Thai temples & Community

Jul 16, 2014

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Community and Thai temples” heading_tag=”h1″ alignment=”center” spacer=”line_with_icon” spacer_position=”bottom” spacer_img_width=”48″ line_style=”solid” line_height=”1″ line_color=”#333333″ icon_type=”selector” icon=”Defaults-circle-blank” icon_size=”32″ icon_style=”none” icon_color_border=”#333333″ icon_border_size=”1″ icon_border_radius=”500″ icon_border_spacing=”50″ img_width=”48″ line_icon_fixer=”10″][/ultimate_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]There are over 400 Thai temples in and around Bangkok city. Why the Thai need so many temples in their city? It might be a question from a visitor. There are reasons for this. Let’s find out more.

Thai Temples and community, which one is established first?

To answer this question it is not like chicken and eggs. It depends on what kind of Buddhist temple.

Type of Thai temples

For city temple(วัดในเมือง), it’s built for serving the local for ritual activities. Therefore, the community was established first and then people built the temple for their own benefit later.

Another type of temple, we call Wat Pa(วัดป่า). It is a place for Buddhist monks who seek a quiet place for meditation practice.  Those temples maybe have no facility at the beginning, later they create the building and other facility for the Buddhist monk.

Thai people and Religion activities

Buddhist monks and the local people have a tight relationship. In the old day, the Buddhist monk was high respected as well as a knowledgeable person of the community. He could be a teacher, community consulting for public issue, marriage advisor, fortune teller, medical doctor and so on. Temple literally means everything for Thai people’s life.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”3417″ css_animation=”fadeInUp” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” title=”Ordination ceremony” img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]

Daily Activities

Every morning, the Thai will go to the temple or on the street waiting for Buddhist monks. They will offer food and flower into the monks blow. It is a good day to start by giving the best thing for the religion.

Buddhist Chanting is a daily activity. They monk will gather in the morning before arm procession and in the late afternoon. Layman allows to join chanting and listening to sermons.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”3416″ css_animation=”fadeInUp” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” title=”Meditation class – by Buddhist nun at Wat Mahathat” img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]

Special event

There are many events held in Thai temples or related to Buddhist monks. For example, wedding, ordination ceremony, ordination and study are major events that may take place in the temples which depend on area.

Thai temples are also a place for a special national events to celebrate such as Loy Krathong, Songkran, Buddhist rain retreat, Kathin , and local activities by each region.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”3415″ css_animation=”fadeInUp” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” title=”Tian Pansa – Buddhist Rain Retreat” img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]It is a place that people get together. They work and play in harmony to maintain the community relationship and center of the spiritual. That is why so many Thai temple in Thailand and Bangkok.

Sometime, you also be able to see the village near temple they made product related to Buddhist activities. It is very important to have certain thing and people no longer create or made it by their                           own.

Now, you know about Thai temple. We hope it will make your visiting temple more enjoyable. You can notice and find and join some of activities with us.

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