don't be a monk

i had an interesting sms this morning. it was from an singaporean friend who is residing in bangkok. he asked how come i got a chinese buddhist-sounding name. and i replied that that name was the name i got when i took refuge. and he asked if i had thought of becoming a monk. i said yes, that thought did cross my mind. and he said: "no, never ever do it. all problems in life can be solved. don't become a monk. disappointing to see a handsome monk..." or something like that.

i smiled when i read the sms. and i showed it to bee. and he smiled. and we thought perhaps the impression many people get from people who renounce and become monks/ nuns is that these people have lots of problems in life. and perhaps the mass media might have portray it to be so. but this is so so far from the truth. if i ever becoming a monk, i would be very very happy to do it. i would have finally been able to detach myself from my worldly desires and focus myself on self-development to seek enlightenment.

i guessed many people do not fully understand the process one need to go through when one renounce too. one cannot become a full-fledge monk/ nun if one continue to have worldly attachments. and before he/ she can be properly ordained and accepted as a monk/ nun, he/ she needs to go through a period of `probation'. becoming a monk/ nun is not an escape, it is a realization and the dedication of one's life and efforts to seek the truth, to practise and to propagate the dharma. for me, i have realized it, but i am not ready to dedicate my life wholly to it as yet. may be one day i would, but not now.

:-)

ps: then again, i never thought of myself as good looking. so, to this friend of mine, khop khun ma krap!