🇱🇦 Do monks wear underwear?! Answering the top 10 most asked questions

Hi folks, NatNomad here. An ex-Buddhist monk from Laos with a big dream of seeing the world. Throughout my time for over 10 years being a monk I kept asking myself this one question "What life is like out there beyond the monastery?" And because of this question alone made me take a big step in 2014 when I finally say goodbye to my wonderful monastic life.
And now I'm doing what I've always wanted to do. Though I am not quite sure if I can say that I'm living my dream but you know what I'm loving my new adventure.
Please make sure to stick with me so we can explore new exotic places together.
Let the adventures begin!
Thanks so much for your support.

[@jdavies212msu]

Your transparency is refreshing. Thank you for sharing your life story. By the way, can you suggest a winning lottery number? Just kidding! 😂

[@natnomad]

Hehe, well as for the winning numbers I also wish I knew it, too

[@roryo1970]

'Meditation is so hard. I have such a naughty mind’ . So funny, and so realistic. Thank you for such clear answers on how any of us can become a Buddhist monk or enjoy the benefits of this way of life.

[@natnomad]

My pleasure, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. And yep, meditation is not as easy as most people think. But when you reach that stage of peacefulness, it is so beautiful😊

[@GeorgeStar]

Sorry for your sad childhood. Your English is perfect!

[@deuvang8361]

Wow Nat that's good to know about the monks program. Aw your English accent sounds absolutely perfect like the Californian. Thanks for sharing the awesome informations. Keeping the good work

[@natnomad]

Thank you. Watching Hollywood movies helps me improve it, too🙂

[@wirtualnyteleport5080]

Amazing video, so informative!! I stayed in a temple in Thailand for a few days and as you said obviously you cannot become a monk within such a short timeframe, but it can give you an idea how such life looks like, disconnect from the real world for a while and teach you how to work on yourself and meditate. For me it was a salvation in a hard moment in life when I was looking for a new direction. As you said I also consider this rather a philosophy of life than a religion. Thanks for sharing this with us 🤩

[@natnomad]

It's nice that you got to experience life in the time. Obviously, you can join the temple for as short as one day. Like I explained for such a short period of time, most people do it for a particular reason, such as for the funeral. People also join temples for a couple of days for a retreat, like you said to disconnect from the world outside.

[@markpaxton3337]

I’m sorry for your childhood experiences with your father. But I’m more happy that you found the inner strength to move on and do good with your life ⭐️

[@natnomad]

Thank you. I'm blessed with good spirit and loved ones around me. My past shaved me to who I am today😊

[@leesinnorai1871]

Proudly of you Nat !

[@natnomad]

Thank you🙂

[@mattkirby7071]

It's pretty sad to hear what you went through during your early childhood and that this was a reason to send you to a temple. But it's good to hear that you actually had a good time at the temple. Around 22 years ago (after watching a documentary about being a monk in Japan) I wanted to join a Japanese Shinto temple for some reasons I can't recall anymore. I wrote them and after a few days they actually replied. But I was so overwhelmed by their many questions that I had doubts in my intentions and if I'll fit there. In the end I never replied... Until today I somehow regret it. I think it really had been a good chance and experience for me.

[@natnomad]

All these days I'm thankful for whatever happened back then that brought me here today to be the man who I am now. Thanks to the monastery for being the safe home for me for decade. I could've been a complete different person without the temple. I hope you will give yourself another chance to try someday.

[@TheWanderingKid]

Very insightful, Nat Thanks for sharing more about your life and about the life of a monk!

[@natnomad]

Thank bro. I am looking forward to more of your content about Laos

[@LoneStar96]

Hi Nat, thanks for sharing your story. I been curious as to how you got American English accent and now I know. I became a monk when I was 10 and stayed for 2 years at Wat Prabhat in Pakse. At the time my mom and younger sibling need to go back to Vientiane but due to finance issue she left me at the temple. But it was alright since my grandmother house is right across the road. Unfortunately my aunts and uncles does not live in Pakse but in a different cities/village and have their own live. Since grandma was too old and cannot take care of me so the only choice was to become a monk.

[@natnomad]

Oh that's beautiful that you've been a monk, too. You mom must be very proud. She's very thoughtful to have left you in the right place while she's away. Thanks for sharing your story😊

[@smalondon]

Really clear answers on how to be a monk, thank you!

[@natnomad]

My pleasure 😊

[@hodongdinh1]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I feel so bad for what you and your brother went through on your early years, and your mom, too. I wonder how your mom doing now? I hope she's doing better and happier now. I would like to meet her (and you, your brother) when I have a chance to visit Laos.

[@natnomad]

Thank you very much for the gift. That is so kind of you😊. My mom is happier than ever. She's so proud of me and my brother that we all grown up and having our own life. She's busy with her little great grand son in the village. We come visit her once in a while. My brother also lives in Luang Prabang. Please do let me know if you plan to come to Laos🙂🙏

[@hodongdinh1]

@@natnomad: Thank you, Nat. It's good to hear your mom is doing better and happier with the grandson ❤ It's nice that you and your brother visit her sometime. My husband and I will be in South East Asia for a couple months. We plan to visit Laos sometime around the end of this year. Sure we will let you know before we come. Joe & Tina

[@natnomad]

I'm looking forward to hearing from you, Joe and Tina. I'll be away around the first week of November and back by the end of the month. I hope to see you in Luang Prabang. Thanks a lot🙂🙏

[@otisotis5869]

While I was in Cambodia, traveling,.... I ended up in a town 30 KM outside of Phnom Penh and there was a temple with a sign that said "chat with a Monk" and so I took a seat and a young monk came out and sat with me to chat. I asked him questions and his answer was alway the same "say again" and "say again." etc. It was funny, so I got up to walk away and in clear English , he stated, "do you have cigerette? " I said no,... it was odd.

[@natnomad]

Lol I didn't see that coming. Monks can be funny sometimes.

[@keosavathph9564]

Good morning! Got to know you more with your story, I didn’t know that they can kick you out from your village, so sad! But God always prepared something good for you!🙏

[@620EDA]

Thank you very much for sharing your story. Your strength and attitude are great examples for all who learn of your story. The life lessons of Buddhism can enrich all of our lives and to me is compatible with any or even no religion. Embracing the lessons of Buddhism are enriching and bring goodness to life. I love each time I am lucky enough to visit a temple and be blessed by a monk as he ties a handmade bracelet to my wrist. Is there a temple in Luang Prabang where I may find an opportunity for such a blessing? Thank you again for this very interesting video.

[@natnomad]

Thank you for your kind saying. You may try at Watt Phapai temple in Luang Prabang for the blessing robe. Or if you come to Vientiane, do come to Watt Simuang temple🙏😊

[@620EDA]

@@natnomad Thank you for the suggestions. I will try Watt Phapai in October when we return to Luang Prabang. A few months ago in Vientiane, we were thrilled with our visit to Wat Si Muang. There we came upon two monks giving blessings and the hand made bracelets. My husband is still wearing his! I see you have a new post from Vientiane. I can' wait to see it! Thank you for taking the time to share your beautiful country!

[@lostinasia888]

Thanks for this insightful video 🙏❤️🥰 I learnt so much !

[@natnomad]

Delighted 🙏😊

[@paige961]

Hi Nat! Thank you for this Q&A! It was very in-depth and informative. I highly admire your openness in sharing your journey and struggles. You have such a peaceful aura about you and that's why i enjoy watching your videos. Keep up the great work ❤

[@natnomad]

Thank you for your kind words always😊🙏

[@michelphoutthavong1139]

Yes!they do .

[@BadMedizin]

The number one question you're asked is, are you Lao? 😂🤣😂 ❤👍👍👍🙏

[@natnomad]

Lol that as well. But then all the DM is more about the monk's life and stuff

[@TimK2646]

Meditation is so hard as we have a wondering mind, always thinking about financial issues, health issues, family issues, pain in the limbs and body. To keep still and absolve all the worries is so so difficult. Long time ago, the longest I could meditate was 2 hours. Then I could not get up as my blood circulation changed.

[@natnomad]

2 hrs is wonderful. I've done the longest was only 3 hours

[@marcusmaunula5018]

@@natnomad You have to do like Sadhguru and find some cave with no phones or wifi :D

[@leesinnorai1871]

ພູທໄຈກັບຫລານທີ່ສຸດເດີ !

[@natnomad]

ໂດຍ, ຂອບໃຈ🙂❤️

[@klom15thailand]

Fun watching this, a few of my curious wonders about monks are clarified like 1) Can a monk do a wank? or 2) Can monks understand what they're spelling in Pali-Sansakrit?

[@natnomad]

As of wanking, no we're not supposed to. But sex education is also mentioned in the temple as part of our nature. Unfortunately, not many monks including myself were able to translate all the scripts in Pali or Sanskrit into Lao by head like I do from English to Lao. Mostly we learned the chanting scripts, only a tiny bit is translated into Lao

[@marcusmaunula5018]

One thing I would like is Q&A that we can add in your community page that you can ask another active Monk. I have some historical questions.

[@natnomad]

I've talked to several monks but i couldn't find any that speak English. I've done a video interview with a monk in Lao language once. But i gave up. It took me nearly 5 hours alone to just write all the subtitles and I was just only halfway through the video. So plus the editing took so much time. Maybe someday when i have the team I'll try it again

[@marcusmaunula5018]

@@natnomad I see. Well I don't mind reading subtitles at elast. It gives the Monk a chance to give more indepht answers also. Otoh you were a Monk and speak English so we can do it with you too :).

[@marcusmaunula5018]

@@natnomad Btw, nowadays there is AI that can asssist you with the translation. That is another option.

[@eduardarnold5404]

There are fundamental differences btw Theravada Buddhism ---Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia etc. and Mahayana Buddhism ---China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea where marriage of monks is of course permitted. Tibetan Buddhism which is a part of Mahayana is again a different story.

[@natnomad]

Yes, quite different. I had a great conversation with a Mahayana Buddhist Monk from northern India when I was in Nepal in 2019. The main goals for both Therevada and Mahayana Buddhists are the same though. But the journey there is a bit different. Beautiful conversation

[@happywanderer-b5w]

❤❤❤

[@-jn1jp]

ສະບາຍດີ

[@natnomad]

ໂດຍ

[@samsayasane1934]

Monk the wear underwear .did you wear underwear while you were amonk😂

[@natnomad]

Yep, I did wear underwear 🩳