For the seventh year running, CP and True have jointly created True Little Monk: A Wisdom Training Programme For Novices as the first dhamma reality documentary in the world. To celebrate the show has taken an international twist by seeking 12 children from across the globe to join the programme with the hope of spreading the teachings of Lord Buddha to a global audience and its contribution to enhancing people into conscious beings.
True's Little Monk Photo courtesy of True's Little Monk
With over 500 applicants from over 20 countries, the 12 finalists come from a variety of countries such as Kenya, Nepal, China, France and New Zealand.
"Our objective is to spread the dhamma and present our programme as a good role model to audiences worldwide, inclusive of all ethnicities, ages and genders," says Suphachai Chearavanont, CEO of True and CP.
The 12 international novice monks had stayed at Wat Pah Sai Ngam in Ubon Ratchathani province since July 1, learning the way of the Buddha while living a traditional Thai way in a natural environment. They finished their monkhood earlier this week.
"My uncle is a monk, he has inspired me to understand Buddhism. I want to practice meditation through learning the way of the Buddha, as it will make me calm and become a better person," says Jaydet Maxum Bainbridge, nine, a Thai/Australian who will be one of the 12 monks ordaining this month.
Another applicant is Vincent Rama Boulanger, 10, a Thai/French who is very curious in understanding how dhamma can make him grow as a person and how he can gain more control over various aspects in his life.
"I think becoming a monk will help me a lot, as I notice that I get mad quite easily. Through meditation, lessons from the monk and living with other people for one month, I believe I will be able to control my anger better," Vincent said.
The Little Monk Project kick-started its very first programme in 2012, and saw an immediate response from the public, as over 1,000 applications were submitted to the company. With only nine spots available in earlier years, selecting each child means going through a very intensive yet extremely unorthodox process.
"Looking for the right group of children for such a programme was not easy, it's not like the majority of programmes or shows where the hosts seek to find the best and most talented. Our core objective was to find children who were truly interested in being ordained, and thus we sought children who would grow from the 30-day training," says Naetchanok Wipatasinlapin, director of the True Little Monk Project and director of True's education and academic affairs.
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