My father met and married his beautiful Thai wife many years ago. She is small and refined , strong and hardworking , funny and loving , and most of all she is a devout and faithful Buddhist. She loves my father and cares for him so I never have to worry being so far away.
At the same time , if he goes to spray a trail of ants off the deck she shoos him away so as not to harm them. If a dog or cat is sick on her property, she nurses it back to health (or to death if that is the case ) with dignity and love. These animals know no suffering whilst in her hands. I set a mousetrap and she was upset that it might die in the trap overnight. She needn’t have worried , it stole the bait of mango and ran away.
Her name is Naphat and she has graciously allowed our family into her temple and congregation. We follow her in some confusion , but gently she shows us how to greet and gift food to the monks , also giving to a shared plate for Buddha.
There are flowers to be laid and incense to light with candles and a soft chant. It is a beautiful place. No one has to be uncomfortable, certain rules have to be followed. Females do not touch monks and there should be a large amount of dignity afforded to them by all. They are revered and holy.
Young men , who choose to , enter the monastery or ‘Wat’ become monks for about 2 years in order to honor their ancestors and families. Some stay on and live their whole lives as monks , others leave. They live meekly and in prayer, often in silence , live humbly , and have no personal possessions. Their robes are dark gold colored , simple , and most of the time , their feet are bare. Most only eat the food they are given in the early morning , either from the community or from special days at the Wat. The rest of the day is usually fasting.
On the days that we attend with her, Naphat dresses impeccably in traditional Thai costume ( not everyone does ) , my father usually dresses in shorts and a T-shirt. Females are expected to have clothes to cover the shoulders and down to the knees. Shoes are left outside.
She stops for food , treats and flowers at roadside stands on the way to the Wat. Picking carefully as she wants them to have variety and flavor.
The particular temple that they attend is about 5km from their house and of a fairly modern design with a tin roof and open sides , unlike some we have visited which are built of stone. A courtyard lined with huge statues are impressive and golden there , shining in the sunrise. Many dogs and cats litter the temple grounds and again , are welcome to share in the space.
There’s no music except for chanting and the occasional bell or gong , and it is powerful to close your eyes and listen. Not so pleasant when the kids have a go !
After prayers the monks eat their breakfast as provided by the flock and generally are done in about 35 minutes. They accept offerings and give blessings of holy water gently sent out with a small bamboo broom type apparatus.
Anything that the monks have chosen not to eat ( everything is served in separate containers) is open to anyone. We picked out a few unusual desserts to eat. Naphat also brings pork skewers and sticky rice for the kids breakfast as it’s their favorite !
The photos truly don’t do it justice. The children are welcome and can play quietly around during the service , no one judges them. Monks chat to them and ask where they are from , their faces smiling widely as the children raise their hands in the Thai wai to greet them.
It is a deep religion and I truly know nothing of their teachings other than what I have experienced , but from what I have seen on the surface , it’s a kind and wonderful entity to be allowed to be a part of. There’s a beautiful serenity to Buddhism that I haven’t felt with any other organized church I have attended so far. I’m not saying it’s better than any other religion , but I like it and it calls to me.
~Arlene
Seven Months in Siam 