Respecting the monks and their way of life is crucial to helping you get the most out of your time at the center. As more than a dozen monks call the Samui International Medication Center home, we ask all visitors to respect the peaceful environment by understanding the different expectations to be upheld. Visitors have a unique opportunity to get up close to Buddhist monks, so to ensure all parties are respected, we've put together a few guidelines to help clear any misunderstandings:

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• All monks should be addressed as, “Luang Pee”.

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• Since monks are prohibited from having any physical contact with women, women have to maintain a respectful distance. 

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• Do not offer used goods or food leftovers to the monk. If you would like to share your food with the monk, the monk should be the first person to take the food from the serving plate.
   

• Do not point the soles of your feet in the direction of the Buddha or the monk.
   

• If partaking in the alms round, be sure to stand slightly apart from and to the back of the most junior monk. Pictures may be taken in a non-disruptive fashion.
   

• Make sure that you are at the same or lower level when in the presence of a monk. If the monk is standing, you may stand. If the monk is seated, you may only sit. When sitting in the chair, the soles of both feet should be on the floor. Never sit directly across from the monk. Be sure that the respectful distance is maintained.