If you only visit one temple in Chiang Mai, then Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is the one to visit. And don’t just take my word for it; local people say that if you haven’t been to Doi Suthep, you haven’t been to Chiang Mai. The mountain wat that … [Read more...]
Sai Sin and the Sacred White Thread
If you’re a regular visitor to Thailand, there is a good chance you’ve had white cotton bracelets tied round your wrists at some stage during your travels. This cotton thread has been blessed in advance by a Buddhist monk and is known as 'sai sin'. … [Read more...]
Ban Baat Monk’s Bowl Community, Bangkok
There was a time when all of the bowls used by Thai monks on their daily alms round were hand-made. Today, most of these alms bowls are mass-produced cheaply and quickly in factories elsewhere in Asia. But in Bangkok, one community is preserving the … [Read more...]
The Rabbit on the Moon
Just as Western folklore has stories about the 'Man in the Moon', Thai folklore has stories about the 'Rabbit on the Moon'. If you look at a full moon in Thailand, you may be able to make out the outline of a rabbit or white hare. Depending on your … [Read more...]
Thailand Mourns Death of Top Buddhist Monk
Thailand has entered into an official mourning period following the death of the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara. The head of the order of Buddhist monks in Thailand passed away yesterday evening at Chulalongkorn Hospital in … [Read more...]
The Three Jewels of Buddhism
If you visit a Buddhist temple in Thailand, you will notice that the people making a prayer inside the main hall of the wat will bow down three times in front of the principal Buddha image. In the temple grounds you may also see people walking around … [Read more...]
Thod Kathin Robes Offering Ceremony (Kathina)
Following the end of Buddhist Lent (Awk Phansa) new robes and offerings are made to the monkhood as part of the annual thod kathin or kathina ceremony. This ceremony often involves a procession of lay-people walking along a pre-arranged route to … [Read more...]
Money Tree in Thailand
If you are travelling in Thailand for any length of time you may see a money tree at some stage during your journey. These can often be seen in temples after they've been donated, but whilst the trees are still 'growing' I’ve also seen them in … [Read more...]
The Guardian Naga Serpent
Images or depictions of nagas are a common sight in Thailand, particularly at temples. If you see a staircase at a Thai temple, take a closer look at the decorations and you may notice the naga which in Buddhism is often depicted as a snake or a … [Read more...]
Thai Mother Earth (Phra Mae Thoranee)
Many of Thailand’s everyday features and sights are worthy of closer inspection because they often have a special significance. For instance, many temples and gardens feature fountains or water features which depict a woman with long hair. As shown … [Read more...]
Wat Suan Dok, Chiang Mai
The picturesque temple of Wat Suan Dok is located just off Suthep Road in the western part of Chiang Mai city. If you are spending time in Chiang Mai it is worth a visit just to see the unique whitewashed reliquaries or shrines which contain the … [Read more...]
Monk Baskets
If you are out and about shopping in Thailand you may notice some shops selling orange baskets or buckets which contain a number of everyday items like soap, detergent and toothpaste. These buckets are bought by lay-people who then donate them to … [Read more...]
Buddha Images for Each Day of the Week
When you visit temples in Thailand, you may notice a line of Buddha images in different poses. Each image reflects specific events in the life of Buddha which occurred on different days of the week. In Thailand, the day of the week on which you are … [Read more...]
Releasing Animals to Make Merit
In Thailand, many Buddhists believe that releasing animals back into the wild can help an individual to accrue merit. The act of releasing animals has its roots in the traditional rural communities. In the dry season, rice fields and small ponds … [Read more...]
Big Buddha Ko Samui
If you are flying to Ko Samui, keep an eye out for the largest Buddha figure on the island which is clearly visible as you come in to land. For a close up view, visit Wat Phra Yai the temple which is home to the Big Buddha and overlooks Bangrak Beach … [Read more...]
Wan Khao Phansa
The day after Asahna Bucha is another important day in the Buddhist calendar. The day is called Wan Khao Phansa and marks the beginning of the three-month long period known as Phansa which is the Buddhist retreat period and is sometimes referred to … [Read more...]
Asahna Bucha Day
This public holiday in Thailand marks the day when the Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon at Benares in India over 2,500 years ago. The exact date of the holiday is determined by the waxing moon and the lunar months, but is usually held in July … [Read more...]
End of Buddhist Lent (Awk Phansa)
Awk Phansa marks the end of the three-month Buddhist Lent period and the traditional end of the rainy season. The final day of the Buddhist Lent period falls on the full-moon day of the eleventh lunar moon and is known in most parts of Thailand as … [Read more...]
How to Make a Buddhist Offering (Wai Phra)
When Thai Buddhists visit the temple they will normally make an offering. This act is known as wai phra; wai being the traditional greeting with palms pressed together and raised towards the face and phra being the word for a Buddha image, monk or … [Read more...]
Respecting Buddha Images
Wherever you go in Thailand you will see Buddha images and it doesn’t matter how small, old or what state of disrepair it may be in, the image is still sacred. Standing on an old Buddha statue to have your photograph taken is one of the most … [Read more...]
Theravada Buddhism in Thailand
There are various forms of Buddhism followed throughout the world, but in Thailand 95% of people are Theravada Buddhists.Theravada Buddhism Theravada ("the Teaching of the Elders") is a school of Buddhism that believes it has remained closest … [Read more...]
The Life of Buddha
There is some debate about the exact date of birth of Gautama Buddha, but general consensus seems to put it at around 500 to 400 B.C. He was born as Prince Gautama Siddharta into a royal warrior family in what was northern India (now Nepal). At the … [Read more...]
Getting a Tattoo in Thailand
I’m not sure what it is about Thailand that tempts so many people to get tattoos done during their stay here. It’s probably cheaper than having it done back home and then there’s the mystical, spiritual element that clearly tempts people to get … [Read more...]
Visiting Thai Temples
Visitors to Thai temples (wats) may find the atmosphere surprisingly relaxed as they often serve as local community centres. Within the temple grounds children can sometimes be seen playing games of football or basketball and monks may engage you in … [Read more...]
Buddhism and Merit-Making
Thailand is pre-dominantly Buddhist (over 90% of the population are Buddhists). I am far from being an expert on Buddhism, but living in Thailand it is impossible not to realize the impact it has on everyday life and the value placed on merit-making. … [Read more...]
