In Thai Theravada Buddhism young men are usually expected to ordain into the monkhood at some point in their life. Ordination into the Buddhist monkhood has never implied a lifetime commitment and most men usually only spend a short time in the temple. Entering the monkhood, even for a short time, is believed to bring great merit to the ordained as well as his parents.

---

Size: 3401px × 5120px
Photo credit: © Pictures From History / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: asia, asian, buddhism, buddhist, ceremony, chiang, chiangmai, chiengmai, custom, david, henley, historical, history, image, images, lan, lanna, mai, na, ordain, ordination, passage, pictures, religion, rite, thai, thailand