Friday, April 16, 2010By Erika Hafer
Special to the Pirate's Log
(Student newspaper of Modesto Junior College, California, USA)
Muny Korn has much more than a degree to be proud about. Underneath his gown on graduation night, Korn will be wearing different clothes than he would have three months ago; underneath his cap, he will be wearing a different hair style than he would have three months ago, and on his feet he will be wearing a different type of shoes as well.
Korn came to Modesto Junior College as a Buddhist Monk from Cambodia in late 2004. The 27-year-old spent his first 21 years in Cambodia, where he joined the monkhood at 15. “Because my country is under poverty the life of most people isn’t that easy. We lack access to schools; we lack pretty much everything,” Korn explained. Following the Khmer Rouge regime of Pol Pot, which was defeated in 1979, Cambodia’s economy was devastatingly affected by a shortage of jobs and the lack of a properly educated workforce. Though Korn’s family were farmers, his mother, father, sisters and young brother remained poor. Korn says that becoming a monk was a way to escape the grip of poverty. He felt with joining the monk community, he would have more support and, in return, could live to support his family.
“Buddhism is a good way to offer opportunity. Most people want to become monks because they have nothing to do. They are poor. We get more chances now,” he explains.
Similar to the many reasons U.S. citizens join the U.S. military system, many Cambodian citizens find support, guidance and direction in the Cambodian religious system. The schooling and living expenses of monks are paid by the charitable donations of others.
Because Buddhism is an integral part of Cambodian culture (the majority of Cambodians are Buddhist), Buddhist monks represent honor and strength along with respected social status.
“It is important to know about our religion to know how to discipline ourselves, how to behave in society,” he says, acknowledging that these skills served him well when he became an MJC student.
There are ten basic rules to life as a monk, Korn says: 1) no killing, 2) no stealing, 3) no sex, 4) no alcohol or drugs, 5) no lying, 6) no dinner, 7) no perfume, 8) no gambling, 9) no sitting higher than a Senior Monk, and 10) no happiness for belongings. Not even “fibbing” is permitted. Monks are not allowed to eat after 12 p.m., because food may interrupt afternoon contemplation and prayer. Monks wear orange robes draped around them to distinguish their “homelessness” from others; they shave their heads twice a month, so as not to worry about style, and they wear sandals for simplicity even when the weather is cold. The goal in life, Korn says, is simplicity.
“We are different. We are called a homeless person…. How can we train ourselves?... We are supposed to live our lives with lay people,” Korn explains.
Muny was a novice monk for five years before his promotion to a senior monk at the age of 21. The same year, 2004, Korn, along with many monks from his community, moved to the U.S. as a mission to help the U.S. Cambodian temples with religious services. He was brought to Modesto specifically to help the Wat Cambodian Church located on Paradise Avenue, now relocated on Grimes Avenue.
Muny started attending MJC in order to study sociology. He said the change of atmosphere and culture was surprising for him and all the monks, but they knew that they were different and so were other people. He learned tolerance and acceptance of others from Buddhist teachings. On the basis of human existence, all beings are the same, he says.
Korn said that as a student, the Modesto Junior College atmosphere was very warm and non-discriminatory. “People showed curiosity, not discrimination.” But Korn couldn’t say that for non-collegiate Modesto. In 2008, the Wat Cambodian Church requested rights from the County Planning Commission to build a temple on Grimes Avenue. But the church was denied this request by the commission due to the concerns of “worried neighbors” over possible conflicts. It took the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors over a month to review the commission- denied case and override the building veto. The church was finally built.
“They [The County Planning Commission] voted against our request… We had nothing wrong with our regulations… They were discriminating against our people. Why did the commissioners not vote for us?”
Three months ago, Muny Korn took off his robe and sandals and replaced them with a cotton, collared shirt, jeans and a pair of Vans. He wore a ring on his right-hand finger. He had left the monkhood. Korn said it was a personal decision. He felt he could not go any farther as a monk; he had earned the merits of discipline.
“There is no expiration,” he says. “I knew how long I had been a monk in my previous life to lead me to this life, but I didn’t have a good feeling to go any farther.”
Muny had felt that what he had done as a monk before in his past life and in this one made up a satisfactory ending to his career as a monk. A religious ceremony based on the retirement of the robes was held for Korn to commemorate this event. He now bears two gold rings as gifts from his grandmother and aunt in blessing of his new life and his lives to come. With his goals of graduating this spring from Modesto Junior College and transferring to California State University, Stanislaus, he is focusing on his education. He plans to finish his bachelor’s degree, earn a nursing degree, and eventually bring his parents and siblings to the U.S.
Korn looks back at his monk experience now with great pride and appreciation, acknowledging that he grew in confidence and strength under the guidance of the Cambodian church. In the weeks to come, he will receive another merit of accomplishment as he is handed his diploma for an associates of arts degree in behavioral and social science.
Muny’s determination and radiance makes him a shining example of a Modesto Junior College graduate: a scholar with open ears, an open heart and a gallant stride.
“Never give up, whatever happens. Never give up hope, whatever happens. As long as we are still alive, we still have time to pursue our dreams. Do it with confidence, do it with a smile. We have a long way to go,” Korn offers.
The Modesto Junior College Graduation Commencement is April 30 at 6 p.m. at the MJC Stadium on East Campus. It is free and open to the public.
Korn came to Modesto Junior College as a Buddhist Monk from Cambodia in late 2004. The 27-year-old spent his first 21 years in Cambodia, where he joined the monkhood at 15. “Because my country is under poverty the life of most people isn’t that easy. We lack access to schools; we lack pretty much everything,” Korn explained. Following the Khmer Rouge regime of Pol Pot, which was defeated in 1979, Cambodia’s economy was devastatingly affected by a shortage of jobs and the lack of a properly educated workforce. Though Korn’s family were farmers, his mother, father, sisters and young brother remained poor. Korn says that becoming a monk was a way to escape the grip of poverty. He felt with joining the monk community, he would have more support and, in return, could live to support his family.
“Buddhism is a good way to offer opportunity. Most people want to become monks because they have nothing to do. They are poor. We get more chances now,” he explains.
Similar to the many reasons U.S. citizens join the U.S. military system, many Cambodian citizens find support, guidance and direction in the Cambodian religious system. The schooling and living expenses of monks are paid by the charitable donations of others.
Because Buddhism is an integral part of Cambodian culture (the majority of Cambodians are Buddhist), Buddhist monks represent honor and strength along with respected social status.
“It is important to know about our religion to know how to discipline ourselves, how to behave in society,” he says, acknowledging that these skills served him well when he became an MJC student.
There are ten basic rules to life as a monk, Korn says: 1) no killing, 2) no stealing, 3) no sex, 4) no alcohol or drugs, 5) no lying, 6) no dinner, 7) no perfume, 8) no gambling, 9) no sitting higher than a Senior Monk, and 10) no happiness for belongings. Not even “fibbing” is permitted. Monks are not allowed to eat after 12 p.m., because food may interrupt afternoon contemplation and prayer. Monks wear orange robes draped around them to distinguish their “homelessness” from others; they shave their heads twice a month, so as not to worry about style, and they wear sandals for simplicity even when the weather is cold. The goal in life, Korn says, is simplicity.
“We are different. We are called a homeless person…. How can we train ourselves?... We are supposed to live our lives with lay people,” Korn explains.
Muny was a novice monk for five years before his promotion to a senior monk at the age of 21. The same year, 2004, Korn, along with many monks from his community, moved to the U.S. as a mission to help the U.S. Cambodian temples with religious services. He was brought to Modesto specifically to help the Wat Cambodian Church located on Paradise Avenue, now relocated on Grimes Avenue.
Muny started attending MJC in order to study sociology. He said the change of atmosphere and culture was surprising for him and all the monks, but they knew that they were different and so were other people. He learned tolerance and acceptance of others from Buddhist teachings. On the basis of human existence, all beings are the same, he says.
Korn said that as a student, the Modesto Junior College atmosphere was very warm and non-discriminatory. “People showed curiosity, not discrimination.” But Korn couldn’t say that for non-collegiate Modesto. In 2008, the Wat Cambodian Church requested rights from the County Planning Commission to build a temple on Grimes Avenue. But the church was denied this request by the commission due to the concerns of “worried neighbors” over possible conflicts. It took the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors over a month to review the commission- denied case and override the building veto. The church was finally built.
“They [The County Planning Commission] voted against our request… We had nothing wrong with our regulations… They were discriminating against our people. Why did the commissioners not vote for us?”
Three months ago, Muny Korn took off his robe and sandals and replaced them with a cotton, collared shirt, jeans and a pair of Vans. He wore a ring on his right-hand finger. He had left the monkhood. Korn said it was a personal decision. He felt he could not go any farther as a monk; he had earned the merits of discipline.
“There is no expiration,” he says. “I knew how long I had been a monk in my previous life to lead me to this life, but I didn’t have a good feeling to go any farther.”
Muny had felt that what he had done as a monk before in his past life and in this one made up a satisfactory ending to his career as a monk. A religious ceremony based on the retirement of the robes was held for Korn to commemorate this event. He now bears two gold rings as gifts from his grandmother and aunt in blessing of his new life and his lives to come. With his goals of graduating this spring from Modesto Junior College and transferring to California State University, Stanislaus, he is focusing on his education. He plans to finish his bachelor’s degree, earn a nursing degree, and eventually bring his parents and siblings to the U.S.
Korn looks back at his monk experience now with great pride and appreciation, acknowledging that he grew in confidence and strength under the guidance of the Cambodian church. In the weeks to come, he will receive another merit of accomplishment as he is handed his diploma for an associates of arts degree in behavioral and social science.
Muny’s determination and radiance makes him a shining example of a Modesto Junior College graduate: a scholar with open ears, an open heart and a gallant stride.
“Never give up, whatever happens. Never give up hope, whatever happens. As long as we are still alive, we still have time to pursue our dreams. Do it with confidence, do it with a smile. We have a long way to go,” Korn offers.
The Modesto Junior College Graduation Commencement is April 30 at 6 p.m. at the MJC Stadium on East Campus. It is free and open to the public.
11 comments:
May Buddha bless all people khmer!
http://www.jendhamuni.com/
Well done brother, I know exactly how you went through. A country without welfare system is like a child without mother's milk. I hope Hun Sen and his gov't able to provide this kind of support in the near future. Again, if khmer don't love khmer no one in the world will. Life outside the cycle is not normal, they could face a lot of other obstacles and other challenges in life. First of all, language is the main factors affecting our lives and it is not that easy to learn from one language to next and it is also not that easy to accept or adopt one culture and pretend that it is like yours. One word, the feeling of being alienation is being confronted which made it obvious since we have different look/colour of our skin. I am not being discriminated but all I am saying is that,as a human being, there is no place like home and if gov't can not provide that, it is hard, very hard. We have to learn to give more value for our own citizens and don't let others look down on us and enjoy the benefit of our conflicts. We need to promote love, understanding and respect for our fellow citizens. Again, the feeling of leaving our beloved homeland is like a half soul is missing, E.g. where am I? Who am I? definitely, I must have an ID. But how can I give value to myself when my gov't condemn me or don't have a better condition or home for me? therefore,Hun Sen, please help our people to have such a pride, don't let outsiders look down on us no more. Let create a common law to protect everyone equally doesn't matter who they are or where they come from and let us make a better place for our own citizens for once. If we look for peace and peace will come to us. Peace
Not only Mr. Hun Sen and the Cambodian govenment, but we all have to work together for the best of our Khmer people. One day our country will have a welfare-system and able to support all our Khmer people.
All I'll ask for is a 50 lbs. bag of rice for all citizens in srok Khmer once a month. That would make us much more happier, that bag of rice can exchanges such as fish, chicken, pork, beef and etc. Their own money is for medical need.
Hun Sen or CPP regime doesn't care if Cambodian get education or not. ALl they cared is to have their families in the inner circle to control Cambodia. Believe me, Hun Sen always brought excuses when he ever had stood behind to podium and "when 1979 there is nothing at all and we he said he started everything from zero". Of course thing will never be the same. Cambodian needed education to put our country to progress and develop. For +30 years Hun Sen should really achieve (developments) in many fields in Cambodia society. We or Cambodian do not want to live like a frog in the well.
My suggestion to CPP clans, if you can't have the ability to lead the country let someone else does it.
Hun Sen got to remove from POWER!!
do not give up school in america, no matter what. in america, if one perseveres and continue the education, in time, they will graduate. note, there is no age limit in america's higher institution like colleges and university. just do what is assigned by your professors and turn everything in on time, even with a "c" grade, you will graduate eventually. never give up, is the key in finishing school in america, even average students will graduate. it's about learning and following rules in school, and getting that diploma will turn your life around and change for good. plus, you will be proud of your achievement or accomplishment later on. please continue to grow learn as much as possible. patient and self-discipline which lord buddhist have taught all people, is the one of the key to success in life. in america, time is very valuable. please learn as much as you can from america by observation, participation, and so forth. god luck and god bless you in your endeavor in life.
american schools run by the system, please know their system while incorporate khmer culture and buddhist self-discipline, etc, and you will be successful as well.
yes, school seems bored and hard, but the end result and the knowledge one gains from it is worth it. please don't give up school, despite rigorous and demanding. in america, having that diploma is a huge different later in life, really! do your best, despite some language barrier and so forth. don't let other dictate this or that about school to you, especially the negative ones, do your best by always turn all assigned works on time to the professors and always be inquisitive or ask question without hesitation when you don't understand something. use all the school's resources like counselors, professors, library, tutors, student groups, etc, etc..., seriously, you will overcome; and don't be shy to ask questions or talk, it's part of learning, and always keep open-mindedness. learn as much as you can.
That is a real buddhist right there, everybody. A real buddhist has confidence, perseverance, and clear focus on his goal in life. He is a proud person. That is a real buddhist right there. Now aday, Khmer teenagers growing up in America with subculture influences and turn out to be at the bottom of the food chain. Khmer teenagers in America really need to adopt the white American mainstream culture to life themselves out of poverty and illiteracy. Or they can adopt their parents' traditional Buddhst culture to gain strength and focus in life. Just my opinion, please don't hate. Buddhist Pride, Yeah!
“Never give up, whatever happens. Never give up hope, whatever happens. As long as we are still alive, we still have time to pursue our dreams. Do it with confidence, do it with a smile. We have a long way to go,” Korn offers.
4:49
A bag of rice and a krama scarf is what kept Cambodia in misery till today.
What you should ask for is a way of living, help with new methods of farming techniques against new diseases and bugs that affect crops.
Help stablise the crop and rice markets. Protect people who make living of their land.
And provide free quality education without having to drop out due to teacher corruption and payment.
Cambodia has been living on hand out since the end of the civil war. Look where we are at now.
i think khmer people should use what they learn from buddhism to excel and to guide them all to success in their endeavor. buddhism teaches self-discipline, perseverance, patience, kindness, and all other goodness on earth. please use that teach to your advantage and you all you be successful in anything your pursue in life. i believe all religions only teach goodness, not evil. so, please use it to our advantage from those teachings. god bless all.
the goal is to graduate one semester or one quarter at a time.
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