Settling down this evening to pack my luggage bag for the Short Term Monastic Novitiate Retreat which I signed up for this coming April. I still have a month to go, but I am trying to get ready in advance.
When I look at the checklist of items to bring, I feel as if I'm going for an overseas vacation instead of becoming a monk. I actually need a small luggage bag to fit all the items. To be fair, I do need the experience so that I know how it's like to be a Mahayana Buddhist monk. I have been to Thailand to stay with the Theravada forest monks before, so back then the objective was to travel light. Right now even though the monastery I'm going to is just a few MRT stops away from my home, I feel as if I'm lugging a huge inventory to the temple. It feels more like going for a camping field trip instead of renouncing the householder life. Still, no real intention to complain la, just that it's a once in a lifetime experience so I thought I'd type a little so that I can check in with my emotions and thoughts.