Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Discussion of ordination, the Vinaya and monastic life. How and where to ordain? Bhikkhuni ordination etc.
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DNS
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Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by DNS »

Than Don (Gatasaro Bhikkhu), a kalyana-mitta, friend of mine here in Las Vegas has just ordained! He has been married, raised kids, all grown-up, done everything that needs to be done, worked in many professions including black jack dealer as one of his most recent ones.

Now he is a monk! I have known him for some time. He has attended Dhamma programs at my center and he was greatly inspired by Ajahn Brahm when Ajahn Brahm came to Las Vegas and led a program at my center.

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Bakmoon
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by Bakmoon »

Saadhu! Saadhu! Saadhu!
The non-doing of any evil,
The performance of what's skillful,
The cleansing of one's own mind:
This is the Buddhas' teaching.
plwk
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by plwk »

Maha Sadhu :thumbsup:
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Modus.Ponens
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by Modus.Ponens »

May he attain liberation!
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perkele
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by perkele »

Sadhu!
May he fare well!
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LG2V
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by LG2V »

Sadhu! :anjali:
Here are some excellent sites for giving free Dana (Click-Based Donation):
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Ben
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by Ben »

Congratulations and Mudita!

May Gatasaro Bhikkhu attain the deathless in this very life.
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in mountain clefts and chasms,
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manas
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by manas »

Sounds like a very wise career move. :D

mudita
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To the Buddha-refuge i go; to the Dhamma-refuge i go; to the Sangha-refuge i go.
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by Gatasaro Bhikku »

Thank you for the welcome. I am now a one month-old monk. This has been one of the best things I've ever done. It's been a great experience so far, even if the most challenging. I congratulate you all on finding the right path. A wonderful life.

Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu.

Than Don
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BlackBird
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by BlackBird »

Sadhu Bhante!

I wish you a long and storied time in the robes :)
May you achieve nibbana in no time at all!

This has made me feel quite happy - I guess that's what you could call Mudita.

metta
Jack
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kilanta
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by kilanta »

Gatasaro Bhikku wrote:Thank you for the welcome. I am now a one month-old monk. This has been one of the best things I've ever done. It's been a great experience so far, even if the most challenging. I congratulate you all on finding the right path. A wonderful life.
What an inspiring career move, Bhante. May I ask you where are you ordained? I think I see some thai script there.

PS: Hopefully you cope well with the fact that you're most likely going to be known as "that black jack dealer bhikkhu" for all internet eternity.
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pilgrim
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by pilgrim »

Gatasaro Bhikku wrote:Thank you for the welcome. I am now a one month-old monk. This has been one of the best things I've ever done. It's been a great experience so far, even if the most challenging. I congratulate you all on finding the right path. A wonderful life.

Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu.

Than Don
Sadhu...in a couple of months, you'll be a 1 vassa bhikkhu. :anjali:
SarathW
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by SarathW »

Congratulations!
You will be an inspiration to most of us.
:D
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by Gatasaro Bhikku »

Kilanta, I was ordained in Turner, Oregon at Wat Buddha Oregon. The first picture is of my abbot, Ajahn Chalee, one of the most respected teachers of Vipassana meditation, and the other is Ajahn Suben, abbot of Wat Buddha Oregon. My upacaya was the president of the Thai Bhikkus USA Association, so I got that going for me.

Thank you all for your kind words.

Blessings to all.

Than Don
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DNS
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Re: Black jack dealer to Bhikkhu

Post by DNS »

This past weekend we had a program at my place. I led the small group in meditation and dedicated the event to S. N. Goenka and we did a vedanā-meditation in respect to him. Then Bhikkhu Gatasaro came and gave a Dhamma talk.

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