How the Ordination Merit changed my life
“Getting ordained is the brightest moment in life”
Edited from the Inner Dream Kindergarten program broadcasted on DMC
“Getting ordained is the brightest moment in life”
Edited from the Inner Dream Kindergarten program broadcasted on DMC
I pay the highest respect to the Most Venerable Luang Phaw Dhammajayo.
My name is Pra Payungrit Palayutto. I am 33 years old. I am a Buddhist monk at Wat Pra Dhammakaya Ordination Training Center.
Since my childhood days, I have been always crazy about music. When I was 17 years old, I began my career as a singer. I sang at different pubs in Bangkok. Hip Hop music was my favourite. I became famous, not only in Thailand, but also abroad. I performed, for example, in China & Taiwan. I earned good money from it. My life at that time was like a life of a vampire. At night I was so active and I slept during the daytime. I enjoyed the nightlife very much. I indulged in those naughty things, such as alcohol & sexual exploitations. The global way of life had conquered me completely. The spiritual way of life hardly got any chance in me.
Since my childhood days, I have been always crazy about music. When I was 17 years old, I began my career as a singer. I sang at different pubs in Bangkok. Hip Hop music was my favourite. I became famous, not only in Thailand, but also abroad. I performed, for example, in China & Taiwan. I earned good money from it. My life at that time was like a life of a vampire. At night I was so active and I slept during the daytime. I enjoyed the nightlife very much. I indulged in those naughty things, such as alcohol & sexual exploitations. The global way of life had conquered me completely. The spiritual way of life hardly got any chance in me.
Pra Payungrit Palayutto
Then about 4 years ago something happened to me. I moved from Bangkok to Pattaya and decided to settle down. Out of the blue I began to ask myself “Is this the purpose of life? To just enjoy daily pleasure, earn money and have a family ?”
I was getting bored of the nightlife. I looked for a deeper meaning in life. I turned myself to Dhamma. I began to chant some Buddhist prayers. Surprisingly one particular prayer made me cry out of bliss. I felt as if I used to say that prayer before. It ‘s so familiar to me. What happened to me at that moment encouraged me to read more Dhamma books.
One day I came across the DMC channel on cable TV network. That was the first time that I met the Most Venerable Luang Phaw Dhammajayo and Wat Pra Dhammakaya . When I heard about the mass ordination program, I was so impressed. It ‘s such a great event. I said to myself “One day I will be a part of this great program”
Not so long after that I heard good news again. It ‘s about the mass ordination program during rainy season. Having heard of this great opportunity, and I couldn’t wait any longer. I cleared all my work appointments, and got myself ready to be a monk.
I was getting bored of the nightlife. I looked for a deeper meaning in life. I turned myself to Dhamma. I began to chant some Buddhist prayers. Surprisingly one particular prayer made me cry out of bliss. I felt as if I used to say that prayer before. It ‘s so familiar to me. What happened to me at that moment encouraged me to read more Dhamma books.
One day I came across the DMC channel on cable TV network. That was the first time that I met the Most Venerable Luang Phaw Dhammajayo and Wat Pra Dhammakaya . When I heard about the mass ordination program, I was so impressed. It ‘s such a great event. I said to myself “One day I will be a part of this great program”
Not so long after that I heard good news again. It ‘s about the mass ordination program during rainy season. Having heard of this great opportunity, and I couldn’t wait any longer. I cleared all my work appointments, and got myself ready to be a monk.
Pra Payungrit Palayutto
Dear Luang Phaw, in the beginning of my early training days, I was still a bit hesitant, because it ‘s something completely new to me. The most difficult part is that I have to get up so early and to be active during daytime. This is absolutely opposite from what I used to do. I felt so discouraged. Luckily the coach was very kind to me. He encouraged me all the time. Moreover I was encouraged even much more when I heard you say that the one who gets a chance to ordain is the lucky one. It made me stay, so I was robed and became a Buddhist monk. It was the brightest moment in my life. My mother and everyone in the family were very happy too.
Inner experience of Pra Payungrit Palayutto
Dear Luang Phaw, I got the opportunity to meditate everyday. I have to admit that it was not so smooth in the beginning. I was distracted easily. I could not concentrate longer than 15 minutes, but after regular practice I could meditate longer. I like to meditate with your guidance so much. It helps me to meditate for hours.
One day I just did what you kept telling us. I closed my eyes gently and relaxed my whole body. I let go of all thoughts and kept concentrating on the mantra, “Samma Arahung” only. I started from putting my mind at the 1st base and slightly moved it to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and finally landed it on the 7th base.
After a while, a blissful feeling came into my mind. At that moment, I saw in my meditation the Buddha image in front of me . The image was turning around. While I was looking at the image calmly, suddenly the image came inside my stomach and kept turning around. The Buddha image that I saw in my meditation was transparent. I felt as if the image wanted to pull me deep inwards. Dear Luang Phaw, I didn’t want to come out of this meditation. Because seeing the Buddha image in my meditation is such a blessing for me.
I have learned by now that we can actually have the inner sight, if we just close our eyes gently, and only let the mind do the work.
Dear Luang Phaw, I keep reminding myself of your words , “Since you get it ,don’t ever let it go.” I can nowadays see the image turning around inside of me all the time. Sometimes the image is small, and at other times the image is big. It ‘ s so big that I can see myself sitting in it. The Buddha image is so transparent and bright. It ‘s so beautiful that nothing else can ever be compared with it.
Every time I meditate I feel so happy. The feeling is so special for which I can’t find enough words to describe it. I would like to encourage my fellow monks to meditate more. The secret to success is just to follow the guidance of the Most Venerable Luang Phaw. When you do it, you will get it. You have to try it yourself.
Taking part in this program changes me physically and mentally. That Hip Hop guy is no longer here. There is only Pra Payungrit who is willing to follow Luang Phaw to save Buddhism in every lifetime.
Finally, I wish Luang Phaw good health and to be our inspiration forever and ever more.
With the highest respect to the Most Venerable Luang Phaw Dhammajayo,
Pra Payungrit Palayutto
Translated by Sunee Vongnoi
Edited by View Riddell
