Learning Thai

This morning our neighborhood participated in a typical New Year's activity - making merit by giving food to monks. On a typical morning there will be several monks from a nearby wat making their daily rounds. This morning, however, twenty-some novice monks came. They started out by chanting in our little park and then walked the length of the neighborhood. A lot of people turned out to give food - so much that they had to continually empty the monks' bowls into large burlap bags.

From what I've read and heard, the primary motive for giving this food is to make merit (for one's self). The monks are not begging - they are providing an opportunity for the people to receive a spiritual benefit. And in a case like this morning where the monks received an abundance of food I think that they will give some of it away to needy people.

In Thailand a man can become a full-fledged monk when he is 20 years old. Boys younger than that can ordain as novices. They live at the temple and receive an education (that is an important drawing factor for many boys from families too poor to afford a good education).

These kind of activities are very important in passing along Buddhist values to the next generation. Many people brought their children along and were coaching them through the procedure of offering the food to the novices. I watched this little girl and her grandmother for a while. When I see children this young participating in the Buddhist rituals (especially in this kind of community context) it's easier to understand how Buddhism can be such a deeply ingrained aspect of Thai culture.

-Tom