Fundraiser and Ordination for Cambodian Youth Summer Camp

This summer a few friends invited me to attend a monk ordination ceremony and fundraiser for young Cambodian monks. It was aimed at youth at risk or dropping out of school or who lack educational opportunities. It was held at the temple Wat Suan Dok through Cambodian students at Mahachulalonghorn Buddhist University. Mahachulalonghorn has many monks enrolled from Cambodia who are quite bright and active. Many were the same monks involved in our Buddhism and Christianity course based on inter-religious dialogue involving Christian and Buddhist students this semester.
In this fundraiser you could make a donation in two ways. One is the easy way: foreigners, non-Buddhist, and people in a hurry gave directly to the money box and kindly wrote their names, personal details, and organization to be read out loud later. A second way to give, which is more intricate, more aesthetic and more meritorious, is to shape bills into a lotus flower. Below left is a Thai bill in made into a flower; below right the communal process of opening the flowers.

A couple of my friends were so touched enough by the cause they went on to be ordained with these young monks in Cambodia. I was glad to have made some new friends among the monks - and many are part of internet social networks. Those connections became a good basis later for building trust and engaging in dialogue with Christian students. Left are some of the participants and observers after the ceremony. Thanks to all who invited me and the monks who remained connected after. Click play to listen to the ordination chant:

[Listening may require Quicktime plug-in and settings]