THAI BUDDHIST IN THAILAND

Wat Bowon Niwet is an important royal temple in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon District. Before King Rama IV ascended the throne, he was the first abbot. Other kings also resided here for a while. The present king, was ordained here and so it is an important pilgrimage site. For the past five years, the temple has been undergoing renovation and this is now complete. To celebrate this, and the 175th anniversary of the temple, there will be a worship fair from 11th to 15th January 2012.

In this picture, from today’s copy of the Bangkok Post, senior monks and laypeople look at two gold plated spires to be placed on the heads of the Phra Phuttha Chinnasee Buddha image and of a replica at Wat Bowon Niwet. The Sukhothai-era bronze image is in the attitude of subduing Mara. Picture is by Apichart Jinakul.

Monks go on a 365 kilometre Pilgrimage in Thailand

During January 2012, a total of 1,127 monks will be taking part in the Dhammakaya Pilgrim Project where they will be walking through five provinces that were recently hit by the floods. The pilgrim route covers the provinces of Ayuthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakornpathom, Supanburi and Bangkok. The 365 kilometer pilgrimage started on 2nd January and will run until 25th January 2012.

This activity is a lesson that shows the general public how the itinerant monks exercise their mindfulness, patience and practice their walking meditation while on a pilgrim. Along the way, monks will spread loving-kindness for the well-being of all Thais. During each overnight break, the monks will practice meditation and chant prayers. The monks will also provide necessary maintenance service to the places that they visit and distribute relief supplies to local people in need.

During the time of the Buddha, there was once an outbreak of cholera where many people died. The people invited the Lord Buddha and 500 of his disciples to come and bless the city. Before they arrived, the people cleaned the streets and laid out thousands of rose petals. After his visit, the sick became better and everything went back to normal. In order to recreate this event, the entire 365 kilometre route through the provinces that had been flooded will be covered with rose petals. All local people are invited to come and join in with this event. Click here for a schedule.

Alms Giving on New Year’s Day at Sanam Luang

Thai Buddhists like to start the new year by offering alms to monks. They believe that by making merit in this way that they have given themselves some good luck for the new year. The events were organized all around Thailand but these pictures were taken by the Bangkok Tourist Division at Sanam Luang.

People started arriving at Sanam Luang in Bangkok as early as 6 a.m. They stood behind tables  where they placed the food and essentials. The ceremony itself started when the Bangkok Governor arrived at 7 a.m. to light the candles and incense sticks. After a religious ceremony, 285 monks then went up and down tables accepting dried food and essentials from the people.