The newly ordained Phra Chotiparo.
Chatchanan Boonnak
On Sunday April 24, Boonsiri Suansuk, the head of graphic
design department of Pattaya Mail Media Group was ordained as a
Buddhist monk at Wat Nongyai Temple in Banglamung district.
Family members, friends and his colleagues attended the
religious ceremony which was held with a sense of humble yet joyous purpose.
At the ordination ceremony, the chief abbot of the temple
bestowed Boonsiri with a Pali/Sanskrit Buddhist name of ‘Phra Chotiparo’
which means ‘Bright Light’.
Phra Chotiparo spoke to his colleagues at Pattaya Mail
saying, “When my mother passed away on the 9th of
February, I felt a sense of void in my life. She was everything to me. I
loved her very much. She was only 58 years old and had loved and cared for
me all my life. I felt that I had to do something to make merit for my
mother to show my love and gratitude for her and at the same time to my
father too.
“In Thailand we have an ancient custom whereby when a man
reaches the age of 21, he will join monkhood for at least one ‘Phansa’ or
rainy season. But as I did not go through the ritual many years ago, I felt
that this was the most opportune time in my life to do so. At least my
father is here to witness me become a part of the ascetic life and that he
will be proud of me. I dedicate this part of my life to my dear father too.
“I feel that to serve in the monkhood, even for a short
period, is a valuable merit-earning attainment for me. I hope to gain more
knowledge of Buddhism and Dharma and become a better person.”
Phra Chotiparo is 36 years old and the only child of Mr.
Saiyud and Mrs. Samran Suansuk.
Phra Chotiparo will remained in monkhood for 15 days
before leaving the peace and tranquillity of the ‘wat’ and rejoin the hustle
and bustle of his professional life again next week.
As a layman, Boonsiri is a hard and dedicated worker who has worked with
the Pattaya Mail Media Group for over 12 years. His superiors and
colleagues hold him in high regard and look forward to welcoming him back
into the fold.
