Last Sunday was a great day at the temple. We celebrated our teacher’s birthday and his receiving of a new title in Thailand. I had no idea that it would turn out to be quite a large gathering. Even Ven. Ajaan Geoff came down early from Metta Forest Monastery to attend the celebrations. Later in the afternoon more monks from Metta Forest Monastery arrived to perform an ordination ceremony. It was truly an eventful and auspicious day.
The alms-round. It was raining in the morning so everyone crowded in the covered area to offer rice to the monks.
After the alms-round everyone gathered inside the sala to make more offerings.
After the meal we gathered in the ubosoth for the ceremonies. First the announcement of the Abbot’s new title. Followed by blessings chanted by the assembly of monks.
The Abbot presented holy relics to the monks to celebrate the auspicious events.
The younger monk is a new Abbot at a new temple located in Columbus, Ohio. Our teacher presented him with a statue of Luangpu Mun that was offered by a layperson. The younger monk is an old friend. We met when I was a monk at the temple.
This was the beginning of the ordination. The soon-to-be ordained together with the lay community walked around the ubosoth three times.
The soon-to-be ordained threw coins to the crowd signifying the letting go of possessions, leaving the householder’s life. These coins are considered lucky and not to be spent. I got some in my bag from a previous ordination. 
The soon-to-be ordained entered the ordination hall where an assembly of monks awaited to begin the ceremony. First he had to go through the novice ordination. Followed by the ordination of monkhood.
Newly ordained novice waited to be questioned. He would be asked questions to determine if he was qualified to be ordained. The whole ceremony was done in Pali.
The novice was questioned twice. First away from the assembly of monks. A second time among the assembly of monks.
People offering gifts to the new monk.
Truly an auspicious day. You can see more photos here.
