Search for the White Elephants in Surin

Search for the White Elephants in Surin
Edited from the Inner Dream Kindergarten program broadcasting on DMC

At this time, wherever you go, you will hear the similar voices of promotion. What kind of promotion is it? It is the promotion of the mass ordination. Now, it is hit and hot across Thailand especially in the Land of Elephant.

The laywomen troops in Surin province, the Land of Elephant, are very active and alerted to invite and persuade people to ordain. Surin people are wonder when they see the laywomen walking everywhere to inform this good news. The Most Ven. Phra Sompong Yasodaro has led his team to do at many schools and educational institutes around this province.

Dr. Thanaphat Saowaphak

Another good thing is Dr. Thanaphat Saowaphak, the Vice Chancellor of Rajamangala University of Technology Isan Surin Campus, has changed the way of greeting the freshmen from dancing, singing, drinking alcohol to be meditating, chanting, and drinking Pana Drink. He unveiled that this project is good so that he will support it fully. He will send over 800 freshmen to be trained in this project. Moreover, over nine school directors will send their hundreds of students to join this project as well.

Surin province also arranges the project of morality restoration in the communities and there are over 109 communities participating in this project. Over 100 people come to practice Dhamma, chant, and meditate together at each village hall. So, the information of mass ordination is able to distribute to each community easily, including the academic managements’ good vision, both affect the total amount of application to be more than 1,000. It is expected that when the application period is over, the total amount will be certainly at least 2,000.

Ms. Pruang Boonthep

Not only that, the Land of Elephant has the power girls going out to persuade people to ordain and nothing can stop them even if it is an elephant. For example, Ms. Pruang Boonthep, 49 years old, goes to promote this ordination with her senior laywomen since the dawn. She never complains even if she is tired. Sometimes, there is no vehicle, she does not care and still goes out with her red bicycle. Once, she rode her bike since 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. which her total distance is over 20 kilometers. The hot weather could not stop her goodwill and so does her bike. One day, her bike was broken but she did not give up. She walked to persuade people with the confident mind that she could persuade people to ordain and restore the Buddhism successfully. Now she can persuade over 50 people but her goal is 100 people.

Last but not least, the merit leaders from Surin would like to cheer up the others that it is nearly the final day of application. If you never persuade anyone to ordain, please hurry to do it. Only we have the same heart as Luang Phaw and go out to do it everyday, it is not too late to do. The Buddhism restoration will be successful or not, it is depending on all of you.

Translated by Chadawee Chaipooripat