Becoming a Novice Monk

I caught this photo on my way for my usual caffeine shot before work. This is actually a common sight here, novice monks packed in a converted pick up truck that they call jumbo on their way presumably to a temple.
In buddhism, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, as part of the monastic code and in preparation for a full ordination. The name for this level of ordination varies from one tradition to another. In Pali, the word is samanera, which means 'small monk' or 'boy monk'.
For many, becoming a novice monk is a matter of choice but most men here would probably have spent some time as a novice monk. For some, becoming a novice monk is like making a certain promise or covenant to oneself, in what we normally call in our language as "benazar". In Buddhist's belief, such act would help fulfill their prayers, for instance in helping their loved ones who have just passed away to go to heaven in the after life. Becoming a novice monk can be a tough experience. For a start, novice monks like their older brethren cannot eat after midday. They have to stay in a kuti, the temple like any other monks and get up early at about 4.30 a.m. every day to do a morning chant then at about 5.30 a.m. they have to go out barefoot to get some food. Its actually quiet a sight when you see a group of young monks walking in a line in their saffron robes chanting their prayers. You will see by the road side, ladies young and old, sitting on the floor with their legs folded together, like we do when we perform our prayers (betimpuh) offering food to the monks. Strangely enough I have yet to see men making such food offerings. In Buddhism they believe that giving food to monks is a way to make merit as the monks will stand and chant some prayers soon after the food offerings are made. This is actually a daily sight here but if you wish to catch a glimpse of this daily ritual, you really need to wake up early in the morning.

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