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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| I dream of watching Manchester United but know I never will | I dream of watching Manchester United but know I never will |
| (3 months later) | |
| Phra Prasert Panyawaro practices meditation to keep on his Buddhist path | Phra Prasert Panyawaro practices meditation to keep on his Buddhist path |
| Phra Prasert Panyawaro has dreamed of watching Manchester United at Old Trafford ever since he saw them playing on TV as a boy. | Phra Prasert Panyawaro has dreamed of watching Manchester United at Old Trafford ever since he saw them playing on TV as a boy. |
| He only watched 30 minutes of a match while he was visiting a friend's house, but it was enough to have him hooked. | He only watched 30 minutes of a match while he was visiting a friend's house, but it was enough to have him hooked. |
| Shortly afterwards, at the age of 12, he moved into a monastery in Thailand to start living as a Theravada Buddhist monk. | Shortly afterwards, at the age of 12, he moved into a monastery in Thailand to start living as a Theravada Buddhist monk. |
| It was to be the start of a disciplined way of life where he must follow 227 rules - also called precepts. | It was to be the start of a disciplined way of life where he must follow 227 rules - also called precepts. |
| He does not celebrate his birthday. He cannot watch TV, go to the cinema, ride a bike, run, drive a car, eat food after noon - or visit a football stadium. | He does not celebrate his birthday. He cannot watch TV, go to the cinema, ride a bike, run, drive a car, eat food after noon - or visit a football stadium. |
| Phra Prasert saw footage of Peter Schmeichel playing for Manchester United | Phra Prasert saw footage of Peter Schmeichel playing for Manchester United |
| Now aged 37 and living as the head monk in an Edinburgh Buddhist temple, he has spoken to BBC Scotland in a rare interview about his life. | Now aged 37 and living as the head monk in an Edinburgh Buddhist temple, he has spoken to BBC Scotland in a rare interview about his life. |
| "When I was a child I saw Manchester United playing on a TV and I still remember the goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel," he says. | "When I was a child I saw Manchester United playing on a TV and I still remember the goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel," he says. |
| "I dream of going to Old Trafford to watch them play, but I know I never will because we are not allowed to go there as monks. | "I dream of going to Old Trafford to watch them play, but I know I never will because we are not allowed to go there as monks. |
| "As human beings we have the same feelings as everyone else, but we know how to control ourselves and our minds." | "As human beings we have the same feelings as everyone else, but we know how to control ourselves and our minds." |
| His strict way of living means he has rarely seen his parents or siblings since he was a young boy. | His strict way of living means he has rarely seen his parents or siblings since he was a young boy. |
| Phra Prasert Panyawaro says he loves and misses his mother, Muang | Phra Prasert Panyawaro says he loves and misses his mother, Muang |
| Phra Prasert is the middle child of seven siblings. | Phra Prasert is the middle child of seven siblings. |
| He was brought up on his parents' rice and buffalo farm in Sri Sa Kat Province in Thailand. | He was brought up on his parents' rice and buffalo farm in Sri Sa Kat Province in Thailand. |
| When his older siblings left home, he worked around the farm and helped take care of his younger brothers and sisters. | When his older siblings left home, he worked around the farm and helped take care of his younger brothers and sisters. |
| "I felt I should be playing football with friends and other things like that, but because I was the eldest of the remaining children I had to do many things such as cooking and cleaning," he recalls. | "I felt I should be playing football with friends and other things like that, but because I was the eldest of the remaining children I had to do many things such as cooking and cleaning," he recalls. |
| At the age of 11 he told his parents he wanted to join a monastery and train as a monk to make them proud. | At the age of 11 he told his parents he wanted to join a monastery and train as a monk to make them proud. |
| When he was 12, he was sent away to study in another province hundreds of miles away from home. | When he was 12, he was sent away to study in another province hundreds of miles away from home. |
| Phra Prasert Panyawaro with his mother and father in Thailand after being presented with a special fan by the King | Phra Prasert Panyawaro with his mother and father in Thailand after being presented with a special fan by the King |
| "I didn't speak to or see my family for three years. I didn't know the way back to the farm," he said. | "I didn't speak to or see my family for three years. I didn't know the way back to the farm," he said. |
| "In my room I thought I am not going to cry and wrote on a piece of paper 'I can do it', which I pinned to my wall and read every day. | "In my room I thought I am not going to cry and wrote on a piece of paper 'I can do it', which I pinned to my wall and read every day. |
| "I wanted my parents to be proud of me." | "I wanted my parents to be proud of me." |
| He started his training while still living with his parents a year before he moved into the monastery. | He started his training while still living with his parents a year before he moved into the monastery. |
| His Buddhist master told him then that one of the rules he would have to follow was that he was not allowed to touch women. | His Buddhist master told him then that one of the rules he would have to follow was that he was not allowed to touch women. |
| Phra Prasert Panyawaro says he is happiest in nature | Phra Prasert Panyawaro says he is happiest in nature |
| As a result, he and his mother, Muang Prommala, kept a respectful distance between them at their home. | As a result, he and his mother, Muang Prommala, kept a respectful distance between them at their home. |
| But it was not until many years later that he realised that this rule did not completely apply to his mother. | But it was not until many years later that he realised that this rule did not completely apply to his mother. |
| "I realised I had misunderstood and that as Buddhist monks we can touch our mums in certain circumstances. | "I realised I had misunderstood and that as Buddhist monks we can touch our mums in certain circumstances. |
| "When she is ill or in a dangerous situation I am allowed to touch her so I can help her." | "When she is ill or in a dangerous situation I am allowed to touch her so I can help her." |
| But 25 years later he still has not touched, embraced or even brushed past his mother. | But 25 years later he still has not touched, embraced or even brushed past his mother. |
| Phra Prasert with his grandmother, mother, sister-in-law, father and older brother | Phra Prasert with his grandmother, mother, sister-in-law, father and older brother |
| Phra Prasert is now the head monk of the Dhammapadipa Temple in the Slateford area of Edinburgh. | Phra Prasert is now the head monk of the Dhammapadipa Temple in the Slateford area of Edinburgh. |
| He walks at the nearby Water of Leith and spends time being mindful, touching tree bark and leaves. | He walks at the nearby Water of Leith and spends time being mindful, touching tree bark and leaves. |
| "Nature helps with my strength of mind. | "Nature helps with my strength of mind. |
| "We are from nature so it is good to go back to nature," he says. | "We are from nature so it is good to go back to nature," he says. |
| But despite living such a disciplined life, he says he is happy and enjoys serving his local community in Scotland. | But despite living such a disciplined life, he says he is happy and enjoys serving his local community in Scotland. |
| Phra Prasert was invited to live in Scotland by the head monk at the Slateford temple after hearing he had a very good reputation. | Phra Prasert was invited to live in Scotland by the head monk at the Slateford temple after hearing he had a very good reputation. |
| Phra Prasert agreed to come for two years on a trial. He then decided to stay on in Scotland - becoming head monk when the previous one was promoted to a temple in Leeds. | Phra Prasert agreed to come for two years on a trial. He then decided to stay on in Scotland - becoming head monk when the previous one was promoted to a temple in Leeds. |
| Phra Prasert Panyawaro enjoying nature at the Water of Leith in Edinburgh | Phra Prasert Panyawaro enjoying nature at the Water of Leith in Edinburgh |
| He has lived in Edinburgh for the last seven years. He sleeps on the floor with no bed or mat and is not allowed to watch television. | He has lived in Edinburgh for the last seven years. He sleeps on the floor with no bed or mat and is not allowed to watch television. |
| But he has found a modern way to feel close to his frail mother - by having CCTV cameras fitted throughout her farmhouse in Thailand. His father, Chey Prommala, died 10 years ago from diabetes. | But he has found a modern way to feel close to his frail mother - by having CCTV cameras fitted throughout her farmhouse in Thailand. His father, Chey Prommala, died 10 years ago from diabetes. |
| "I don't feel homesick because I'm used to it and technology really helps," added Phra Prasert. | "I don't feel homesick because I'm used to it and technology really helps," added Phra Prasert. |
| "I speak to my mum every day now and can see her from a mobile phone which is linked up to cameras in her house. | "I speak to my mum every day now and can see her from a mobile phone which is linked up to cameras in her house. |
| "She is unwell so it makes me feel better that I can keep an eye on her when I live so far away." | "She is unwell so it makes me feel better that I can keep an eye on her when I live so far away." |
| Related Topics | |
| Edinburgh | |
| Thailand | |
| Buddhism |