Journey of Discovery - Part 2

By MAJORIE CHIEW
star2@thestar.com.my
Pictures courtesy of AJAHN CAGINO

“I want to be a forest monk because Buddha himself spent much time dwelling in the forest. It is a strict, disciplined path,” says Cagino.

During the past 12 years, he was in and out of the forest with other monks. But six years ago, Cagino set off alone into the deep wilderness to experience what it was like to be a forest monk. All he had with him were five pieces of cloth, an alms bowl, cup, umbrella, mosquito net and walking stick.

“The stick is important as we can make some noise to warn snakes and other creatures of our presence when we’re walking through the forest,” says Cagino.

Cagino described his wandering years as a journey of exploration and discovery, not a time of hardship.

“I enjoyed those years even though I know not if there was a meal for tomorrow or where I was heading. I just walked on to see the world,” he says.

A forest monk leads a nomadic life as he moves from one place to another to find the ideal location to practise meditation. He usually camps by the river for easy access to water supply.

“We stay 15 days at the most at one place; not too long as we’re not supposed to feel attached to a place,” says Cagino. “If a place has ample food and shelter but is not conducive for meditation, we must leave promptly. If the place is great for meditation, the forest monk will stay a bit longer. It allows us to enhance our wisdom.”

Sometimes Cagino would ask villagers for directions to caves where monks had previously stayed. “There may be a fireplace and an old kettle left behind. Sometimes I will borrow a hammer and nails to make a seat for meditation,” says Cagino.

The life of a forest monk is not without its challenges. There are times when they have to track through muddy paths, cross streams and rivers, or climb down cliffs. One can easily get lost in the jungle, too.

Meal for the day: Monks returning with food offerings from their morning alms round.

The forest monk will usually stay 2-3km from the nearest village so that he can go for alms in the morning. He accepts only food, never money.

Once, Cagino came upon a little girl who blocked his path. He noticed she had something to give. He lowered his alms bowl and she placed a packet of rice, vegetables and a carton of milk in his bowl.

“When I was about to eat, I found a toy egg on the rice. I was touched that the little girl, out of the pureness of her heart, decided to give dana (food offering) to a monk!”

ALL kinds of danger lurk in the woods. So what is a forest monk to do when he comes across wild animals?

“I was fearful initially and thoughts of death crossed my mind. Somehow, I have learnt to accept my destiny,” says Ajahn Cagino, of his years in the forest.

He was at his wits’ end when wild animals came near his camp site in the remote forests of Kanchanaburi in west Thailand, on several occasions.

Sitting in deep meditation: Even a dangerous ledge can calm the mind.

“The first time I was all alone by myself in the deep forest, I was excited and restless. Then fear struck when I heard a leopard’s roar. I knew it was a leopard because I had been forewarned by the locals. I thought I would die. I couldn’t sleep,” recalls Cagino. “I was frustrated that I had no pen and paper to write a note to my mum and sister in case it was my last day alive!”

That night, he sat wide awake until morning.

Cagino also ran into two bears on two separate occasions.

“One night, I was awakened by a loud rustling noise nearby. I stood up and peered from behind a giant tree trunk and shone my torchlight into the darkness.

“When the bear saw the light, it stood on its two hind legs, ready to fight off its foe. When it saw no one, the startled bear fled,” relates Cagino.

The next morning, he saw a clearing in the bushes made by the fleeing bear.

A month later, he saw a bear cub while walking up a hill.

“It looked so cuddly, like a stuffed toy bear. It had chocolate grey fur with a white patch on its chest. I ran towards it and it took off in fright,” recalls Cagino.

On another occasion, Cagino was meditating in a makeshift tent under a mosquito net when he heard a tiger’s roar. When the wild cat continued roaring, Cagino was angry with himself for cowering in fear. He asked himself why he was afraid of the wild cat.

“After a while, I told myself to accept my fate. I plucked up courage and got up to investigate. I took my walking stick, wore a headlight and took a flashlight. I crossed the river to find the tiger but there was no sign of it. I returned to my tent to rest,” says Cagino.

The next morning, after brushing his teeth and washing his face in the river, he went to look for tiger tracks.

“I found a seven-and-a-half-inch paw print some 100m away from my camp near a river.”

Note: A Photographic Journey Of The Dhammafarers is an exhibition of 99 photos by Ajahn Cagino to raise funds for Dhammagiri Foundation to build an orphanage in Thailand. The exhibition is on at White Box, MAP@Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Mont Kiara, KL, from 11am-6pm, until tomorrow. After that, it will be held at Citta Mall, Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, from 10am-9pm, Sept 8-20; Bandar Utama Buddhist Society, 3, Jalan BU 3/1, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, from 10am-5pm, Sept 25-Oct 2; and 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya, from 11am-9pm, Oct 8-9. To view clips of the photos, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEVIJAZj3xo