Thailand, Bangkok, Kathin festival
07/11/04 Filed in: Travel
Once a year there is a celebration day for the monks
called Kathin, which is the day where the monks can
once again travel, after 3 long months of the rainy
season. Traditionally, people come to offer new
robes, toothpaste and other items to the
monks.
This afternoon I was invited to accompany my friend Chris and his Thai friends to attend this celebration at a fairly new Buddhist temple about an hour east of Bangkok. There are about 40 monks at this temple and they also host an international meditation society (Buddhist meditation) where people can come to practice long meditation.
We arrived and immediately the monks offered us lunch and something to drink. My favorite was the fresh young coconut, which they roast whole to make the juice even sweeter, served chilled. The director told us that he was just completing the last building there, a large meditation hall for the monks. Since we hadn't brought anything to offer we made a small donation for the completion of the building. Our Thai friends explained to the head monk that I was a long time meditator. He was very pleased and gave me a warm welcome asking me to distribute some of the gift items to the other monks seated there.
The director gave an address to the audience telling them that I was one who practiced samadhi for many years. After this all the monks began chanting. Really wonderful feeling of light and happiness! Later everyone who wanted went up to receive the blessings of the head monk and he asked for me to come up and he gave me his blessing and invited me to return after my journey and do long meditation with him there.
Thailand and most of SE Asia have a long tradition on Buddhism and there are hundreds of thousands of Buddhist monks in each country. From what I have seen thus far, it is a beautiful tradition with kind generous people.
Please check out all the photos on my SE Asia Portfolio page available at NavaSwan.com
This afternoon I was invited to accompany my friend Chris and his Thai friends to attend this celebration at a fairly new Buddhist temple about an hour east of Bangkok. There are about 40 monks at this temple and they also host an international meditation society (Buddhist meditation) where people can come to practice long meditation.
We arrived and immediately the monks offered us lunch and something to drink. My favorite was the fresh young coconut, which they roast whole to make the juice even sweeter, served chilled. The director told us that he was just completing the last building there, a large meditation hall for the monks. Since we hadn't brought anything to offer we made a small donation for the completion of the building. Our Thai friends explained to the head monk that I was a long time meditator. He was very pleased and gave me a warm welcome asking me to distribute some of the gift items to the other monks seated there.
The director gave an address to the audience telling them that I was one who practiced samadhi for many years. After this all the monks began chanting. Really wonderful feeling of light and happiness! Later everyone who wanted went up to receive the blessings of the head monk and he asked for me to come up and he gave me his blessing and invited me to return after my journey and do long meditation with him there.
Thailand and most of SE Asia have a long tradition on Buddhism and there are hundreds of thousands of Buddhist monks in each country. From what I have seen thus far, it is a beautiful tradition with kind generous people.
Please check out all the photos on my SE Asia Portfolio page available at NavaSwan.com