Monk at a Price

Once someone I know went to Singapore during Christmas and reported that the popular Orchard Road there was all lighted up for the occasion and bustling with activities. In Malaysia and many other non-Christian countries, often one could feel Christmas in the air. Shopping malls and shops would be gaily decorated and you could hear piped-in Christmas songs. Christmas, I have heard many times, has been heavily commercialized but this is the first time that I hear of Buddhism being commercialized. In Chiang Mai's Wat Sri Boen Ruang (inset), one is said to be able to become a monk at a price. There is the monk for a month program which provides the opportunity to ordain, live in a Thai temple, and receive basic Buddhist teachings and meditation instruction. I suppose this would not be as nice as when one gets free food and lodging.