As the actual Wan Khao Phansa occurs this weekend, our school is holding a candle-lighting ceremony this morning for one of the most important events on the Buddhist calendar. Known in English as "Buddhist Lent," this day occurs each year on the first day following the full moon of the eighth lunar month and is a time devoted to study and meditation. It marks the beginning of the three-month "Rains Retreat" during which monks remain within the temple grounds and do not venture out until the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eleventh lunar month (in October). This originated to prevent monks from trampling upon rice paddies when they venture out to receive offerings from the villagers. The candles were essential in earlier times for both ceremonies and studying scriptures during night time. Today, devotes purchase large candles that are given to the temple to create illumination in the belief that such a gift will help illuminate the mind.
During the weekly Boy Scouts and Girl Guides period yesterday, our students practiced for today’s ceremony. It made quite a sight to look down from the fourth floor and see so many uniformed kids sitting quietly on the floor of the canteen. This morning, I noted a number of “monk baskets” in the administration office. I arrived so early that only a lone janitor was mopping the floor in preparation for the ceremony. I always look forward to these little breaks in the academic routine and I hope to take a few more photographs today…
Joy’’s grandfather died last week. She journeyed to Kamphaeng Phet in order to attend the funeral ceremonies. Unfortunately, I wasn”t able to accompany her due to my teaching duties. But I decided to research Thai funeral rites so that I will be better prepared next time we have a death in the family.
Thai funerals seem inappropriate to many Westerners. This is because the Thai, first animist and then Buddhist, has a different view of death than us farang. The Thai funeral is a not a mourning of death or a party showing denial. Thai funerals are a celebration of change. They recognize that "something" has occurred.
Continue reading 'Funerals In Thailand'»
Buddhism, Family, Joy, Kamphaeng Phet, Thai Traditions, Thailand
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Buddhism, Buddhist, cremation, death, funeral, monks, religious ceremonies
Visitors to Thailand are sometimes taken aback by seeing so many people constantly sniffing from small plastic canisters. Occasionally, one even sees Thais walking along with two of these inhalers stuck in their nostrils at the same time. This isn’t a case of the entire population suffering from nasal congestion, nor are people participating in some strange kind of a mass drug high. What you are seeing is a popular form of samun phrai, or traditional herbal medicine, known as yaa dom, which literally means medicinal inhaler. The most common of all Thai accessories, one can find these for sale next to cash registers in pharmacies and convenience stores throughout the Kingdom. Millions of Thais sniff yaa dom inhalers to clear congestion from pollution, mask odors, and make their nose feel cool. The little white nozzle plugs into both the nose and the national psyche. Continue reading 'Yaa Dom: The Thai Nasal Inhaler'»
Thai Culture, Thai Traditions, Thailand, Wierd & Wonderful
| Buddha, congestion, herbal medicine, jasmine rice, nasal inhaler, perfume, pharmacy, sniff kiss, Thai medicine, Very Thai: Everyday Popular Culture, yaa dom
In Thailand, there often seems to be contradictions between "traditional" and "modern." One encounters sights that would appear to go against Buddhist values and simple morality. Yet, most Thai ladies — yes, even the bargirls — desire the chaste, to be seen as a "good girl." They abhor public displays of affection as this can be perceived by onlookers that the couple are engaged in a business transaction, particularly if the male appears much older than the female. Those involved in true romantic relationships (especially farang-Thai) certainly don’t want others to see them as "bargirl" and "customer" when the reality is far from it. Thus, hand-holding and Western-style kissing is rarely seen in public — not even in Bangkok or the "playgrounds" of Pattaya or Patong.
Continue reading 'Hom Kaem: The Thai "Sniff Kiss”'»
Thai Culture, Thai Traditions, Thailand, Wierd & Wonderful
| amour, Asian, bargirls, Buddhist, erotic, farang, fetish, good girls, hom kaem, jasmine rice, kisses, kissing, modern, Patong, Pattaya, pheromones, sacred, scents, sniff kiss, taboo, Tantra, Taoism, Thai ladies, traditional, Very Thai: Everyday Popular Culture
Today starts a new period of mourning in Thailand as the three-day cremation ceremony for HRH Princess Galyani Wattana gets underway. His Majesty the King’s sister, she died in January from abdominal cancer. It has taken eleven months and a budget of US$8.5 million to make the necessary preparations for the royal cremation.
At Bangkok’s National Museum, Thai artisans restored Thailand’s fleet of golden royal carriages, which will bear the princess’ funeral urn. Over two hundred soldiers will pull the main chariot or racha rot. It weighs nearly 13,000 kilos and is over 130 years old. The chariot will stop at the Royal Grounds, where a seven-tiered crematorium has been built to house the princess’ body. Over a thousand people have worked for seven months to construct this elaborate crematorium. The cost has been a little over US$6 million. Although the crematorium is beautiful and significant in Thailand, it will not be a permanent structure. It will be dismantled about a month after the princess’ cremation. A closer look at the structure will reveal bits of coloured glass that glitter like gems and gold foil, which looks like gold leaf from afar.
Continue reading 'Cremation Ceremony for the Princess'»
Thai Royalty, Thai Traditions, Thailand
| Bangkok, cancer, crematorium, funeral, Galayani Wattana, King of Thailand, princess, Rama IX, royal carriages, Royal Grounds, Sanam Luang, Thailand, urn
Loy Krathong is considered to be one of the most beautiful and popular festivals in Thailand, taking place on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. This year, that translates to this Wednesday — 12 November. This time of year (usually) has fine weather as the rainy season has ended and there are high water levels throughout the country.
The floating of a krathong — a small boat made usually of banana leaf and containing a flower, a candle, and three lighted incense sticks — is intended to float away ill fortune as well as to express apologies to Khongkha or Ganga, the River Goddess. Government offices and large companies build much bigger and more elaborate boats which are then judged in contests. Also during Loy Krathong, numerous beauty pageants are held to honor Noppomas, who was a consort of the Sukothai king Loethai in the 14th century. According to legend, she was the first to float decorated krathongs.
Continue reading 'Loy Krathong 2008'»
Thai Holidays, Thai Traditions, Thailand
| banana leaf, Buddhist, festival, full moon, Ganga, incense, Khongkha, King Mongkut, Loy Krathong, lunar calendar, Nappomas, rainy season, Rama IV, River Goddess, Sukothai, Thai, Thailand
There are two important back-to-back Buddhist holidays each year at this time — Asarnha Puja Day marks the Buddha’s first sermon which he gave on the full moon day of the eighth lunar month; and Wan Khao Phansa, the beginning of the three-month Rains Retreat during which time monks aren’t allowed to leave their temples or to defrock.
This year, Asarnha Puja falls on 17 July. The Lord Buddha’’s first sermon — which the day honors — is called Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. During this discourse, the Buddha talked about "The Middle Way", which means that we should try hard enough but not too hard. If we wish to be successful in Spiritual life, we should avoid the two extremes:
- Trying too hard, such as not eating or not sleeping enough.
- Not trying hard enough, such as eating and sleeping too much.
He also spoke about the Noble Eightfold Path. This path tells us:
- To live in a way that does not harm ourselves or others.
- To help ourselves and others.
- To purify the mind.
Continue reading 'Asarnha Puja and Wan Khao Phansa: July’s Twin Buddhist Holidays'»
Traditionally it is believed that Buddha spent seven days following his enlightenment thinking of the suffering of all living creatures and how unimportant his life was prior to reaching enlightenment.
In Thailand, the majority of people practice a form of Theravada Buddhism. It is based on the Pali Canon augmented by the practices, beliefs and magic traditions that make it unique to Thailand. Buddhism is based on the Four Noble Truths through the practice of the Eightfold Noble Path and the daily Five Basic Precepts.
Thais are superstitious and believe that their day of birth reflects their life and there are seven Buddha images to reflect each day of the week (actually, there are eight Buddha images but I’ll talk more about that in a moment).
The days are also each assigned a different color and many Thai people pay special attention to this. The most visible example is the wearing of yellow shirts on Mondays to honor HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Likewise, you will see many blue shirts each Friday as that was the day of the week that HM Queen Sirikit was born. Even the different royal flags are colored to reflect individual birthdays of the royal family.
Continue reading 'The Seven Days Of Thai Buddhism'»
Teachers are very highly regarded in Thailand. The most important event at schools throughout the country is the Wai Khru. This is always held on a Thursday towards the beginning of the academic year because Thursdays are considered to be an auspicious day for teachers. Our school held Wai Khru ceremonies for the English Programme this past week. It was my first experience of this truly memorable event.
"Wai Khru" is Thai for "pay respect to the teacher." The students present their teachers with flowers or jasmine garlands, thanking them for teaching them in the past and also to gain merit and good fortune for the future. The students actually prostrate themselves at the teachers” feet in what is called a krab — the most polite way to show respect. It’s similar to lay people making an offering to high monks which says a lot for how Thai people feel about teachers.
Continue reading 'Wai Khru'»
That’s not a toilet. It’s a hole in the ground!
As long as you restrict yourself to upscale western-style hotels and shops, you may never see a squat toilet in Thailand. But what’s the fun of that? You can get the same experience at Disney World. If you venture off the well-beaten tourist path, be ready to greet squat toilets with more than the comment above.
Traditional Thai toilets (like those in most parts of Asia, the Middle East, and — once — Europe) consist of a hole in the floor and the necessary accoutrements. In Thailand, a white porcelain plate generally surrounds the hole, with two slightly raised footprints. Adding to the experience, the porcelain plate frequently carries the brand name "American Standard," however nonstandard such items may be in the America you so fondly remember when you first encounter a squat toilet.
Continue reading 'Squat Toilets In Thailand: A User’s Guide'»
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