Bangkok's blogging British monk

The image of saffron-clad monks wandering Bangkok’s streets on their early-morning alms rounds is a familiar one. But one aspect of this long tradition that still causes a double-take is when one of those monks is obviously not Thai, or even Asian.

Slowly, they are becoming a more common sight here. Phra Pandit Bhikkhu, a Brit who was ordained as a Theravada monk in 1996, is one of the most visible Westerners in Thai Buddhist circles. 

“Growing up, I found that I didn’t really like people, and didn’t get much from society in general,” he says. “When I was younger I read a book about a monk who lived in a cave whose best friend was a snake that lived under his bed. All he did was meditate and had nothing to do with the world, and I thought that’s great; that’s me,” he laughs.

Theravada Buddhism, the sect most popular in Thailand, focuses on wise reflection, meditation and the belief that one of the main causes of human suffering is craving, or the desire to amass wealth.

“The more you give up, the more freedom you have,” says Phra Pandit. 

As a monk, he says his life is austere yet rewarding. He spends time much as his monastic brothers do, performing tasks involved with maintaining the sangha (the Buddhist community), from temple upkeep to administration to furthering his studies.

Developing an online presence

For those unfamiliar with the nuances of Buddhism, a conversation with the affable monk can be quite an eye opener. He checks his mobile phone regularly for messages, talks knowledgeably on the latest developments in nuclear energy and discusses the challenges of building an online community via his blog, www.littlebang.org.

“Some people like to say ‘monks shouldn’t do this, monks shouldn’t do that.’ But monks are just ordinary people with a more visible moral framework to live by. If monks are going to be leaders in society, they should have an education equal to the people in that society, rather that someone who doesn’t know how to use a computer or talk about history or math. An education and familiarity with modern tools are necessary.”

Using these tools, such as his blog and Facebook, Phra Pandit has built up a sizeable expat community interested in exploring meditation and Buddhism. He leads regular talks and organizes special events that see some of Buddhism’s most talked-about names come through Thailand.

“On November 2 we’re very lucky to be hosting Phra Jayasaro who is a huge name in Thailand and in Buddhism, and on December 21 we have Phra Pasanno, a Canadian abbot of an international temple in California,” he says. “In January His Holiness Phakchok Rinpoche is visiting, who is a very young and charismatic teacher, and we’re setting up an intense 10 days of events with him.”

In addition, Phra Pandit leads weekend retreats that strip away the mystery behind meditation, making it more accessible for those who join.

“Once you learn how to meditate properly, it stays with you forever,” he says. “You can meditate anywhere because the base of your happiness is inside you. If you’re married, in prison, in a hot country, cold country, rich or poor, it doesn’t matter. Happiness comes from letting go.”