Picture of pabbajja novice ordination in Pa Auk (8th April 2014) Updated January 1, 2026 Summary: If you are looking to ordain at places that have Theravāda Buddhism and follow vinaya (places that don’t touch money), and you believe in the Commentaries and Abhidhamma and want to meditate, you have two choices: Pa-Auk and Na-Uyana. There is a new place in Thailand as well. If you don’t believe in the Commentaries and Abhidhamma, you are best off at a Thai Forest Monastery such as Ajahn Chah (Mahanikaya) or Ajahn Maha Boowa (Dhammayut) monasteries. Both traditions have a presence in the West and in Thailand. There are other places that I might recommend too. I will mention them later.

Yesterday, I recited the 227 rules of the Pātimokkha for 110 bhikkhus at Pa-Auk Meditation Center in Pyin Oo Lwin. When a monk recites the Pātimokkha, traditionally he does so by memory and not by reading. My recitation was not the best quality, but it was not so bad considering I only started when I was 47, and I have only done this 5 times now. However, the recitations get better and better each time I do it and I hope improvement continues until perfection.