Dali348 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 28, 2018 2:54 pm
WAT BOWON - This seems like a common entry point for foreigners to ordain in the Dhammayut Nikaya. [...]
- little to none foreigners (I'm looking for a real cultural immersion)
- a good teacher who actively gives Dhamma talks and guides the community in their practice (in Thai is fine)
- quiet, not too close to a city or town and away from local pubs or nightclubs
- forested! I want to actually live in a real forest, not just in a concrete slab with a few trees here and there
- preferably not a big tourist attraction monastery, but if it's a really important place that people visit, that might be okay
- simple but clean and well-supported
- a place that has a traditional alms round (within walking distance, not a place that shuttles monks around in buses to neighboring villages)
- walking mediation paths
- a place where the monks are practicing hard and are there for the right reasons (at least the majority of them)
Dear Dali,
here some hints and background which you might find helpful.
I myself ordained in the Dhammayuttika Nikāya. To ordain in this tradition has some advantages over doing it in the AC-tradition. One major is that you find much easier access to AC-monasteries as a dhammayut monk than the other way around, mainly due to difference in vinaya lineage, if I remember correctly. You may not be able to join the pātimokkha for example.
Wat Bowon I would not recommend for ordination. Generally, it is not easy to find access, usually just through having been referred to it by an ajahn. They also handle money. Potentially relevant note: It would be a dukkata for you to stay under a teacher who is not pure in vinaya. Once accepted anyway, I doubt that it would be a problem to change places in favor of a related forest monastery.
I believe Wat Phu Sangho (near Udon) might fit very well from what I can gather from your writing. It meets all your criteria, except that there is some bus-shuttling involved, though not for the entire route. Great place, with huge forest and a respected ajahn, very supportive generally and zealous in re to practice. More details here:
https://embracing-buddhism.jimdo.com/re ... /thailand/
Another one I could recommend is near Wat Marp Jun (I forgot the name), it is a Dhammyut monastery and if you ask for directions from people at WMJ they will know, it is only some kilometers away. Deep forest, usual pindapāta, no foreigners, when I was there. Abbot speaks only Thai. Not sure about the practice standards, but it seemed at least average. WMJ itself has some (one?) very rural, remote and ascetic branches, itself being a branch of Wat Nong Pah Pong (AC).
However you decide, I am quite confident that you will find a suitable place to stay. Even if you ordain somewhere where it is not so congenial, many monasteries have one or several branches different in style. Altogether there are so many places which meet your criteria, just look some more in case you don't find ssomething straightaway. Especially as a monk it is generally speaking very easy to travel, even without money. When you start walking, it is common that you don't walk more than 15 minutes before someone offers you a ride or help. You may also stand in front of ticket counters with your bowl (not open) and usually people quickly assist and offer you help, Thais are amazing helpers ...
As to the dependence from a teacher. The vinaya allows for times of travel and even comfortable abiding outside the vassa that you live exempted from nissaya, among other things. It is best to clarify, however, always your potential intentions for travelling with the teacher of your choice beforehand, since not all teachers know about or allow you these excemptions. (See PM)
All the best findings for Thailand!
Mettā