มุมมองของชาวอเมริกันต่อการบวช : หน้า 91/168

OVERSEAS KALYANAMITRA Ordination: An American Perspective By Scott Tingley As I witnessed the recent ordination of three Thai - Americans, my first thought was to wonder how many young Americans would be willing to undertake such a positive step. Modern culture seems to promote unrestrained self-indulgence: television, movies, amusement parks, etc. Can people raised in such an environment see the value of taking the 227 Precepts? Fortunately the answer to this question is yes. In these times it is easy to be cynical about religion in general and rituals (such as ordination ceremonies) in particular. The pace and complexity of life in Southern California is such that it can be difficult to accept the value of traditions. But every once in a while we experience something that reminds us of what is truly important. I had just such an experience several months ago when I attended the ordination ceremony of three monks affiliated with Wat Buddha Maywood. When the day arrived, I set out for Wat Thai (where the ceremony was to be held). As I had never before attended an ordination I was uncertain as to what to expect. It was an unusually hot and humid day and, after taking a wrong turn, I felt myself becoming impatient and irritable. When I arrived at Wat Thai and was greeted by my friends from Wat Buddha Maywood, however, I was immediately reassured that my decision to attend the ceremony was the right one. Everyone seemed genuinely happy, but the atmosphere was not by any means frivolous. I felt that everyone shared my awareness of the importance of the commitment that the young men were about to make. As I watched the three participate in the ordination ceremony, I was struck by their poise and serenity. I sensed that they had already undergone a transformation. Surely they must have felt the กัลยาณมิตร 1567 ธนวาคม ๒๕๓๙