Hey everyone,I’ve walked away from my old life completely. I’m living in my car, off-grid, and focused only on entering a monastery. No more noise, no more running. Just stillness, service, and the path ahead.I’ve made it a long way on my own, but to take this final step I need a bit of help. I’ve set up a Givealittle page to clear my last bit of debt and get to Thailand for ordination.I don’t have social media or a big network—just this. If you're willing to take a look or pass it on, it’d mean the world.https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/life-of-service-as-a-buddhist-monkThanks for reading. If you’ve ever been on the edge of change like this, you’ll understand. I’m ready.With respect,
Micheal

This post makes me curious: Why do you need $45,000 to live in a monastery?

I took a look at his posted link and it appears majority is for debt payoff and the rest for travel expenses to and from the monastery.

Maybe I'll be wrong, but with the ask of 45K, I doubt this amount will get donated in the near future.

Michael, you mentioned you've been living in a car for 10 years and turned away from jobs. Have you tried applying to a place like McDonalds? It's minimum wage and not a prestige like job, but it'll help you pay off that debt over time if you are able to keep expenses to a minimum like your current, described lifestyle. I've worked there for a couple years in the past and they are very open to who they hire.

Sometimes a clean slate is not always possible right away. The noble eightfold path provides you tools to help become accepting of the present situation while you work towards worldly goals. It has for me and based on your link's contents, it has for you as well. 

One step at a time good sir, you got this!

I read that, too, but I asked Michael to explain. I think it's worthwhile to hear from him directly. He's asking for a lot of money in donations.

Hi Chris, Just to clarify, I currently have $38,234 in debt, and while I only need a small amount for travel expenses, most of the funds are going toward clearing that debt. Once I ordain as a monk, I’ll no longer have any attachment to money, so it’s really important for me to be debt-free before I take that step. I know the amount might seem high, but getting rid of this debt is essential for me to fully dedicate myself to the monastic path and move forward without any lingering financial stress. I really appreciate you asking and giving me a chance to explain more

hello TruthSeeker - Thank you for your thoughtful comment. You’re absolutely right that most of the funds are going toward clearing my remaining debt, with the rest for travel and training expenses. Regarding your suggestion, I’ve worked various jobs in the past, and while my recent job was a temporary contract for 9 months, I’m actively looking for work. In fact, I’ll likely be heading further south for a fruit-picking role to help stay afloat. My primary focus, though, is clearing this debt so that I can dedicate myself fully to the monastic path. The Eightfold Path is something I try to live by, and I’m working hard to follow it. However, this step requires me to clear my past and financial obligations before I take the leap into a life of service. I truly appreciate your perspective and your kind encouragement.

Why not leap into a life of service by taking responsibility for your actions, working, paying off your debt and resolving your karma?

Asking people you don't know for tens of thousands of dollars so you can go hide away in Asia is pretty desperate. 

This does not feel to me like noble action on any level. 

I hear where you're coming from, and I respect your perspective. For me, this isn’t about running away or avoiding responsibility it’s about facing everything I’ve carried for years and making a conscious, committed shift. I’ve spent over a decade living rough, working where I can, and doing the best I could in survival mode. 

The Givealittle page isn’t about expecting a handout; it’s an open invitation for anyone who chooses to support the transition of someone who's genuinely trying to live differently. I’ve been walking the path of accountability for a long time now cleaning up internally, cleaning up externally. This is just one step in that process. I know not everyone will see it the same way, and that’s okay. I appreciate you taking the time to share your view.

Just to be clear, I’m not running away to Asia. I’m going to train in discipline, stillness, and service. This isn’t an escape it’s a commitment to something deeper. My long-term intention is to return to New Zealand and use what I’ve learned to support others who’ve lived through addiction, mental health struggles, and life at rock bottom, just like I have. I want to be the best version of myself so I can be of real help to others.

I am unfortunately a bit of a realist. 

I am no stranger to addiction nor personal crisis. 

I remember concocting a number of similarly desperate plans some years ago. They ultimately led nowhere and I was faced with the rather cold reality that no magic money was going to materialize and save me from my fate. 

I had to get real and pragmatic about my life and what was attainable, what was doable and how I could do it. 

I suspect when life puts us in these kinds of situations it is so we can learn these sorts of lessons...

​​​​​​​... Especially if we've been refusing to learn them for a long time. 

 I can't offer any money at the moment but something you said set off some alarm bells from my own past: "No more noise, no more running. Just stillness, service, and the path ahead." I have not lived in a monastery but I have had exposure to extreme changings in living situations, mental illness, and addiction. 

"No more noise, no more running. Just stillness, service, and the path ahead."

There's a frame here which implies that monastery life will not be noisy and you can be isolated from the things which cause you grief and hindrances. While I think I understand where you are coming from, I have listened to a quite a few hours of unscripted rambling from teachers of the Thai Theravada tradition. A phrase comes to mind: "You ordain with your defilements." I am also reminded of Ajahn Sumedho's first year in robes, where despite being almost totally isolated (even hiding to avoid the person bringing the food to his hut), he still had to endure several months of very intense psychological suffering around aversion. 

Please understand that I am not trying to make a personal attack, imply you are not commited, or make any kind of mockery. If this is your genuine interest, I think it's great. I saw a pattern of thinking and wanted to share my perspective on it; take it or leave it.

Best of luck. 

 

Hmm, I don't think there is anything wrong with asking. Expecting of course would be desperate... but I'm not quite hearing that(?)

Best wishes MDK. I definitely agree with the warning that monestaries are rarely the kind of ideal practice situations that people assume, so definitely keep your eyes WIDE open and take it all one step at a time. And of course most of the time practice/meditation is a big suck-fest, too.   Let us know if there any references/resources we can provide. There's some good posts on this website (where, I have no idea!) of people reporting how the monestary they went to was a noisy and crazy place with crappy conditions to meditate in. (maybe someone remembers/can find it?)

Meanwhile, you might as well start living/practicing as a monk --- how are you doing in that regard?

  

Thank you for asking shargrol, Yeah, I’d say I’m already living a bit like a monk. I don’t own much, I live simply out of my car, off-grid, and most of my time is spent in quiet, reading, reflecting, and staying focused on the path. It’s helped me build discipline and patience for sure.But getting ordained is the real step where I can fully give myself to the lifestyle—surrounded by the teachings, the routine, and a community that’s all on the same path. Right now I’m doing my best with what I’ve got, but ordaining means I can take it all the way.

Tell us more about ordaining. Why is that your objective in particular? You can do everything and anything that ordination gets you without having the expense and the formality. It seems to me you could keep doing what you've been doing, and you'd be fine. Right?

​​​​​​​Still curious.

Thanks

Wait a second... am I reading your "give a little" request correctly --- that you want 40K to go to thailand and become ordained... and then promptly go back home to New Zeeland after just ordaining????  

"I’ve paid off most of my debt, but after recently losing my job, I’m slipping backward. I’m asking for help to raise $40,000–$45,000 to clear the last of my debt and cover travel and training in Thailand.
Once I’m ordained, I plan to return home to NZ and spend my life helping others find peace through mindfulness and meditation." ​​​​​​​Dude. This does not seem cool as written. 

I'm finding it hard to distinguish between paying off the debt and ordaining. I'm not convinced that paying off the debt isn't goal #1. I don't want to impugn Michael's motives, but the goal, story, and motivation have been hard to buy into from the start. 

This, from Michael:


How so?

To whom is all this "debt" owed?

If it is corporations, just have the courage to blow them off.

They will gain merit from their "contribution."

Another thought....

   If you can't raise a measley 45k from fanily and friends who believe in your vision, you are probgably not sincere. I mean, a life of service and all, wouldn't your local community benefit and be happy to support you? Have you asked them? Why ask far flung strangers?