The Monks Speak

คุยกับ พระ

Udon Map recently had the opportunity to speak with the head monks (abbott) at two local temples. We were able to ask anything we wanted (within the limit of common courtesy, of course) and no topic was off limits.

We started with Abbott Prakroo Pho Thi Thamma Ko Sit, of Wat Pho Chai, Ban Dua, Tambon Makkaeng Muang Udon Thani, 54 years old.

He was born 54 years ago in Nongbua Lamphu (which was part of Udon Thani until it was established as a separate province in 1993). He has eight brothers and sisters.

เมื่อไม่นานมานี้ อุดรแม็พเราได้มีโอกาสในการ- สนทนากับเจ้าอาวาสวัดสองรูปของวัดท้องถิ่นในจังหวัดอุดรธานี เราได้ถามทุกคำถามที่เราอยาก รู้แต่แน่นอนว่าต้องอยู่ภายใต้มารยาทและความ-
เหมาะสมซึ่งเราไม่ได้กำหนดหัวข้อในการสนทนาในตอนนั้นเลย

เราเริ่มการพูดคุยกับท่านพระครูโพธิธรรมโฆสิต เจ้าอาวาสวัดโพธิ์ชัย (วัดบ้านเดื่อ) ต.หมากแข้ง อ.เมือง จ.อุดรธานี ท่านอายุ 54 ปี

ท่านเกิดที่จังหวัดหนองบัวลำภู (จังหวัดหนองบัว-
ลำภูเคยเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของจังหวัดอุดรธานี แล้วได้
แยกตัวออกไปเมื่อปี พ.ศ. 2536) ท่านมีพี่น้อง
ทั้งหมด 8 คน

Abbott Prakroo Phothithammakosit

of Wat Pho Chai

พระครูโพธิธรรมโฆสิต

เจ้าอาวาสวัดโพธิ์ชัย

He started out as a teenager working for a printing company in Bangkok and worked there from ages 14 to 20. While he had been to school as a child, his schooling stopped after grade 7; and he went to work for the printing company. Following a custom of many Thai families, he returned to Nongbua Lamphu at age 20 to become a monk for a short period of time. In his case, he first entered as a monk for only 15 days. However, at the end of his 15 days, he wanted to study more about dharma. Dharma is the teachings of the Buddha especially including the discourses on the fundamental principles (such as the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path), and less significantly the parables and the poems. Dharma includes not only the sayings of the Buddha, but also includes later interpretation which helps explain the meaning.

So at the end of his initial 15 days, he wrote to the printing company in Bangkok and requested additional time to serve as a monk. Initially, he asked for one more month; but after that time he wanted to study more, so he asked for three more months. Eventually he realized that he wanted to spend his life as a monk.

His family and friends were generally supportive of his decision. While his immediate family was pleased with the decision, as it is an honor for a Thai family to have a monk, they were also concerned because he had been contributing significantly to the family’s support. He had been earning a good salary at the printing company. His girlfriend was also very supportive. When he decided to spend the rest of his life as a monk, he wrote his girlfriend a letter and told her that he was going to remain as a monk for the rest of his life and that she was free to marry someone else.

As a monk, he resumed his education, completing both elementary and high school and receiving his bachelor’s degree from the Buddhist University campus at Amphoe Wangsapoong in Loei. (The Buddhist University, more formally called Mahachula-longkornrajavidyalaya University, was founded in 1887 by King Chulalongkorn. The main campus is in Bangkok; and it has 15 extension campuses throughout Thailand.)