Requesting Ordination

Ordination can be requested as either a novice or a monk, but a candidate must be able to speak and understand basic Thai in order to be accepted. All candidates are required to undertake the 8 precepts, practice Buddhism and meditation for 1 or 2 weeks in order to be qualified to be ordained based on the monastery rules [there are monks who train all international candidates in preparation for ordination].
According to the Rules laid down by Lord Buddha, some may not become monks:

1. One who has murdered an Arahant (Enlightened One),
2. One who has murdered his mother or father,
3. One who has injured the Lord Buddha,
4. One who has caused a schism in the Sangha,
5. One who has pretended to be a monk without ordination,
6. One who has left the Sangha and ordained in another religion,
7. One who as a monk committed any of the four 'disrobing offences' (parajika),
8. One who is a Eunuch or Hermaphrodite.

Qualifications to ordain as a monk and a novice

1. The candidate must be 20 years of age or more, counting from when "consciousness first appeared in his mother's womb". If, by mistake, he was 'ordained' under the age of 20, the candidate remains a ten precept novice and is not a monk,
2. The candidate must a Buddhist to be qualified for ordination,
3. The candidate must have permission of both parents, or guardians if parents are deceased,
4. No smoking or drinking any kind of alcohol,
5. No certain diseases such as HIV or other serious diseases [All applicants are required to have medical check, it costs about 500-1000 Bath or $20 and is included in the application fee].
6. There are others still who should not be ordained, although if they are ordained by mistake their ordination is valid. These include: one with infectious diseases, a slave, one escaped from jail, one known to be wanted by the police, one with unpaid debts, one in the 'King's Service' (e.g. a soldier), one maimed, deformed, disabled or very old (meaning to the extent that it is impractical to perform the duties of monastic life). One also needs the permission of one's parents. Also, one may not be ordained without a set of robes and a bowl of one's own.

An applicant needs to bring:

1. Two 2 inch-Photos without glasses
2. A government issued ID card, passport or drivers license.
3. 12,000 Bahts for ordination procedure, not including the cost of medical check.

Note: An application form is available at the Wat.
Please click here to download the ordination procedure in PDF file.
Click here to download ordination procedure in MP3 for practicing.

Image Gallery

Download Media

---