Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Young boy with an incense sticks
KRIT OF STUDIO OMG / GETTY IMAGES ©
Monks & Nuns
Socially, every Thai male is expected to become a monk (
bhikkhu
in Pali;
prá
or
prá
pík·sù
in Thai) for a short period in his life, optimally between the time he finishes school
and the time he starts a career or marries. A family earns great merit when one of its sons
'takes robe and bowl'. Traditionally, the length of time spent in the wát is three months,
during the
pan·săh
(Buddhist Lent), which begins in July and coincides with the rainy sea-
son. However, nowadays men may spend as little as a week to accrue merit as monks.
Most temporary ordinations occur under the age of 20 years old, when a man may enter
the
sangha
as a 10-vow novice
(nairn)
.
Monks are required to shave their heads, eyebrows and any facial hair during their res-
idence in the monastery as a sign of renouncing worldly concerns. They are also required
to live an ascetic life free of luxury and eat one meal per day (sometimes two, depending
