Becoming a Buddhist monk, or at least living as one for a month, is now within anyone's reach thanks to the Spirit Adventures program offered by Fang Valley, a company based in the mountainous region of northern Thailand, just a stone's throw from the Burmese border. Part foundation, part tourism outfit, Fang Valley's aim is to make a positive impact on both the region and the individual, by offering genuinely immersive cultural experiences in this remote corner of Thailand.

A couple, heads nearly shaved.

Monk for a Month gives men and women the opportunity to experience the life of a Buddhist monk in a Thai temple, learn to meditate, and receive instruction in the principles of dhamma (the teachings of the Buddha). Both those already familiar with Buddhism and complete newcomers are welcome to take part in this initiative, which since 2008 has drawn curious travelers from around the world for two, three, or four weeks at a time.

The program can be combined with a stay in a Lahu or Palaung tribal village, two of the communities that still survive in the area. Participants, never more than two or three at a time, live alongside the tribes, sharing their meals and sleeping in simple bamboo huts, lending a hand with daily tasks while soaking in the idyllic landscape of waterfalls, mountains, and raw wilderness that makes up the Fang valley. For anyone who, having unlocked the secrets of meditation and shared daily life with a local family, wants to put what they've learned to practical use, the program also includes the option of volunteering as a teacher in one of the small, under-resourced local schools.

The dining hall at 'Monk for a Month'.

The duration and subject matter depend on the participant, but even something as simple as conversing in English with the students and telling them about the parts of the world they've never seen carries enormous value for these children from the ethnic minorities of northern Thailand. The temple stay itself is free; participants make donations and pay for their own meals, at a cost of roughly three euros a day.

What does someone willing to take on this kind of offer actually get out of it? Beyond the purely cultural interest of immersing oneself in Buddhist principles and teachings, the daily practice of meditation and the austerity of the conditions tend to produce greater mental clarity and spiritual peace, according to the testimonials that fill the program's website. For anyone escaping conventional tourism, the authenticity of the experience is guaranteed, whether as a monk or living alongside local tribes.

The difficulties? The austerity of the conditions (a temple is not a five-star hotel) and the physical demands on anyone following the 8 Buddhist precepts required for ordination as a novice (only two meals a day before noon, abstinence from sex and alcohol, early mornings, among other things) make this an experience ill-suited to comfort-seeking souls. As Chris Nuttall from Manchester put it: "I am a different person from who I was a month ago. I know myself better, and the experiences I've had have left a mark on me that I will never forget." More information at http://www.facebook.com/FangValley.

Reprinted with permission from the blog ocholeguas.com, "Asia en la Maleta" by Carmen Gómez Menor

http://www.ocholeguas.com/2011/03/02/asiaenlamaleta/1299061731.html

Thank you, Carmen, for the contribution.

Sanuk