About staying at WAT for few days!

I would like to find out if anyone here at the Forum can give me some information about staying at a WAT. I will be comeing to Udon Thani for 1 month and would like to stay at a WAT for three days. My girlfriend is against it. Afraid I will become a full fledge buddhist, or what? I donดt know. Donดt understand why she does not like the idea. I would like to participate fully in their life style, follow their program like any other monk. Wear the yellow robes, cut all my hair off (if that is required), wake up at 4, beg for food, meditate and do what ever they do. No farang privleged for me.

At my last visit to a WAT the monk I spoke to said I had to pay 9000 bath for a week stay, which I felt out of the question. I read some where you can stay for "free" as long as you give a small donation. I will pay the equivalent of a days pay for a common labror as a donation. Anything else would be a offence to Gautama Budddha I think. Has anyone thoughts on this? Maybe my girlfriend doesnดt like the idea of haveing a bald farang by here side or what? I have some experience with meditation and great respect for the Buddhist religion. Is this idea of mine somehow making her lose face or does she only want me these days full-time as she says? 30 days go quickly in Thailand as most of us tourist know.

I am wondering - do you speak Thai ?

No, notat all.

I stayed once in a french catholic monastary for 2 weeks, spoke no france but could easily follow insructions by imitating the monks. Shouldn't that be enough in a WAT?

So do you not see that as an obstacle to staying with strangers and following a unique lifestyle for 3 days. How will they tell you what to do and where to go? how will you cope when they sit chanting?
Moreso in Udon as it is upcountry.
Or were you hoping that someone will speak English?

Not a criticism - just curious, as it is sometimes hard enough living 'normally' in Udon if you cannot speak Thai or have someone by your side - so how on earth it would be in a Wat - I cannot imagine.

Might I enquire your reasons for wanting to do this?

I want to experience the life of being a Buddhist monk and use the oppurtunity to meditate and participate in their religious ceremonies. I myself was practising Asthanga yoga for 7 years (sadhana, asanas, pranayama etc.) many, many years ago. And would like to use my trip to Thailand to experience this way of life. Maybe at later date I will return for a longer period of time.

Sugarfree, there are a lot of misconceptions in your post. The major one being, Buddhists monks do not beg for food. They give the opportunity to lay public to make merit by donating alms to them. The monks graciously accept the offerings, they do not ask, certainly not beg them. I have been a monk for different periods of time during my life, sometimes for as little as 7 days and on one occassion for 3 months during cowpansar(Buddhist Lent)For the short period you are suggesting you will not have pre qualified to wear the saffron robe but will be offered the chance to wear white, the robes of a novice. Whether you shave your hair or not is your choice, but if you do you must remove all bodily hair as well.As a novice you will not be allowed to participate in the morning alms round, only to carry the surplus donations for the monks. Also as a novice you are not allowed to eat with the monks, or at the same time, but must wait until they have finished. I don't understand your motivation for wanting to do this, but it is normal for such a short period to spend your time in total meditation of the Buddhas teaching, not to be active in temple life.I would therefore suggest you join a Forest community of monks rather than the general local Wats you see everywhere.If you are serious in your intent and require further info you are welcome to PM me.

Have a look at this thread:
http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/v ... 430e15dadc