A Monk from the Marble Temple
A young man leaves his home; he leaves his family, friends, possessions, even his clothes. He attends a ceremony where all the hair is shaved from his head and face. He goes on to promise that he will live by 227 rules of conduct .. , one of the rules being that he must live from the proceeds of begging.
In Thailand there is nothing unusual about this. Most young men become Buddhist monks, perhaps for a month as a gesture of thanks and respect to their parents, perhaps for a lifetime. In Thailand, as in the other countries of South-East Asia, Buddhism is a dominant part of life. Its influence is as much social and cultural as religious. And despite the fact that these countries are living through turbulent and bloody times, the Buddhist religion makes them in many ways peaceful and tranquil places, where the pattern of life is defined as much by the change of season as by the change of government.
Narrators COLIN BLAKELY and JOHN HOLMSTROM
Film cameraman PETER HALL Sound PETER EDWARDS
Film editor SIMON HAMMOND Producer GEOFF DUNLOP
Series editors ANTHONY ISAACS and CHRISTOPHER PARSONS (Bristol)
(Colin Blakely is a National Theatre player)