As Candice mentioned in a previous post, yesterday was Asanha Bucha day - one of the holy days of Thai Buddhism. It commemorates the day that the Buddha began to teach the Dharma to his first five disciples. This combination (the Buddha, the Dharma, and the community of monks) is known as the "Triple Gems." It's in these three things that Thai Buddhists "take refuge."
I went to a local temple early in the morning to observe the festivities - and there was a lot to see. Crowds of people came to celebrate the holiday by making merit in a variety of ways (see the pictures below). Making merit is a complicated concept that I'm still not sure I fully understand. On one level it could be described as building up good credit towards a future life and eventually, nirvana. The merit that one accumulates is weighed against the bad things they've done and the result determines the comfort and desirability of the next life.
On another level - and one that's probably more important to most people - making merit is a way of gaining protection or blessing for this life. A famous Thai saying is "Good actions bring good results, bad actions bring bad results." It's a simple law of cause and effect. So, making merit will cancel out the bad and ensure a positive future in this life as well as the next.
And on yet another level, these activities - especially on the special holidays - are just a fun way to participate in a communal event that reminds everyone of this culture's deep connection to Buddhism. This religion is integrated into so many aspects of Thai life and is learned and experienced from childhood. I'm sure that going to the temple to make merit feels good and satisfying. It's reassuring and reminds the participants of the ideals that they've been taught for as long as they can remember - and that they want to pass on to their own children. So, they go to the temple and give food to the monks, put gold leaf on the Buddha images, dip wax into a candle mold, release sparrows, listen to chanting, and do many other things for a combination of all of these reasons - to build up good credit, to make this life better, and to feel that connection to the community. At least that's my current evaluation of it. It's a powerful event to witness and it's left me with a lot to think about as we consider what a meaningful relationship with Jesus looks like in this context.
Now, for the pictures...
Food given to the monks.
Giving alms to the poor is one way of making merit - and those asking for help were out in force yesterday, counting on the support of the merit-makers. Also notice the person selling caged birds in the background...more about that later.
After making a donation, people would pour candle wax into these large molds. Candles are traditionally donated to the temples during this holiday.
People were buying candles, lighting them, and then setting them afloat. This is a form of merit making that doesn't help anyone else - but is a way of doing something that focuses your mind on the Buddha's teaching.
Releasing animals is another popular way of making merit. These caged sparrows were freed and that kind action to the animals brings merit.
And many people brought gifts for the monks and the temple. In keeping with the modern times, many people now give florescent light bulbs in lieu of candles.
Last evening I returned to the temple to observe another merit-making activity, the candlelight procession. I'll post some picture of that tomorrow.
-Tom
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