Re: Ubon R. Wat Nanasat / Nanachat

After bicycling 20 km in the rain, it was determined that nobody at Ubon's
famous Wat Nanachat is studying Pali; and, apparently, the "Book Store" is
an error in translation (i.e., the sign reading "Book Store" merely
indicates a place of storage for some of their books).

One monk told me that there had been two monks who were "quite keen" on
learning Pali, but they had left Nanachat at the start of this rains retreat
(I can't imagine why...) --one was said to be German, the other English. 
They may return to Nanacat after the rains retreat (this is undetermined).

I appreciate the candour of both the monk and the layperson I spoke to (they
both affirmed that nothing relating to Pali occurs on the premises, aside
from ritual chanting in the morning).

I had to wait for some time to solicit a comment from a monk; about ten
monks passed me by (two separate groups of about five each), ignoring my
wish to talk to them, before one seemed to stop out of interest to see what
I was there for.  Frankly, I've been more warmly received at Laotian
military checkpoints.

E.M.


--
A saying of the Buddha from http://metta.lk/
View Streaming Dhamma Video http://dharmavahini.tv/
In whom are truth, virtue, harmlessness, restraint and control, that wise
man who is purged of impurities, is, indeed, called an Elder.
Random Dhammapada Verse 261