Buddhist Monkhood as Spiritual Enlightenment: Indian-American guru and Thai businessman ordain in Thailand

Jate Sopitpongstorn

People come to Thailand for various reasons: some follow the “tourist track” and visit the many white-sand beaches that Thailand has to offer, some embark on more or less successful business ventures, while others are interested in making contact with Thai Buddhism and its spirituality. Maybe one of the most famous farangs to have taken the “temple track” is Phra Peter Pannapadipo, an Englishman who has spent more than ten years as a monk in Thailand. But he is not the only one!

Just a few weeks ago, Deepak Chopra, the 64-year-old world-renowned Indian-American spiritual guru and author of 55 books on spirituality and self-help, chose Thailand as the place to be ordained a Buddhist monk. Among the thirteen countries that recognize Buddhism as a state religion, Deepak’s decision to become a monk in the Land of Smiles was an honour for the Sopitpongstorn family, whose members were in charge of organizing the ordaining. It is thus not surprising that Jate Sopitpongstorn, the 37-year-old Managing Director of Horseshoe Point Pattaya, accompanied Deepak on his Thai spiritual journey.

From his penthouse office overlooking Lumpini Park in the capital’s financial district, Jate confessed that, at first, he intended only to serve as Deepak’s translator, but then he was talked into ordaining too by the monks at the temple. “It all happened in the last minute. I took the decision to follow Deepak into monkhood on the afternoon before the day scheduled for our guest and friend to become a monk,” said Jate. But, before the actual ordainment, Deepak and Jate spent four days in Kanchanaburi Province, where they got accustomed with the strict life led by Thai monks at Sunanthavanaram Monastery.

Then, between the 7^th and 12^th of July, the abbot of Wat Mai Sri Rom Yen, situated on the northern Thai-Laotian border in Chiangkong in Chiang Rai Province, took them in. After the ordaining ceremony, both were introduced to the temple life with their orange saffron robes and begging bowls as their only worldly possessions. Upon entering monkhood, they both received new names: for the duration of his stay in the temple, Deepak was called ‘Choti Punyo Bhiku’ and Jate was ‘Anurutto Bhiku.’

For Jate, life hasn’t always been as religious and spiritual as it might seem. His first brush with religion was during his school days, when, as a pupil at a Christian school, he had to go to church and pray every Sunday. When his parents moved him to a Thai school, he lost his religious identity until later in his years as a student at Chulalongkorn University.

The death of his grandfather was a turning point in Jate’s spiritual life. Apart from erecting the Three Kingdom Theme Park, an amazing complex in Pattaya, build to honor his grandfather’s memory, Jate went on a meditation retreat. It was during this intense time of meditation that Jate rediscovered his link with Buddhism. “Ever since then, I regularly go to meditation centers and I get involved in special Buddhist ceremonies. Apart from that, I started reading and studying Buddhism and, most importantly, tried to apply Lord Buddha’s teachings in my daily life,” recalled Jate.

Personally meeting Deepak Chopra and sharing his company during almost two weeks in temples in Thailand was another step Jate took up the ladder of spirituality. “During and after our morning alms round, I would listen to Deepak talk about life and spirituality. I tried to absorb from him as much knowledge as humanly possible and I truly believe that my spiritual life has greatly improved.” Jate clearly remembers Deepak’s theory of human and universal consciousness, as well as the concept of choiceless awareness, a higher state of mind on the enlightenment path that is characterized by being aware of whatever is present without choice or preference.

During the time they were in the temple, Jate acted as Deepak’s interpreter while the foreign guru engaged in long discussions with the abbot and the other monks. There is no doubt that Jate had a lot to benefit from this first-hand encounter between one of the most brilliant minds of the 21^st century and the Thai monks. Nevertheless, Jate believes that, in the end, everybody had something to learn from this experience. Both Deepak and the Thai monks became aware of each other’s teachings and interpretation of Buddhism and spirituality and, to paraphrase Deepak’s words, “it was an excellent opportunity to withdraw from the hectic public and business lives we all lead and give back to the world, in the form of meditation and seclusion, universal happiness.”

Jate talked at length about this new concept Deepak’s put forward and explained that if people around the world would indulge in meditation, considered in itself a medium for happiness and positive thinking, then humankind would be in contact with its own consciousness and transform the world around us into a better place. Hearing these ideas from Jate Sopitpongstorn, a successful businessman, considered by Thailand Tatler one of Bangkok’s most eligible bachelors, was both surprising and inspiring.

If two men, whose financial security could afford them a carefree life, had the power of will to shed their egos and worldly wealth to become (even if for a short period of time) followers of the Buddha’s teachings, it can only mean that people of all nationalities, races, and social status do reach out and try to make a difference. Because, if we believe Deepak’s theories, the more people follow the mediation path, the more happiness they create for everyone around.

For readers interested in more information about spirituality, wellness, and Deepak’s achievements and projects visit www.chopra.com and www.deepakchopra.com.

(An edited version of this article was published in
‘Bangkok Trader’ – Vol. 4, No. 9, August 2010)