Ken Dobson's Queer Ruminations from Thailand
Search this site
  • Life in Thailand
  • Queer Issues in Thailand
  • Queer Christian Issues
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Stories

Ordination before the Fire

8/27/2016

0 Comments

 
     Ordination before the fire is a particular type of merit-making that is both fairly common and relatively undocumented.  Buat naa fai  could be called a cremation ordination and it is done by boys to make merit for a relative, often a grandparent.  It typically is purely ceremonial in that the boys have no intention of remaining in the monastery community longer than one day.
 
     This week’s blog is essentially a picture essay with concluding observations. 
 
     First a few principles:  (1) “Ordination before the Fire” is generally into novice status.  (2) Since it has a particular, limited purpose there are few of the customary preparatory ceremonies such as formal leave-taking from mother and father, elaborate procession to the temple, or a feast for the chapter of monks and laity.  (3) It is possible for the novice(s) to change their mind and remain in the temple longer than one day.  (4) Not all abbots are willing to receive novices into this type of ordination.
 
     The elements of ordination before a cremation are simply the bare essentials for ordaining a novice into a temple community of monks.  The pictures accompanying this blog are a record of 3 nephews who were ordained on March 25, 2016 to make merit for their grandmother, Mrs. Fong Wanna, in Sanpatong District, Chiang Mai, Thailand.  The ordination included the following activities:
 
1. The boys had their hair cut and eyebrows shaved.  This is normally done or finished by a monk, but in this instance the abbot told them to do this the night before the cremation.
2. On the morning of the cremation the boys went with older male relatives to the temple with the things necessary for the ordination.
3. The abbot presided, assisted by just 2 other priests.  The boys ceremonially requested ordination and were asked the standard questions before being permitted to change into saffron colored robes.  They left their street clothes at the temple.
4. They were then ordained by the abbot, who urged them to consider staying in the temple as novices longer than one day.
5. Down the street, preparations for the big funeral service were getting finished.  The new novices drew everybody’s attention as they arrived with their assigned mentor.
6. The novices attended the chanting service, but participated as they would, had they still been laity.  They sat off to the side.
7. When the chanting was finished everyone was served a community meal.  The priests and novices were served first, and their food was specially presented.
8. As the casket was moved from the family home to the cremation grounds, the novices led the crowd under the direction of their mentor.  The chapter of priests who had done the chanting and would preside at the cremation were taken by car.
9.  The boys had a place of distinction at the cremation, but lined up with the family as all the guests filed past.
10. Following ignition of the cremation fire, which burned the catafalque spectacularly and the casket inside the cremation oven, the people left the cremation grounds.  The priests returned to their various temples.  The novices returned to the village temple where they quietly asked to demit and were given permission.  They changed back into their shirts and jeans leaving their orange robes at the temple.
 
Observations:
 
     This ceremony is all about making merit which is transferred to the deceased.  It is a family-oriented thing to do.  There is no intention that any of the benefits of regular ordination will accrue to the ordinands or the temple.  The novices do not even have to memorize their ordination vows.  They practice no meditation and only briefly adhere to any abstentions.
     The boys tended to feel self-conscious rather than honored.  There was almost no time they felt at ease or knew exactly what to do.  They were coached every step of the way.  Their motive, in the end, was to express love and respect for their grandmother.
     This type of ordination is considered an optional custom, happening only in a small percentage of funerals.  There is no stigma for foregoing this, even in large or prosperous families.  However, having grandsons do this is a sign the family has “done everything possible” to see that Grandmother has a complete send-off.
     The very fact that this type of ceremony exists is sufficient to prove that merit-making is a valid part of Thai Buddhist practice.  Furthermore, the merit is transferred in order to offset the demeritorious accumulation of the deceased, who is (of course) an entirely passive beneficiary.  There are other ordinations to make merit in behalf of recipients.  Sometimes there is even an elaborate merit-transferral ceremony.  This has important implications for the theological understanding of karma, and functions in principle precisely as Christian atonement does.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Rev. Dr. Kenneth Dobson posts his weekly reflections on this blog. 

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Copyright © 2023 Rev. Dr. Kenneth Dobson