Forest Path - Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

82 forest path
Conclusion
While I have had my share of frustrations and disappointments at
Wat Pah Nanachat dealing with my own defilements, overall, I find
the experience to be fascinating and delightful. And though my monastic
life has been somewhat short, only six months, I am finding
joy. There is excitement, but it is a different kind of excitement than I
found working on the stock market.
I ordained as a samanera before the vassa and plan to remain one for
one year. While I feel quite fortunate in having had the opportunity
to be living as a monastic so soon after my introduction to the
Dhamma, I also realized that there is much work to be done ahead.
While there is a strong sense of responsibility in being diligent in
putting forth the efforts required of a monastic, there is also a sense
of thrill and anticipation on this journey of self-discovery.
Nothing Compares to Food
It’s been 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 43 seconds, since I sat here last.
All day yesterday, I was thinking
of all the glorious meals gone past.
Don’t know how I am going to endure
this daily fast.
Went to my teacher and told him
my aversions to this one-meal-a-day deal.
And you know what he told me?
Guess what he told me?
It don’t matter whether it’s steak or stew
or chicken cordon bleu,
’cause by tomorrow it will all be in the loo.
Which is absolutely true,
but I still crave…