It was three years ago on this date that I arrived in Wat Thamkrabok a desperate and hopeless man. This is no exaggeration; I really was on my last legs and I swore to myself that I would do anything that the monks told me if it would help me escape my misery. Luckily, they didn't ask anything too unreasonable and my life has been wonderful since then.
I visited the temple today. I took my wife and my son to meet the people who gave me back a life. I doubt my almost two-year old son would be here if it were not for the temple; he has been the greatest gift in my sobriety.
I brought my family to the temple in our brand new car; when I went there three years ago it was on a motorbike which was fallen apart. So many great gifts have been given to me these last three years. Things have happened in my life which are beyond my wildest dreams.
It was so nice being back in the temple today. There were other visitors who I had previously only known as names on internet forums. We had a great little talk about the miracle of the sober and clean life. We discussed our continued gratitude to the temple.
The extremely sad news, though, is that the monk who had been so important to my recovery is very unwell. It was his words that I clung to during my time at the temple. It is his words that I still refer to today. I can only hope that he manages his illness with the same wisdom and inner-strength which he has given to other people. It is easy to feel a bit cheated by this news. Why should somebody who has been such a help to others need to go through any suffering? On the other hand, though, he is waking his path, and it will take him where he needs to be - he told me that.
