block. Before that I went and did some reading in the library. I think I will make that part of my schedule. After the meal I should go read in the library, go back to clean the kuti then take a nap. It does seem to be getting warmer now though so I might have to nap earlier if at all. The metal alloy roof certainly doesn’t help. There’s always the sitting area underneath the kuti itself.

Evening chanting was the same as usual. I went back afterwards and chanted the 2 prayers Tan M. taught me. The 2 tukkaes were still there and one was near the door. I shone my torch on it and it scurried under the roof. I can only hope that they stay there for the foreseeable future.