Novice Apirak Sae-Ho and his new life in the saffron robes

Novice Apirak Sae-Ho – His new life in the saffron robes

Novice Apirak Sae-Ho and his new life in the saffron robes

The “At Ten” TV program broadcasted the story of Novice Apirak Sae-Ho, a grateful man, again after he decided to ordain as a novice for one Buddhist Lent to pay back his mother’s kindness.

Apirak Sae-Ho who is now a novice

Four years ago, the “At Ten” TV program had presented Mr. Apirak Sae-Ho’s story which has inspired a lot of people because although he has some brain problems, he does not give up.  He collected some kinds of rubbish to sell and deposit 20 baht to his bank account every day.  He has accumulated money by this way for his mother’s heart operation for almost 20 years.

Because of this gratefulness, he has got the Grateful Children Award from The National Council on Social Welfare of Thailand (NCSWT) by receiving the Honorable Shield from HRH Princess Soamsawali on Thai Mother’s Day 2010.

The “At Ten” TV program presented his story again on Tuesday August 13th, 2013.  It is another confirmation that Apirak Sae-Ho is grateful to his mother when he decided to pay back his mother’s kindness as a Thai man by ordaining as a novice.

Now he is Novice Apirak and he unveiled about his decision that while he was walking in a department store on Rama IV Road and saw a cutout of the 100,000-Monk Ordination Program.  When he knew that it is free of ordination charge and it was near the Buddhist Lent Day including he wanted to pay back his mother’s kindness.  He decided to join this mass ordination at once and he asked some people how to travel from Rama IV Road to Wat Khlongbhum near Rama III Road.  Then, he took a bus to go there without telling anyone.

Novice Apirak Sae-Ho practiced meditation

When he arrived at Wat Khlongbhum, he requested for ordination permission, but Phrakru Pisan Sasanadham, the abbot of this temple, did not allow because of the Monastic Discipline – the candidate has to ask for his family’s permission and have a guarantor first.  So he went back home for ask his mother’s permission.  In the beginning, his mother did not allow because she was worried about him, however, when he confirmed with her many times that he wanted to ordain for her and wanted her to get merit from this ordination, as well as the teaching monks told his family to rejoice in Apirak’s merit and this merit would yield his next lifetime even better.  At last, his family rejoiced in his merit and his strong good intention.

When his family allowed him, he could be ordained as a novice which makes his mother, Mrs. Choeimui Sae-Ho, very happy.  In the same time, his neighbors appreciate him that even though he has brain problems, he still has an idea to ordain for his mother.  His thought is better than that of many normal men.

Novice Apirak said firmly that those who are novices have to keep 10 precepts and then described that what the 10 precepts are.  Phrakru Pisan added that the novice’s daily routines are similarly to the monk’s – they must get up about 4:00 a.m. to pray the morning chanting, meditate, and do the monastic works like other monks and Novice Apirak has done it well.

Even though I have a little brain, I still want to ordain for my mother,
I would like to invite all men around the world to do for your mothers too.

 

Although he wears the saffron robes, he still collects some abandoned bottles for his mother.  When his mother sold the bottles, she brought the money to make merit with the temple.  This shows that what a beautiful mind Novice Apirak has!

Novice Apirak unveiled that he likes to listen to Dhamma because he understands more things.  He also told that he could pray the chanting, but did it slowly.  However, he intends to ordain as a novice for one Buddhist Lent or about 3 months, he can do it for about one month and he is sure that he can do it throughout 3 months.  Before giving a blessing, he gave some words to all men that

 

“Even though I have a little brain, I still want to ordain for my mother,
I would like to invite all men around the world to do for your mothers too.”
The novice ended with a respectful thought

 

 

Translated by Chadawee Chaipooripat

 

http://goo.gl/CZsRpa