Part 1: http://jenmchutchion.theworldrace.org/?filename=monk-breakfast-pt-1
Adam told me he had to know everything that would happen at breakfast. Why not invite monks for breakfast when in Thailand? Adam was a local Thai student who worked at my hostel and spoke very good English. He was so shocked and surprised about what was going to happen that morning. He told me that Thai people don't even use the word for monk in spoken language. He had been taught to not even make eye contact with monks. When I told Adam that I was friends with Son and Dara on facebook, he couldn't help but look completely shocked and say, "They have facebook!" I said, "Sure, Why not?" I told him about monk chat which he had never heard of before. I was starting to get the feeling that I had done something very unusual in this country. But it was too late. Monk breakfast was about to happen.
After much frenzy from Adam trying to figure out how monk breakfast should work, it was all settled. We would sit at the table away from others so no one would accidently touch them. My teammate, Lindsey and I would sit away from the monks as much as possible so that we wouldn't touch them for fear of making them "unclean" on accident.
Son and Dara called promptly at 8am asking if they could come over. They showed up moments later. We naturally bowed and sat at the same time to make sure our heads were at the same level hoping we were following the "rules" correctly.
We let them order first from Om, the boy on staff because maybe they can't order from a woman. We weren't sure. I know that they would say, "Why not?" though.
Then the Burmese girl working there brought out the food. Can they receive food from her? I don't know. Oh well, they took it so why not?
We asked so many questions. They ordered a traditional Thai breakfast, which is basically the same food you would eat for lunch or dinner. They even ordered meat. Who knew?
We then asked them if they have ever had oatmeal? Of course not. So we made them some of ours to sample. I asked for four bowls. Naturally, I got plates. There is always something lost in translation. Then we brought out the big guns.
Peanut butter! Sure it was over $5 from the grocery store for a small jar, but well worth sharing with our monks. They had never seen it or heard of it. Seems strange to me since peanuts are a staple on tables in Thailand. Dara loved it and kept going back for more. We gave it to him and encouraged him to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to get the full American experience.
I brought out my ukulele for them to sign. They showed us how to set something down on the table or ground so they can pick it up to receive from a woman. They asked me to play, so I sang Dream by the Everly Brothers and Lindsey harmonized with me. They videotaped our unprepared performance. They wanted to take pictures together and Dara told me how maybe some day when he gets married, he wants to sing to her at his wedding. They even invited us an a trip to a famous temple in the mountains with the other monks next week. We could share the same songteau as long as we don't touch. Yeah, why not?
One of the first questions I asked my monks at monk chat was, "Do many people come to monk chat to try to convince you to not be a monk and be Christian?" He said yes. From that question on, I had no interest in talking about Christ with them. I just wanted to know about Buddhism and life as a monk, never expecting we would leave as friends.
So at breakfast, that's the same mind set I had. I just want to know more. But Lindsey asked a question that I didn't think would come up. She asked them, "Do you think America is all Christian like Thailand is Buddhist?" They said, "Yes, of course."
They asked us their questions. We told them what it is like to live as a Christian in America. We told them what it is like to experience Jesus in our lives.
From my perspective and many conversations in Thailand, it seems like monks are treated as little gods. They are revered. They are supported financially by the country. They are also misunderstood. They are like the 'elephants in the room' that no one talks about. Except this isn't a room. It's a whole country.
We were told later that morning that we had greatly offended the Thai people that were around us. So much so, that they were not able to "save face", a rule that all Thai people abide by. We should have only bought them breakfast and left them alone. Or maybe we should have bought them breakfast and sat on the floor while they ate. Or maybe we should have have bought them breakfast and been quiet.
But none of this nonsense like talking, laughing, singing, taking pictures together, being friends.
But why not?
As unfortunate as our offenses were, we did learn how to apologize in Thailand. We bought gifts and flowers and begged for forgiveness and cried because we were terribly upset that we hurt our friends we made at the hostel.
I do think we made a few fans though. Some of the younger Thai people started smiling at us and inviting us to eat with them. They either thought we were funny, stupid or cool.
Son has been a monk for over 12 years. He said I was the first to invite him to anything.
Can a monk have friends? The answer is, "Why not?" Can a monk be given love? "Why not?" Can I disrupt the way of life in a country by eating breakfast? The answer is, "Yes, indeed I did."
You can try so hard to prepare your table, ask the right questions, seek permission and still miss the cues from this Land of Smiles that when they say yes, maybe they mean no.
Here's what happened in the end. Yes, monk breakfast was completely amazing and lasted 3 hours. We spoke about things I never intended to, including Jesus Christ.
But I did something that had never happens in Thailand, invite monks to breakfast. And it shook up three different perspectives.
The monks, the Thai people and me.
Galatians 5:13-14 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
