Lovely gesture of giving back that seems to be such a part of the people. I've learned so much about this country and it's people in the past two weeks, so much of it is admirable.
Source: The Australian
Thailand cave rescue: Boys to be sent to local monasteries to serve Buddhist monks
In the depths of his despair, when it seemed as if he might never see his son alive again, Somboon Kaewwongwan made a desperate bargain. Bowing his head in front of the Tham Luang caves, he prayed to the goddess who inhabits them: bring my son back, and I will put him into the monkhood.
The parents of the 11 other boys imprisoned in the cave did the same. A group of them travelled to the Buddhist monastery of Phrathat Doi Tung, which enshrines the collarbone of the Buddha, and days later their prayers appeared to be partially rewarded when the boys were discovered, trapped but alive, deep inside the caves.
As a result, the boys, aged 11 to 17, have a surprise in store: when they are safely brought out, and once they have recovered, they will be sent by their parents to local monasteries to have their heads shaved and serve as Buddhist monks.
Their stints will not be long - between two weeks and a month. Many Thais enter monasteries for a period as young men, in a kind of religious equivalent of national service. However, the story illuminates the central place of religion in Thai life, and the particular role it has played in this crisis.
“We did indeed make a bargain,” said Mr Somboon, who was waiting to hear whether his son was one of those already rescued. “We prayed to the goddess and to the Buddha to look after our kids in the cave, and to help them get out safe. And they are still with them, caring for them. We made a bargain, and we must keep our promise.”
My interpretation of this whole debacle: The government told the doctor and the divers to bring out the strongest ones first. Dr and divers smiled and nodded that they would do their best to abide by their commands to get all the boys out safe... then they went in and did the most prudent thing. They selected the ones who needed to go first based on medical need and sent them off through the tunnels. It's what I would have done. It's what makes sense for Western rescuer workers-- basic triage in an emergency; The weakest get care first. Unfortunately, with poor oxygen levels in the cave the weaker ones were not going to get any stronger by waiting. JMO.
