Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand) Tourist Guide


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'Monk Chat'
Interactive Visiting at Wat Suan Dok, Chiang Mai

Text & Photos: Kris Dhiradityakul

Theravada monks carry an awesome burden of responsibility in the form of 227 precepts. For the uninitiated, precepts are basically rules and regulations governing the way monks lead their lives. And, as if this isn't enough, they are not encouraged to indulge in social discussion for fear that this could lead to 'mental agitation' and also 'open the door for hindrances'.

However, having recently visited a group of monks, I am now convinced that student monks can safely practice 'noble chats' with tourists, after so many 'noble silences' during their many meditation retreats. I was really impressed with the Monk Chat Program at Chiang Mai's Wat Suan Dok Buddhist University's Monk Chat Room. Organized by the students living at the temple, the program is primarily designed to help them practice their English communication, to develop confidence in sharing knowledge of Buddhist philosophy with other religious disciples, and to learn about other aspects of life, from tourists.

Anywhere from six to ten tourists from different countries gather in the informal and relaxed atmosphere of the 'Monk Chat' room. They simply turn up at the temple, go straight to the room and grab a chair to sit and talk. No need to book in advance.

Two-way practice

Basically no preparation needs to be made, and there are no formal guidelines or orientation to participate in the program. Most of the time a student monk will be waiting at the door to welcome the new arrival into the group. Topics of discussion can be random depending on the tourists' questions or the monk's knowledge. Preferably the monks want to explain about Buddhism but sometimes they ask questions related to the tourist's background. It seems like this project is working well in helping students with their English communication skills.

Subha Sharmon, a young Buddhist monk from Bangladesh informed me that the project really improved his English. He felt much more comfortable now discussing Buddhism with friends and tourists. According to Subha, it is not appropriate to talk to foreigners on the street or in a public place. "However sometimes tourists indicate that they want to talk to us and I know it's impolite to reject them, so now it is good that we able to chat with them inside the temple."

Some monks are from Cambodia, while some are tribal. But they use English as a tool of communication. I would say this is an international forum having more linguistic diversity than that of the curriculum of many international schools. Sam, a 27 year old monk from Cambodia really impressed me with his good command of English. "This forum is not used to propagate Buddhism or to convert people from other religions," he said. Apart from improving his English, Sam uses this forum as a shortcut to travel around the world. It is a good opportunity for him to share and learn from a tourists' perspective. When asked if the forum caused him to develop a strong desire for travel, Sam replied that he loved to travel even without talking to tourists. When asked if there are any problems arising from the program, Sombat, another young novice from Akha, admitted that there are some.

Textual questions

"Sometimes students answer questions regarding Buddhism differently and sometimes they add their personal opinions instead of the true principles of Buddhism," he told me. There are also other issues. For example, it is not appropriate for students to talk to female tourists on "too personal" issues, which may cause them discomfort and embarrassment. "Though we don't hear much about this problem, these issues are not ignored," Bounsuay, a committee member of the project, informed me.

"A big meeting is held once a month in order to monitor and evaluate the project, and also to train new members of the forum." Bounsuay hopes that the project will be supported and continue to encourage young Buddhist students not only to improve their English, but also to gain confidence in presenting their knowledge of Buddhism to the western tourists. With careful monitoring and evaluation, the project will bring mutual benefits for both Buddhist students and tourists seeking different experiences.

The Monk Chat Project operates at five pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at MCU, Wat Suan Dok. For further information on monk chat, check out www.monkchat.net, and to chat with them, visit Wat Suan Dok.