Enroute back to Pertb we did stop in Sepentine, to visit my Uncles (Ajahn Brahns) Monestry.
Now I have been very curious for many a years, regarding why he gave everything up and left, built a monestry in the middle of nowhere and is completely detached from a reality i hold so dear.
So we arrived, and were my god this place is huge! The Monestry itself covers over 100 acres of forestry (paid for by no other than the King Of Thailand). We were greated by the Hospitality Monk, yes there is such a thing! And the questions began as he showed us around.
Now I want standing on ceremany here, i delved straight into it (obvioulsy being my charming, polite self at the same time). Why When Where, How, What...everything I asked was answered with great reasured answers. True belief in what my uncle had been teaching this Monk. I asked everything I could think of about him, and every answer came easily and with a comprehension even I could relate to.
Now where does my uncle live, well people of the normal world, he hads his own artificial soundproofed cave, which he sleeps in and secludes himself in also! Thats freaky. He even keeps a fluffy bat in there, and calls it the bat cave! Now I know where my humour came from anyhow.
So the story goes he lives in a cave, because it reminds him of his teachings in Thailand where he lived in Bat s*** Caves! The Monks words not mine.
In all honesty though this place is huge and extremely tranquil. Dont worry though i think after one day here i would loose the plot and go insane, its just too quiet.
Oh and I got to sleep in a Monks seclusion lodge, it was so cool, apart from the huge amounts of Spiders inhabiting the place. Urghhhhh!
The bed was literally just a flat piece of wood, but remarkably comfy, the sounds of the forest all around me were a little bit daunting, but i slept like a baby! And woke all bright and breezy, had a gorgeous shower and was ready to face more Monk things.
Next was lunch before 11am, where we had to give bread to the monks first. And people came for miles to feed the monks! A nice concept i thought. There was a feast on the tables, but before we ate we had to give thanks to the Buddha or soething with chanting anyhow.
It was quite a cool experience, and everyone virtually worships Ajahn. They seriously do love him, which is a bit overdone in my opinion! Some of it reminded me of a cult. But I have to admit the people were so friendly and lovely to speak to, so upbeat and happy to be where they were. That was lovely to be around, and I have even been given a bok on meditation to aid in my own personal development! And I learnt so much about Pete in that day, some things I have to say I respect a lot, and if I was ever to take up a religion it would be buddhism, however mokhood???? No sex, alcohol and all this quiet time...lets think about that one! NO