LEXINGTON, Va. Sept. 28, 2024 — Buddha said, “Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine.”

Kanokpon “Gun” Mettasat ’27, a Virginia Military Institute cadet from Thailand, is a shining example of someone who works hard with a quiet disposition. Mettasat, who was raised a Buddhist, spent 15 days last June living as a monk at Wat Khlong Khru Buddhist temple in Tha Sai, not far from his home in Bangkok.

According to National Geographic, Buddhism is one of the world’s largest religions and originated 2,500 years ago in India. Buddhists believe that human life is a cycle of suffering and rebirth, but that if one achieves a state of enlightenment, known as nirvana, it is possible to escape this cycle forever. Siddhartha Gautama, an Indian prince who, upon seeing people poor and dying, renounced his wealth and adopted the life of a poor beggar, spending his time meditating and traveling. He was the first person to reach the state of enlightenment and is still known today as the Buddha. Buddhists do not believe in any kind of deity or god, although there are supernatural figures who can help or hinder people on their path toward enlightenment.

Mettasat stated that up until 50 years ago, it was a requirement that all Buddhist men study as a monk, but now it is voluntary. “There are three times in a man’s life in which he trains as a monk. The first when he is college age, the second when he is in his 40s and in the middle of his career, and the third when he is in his 60s and close to retirement. We believe if your son or grandson becomes a monk, you will go to heaven. My grandmother is 80 and in poor health. My studies as a monk gave her encouragement both physically and mentally.”

A beautiful and meaningful ritual that takes place on the first day at the temple, is the cutting of the monk’s hair. Very different from a VMI rat haircut, friends and family members take turns gently trimming locks of hair with scissors, while the monk sits holding a ceremonial vessel to catch the clippings. “It was a significant step in my journey, symbolizing the release of worldly attachments. It was deeply emotional for all of us,” Mettaset shared.

After his haircut ritual, a celebratory festivity was held. Part of the joyful tradition includes the tossing of treats and lucky coins. “People gather to catch the treats, and it truly brings everyone together in a fun and lighthearted way,” mused Mettaset.

Each day at the temple started at 3:30 a.m. when Mettasat and the other monks changed into the traditional orange robe, meant to symbolize simplicity and detachment from materialism, and prepared for corporate morning prayer which lasted 90 minutes. After prayer, the group walked barefoot into the city to get their daily food, donated by townspeople, returned to the temple and ate their meal. “Monks can only eat from sunrise until noon,” explained Mettasat, adding that he lost nearly seven pounds during his stay at the temple.

After the meal, the monks welcomed townspeople into the temple to join them in prayer and to learn stories of Buddha’s past lives, called “shadok,” before he reached nirvana. The remainder of the day for the monks involved cleaning the temple, including the Buddha statue, and one hour of free time. They retired to bed by 8 p.m.

Mettasat enjoyed his time at the temple, but confessed that the schedule took a while to get used to, and walking barefoot everywhere was painful. His passion is helping others and wants to be supportive to everyone he encounters. “I know I can’t help everybody, but I’m happy knowing I do my best to help those I can,” he said.  

Col. Jeff Kendrick, interim director in the Office of Global Education, stated that Gun's enthusiasm for helping others is infectious. “From the moment I met him, he was asking about ways he could build bridges between international and domestic cadets. He cares deeply about sharing his culture with those around him, and his kind demeanor instantly makes you want to know more about him and his life experience. Anyone who speaks with him cannot help but be drawn to get to know him better. Finding out in our second conversation that Gun had spent the summer training as a monk and living a quiet, reflective life did not surprise me at all. He beautifully meshes the ideals of a warrior philosopher—steadfast, stalwart, and strong yet cognizant of and curious about the world around him.”

Mettasat is majoring in electrical and computer engineering and is in the Honors Program. He is a Hotel Company corporal, a member of cadre, assists with Rat Challenge, a member of the Cyber Security Club and the Glee Club, and plays guitar. After graduating, he will serve 10 years as an officer in the Thai Army. He is the son of Jutapon and Pratumwanee Mettasat of Bangkok. His younger brother is currently attending a police academy in Thailand, and will also graduate in 2027.

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE