occupy themselves with different kinds of workouts. Though the stay and medicine are free as part of the goodwill of the monastery, one has to pay for their food, drink, etc. which costs anywhere around 90 USD for one month. The monastery has also founded a follow-up organization in Bangkok for its Thai clients where they provide assistance in order to reenter society and to keep them away from drugs. According to the abbot of Thamkrabok,‘ the physical detoxification is only tiny fraction of the process here. The majority of the work, around 95 %, happens in the mind and through the actions of the individual.’ Most of the Monks here were drug-addicts as well, so there’ s a strong feeling of empathy and understanding among the monks towards the clients. Moreover, the environment here instils a kind of determination that makes it possible to succeed.
The Abbot and Monks operating the program have proven that no addict is beyond redemption. Every addict leaving Thamkrabok after completing this radical course has been detoxified with none of the normal side effects. They stress that this course is a chance at a drug-free future but the longterm result lies in the will of the addict who are provided with an opportunity to have a second start in their life.
Rahul Batra RB rahul @ chiiz. com
Rahul is a culture based writer who left his engineering job to pursue a career in writing. He wishes to write a psychological bestseller one day.