A 10-year-old boy has become the youngest novice ever to pass the examination of Buddhism’s third level in Pali studies (Parian Dham 3), according to the latest issue of the Buddhism journal.

The young novice, identified as Charuwat Iamsri, is based at Waikultharam Temple in Ban Kho sub-district of Ban Phue district, in the northeastern province of Udon Thani. The temple offers Pali studies for Thai Buddhist monks.

Charuwat told a Thai PBS reporter that he entered the monkhood for about two years at the request of his grandmother and left to become a lay person. He said, however, that he loves being a monk and was ordained again, to become a novice, so he can fulfil his dream of completing the ninth level of Pali studies, which is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree, after having passed the exam at the third level of the studies.

The temple’s abbot, Phra Maha Sukan, said the school has decided to sponsor Charuwat’s education, so he can realise his dream.

The boy’s parents said they are very proud of the boy’s educational excellence.

The Pali language has been studied by Thai monks since the Ayutthaya period hundreds of years ago, before the current Rattanakosin period. Pali studies are a traditional system of Sangha education. There are altogether nine levels, or nine Parian.